Baby Names Girl Names The 300 Most Popular Middle Names For Girls By Sarah Vanbuskirk Updated on August 16, 2023 Fact checked by Daniella Amato In This Article View All In This Article History Modern Traditions Challenges In Choosing a Middle Name 1-Syllable Middle Names 2-Syllable Middle Names 3- and 4-Syllable Middle Names Close Catherine Delahaye / Getty Images While the primary focus of naming a child usually goes to the first name, selecting the perfect middle name is very important as well. Just like first names, middle names run the gamut from simple and traditional to short and sweet to quirky and creative to obscure or trend-setting. While there is great variety, middle names are often used to commemorate a loved one, such as an older relative, someone who has died, or a personal hero. Sometimes a middle name is decided on simply because it augments the first name. Some parents choose one based on its first letter or sound in order to achieve alliteration or synchronicity with the other two names. To help you choose, we put together a list of the 300 most popular middle names of girls—so lets dive in. Some middle names end up being the name a child goes by rather than their first one—so it's a good idea to make sure you consider how you'd feel about the name being used for that purpose as well. Best Girl Middle Names Here are some of our favorite middle names for girls. Adaline Aubrey Blaire Dakota Eden Gia Hermione Jane Juniper Maeve Molly Ophelia Rae Vale Violet Willow History Middle names are commonly given to many American children but this was not always the case. This trend has grown over the past century, gaining tremendous popularity over the past several generations, going from around a third of children having three names in the early 20th century to the vast majority today. Western Traditions The Western tradition of choosing a middle name goes back to at least the Roman Empire when some men (particularly of the ruling class) were given three names. The custom fell out of favor and then was revived during the Middle Ages when some European families wanted to select both a family name and a Christian name for their child. Instead of picking between the two options, many parents began giving their children one of each with the second name often the Christian or baptismal name. Middle Name Usage In Other Countries In other parts of the world, such as in China and many other Asian countries, middle names are not commonly used. In Australia (and often in the United States, too), the mother's maiden name is picked. In Russia, the tradition is to use a version of the father's name to recognize paternity. In many African countries, multiple middle names are used to denote ethnic group, religious affiliation, day and time of birth, and/or names contributed by older relatives. While most kids end up with one middle name, some families choose to provide their child with two or more middle names either because of their cultural traditions, they can't decide on just one, or they like the sound of several names strung together. Modern Traditions Today, some families still use the middle name as a Christian (or other religious) name but it is often picked from family names as well. Some families choose a family name for the middle name (like one given to a beloved grandmother), which can sometimes lead to more old-fashioned middle names, Gwendolyn, Harriet, Ethel, Penelope, or Guinevere, being chosen. Other times, a middle name is chosen as a way to pay tribute to someone else who is important in. the family's life, like the name of the doctor or nurse who delivers their baby. Some people select a name based on attributes they see in the child (or hope to bestow on them). However, according to a study completed by Ancestry.com, around 55% of parents do choose commemorative middle names, and 15% use second given names that have run in their families for multiple generations. Challenges In Choosing a Middle Name Picking middle names can be quite challenging, but the task also leaves lots of room for imagination and meaning. In fact, sometimes it's even harder to pin down the ideal middle name than the first name. Not only does it need to complement both the first and last names in sound, alliteration, spirit, and rhythm, but it is also often used to pay homage to someone and is intended to hold special meaning or imbue qualities imagined for the child. So, the humble middle name often has a lot of notes to hit. And while it's by no means a rule, middle names are often just a few syllables in length, so that's a lot of work to be done by just a few letters. Sometimes, a middle name is selected for its symbolic meaning or to show respect to a loved one or special event, item, emotion, or characteristic, other times it may be picked simply because it just sounds "right." Ultimately, parents need to go with their instincts and select the name that best suits their baby and speaks to their hearts. 1-Syllable Middle Names Sometimes, syllable length is the paramount quality parents are looking for in their baby girl's middle name. Below are 100 one-syllable choices to help you find the right one to tuck between their first and last names: Ann (Anne) Bay Bea Bee Belle Beth Blaire Blake Bliss Blue Blythe Brae Bree Britt Brooke Bryne Brynn Cass Claire Chris Dale Dawn Dell Dove Drew Elle Eve Faith Fawn Faye Fern Flor Frost Gem Grace Greer Hope Jade Jai (Jay) Jan Jane Jazz Jean (Jeanne) Jess Jill Jo Joy Jude June Kai Kat Kate Kay Lake Lane Lark Leaf Lee (Leigh and Li) Liv Love Lou (Lu) Lux Lynn (Lynne) Mae Maeve May Moss Nell Neve North Paige Pam Peace Pearl Plum Quinn Rae Rain Reese Rose Ruth Sage Sam Scout Shae Shawn Shore Sky (Skye) Sloane Snow Spring Star (Starr) Sue Tate Teal Tess True Vale Wren Wyn 2-Syllable Middle Names If you're on the hunt for a two-syllable name that nestles in perfectly between your new baby girl's first and last names, you've got lots of possible names to choose from. Below are 100 of the most popular options: Abby (Abbie) Ada Adele Aiko Ainsley Alice Alma Amber Amy Anna Apple April Aqua Arden Aubrey Audrey Autumn Ava Bailey Bebe Bette (Betty) Bella Billie Brenna Brooklyn Bunny Cadi (Cady) Cali (Callie) Camille Carly Casey Celeste Charlotte Chloe Clara Cody Cora Corinne Daisy Daphne Demi Dolly Eden Elaine Ella Elsa Emma Etta Fallon Fuchia Garnet Gia Giselle Greta Hailey Hana (Hannah) Harper Hazel Ingrid Ivy Jamie Jasmine Jenna Jewel Jordan Journey Josie Katelynn Kayla Keira Kelly Kenya Laura Lauren Lily Lola Louise Mary Maya Megan Mia Molly Nicole Nora Nova Olive Orchid Peyton Piper Reagan Riley Ruby Sadie Sarah Scarlett Simone Skylar Sophie Willow Zoe (Zoey) 3- and 4-Syllable Middle Names Sometimes, parents are looking for a longer name to link their daughter's given and last names. Here are 100 of the most popular three- and four-syllable middle names for girls to help you on your naming quest: Abigail Adalynn Adaline Adelaide Addison Alexandra Allison Annabelle Aria (Ariya) Artemis Athena Augustine Aurora Avalon Avery Bethany Brianna Camila Cassandra Caroline Celia Charisma Christina Coraline Dakota Deborah Delilah Destiny Eleanor Elena Eliza Elizabeth Eloquence Emerson Emery Emily Evelyn Everest Everly (Everleigh) Fiona Francesca Gabrielle (Gabriella) Genevieve Genesis Gianna Gillian Henrietta Hermione Hyacinth Imagine India Ireland Isabel (Isabelle) Jocelyn Julia Juliet Juniper Karina Katherine Kensington Lavender Legacy Leilani Liberty Lillian Lorelei Lydia Mackenzie Madison Magnolia Makayla Maria Marigold Marisol Melanie Melody Meredith Milena Miriam Nadia Naomi Natalie Nevada November October Olivia Ophelia Priscilla Rebecca Samantha Savannah Sierra Sophia Susanna Tabitha Trinity Victoria Violet Waverly Winona Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ancestry. Traditional choices top the list of most popular middle names. Ancestry. Traditional choices top the list of most popular middle names. Additional Reading United States Social Security Administration. Popular Baby Names 2019. ssa.gov