Which girls' name is particularly popular in 2026? Which first names sound modern but are still timeless? And what meaning lies behind names like Sophia, Emma, Emilia, Mila, or Malia?
Choosing a first name is one of the most beautiful yet difficult decisions for many expectant parents during pregnancy. After all, the name accompanies the child for a lifetime.
In this overview, you will find 100 popular girls' names for 2026, their meanings, current trends, and practical tips for choosing a name.
The direct answer
Sophia is currently the most popular girls' name in 2026. Emma, Emilia, Mia, and Hannah follow. Since the year 2026 is not yet over, this is a preliminary assessment and not a final annual ranking.
The preliminary top 10 girls' names of 2026
An initial assessment of around 7,000 birth registrations shows the following preliminary ranking. The list may still change as the year progresses.
- 1 Sophia
- 2 Emma
- 3 Emilia
- 4 Mia
- 5 Hannah
- 6 Ida
- 7 Mila
- 8 Emily
- 9 Lia
- 10 Malia
Once the name is decided
Turn the name into a lasting memory
Our personalized wooden train is customized with the name and birth details, combining the choice of name with a personal gift for the birth.
Discover personalized wooden train100 popular girls' names 2026 with meanings
The following list combines the most common girls' names of 2025 with the early trends for 2026. It serves as inspiration and does not represent a final official ranking for the entire year 2026.
Some names have multiple linguistic origins. Therefore, a name may be interpreted differently depending on the source and origin.
- 1. Sophia Wisdom
- 2. Emma the Great, the Universal
- 3. Emilia the Zealous, the Imitator
- 4. Hannah Grace and favor
- 5. Lina depending on origin, the Gentle or the Free
- 6. Mia Short form of Maria; meaning depends on interpretation
- 7. Clara the Bright, the Clear, and the Famous
- 8. Ella often associated with radiance and brightness
- 9. Mila the Beloved, the Pleasant
- 10. Lia depending on origin, the Lioness or the Weary
- 11. Leni Short form of Helena; the Radiant
- 12. Ida the Worker, the Industrious
- 13. Lilly the Lily; symbol of purity
- 14. Mathilda the mighty warrior
- 15. Marie Variant of Maria; meaning is not unambiguous
- 16. Frieda the Peaceful
- 17. Maja depending on origin, the Great or the Mother
- 18. Lea depending on interpretation, the Lioness or the Weary
- 19. Emily the Zealous
- 20. Malia Hawaiian form of Maria
- 21. Amelie the Industrious, the Brave
- 22. Anna the Favored
- 23. Leonie the Lioness
- 24. Charlotte the Free
- 25. Nora Short form of various names; often associated with light
- 26. Luisa the famous warrior
- 27. Luna the Moon
- 28. Romy Short form of Rosemarie; also the Roman
- 29. Sophie Wisdom
- 30. Mira depending on origin, the Wonderful or the Peaceful
- 31. Amalia the Industrious, the Brave
- 32. Juna meaning varies depending on origin
- 33. Johanna God is gracious
- 34. Lotta Short form of Charlotte; the Free
- 35. Lara meaning varies depending on linguistic origin
- 36. Helena the Radiant
- 37. Maria biblical name with different interpretations
- 38. Thea the Divine or gift of God
- 39. Paula the Little, the Younger
- 40. Elisa God is abundance
- 41. Sarah the Princess
- 42. Lena Short form of various names; often the Radiant
- 43. Antonia female form of Antonius
- 44. Nele Short form of Cornelia; meaning is not unambiguous
- 45. Olivia the olive tree
- 46. Ayla depending on origin, moonlight or oak tree
- 47. Victoria the victory, the victor
- 48. Elena the Radiant
- 49. Carla the Free
- 50. Elina the Radiant
- 51. Tilda Short form of Mathilda; the mighty warrior
- 52. Eva the life
- 53. Aurelia the Golden
- 54. Livia Roman family name; meaning is not unambiguous
- 55. Hailey the hay meadow
- 56. Isabella God is perfection
- 57. Mara meaning varies depending on origin
- 58. Elli Short form of various female first names
- 59. Carlotta the Free
- 60. Liana Short form of various names; also a climbing plant
- 61. Alia the Sublime
- 62. Marlene combination of Maria and Magdalena
- 63. Alma the Nourishing, the Kind
- 64. Amira the Princess, the Ruler
- 65. Cleo the Glorious
- 66. Laura the laurel-crowned
- 67. Fiona the Bright, the White
- 68. Zoe the life
- 69. Paulina the Little
- 70. Arya depending on origin, the Noble or the Loyal
- 71. Alina depending on origin, the Noble or the Radiant
- 72. Merle the blackbird
- 73. Melina the honey-sweet
- 74. Eliana God has answered
- 75. Aaliyah the Sublime
- 76. Josephine God may increase
- 77. Luise the famous warrior
- 78. Malea meaning varies depending on origin
- 79. Alea meaning varies depending on linguistic origin
- 80. Amelia the Industrious, the Brave
- 81. Mina Short form of various names
- 82. Rosalie the Rose
- 83. Chiara the Bright, the Clear
- 84. Liv Life or protection
- 85. Julia from the Julii family
- 86. Rosa the Rose
- 87. Valentina the Strong, the Healthy
- 88. Mariam Variant of Maria
- 89. Ava depending on origin, life, voice, or bird
- 90. Malina depending on origin, raspberry or short form of other names
- 91. Elisabeth God is abundance
- 92. Pauline the Little
- 93. Leyla the Night
- 94. Isabell God is perfection
- 95. Malou A combination of Marie and Louise
- 96. Pia the pious
- 97. Aylin moonlight
- 98. Martha the lady
- 99. Amara depending on origin, the immortal or the lovely
- 100. Finja meaning not clearly established
A keepsake that lasts
The name is decided? Make it last on a personalized birth gift
Our personalized wooden train is designed with the baby's name and birth details. This creates a personal keepsake of the birth that can accompany the nursery for many years.
- Personalizable with name and birth details
- Personal keepsake of the birth
- Suitable for girls and boys
- Individually finished in Bocholt
Each wooden train is individually designed according to the desired details.
How to find the right girl's name
A first name should not only sound beautiful on its own. It is also crucial how it sounds together with the surname. Therefore, say the full name out loud several times.
Also think about possible short forms, nicknames and different spellings. A name that sounds sweet for a baby should ideally also suit an adult woman.
Five important questions before making the final decision
- Does the first name sound harmonious together with the surname?
- Is the pronunciation easy for other people to understand?
- Do you also like the likely short forms and nicknames?
- Does the name suit the existing siblings' names?
- Can you also imagine the name on an adult person?
Free name finder
Still haven't found the perfect girl's name?
Discover more first names, meanings and suitable name ideas for your baby in our Schmatzepuffer name finder.
Start name finder nowWhich girl's names are trending in 2026?
Current girl's name trends show several directions. Short names, soft sounds, internationally understandable first names and newly discovered classics are particularly in demand.
Which girl's names are rare but not too unusual?
Parents who do not want to choose one of the permanently leading names often look for a first name that sounds familiar but is not heard everywhere. Examples of this are Juna, Elina, Tilda, Romy, Malia, Mira, Aurelia, Malou, Alma and Rosalie.
How rare a name actually is can vary greatly regionally. A name can be common in one city and hardly prevalent in another region.
The name is decided – now only the right gift is missing
A personalized birth gift combines the selected first name with a special keepsake. At Schmatzepuffer® you will find gift ideas that can be designed with the baby's name, date of birth, time, weight or size.
Should the name also be visible in the nursery later? A personalized 3D name sign for the nursery makes it part of the room as decoration.
Discover personalized birth giftsFrequently asked questions about the most popular girl's names in 2026
Which girl's name is most popular in 2026?
According to the first preliminary evaluation, Sophia is in 1st place in 2026. Emma, Emilia, Mia and Hannah follow. The final ranking will only be determined after the end of the year.
Which girl's names are in the top 10 in 2026?
The preliminary top 10 are Sophia, Emma, Emilia, Mia, Hannah, Ida, Mila, Emily, Lia and Malia.
Which short girl's names are modern?
Popular short girl's names include Mia, Ida, Ella, Mila, Lia, Ava, Liv, Zoe, Pia and Eva.
Which rare girl's names are trending?
Juna, Elina, Tilda, Romy, Malia, Mira, Malou, Alma and Aurelia are considered modern alternatives to the permanently leading names.
Which girl's names mean life?
Eva and Zoe are directly associated with life. Liv also means life or protection depending on linguistic origin. Ava can also be interpreted as life.
Which girl's names mean light or radiant?
Clara, Helena, Elena, Elina and Leni are often associated with light, brightness or radiance.
Which girl's names mean strength?
Mathilda and Tilda mean powerful warrior in essence. Valentina is associated with strength and health, while Victoria stands for victory.
Is there an official German first name statistic?
There is no single central official overall statistic for all first names given in Germany. Well-known rankings are based on extensive reports from civil registry offices and birth clinics.
Conclusion: The most beautiful girl's name is the one that suits you
First name rankings can give you orientation, but should not decide the choice alone. What is important is the sound, the meaning, the combination with the surname and above all your personal feeling.
Whether you decide on Sophia, Emma, Emilia, Mila, Juna or a completely different name: The right first name is the one with which you still feel comfortable after many years.
Editorial status: August 6, 2026.
The preliminary top 10 for 2026 is based on an early evaluation of around 7,000 birth reports. For additional context, the first name evaluations for the year 2025 were taken into account. A final ranking for the entire year 2026 is not yet available.
