Here are the biggest names that you might find in 2018. We know how hard it is to get the name of your child right, whether it is a boy or a girl. Using this list, we can help you narrow down the right names for your child.
10. Sophia
Starting off the list of the most popular girls names for the upcoming year is one which derives from the Greek word for wisdom. As one may expect, there has been a large number of royal family members by this name, including Sofia of Bavaria Wittelsbach (a Queen of Bohemia), and Spanish princess Infanta Sofia. Other famous Sophias of late are actress Sophia Myles, jewelry designer Sophia Forero and Somali author Sofia Samatar.
9. Scarlett
Originally designated as a surname, Scarlett is of English origins and refer to someone whose family would sell a wool cloth called Scarlet. However, it could also mean Scarlet in terms of the deep red shade. While not typically seen as a popular name, due to the mainstream fame of Scarlett Johansson who has played such roles as Lucy in the movie of the same name and Black Widow in the Marvel films many have considered the name as an option. Other famous Scarletts include the fictional character Scarlett O’Hara in the novel Gone With The Wind, German tennis star Scarlett Werner, and American model Scarlett Keegan.
8. Audrey
Coming from Anglo-Saxon origins, Audrey was originally a mixture of the words “nobility” and “strength”, Æthelthryth. Luckily for everyone, the name was significantly shortened and made easier to pronounce, and has as a result been common for hundreds of years. The most famous Audrey in recent memory is the iconic actress and model Audrey Hepburn, but there is also the artist Audrey Flack, and Audrey Matte, a daughter of Henry VIII. Audrey also appears as the name of a character in William Shakespeares As You Like It.
7. Ava
Though short in spelling, the name Ava has a long list of potential meanings. If one wishes to take hold of the Latin meaning of the name, it mean “like a bird”, while it can also be a shorter version of an Irish Gaelic name meaning “radiant” or still yet, can come from the Persian language meaning “Voice”. It has not just been the possible meanings that have seen the resurgence of the name Ava however; In 1990 there was a spike in celebrities naming their children Ava after the death of the Silver Screen Queen, Ava Gardner. A bit of a domino effect carried through to the rest of the population, and has continued to remain a popular name over two decades later.
6. Nora
Another name with multiple meanings, Nora is an interesting case. While having meaning in English, Irish Gaelic, Albanian, Latin, Greek and Arabic, the name can be defined in one of two ways: For all but Greek and Arabic, it can be defined as meaning “Honor”, while the latter two agree on a meaning of “light”. When looking at famous Noras in history, it becomes clear that the name holds quite true, as a number of famous doctors, actresses, an admiral and even Princess Nora of Liechtenstein all share the name. In fiction, Nora of Kelmendi is a legendary Albanian woman of the 17th century, often cited as remarkably beautiful, and one of the most vicious defenders of Albania to ever walk the earth.
5. Aria
For those inclined to enjoy the opera from time to time, the name Aria making it to the midway spot on this list may be a bit of a surprise. Meaning both a solo melody in Italian, but also a shortened form of Arianna which in greek is akin to the phrase “very holy”. In Greek mythology, there is at least one Nymph (similar to fairy) by the name Aria, and with the explosion of popularity of the series Game of Thrones many people have found the name Arya through one of the main characters. Other popular Arias are Arianna Grande the singer, and the co-founder of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington.
4. Violet
Making it to the fourth position on this list, Violet is a rather self explanatory name, having a meaning that is a flower by the same name. As a result of this simple meaning, many languages have names that are quite similar in sound and spelling, and allows for many to adhere a somewhat artistic interpretation of their own name. Some famous people sharing the name of Violet are the attempted assassin of Benito Mussolini, Violet Gibson, Violet Markham, a British social reformist and author, and Irish writer Violet Martin. More contemporary examples of this name reaching the masses is through Violet Gray, a fictional character from the Peanuts comic series and Violet Baudelaire, a main character in the Series of Unfortunate Events book series by Lemony Snicket.
3. Olivia
The origin of the name Olivia is a bit of a controversy. For some, it is clear that Olivia is derived from the male name Oliver (itself meaning “Ancestor’s descendant”), while for others the name is derived from the Latin word Oliva, meaning “Olive”. For either case, the first commonly accepted use of the name is from William Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night. As one may find funny, nearly every famous Olivia has been a singer or actress. However, there are notable exceptions such as the British biologist Olivia Judson, Canadian politician Olivia Chow and Irish journalist Olivia O’Leary. Perhaps the most famous Olivia of recent memory is the Grease superstar, Olivia Newton-John.
2. Charlotte
The female form of the name Charles, meaning “strong and vigorous”, many women who were given this name lived up to it. Aside from the dozens of queens and princesses by this name, there is also the renowned spy and noblewoman Charlotte de Sauve, French revolutionary Charlotte Corday, and the first African American lawyer, Charlotte E. Ray. In popular culture and literature, there is Charlotte of the novel Charlotte’s Web, the main character of the show Ghostgirl, Charlotte Usher, and for those particularly fond of the series, Charlotte is the name of the main character in the Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes novel (used as a backstory to the popular video game).
1. Amelia
Topping our list for this years most popular girls name is Amelia, originating from german and meaning either “hard working” or “successful”. Of all Amelias, the most well known is likely Amelia Earhart, one of the first female aviators and a pioneer for the craft. There is also Amelia Rose Earhart, who is not only a news anchor, but was successful in completing a global circumnavigation of the globe in a single engine aircraft. Needless to say, if you’re planning for a traveling family, Amelia is a fine choice for a name.
