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There are quite a few responsibilities that come with bringing a new child into the world, from feeding the child, to changing the child, to pacifying the child, and more. One of the big responsibilities is giving that child a proper name. A name sticks with a person for the rest of his or her life, so it better be a good one. Perhaps you’re having a girl and aren’t sure what to call her. Here are the top 10 best names for baby girls in 2017.
1. Emma
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The most popular name for newborn baby girls in both 2016 and 2017, Emma originates from German and means “whole” or “universal.” The name has been popular since the 19th century, but dipped in popularity over the majority of the 20th century. It has seen an increase in popularity since around 1990. There are quite a few famous people named Emma, including actress Emma Watson, actress Emma Thompson, and actress Emma Stone.
2. Olivia
The second most popular name for newborn baby girls in both 2016 and 2017, Olivia originates from Greek and means “olive tree.” The name is the female version of Oliver, first used by William Shakespeare in his play, Twelfth Night. Increasing in popularity since 1990, it has just recently peaked. Famous people named Olivia include singer and actress Olivia Newton-John as well as actress Olivia Munn.
3. Sophia
Sophia originates from Greek and means “wisdom.” While the name has been used for quite a while, it started to increase in popularity in the early 1990s, peaking around 2010. At this time, it’s the 5th most popular name for newborn baby girl. Famous people named Sophia include actress Sophia Loren, director Sophia Coppola, and actress Sofia Vergara.
4. Mia
Short for the name Maria, Mia originates from Latin and means “mine” or “wished-for child.” The name has increased in popularity steadily since the mid 1990s, probably around the same time that American soccer player Mia Hamm was taking the country by storm. It’s currently the 6th most popular name for newborn baby girls. Other famous people named Mia include actress Mia Farrow.
5. Charlotte
Currently the 8th most popular name for newborn baby girls, Charlotte originates from French and means “petite” or “feminine.” The name is the feminine form of the name Charles, and has often been used by royalty. The name has had moments of increased popularity over the years, but saw a huge upshoot in the early 2000s. Famous people named Charlotte include author Charlotte Bronte and many more.
6. Isabella
The name Isabella is currently the 3rd most popular name for newborn baby girls. Hebrew in origin, it means “devoted to God.” A variation of the name Elizabeth, it has been a name used by royalty many times over. England, France, Portugal, and Hungary have all had royalty with the name. Popular variations of the name included Bella and Izzy. Famous people named Isabella include Italian actress Isabella Rossellini.
7. Harper
Harper started as a last name used to describe someone who played the harp. It has since evolved into quite the popular first name for girls. It is currently the 9th most popular name for newborn baby girls. While it possessed little to no popularity until around 2008, it has quickly shot up the ranks. The most famous person named Harper is the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee.
8. Ava
German in origin, the name Ava is believed to be taken from the latin word “avis,” which means “bird.” However, the name is also a variation of the name Eve, which is Hebrew in origin, and means “life.” Currently the 4th most popular name for newborn baby girls, it shot to prominence in the early 2000s, peaking around 2005. Famous people named Ava include actress Ava Gardner.
9. Madison
Currently the 13th most popular name for newborn baby girls, Madison is English in origin, taken from the medieval name Madde. The name first started to gain traction in the early 90s, gradually growing in popularity until it peaked around 2002. It has since been going downhill consistently, but is still being used by plenty of parents. Famous people named Madison include president James Madison and first lady Dolley Madison.
10. Aria
Teutonic in origin, Aria means “air” in Italian, “solo” in opera, “lion of God” in Hebrew, and “bird” in Teutonic. The name is currently the 10th most popular name for newborn baby girls, shooting up 7 spots since last year. Its popularity started to increase around 2008, and has grown gradually since. Famous people named Aria include Filipina singer Aria Clemente and French singer Aria Crescendo.
Image Courtesy of Flickr User Hebe Aguilera