Let’s take a trip around the world and find out what the most popular names for baby girls are in continents across the globe. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your first baby girl or your fourth or fifth (or if you’re just doing some planning for the future!) you’ll find it here.
With a range of classic names and new twists, find the most popular baby girl names in countries around the world below – and their meanings – and find inspiration for your very own bundle of joy.
US: Olivia
First up, we’re heading over to the US. The most popular baby name for 2023 in the US is Olivia. There’s no wonder this classic name is still topping the charts. It’s a beautiful name that works for all stages of life – from newborn to grandma!
The sky-rocketing popularity of Olivia Rodrigo probably helps, too.
Olivia is Latin in origin and means ‘olive tree’, so it’s sometimes classed as a nature-inspired name too. This well-established name is only gaining in popularity, so I don’t see it being knocked off the top spot in the States any time soon.
France: Jade
Heading across the pond to France, Jade is taking the top spot for French baby girls in 2023. Linked to wealth and affluence, this name, meaning ‘precious stone’ is actually British in origin.
Louise and Ambre closely followed Jade as the most popular baby names for girls in France for 2023.
Brazil: Luna
A name fit for all Harry Potter loving parents around the world, the top baby girl name for 2023 in Brazil was Luna. It’s perhaps no surprise that Luna means ‘moon’, making it another popular pick on lists of nature-inspired girl names.
The name saw a boom in popularity across the world from the early 2000s to the present day, and shows no signs of stopping.
A very modern name on the list, it shows that it’s not just the classics taking the top spots.
Australia: Charlotte
Often taking second place in previous years, 2023 was the year of Charlotte in Australia. It previously lagged just behind Olivia in popularity, but this year was its time to shine.
A very popular name among Royals – think Princess Charlotte, daughter of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales – the name has French origins and means ‘free man’. The name became incredibly popular in England in the 1700s and remains popular around the world today.
UK: Olivia
If you’re getting deja vu right now, I don’t blame you.
Olivia isn’t just making the top spot in the US – it’s the most popular name for baby girls in the UK for 2023 too. In fact, Olivia has been the most popular girl name in the UK since 2016. It’s closely followed by Amelia and Isla at number 2 and number 3 respectively, but I suspect Olivia will be enjoying the gold medal for a year or two more.
Read Next: Whispers of Nature: Top 30 Baby Girl Names Inspired by Trees
Mexico: Sofia
Sofia is of Greek origin and means ‘wisdom’. It’s incredibly popular in Mexico, and in other Spanish-speaking countries too. This beautiful Greek name means ‘wisdom’, so it’s no wonder it’s popular.
One of the most popular variations of Sofia is Sophia, which is more common in some European countries, like the UK.
Germany: Marie
The most popular girl name in Germany back in 2022 was Marie, a traditional name in many countries that actually has french origins. Marie is the french version of the Latin ‘stella maris’, which means ‘star of the sea’.
It’s also a popular middle name in Germany, and across Europe.
Marie is closely followed by Sophie/Sofie and Maria on the most popular baby girl name list for Germany.
New Zealand: Isla
Whilst Isla took second place in the list of most popular girl names in New Zealand in 2021, it came back to top the charts in 2022. In fact, it’s been in the top 3 names for girls in the country since 2016, so it’s about time it made it to the top!
The name is of Spanish origin and means ‘island’. With New Zealand being made up of over 600 islands, it’s hardly a surprise that Isla is so popular there!
Portugal: Maria
Maria takes the top spot in Portugal, with over 5000 baby girls given the name in 2022. The name can be traced right back to Ancient Egypt, where it meant ‘love’. It’s also linked to the Latin ‘Mariam’, meaning ‘mother of Christ’.
Very similar to Marie, the top baby girl name in Germany, there are many variations of Maria and Marie, including Mary, Mariam and Miriam.
Dubai: Aria
Heading East, the most popular baby girl name in Dubai in 2021 was Aria, closely followed by Liya and Mariam. This beautiful girls’ name has many different meanings in different languages. Aria means ‘song’ in Italian, in Greek, ‘lioness’ and ‘noble’ in Persian.
Sweden: Astrid
We’ve seen many traditional names in this list so far, so it’s nice to see something a little different! Or at least, it sounds different. Astrid actually comes from Ástríðr, an Old Norse word that means ‘beautiful’, and is a popular name across all Scandinavian countries. It was the most popular name for baby girls in Sweden in 2022 and is becoming increasingly popular in other countries around the world, including the US.
Read Next: 50 Irresistibly Cute Baby Names for Boys and Girls
Thailand: Naiyana
The most popular baby girl name in Thailand is currently Naiyana. Pronounced ‘Nie-ya-na’, it means ‘eye’ and offers something different for parents looking for a beautiful-sounding name for their little girl.
India: Aadhya
Aadhya is an incredibly popular name for baby girls in India. Linked to Hindi, it has multiple possible meanings, including ‘the earth’ and ‘perfect’. Pronounced ‘Ar-de-ya’, this top Indian baby girl name has many variations, including Adya, Adhya and Aadya. It’s even seen a boom in popularity in the US over recent years.
Denmark: Ella
The most popular girl name in Denmark for 2022 was Ella. It has roots in English, German and Hebrew and, in modern Hebrew, it means ‘goddess’. It’s also a popular middle name in many European and Scandinavian countries.
There have been many famous Ellas over the years, the American singer Ella Fitzgerald being one of the most renowned.
Variations of Ella include Elle, Ellen and Ellie.
Discover more baby girl names
Still looking for inspiration?
Check out the top nature-inspired baby girl names and the most popular celebrity baby girl names.
