Selecting the perfect baby name for your little one is an art, and a very personal choice. Many parents-to-be like to start with a letter and seek inspiration from there. Whether naming your little one after a family member who shares the same first initial, or just looking at the first letter “A” for its soft and inviting opening sound, you’ll earn an A in baby-naming if you pluck one of the special name ideas off our list of the best baby names that start with the letter A.
Boy Baby NamesStarting With A
Abbott: Meaning “father” from the Hebrew, it’s a strong and charming “A” name for your little guy.
Abner: This one has a vintage feel, which actually makes it very of-the-moment. Abner is also a Hebrew name, which translates to “father of light.” (See more old-fashioned baby names!)
Achilles: Aunique baby name that starts with A from Greek mythology, it belonged to a hero with a soft spot, representing both strength and vulnerability.
Adelio: Rare European-inspired names are always fun. This unique baby name starting with A comes from the German meaning “the father of the noble prince” and packs a royal punch.
Aiden: The Irish baby name is experiencing stunning popularity these days, but that doesn’t make it any less special. Meaning “little and fiery,” it’s such a cute baby name starting with A for a boy.
Alastair: Classic and debonair, the Scottish name meaning “defender of men” is a handsome choice for Baby.
Alcott: Rarely heard but easily recognizable, this English baby name with the meaning “dweller at the old cottage” is loaded with charm.
Aleric: If you’re drawn to Alex but want something more unique, consider this “Al--” baby boy name starting with A meaning “all powerful ruler” from the German.
Akim: It’s a Russian take on the Hebrew Jehoiakim, or “God will establish,” for a deeply meaningful name with religious roots.
Akiro: No list of “A” names would be complete with some Japanese options; Akiro translates to “bright boy” and sounds just like its meaning. (Browse more Japanese baby names!)
Amir: The Hebrew/Arabic baby namestarting with the letter A meaning “king, ruler” and also, “treetop” is on the rise for boys in the States.
Anchor: We love the symbolism of this English word name for boys; it’s grounded, strong, and powerful… and also really cute!
Anderson: Surnames can be a great choice for a first name; this Scandinavian one translating simply to “son of Anders” is a lyrical boy baby name that starts with A.
Aramis: The French literary name is not often heard, which could make it a perfectly unique baby name that starts with A. We love the nickname Ari here, if his full name proves a mouthful.
Archibald: Another old-fashioned name that starts with the letter A is making a bit of a comeback, your little Archie would share it with the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Teutonic name means “truly brave.”
Ashford: This baby name starting with A combines soft and hard sounds for a truly charming moniker name we love; it’s an English surname that definitely fits the bill.
Baby GirlNamesThat StartWith A
Abrahana: We love aunique baby name with familiar roots, and this feminine take on the Hebrew Abraham—“father of multitudes"—is a pretty example.
Acadia: It’s an English name with Greek origins, meaning “idyllic place,” and makes a lyrical and very special baby name starting with A for a girl.
Adelaide: A girly vintage name choice to bring some floaty flair to our “A” list, Adelaide is from the German Adelheidis, for “noble/nobility.”
Adina: It’s powerful and pretty at once, making it a bold baby girl name that starts with A. Adina’s meaning is softer than it sounds though, translating to “slender, delicate” in Hebrew.
Aften: We love this luxe-sounding place name for girls with Scottish roots; it’s a slant spelling of the gender-neutral Afton which is another nice name that starts with the letter A to consider.
Agneta: Put a cool twist on a dated classic with this variant of Agnes, meaning “pure” or “virginal” from the Greek.
Ainsley: One of our trendier examples of the best baby “A” names, this one with Scottish origins means “one’s own meadow,” and while technically gender-neutral, it’s much more popular in the US for girls.
Alastrina: This modern name combines Alexandra and Alastair to mean “man’s defender” with a very feminine and beautiful sound and spelling.
Allegra: From the Italian, it’s a name translating to “joyous” that absolutely sounds just like its meaning.
Amiyah: This baby name starting with A is on the rise, not only for the ethereal feeling and intuitive spelling, but also the cool meaning: “night rain.”
Ariana: It’s one of the more popular baby names starting with A on our list, and can be attributed to multiple European roots including Greek and Italian. Ariana means “most holy.”
Akari: Another “A” baby name from Japan, because the country has seemingly endless sweet “A” options...this one means “light.”
Astrid: A rare floral name with lots of potential and a dignified sound; it not only belongs to a flower but also means “divinely beautiful” in Scandinavian.
Atina: This cute version of the Greek mythology name Athena is an unexpected and peppy baby girl name that starts with A.
Aurelia: If you love Ariel but want a more unique baby name, this lyrical pick that uses the same consonants could be perfect. It’s from the Latin, meaning “the golden one.”
Aveline: This pretty pick gives off Ava vibes but with more syllables and sweetness. It’s a French baby girl name with three meanings—“desired,” “island,” and “water.”
Gender-Neutral Baby Names That Start With A
Ackerley: The English A name meaning “meadows of oak trees” is traditionally for boys, but in today’s era of fluid baby naming, could just as easily work for a baby girl.
Adley: Less popular than Hadley, but just as romantic and charming, this gender-neutral baby name starting with A means “God is just.”
Adrian/Adrienne: The classic name starting with A meaning “man from Adria” is one we can’t see ever going out of style. Here we’ve given the masculine spelling first and feminine second, but choose the one you prefer.
Alabama: An American name bursting with Southern pride and nostalgia, it’s one of many US State names that work well for babies. Its original meaning from the Choctaw tribe is “vegetation gatherers.” (See more southern baby names!)
Alchemy: Science geeks—or anyone with a passion for rocks and potions—might gravitate toward this unexpected A name for a baby boy or girl, which applies to the Medieval area of scientific study that preceded chemistry.
Amani: The Arabic name means “faith” and is a beautiful gender-neutral name idea. Originally spelled with an “I,” this version is pronounced very similarly but reads a bit softer.
Arden: Meaning “valley of the eagle,” the English baby name gives off a vague floral feeling due to its rhyme with the word “garden,” and plenty of zest as it also sounds similar to “ardent” or passionate. (Peep more nature baby names!)
Avery: A jaunty English baby name meaning “ruler of the elves,” we love it for a boy or girl.
More A-mazing Baby Name Inspiration:
- Biblical Baby Names
- Celebrity Baby Names
- Rare Baby Names
- Baby Name Trends
- ...or see all of our favorite baby names!
When it comes to baby beds, SNOO gets a solid A for sleep, safety, and sanity! The responsivebassinet expertly rocks and soothes babies, adding more sleep for little ones...and their tired parents. Learn more about SNOO!
About Jenny Studenroth Gerson
Jenny Studenroth Gerson is an Atlanta-based lifestyle journalist and novelist (Let Me Let You Go, 2020). Her work can be seen in publications including HuffPost, Cosmo, and WSJ, among many others. Jenny has researched thousands of baby names, combed through hundreds of nursery designs, and curated dozens of baby shower guides, making her absolutely the mom—and writer—you want to talk to when planning for Baby. When not meeting deadlines, she is chasing toddlers or chugging coffee—or both! Find her on Instagram @ourlifeinrosegold for mom hacks and more.
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FAQs
What are the top 10 rarest girl names? ›
- Aella. Origin: Ancient Greek name. Meaning: “Whirlwind” or “tempest”
- Alohi. Origin: Hawaiian girl name. Meaning: “Shining” or “brilliant”
- Caitronia. Origin: Gaelic. ...
- Novalie. Origin: Latin. ...
- Ottiline. Origin: French and German girl name. ...
- Tamsyn. Origin: Cornish.
- Aanya. From Sanskrit, meaning 'inexhaustible'.
- Aarya. Variant of Arya, and Indo-Iranian name meaning 'noble'. ...
- Abrielle. Variation on Aubrielle which is an elaboration of Aubrey.
- Acacia. After the tree of the same name.
- Ada. Shortened form of Adelaide.
- Adaline. ...
- Addilyn. ...
- Adelaide.
- Khaleesi. All credits to George R. R. Martin for this one. ...
- Paityn. Paityn is a gender-neutral English name with American spelling—alternatives include Payton and Peyton.
- Quinn. ...
- Fatima. ...
- Serafina. ...
- Emerson. ...
- Petra. ...
- Amalia.
Marissa | Of the sea | Latin |
---|---|---|
Martha | Lady; mistress of the house | Aramaic |
Maxine | Greatest | Latin |
Mercy | Compassion, forebearance | English |
Miyanda | Of unknown meaning | African |
Here are the top girl names according to the Social Security Administration: Olivia. Emma. Charlotte.
What's a rare girl name? ›What is the rarest girl name? One of the rarest girl names is Elora, because it's low on the popularity charts, but there are several rare girl names including Hadleigh and Ophelia.
What is a legendary baby girl name? ›Along with Athena and Luna, other mythological girl names in the US Top 1000 include Aurora, Daphne, Iris, Lilith, Maeve, Maia, Penelope, and Phoebe. Norse and Hindu mythology names are less common among American parents, but offer such beautiful choices as Indira, Priya, and Signy.
What are unpopular girl names? ›- Bay. Bay is a cute, but uncommon name for girls meaning 'berry' and is of Latin origin.
- Beau. Beau is a name of French origin meaning 'beautiful,' but its use as girl's name is less common in the United Kingdom.
- Billie. Billie is an English name with a strong meaning of 'resolute protector. ...
- Birdie. ...
- Blair. ...
- Blake. ...
- Blossom. ...
- Blue.
The most popular baby names 2022 in the US are led by Olivia in the top spot for girls and Liam as the #1 name for boys. The most recent list of popular names ranks all the names given to five or more newborns born in the US in 2022.
What is a fancy name? ›
Fancy names are those elegant, sophisticated choices that have a posh, upscale feel. Fancy baby names are those that go beyond the merely long and elaborate. These names are rare, precious, almost too dressed-up for everyday use.
What are rare short names? ›Along with Ava and Leo, other short names for babies in the US Top 150 include Mia, Zoe, Eli, Eva, Ian, Ivy, Kai, and Max. Some of the rarest short names are those with two letters, but choices such as Io, Oz, Cy, and Lu may be substantial enough for your son or daughter.
What names to give a girl? ›- Babe.
- Love.
- Beautiful.
- Princess.
- Buttercup.
- Cutie pie.
- Dream girl.
- Love bug.
The word Luxury can be both a boy's and a girl's name meaning "extravagance, opulence". It represents a particularly opulent way to get to the nickname Lux (or Luxe).
What is a 6 letter name boy starting with a? ›- Aahron.
- Aamir.
- Aarão.
- Aarron.
- Aarush.
- Aaryan.
- Aatami.
- Aayden.
- Aaron. Aaron is a Hebrew name that means “high mountain” or “exalted one.” It is a popular name in the Bible, as it is the name of Moses' brother. ...
- Adam. ...
- Alan. ...
- Alex. ...
- Amos. ...
- Andrew. ...
- Arthur. ...
- Ben.
- Abe.
- Abraham.
- Albert.
- Ambrose. Ambrose has roots in Greek culture and means immortal. It comes from the Greek word ambrosia, which was also a divine food of the gods. In 2021, it was the 671st most popular boy's name.
- Amos.
- Ansel.
- Archie.
- Aron.
The rarest baby boy name is Rome, but other rare baby boy names include Chester, Henley, and Maynard. Finding a rare baby boy name means discovering a unique fit for your little one. Throughout their life, they'll have a special spot in the world and likely won't meet too many others with their moniker.
Which name means God's gift? ›Theo. This name of Greek origin means "gift of God."
What name means love? ›
Along with Esme and Amara, other top girl names that mean love include Mila, Amy, Amanda, Mabel, and Philippa. Top boy names that mean love include Rhys, Philip, Lev, and Hart. Names that mean love or beloved in languages other than English include Carys, Querida, Rudo, and Sajan.
What girl name means God's gift? ›Johanna. A variant of the name “Joanna” and means “God is gracious” or “God's gift.”
What is the most popular name ever? ›The following table shows the five most frequent given names for male and female babies born in each year 1923-2022. Over the last 100 years, the male name Michael has held the top spot most often (44 times), while the female name Mary has been ranked number one 33 times over those years.
What name means God's daughter? ›Batya: Hebrew girl name meaning “daughter of God”
Is royalty a girl name? ›Royalty is a gender-neutral name of American, English, and Latin origin that truly speaks for itself. Meaning “noble kin,” this name will surely tell every person that baby interacts with that they have a majestic, regal spirit.
What is the baby girl name for pure? ›Catherine: This Greek name (which has a variety of spelling alternatives) means "pure," and it's been a popular pick from the time of Catherine of Aragon to current-day royal Catherine Middleton.
How do I name my first daughter? ›- Look to your family tree. There's probably a ton of baby-naming help located on the branches of your family tree. ...
- Honor your culture. ...
- Think about nicknames. ...
- Middle names matter. ...
- Be mindful of initials. ...
- Always look up meanings. ...
- Don't stress too much. ...
- Timeless baby names.
Name | Gender | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Gemma | Girl | Jewel; Precious Stone; Gem |
Gemmariah | Girl | A precious gem of a girl, virgin |
Gersemi | Girl | Precious as a gem and valuable as a jewel. |
Gimma | Girl | Italian name Gimma means Precious Stone |
Gracie | Graceful | English |
---|---|---|
Hattie | Home ruler | German |
Heidi | Noble one | German |
Holly | The holly tree | English |
Honey | Nectar | English |
Cool girl names come from a range of sources and styles, from ancient to modern, classic to newly created. Along with Top 10 name Ava, cool girl names in the US Top 100 include Mila, Aria, Luna, Layla, Hazel, Aurora, Nova, Willow, Ruby, Isla, Quinn, Sadie, and Delilah.
What name means fearless girl? ›
Aesira - This Islamic name for girls means "brave, powerful fighter." Binsa - Hindu name meaning "fearless." Emine - Islam name meaning "fearless."
What is a edgy girl name? ›Pixie | Fairy | Irish |
---|---|---|
Posy | Small Flower | English |
Quinn | Descendent of Conn | Irish |
Rae | A diminutive or nickname for Rachel. | Hebrew |
Rain | Rain | English |
- Darlene: English — Darling; loved one.
- Della: German — Noble; bright.
- Diana: Latin — Moon goddess.
- Eleanor: Greek — Bright, shining one; sun rays.
- Ella: English — Light; beautiful fairy woman.
- Eva: Hebrew — Life.
- Farrah: Arabic — Happy.
- Faye: French — Loyalty; confidence; trust; belief.
Names: Amadeus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cleopatra, Esmeray, Lazarus, Magnus, Myfanwy, Oberon, Octavius, Ophelia, Persephone, Venus, Wednesday, Wolfgang, Zebedee.
What is the 12 name? ›1 = One | 11 = Eleven |
---|---|
2 = Two | 12 = Twelve |
3 = Three | 13 = Thirteen |
4 = Four | 14 = Fourteen |
5 = Five | 15 = Fifteen |
The longest personal name is 747 characters long, and belongs to Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr.
Can a person have 1 name? ›A mononym is a name composed of only one word. An individual who is known and addressed by a mononym is a mononymous person.
What is a very pretty name? ›You might consider Dahlia, which means “Dahl's flower;” Eden, which means “place of pleasure, delight;” Flora, which means “flower;” Flo or Florence, which mean “blossoming or flowering;” Jasmine, which means “gift from God;” Laurel, which means “laurel tree or sweet bay tree;” Lavender, which means “purple flower;” ...
What is a vintage name? ›Vintage baby names are found on the popularity lists of a hundred years ago and then often faded from sight, only to be revived for the new generation of babies. The best antique names are inspired by literary, biblical, and royal sources.
What is a precious name? ›Precious is a feminine name of Latin origin meaning “of great worth” or “highly esteemed.” This endearing name is derived from the Latin word pretiosus, which means “of great value,” “worth,” or “precious.” Choosing Precious for baby will provide a constant reminder of your love and adoration for your precious little ...
What names can you not name a child? ›
- King.
- Queen.
- Jesus Christ.
- III.
- Santa Claus.
- Majesty.
- Adolf Hitler.
- Messiah.
- Hester. According to Nameberry's research, there are fewer than five girls with this name in the US. ...
- Romilly. ...
- Bee. ...
- Lilac. ...
- Ottilie. ...
- Zebedee. ...
- Lorcan. ...
- Rafferty.
- Isaiah: Hebrew — Salvation of the lord.
- Jayce: Greek — Healer.
- Jonathan: Hebrew — God gives.
- Josiah: Hebrew — Fire of the Lord; healer.
- Julian: Latin — Father of the skies.
- Kano: Japanese — One's masculine power; capability.
- Levi: Hebrew — Joined in harmony.
Letter U is the least common. It barely shows up on the chart, so if you are looking for a unique name, maybe pick one that starts with U. Note that Unique isn't entirely unique, though. About 100 children have been named Unique every year since the 1970s.
What are trending names that start with a? ›The most popular names starting with A in the U.S. are currently Amelia, Ava, Aria, Abigail, Avery, Alexander, Asher, Aiden, Anthony, and Andrew.
What is one of the rarest name? ›- 18 Celia.
- 17 Pascal.
- 16 Juniper.
- 15 Ellington.
- 14 Olympia.
- 13 Poet.
- 12 Sacha.
- 11 Collins.
The rarest letters in English are j, q, x, and z.
What letter is most unused in names? ›As you can probably guess, the letter Z is the least commonly used letter in the English alphabet. (In American English, this letter is pronounced “zee.”) The letter Q is the second least commonly used letter. In English words, Q is almost always followed by the letter U.
What girl names start with an A and meaning? ›- Abilene - (Hebrew) Means "meadow"
- Adaline/Adalyn/Adalynne - (English) Means "noble"
- Addison - (Old English) Means "son of Adam"
- Adorinda - (Spanish) Means "adoration"
- Aferdita - (Albanian) Means "daybreak"
- Agnessa - (Greek) Means "chaste"
- Aisling - (Irish) Means "dream"
- Adolf.
- Adolph.
- Alf.
- Algie.
- Almond.
- Arthurine.
- Babe.
- Barb.
What name in the Bible starts with an A? ›
Name | Meaning | Origin |
---|---|---|
Aaron | A teacher; lofty; mountain of strength. | Biblical Names, Hebrew Baby Names, Shakespearean Baby Names, American Baby Names |
Abaddon | The destroyer. | Biblical Names |
Abagtha | Father of the wine-press. | Biblical Names |
Abana | Made of stone, a building. | Biblical Names |
Kushim is the earliest known recorded name of a person in writing. The name "Kushim" is found on several Uruk period (c. 3400–3000 BCE) clay tablets used to record transactions of barley.