Best baby girl names for 2026 that start with A and their meanings: The most popular choices parents are loving this year

A names are having a moment, and parents looking for a baby girl name have plenty of beautiful choices to consider. From familiar favorites such as Amelia and Ava to distinctive picks such as Alora and Arwyn, names beginning with A cover a surprisingly wide range of styles and meanings.

The trend is not entirely new. According to the latest U.S. Social Security Administration data provided, 16 A names appeared among the top 100 girl names in 2023.

Why are A names so popular?

Celebrity parents have also helped keep A names in the spotlight. Shay Mooney and Hannah Mooney named their daughter Athena Rose, while other celebrity children include Alma, Axl, Aurelia, August, Alexander and Adira.


For parents searching for something recognizable but a little less common, there are plenty of options beyond the top 100, as per The Charlotte Observer.

30 baby girl names starting with A and their meanings

Here are 30 baby girl names beginning with A, as per The Charlotte Observer.


1. Amelia
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 4.

2. Ava
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 8.

3. Aurora
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 22.

4. Aria
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 24.

5. Avery
Origin: English.
Meaning: The name comes from an English surname derived from the Norman French form of Alberich, meaning “elf ruler,” and Alfred, meaning “elf counsel.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 29 among girls.

6. Abigail
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 31.

7. Addison
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 62.

8. Alice
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 65.

9. Adeline
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 71.

10. Audrey
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 74.

11. Autumn
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 75.

12. Athena
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 76.

13. Anna
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 79.

14. Aaliyah
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 86.

15. Allison
Origin: Not provided in the supplied material.
Meaning: Not provided in the supplied material.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 100.

16. Ayla
Origin: Turkish.
Meaning: “Moonlight” or “halo.” It can also be derived from the Hebrew word for “terebinth tree.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 104.

17. Amara
Origin: Igbo.
Meaning: “Grace.” It can also mean “everlasting” in Latin and “sweetheart” in Arabic.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 123.

18. Arya
Origin: Indo-Iranian.
Meaning: Derived from words meaning “Aryan” and “noble.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 139.

19. Amira
Origin: Hebrew and Arabic.
Meaning: The feminine form of Amir. In Hebrew it translates to “treetop,” while in Arabic it means “commander” or “prince.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 131.

20. Adalynn
Origin: English.
Meaning: A combination of Ada, meaning “island” in Turkish, and Lynn, meaning “lake” in Welsh. It can also be a variant of Adeline, Adelina or Adelaide.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 129.

21. Ashley
Origin: Old English.
Meaning: Derived from elements meaning “ash tree” and “woodland” or “clearing.” Together, it means “ash tree clearing” or “ash tree woodland.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 126.

22. Anastasia
Origin: Greek.
Meaning: The feminine form of Anastasios, meaning “standing.” In some contexts, it translates as “resurrection.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 167.

23. Amaya
Origin: Basque or Spanish.
Meaning: Believed to mean “the end” in Basque. It can also refer to an old village called Amaya in Spain.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 162.

24. Alina
Origin: Unknown.
Meaning: Primarily used as a shortened form of Adelina, meaning “noble,” or Albina, meaning “white” and “bright.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 150.

25. Andrea
Origin: Italian and Greek.
Meaning: The Italian form of Andreas, derived from the Greek word andreios, meaning “manly” or “masculine.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 173.

26. Aspen
Origin: Old English.
Meaning: Derived from the aspen tree. The word aspen comes from the Old English word æspe.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 214.

27. Alora
Origin: Unknown.
Meaning: May come from the Spanish phrase meaning “at that hour” or refer to Álora, a town in southern Spain.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 199.

28. Arwyn
Origin: Welsh.
Meaning: Formed from the Welsh intensifying prefix ar- and gwyn, meaning “white” or “blessed.”
2023 U.S. popularity: Not in the U.S. top 1,000.

29. Arabella
Origin: Latin and Greek.
Meaning: Believed to come from the Latin word orabilis, meaning “yielding to prayer.” It may also be connected to bella, meaning “beautiful” in Italian.
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 227.

30. Avery
Origin: English.
Meaning: Derived from an English surname associated with Alberich, meaning “elf ruler,” and Alfred, meaning “elf counsel.”
2023 U.S. popularity: No. 29 among girls.

Which A names are popular but still recognizable?

The supplied 2023 data shows that A names are not simply a collection of unusual choices. Several are firmly established among America's most popular baby girl names, with Amelia, Ava, Aurora, Aria and Avery all ranking highly.

At the same time, parents wanting something less familiar can look toward names such as Ayla, Amara, Alora, Arwyn and Arabella.

The appeal also comes from the range of origins represented by these names. The list includes names with Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Welsh, Old English, Basque, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Germanic and Indo-Iranian connections.

For parents considering baby girl names for 2026, these A names offer plenty of directions to explore, from classic choices to more distinctive options.



A baby girl's name can be familiar, unusual, traditional or distinctive, and this list shows just how much variety can be found under one letter. Whether parents prefer Amelia and Ava or are drawn to Amara, Ayla, Arwyn or Arabella, A names continue to offer plenty of memorable choices.

FAQs

Which A girl name was most popular?
Amelia ranked No. 4 in 2023.

What is the meaning of Amara?
Amara means “grace” in Igbo.