When it comes to baby names — particularly girl names — popularity can get a bad rap. Uncommon girl names are often seen as more desirable — it’s cool to be different!

　　But the popular girl names are at the top for a reason: they’re fashionable, lovable, and appeal to a broad set of parents. So what do you do if you love a common name, but not its popularity?

　　We’ve taken the Top 100 girl names of 2021 and given them a makeover. Each name is matched with its uncommon counterpart — some based on sound, some based on style, and some based on origin.

　　All of the uncommon girl names are below the Top 300 (many below the Top 1000!) and were given to fewer than 1000 baby girls in 2021.

Top Girl Names → Uncommon Girl Names

　　Emma → Alma

　　Charlotte → Celeste

　　Amelia → Amalia

　　Ava → Aviva

　　Sophia → Ophelia

　　Isabella → Marcella

　　Mia → Pia

　　Evelyn → Elowen

　　Harper → Harbor

　　Luna → Lumi

　　Camila → Paloma

　　Gianna → Ginevra

　　Elizabeth → Beatrice

　　Eleanor → Leonora

　　Ella → Etta

　　Abigail → Tabitha

　　Sofia → Alessia

　　Avery → Avalon

　　Scarlett → Colette

Top Girl Names → Uncommon Girl Names

　　Aria → Aura

　　Penelope → Persephone

　　Chloe → Cleo

　　Layla → Lyra

　　Mila → Mika

　　Nora → Noor

　　Hazel → Fern

　　Madison → Madigan

　　Ellie → Winnie

　　Lily → Lilia

　　Nova → Lux

　　Isla → Eilidh

　　Grace → Blythe

　　Violet → Viola

　　Aurora → Aurelia

　　Riley → Ripley

　　Zoey → Zella

　　Willow → Marlowe

　　Emilia → Milena

Top Girl Names → Uncommon Girl Names

　　Zoe → Zola

　　Victoria → Honora

　　Hannah → Helena

　　Addison → Arden

　　Leah → Selah

　　Lucy → Darcy

　　Eliana → Eliora

　　Ivy → Clover

　　Everly → Ellery

　　Lillian → Harriet

　　Paisley → Ainsley

　　Elena → Eleni

　　Naomi → Noemi

　　Maya → Gaia

　　Natalie → Nadia

　　Kinsley → Hensley

　　Delilah → Electra

　　Claire → Greer

　　Audrey → Esme

Top Girl Names → Uncommon Girl Names

　　Ruby → Goldie

　　Brooklyn → Brighton

　　Alice → Opal

　　Aubrey → Waverly

　　Autumn → Winter

　　Leilani → Lulani

　　Savannah → Lexington

　　Valentina → Valencia

　　Kennedy → Kensington

　　Madelyn → Maybellene

　　Josephine → Delphine

　　Bella → Willa

　　Skylar → Larkin

　　Genesis → Blessing

　　Sophie → Posie

　　Hailey → Hartley

　　Sadie → Zadie

　　Natalia → Italia

　　Quinn → Brynn

Top Girl Names → Uncommon Girl Names

　　Allison → Ellison

　　Gabriella → Esmeralda

　　Anna → Anya

　　Serenity → Verity

　　Nevaeh → Heavenly

　　Cora → Cordelia

　　Ariana → Aviana

　　Emery → Emerald

　　Lydia → Linnea

　　Jade → Jude

　　Sarah → Seren

　　Eva → Ida

　　Adeline → Della

　　Madeline → Marceline

　　Piper → Fifer

　　Rylee → Raleigh

　　Athena → Anthea

　　Peyton → Payson

　　Everleigh → Emberly

　　See our transformations of top boy names here.

About the Author

Sophie Kihm

　　Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.

　　Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at [email protected]. Sophie lives in Chicago.

　　View all of Sophie Kihm's articlesChevron - Right