Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

The sweetest baby girl names that start with the letter “A”

By

There are many lovely girl names, both classic and modern, that start with the letter A. Here are a few ideas for families looking for sweet “A” names for their new baby girl.

Alice

A classic name, and most famously the heroine of Alice in Wonderland, this name means “noble” and “kind” and has roots in Old French and German. Popular variants include Allison and Alicia. It’s a name with real staying power — though rarely breaking into the top 10 in any given year, it is in the top 100 names given to girls in the United States in the past 100 years.

Recommended Videos

Adelaide 

This lovely name shares roots and has the same meaning as Alice — “noble” and “kind”. It lends itself to the adorable nickname Addy. A little Adelaide will share her name with everyone from a 10th-century saint to one of the heroines in the musical Guys and Dolls.

Related

Amaryllis

Flower names are always lovely, and Amaryllis is no exception. A little Amaryllis will share her name with a gorgeous flower that can be deep-red or light pink. In Ancient Greek mythology, Amaryllis was a nymph who loved a shepherd and pierced her heart with a golden arrow to win his love; the story explains that the flower that shares her name bloomed from her blood. The name means “sparking” or “bright”. The name appears in ancient works by Virgil and Ovid, the English pastoral poets, and famously in the popular musical The Music Man.

Getty Images / Johner Images

Amalia/Amelia

From the Germanic word for “work” or “activity”, the name Amalia means “industrious”. It predates and is less common than its English-language variant Amelia, which was the sixth most popular given name for girls in the United States in 2020. From Amelia Earhart to Amelia Bedelia, a little Amelia will find lots of women to look up to with her name. Parents looking for a more unusual variant might consider Amelie, most famously the name of the beloved 2001 French film.

Anika/Annika

This name could be a lovely choice for a family that wants to honor an Ann or Anna in the family while giving their daughter a slightly more unusual name. From the Russian word for “grace”, a little Annika will share her name with characters from Pippi Longstocking and Star Trek.

Ariadne

In Greek mythology, Ariadne helped her beloved Theseus escape from a maze where he was sent to slay a minotaur by giving him a ball of string that would help him retrace his steps. The name means “most holy”. This name is fairly unusual, and just barely squeaked into the top thousand United States girls’ names in 2019, coming in at 999. A little Ariadne could go by the much more common name “Ari” as well.

Aurelia

This name combines the beauty of a classic name with the uniqueness of a modern one. It’s a feminine form of the last name “Aurelius”, which was the name of Roman emperors. It means “golden”

Aiden

This name has become wildly popular in recent years for boys but remains a more unusual and modern choice for girls. Aiden was the name of an Irish saint who lived in the seventh century who is considered a protector. The name Aiden means “fiery” or “bright” and is thus perfect for a spirited little girl. It can also be spelled Aidyn or Ayden for a more feminine twist.

Aspen

This is a modern name whose popularity has been climbing in recent years, but is still unusual enough that it’s likely that your Aspen will be the only one in her class. It evokes the beautiful tall trees, and, of course, the famous ski slopes of Colorado. For families who love nature and trees or skiing, this is a unique and lovely name.

marina shin / Shutterstock

Arya

The name Arya has gotten a huge boost in popularity from Game of Thrones fans who are inspired by the journey of Arya Stark, the fierce young fighter. While there may not have been anything particular “sweet” about that character, it’s a beautiful name for a little girl whose life will be full of daring adventures. The name has origins in Persian and Sanskrit, and means “noble” or “honorable”.

Avery

A unisex name that’s grown in popularity in recent years, Avery means both “wise” and “ruler of the elf-kingdom”. The name has appeared in the book Charlotte’s Web and the show 30 Rock. In the 1800s, Avery was exclusively a male name, but now it’s much more commonly a female one; currently, among new babies with this name, more than 70% are girls.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Jaffe
Sarah Jaffe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Sarah Jaffe is a former lawyer and parenting writer who lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and four-year-old…
Baby registry must-haves: This is everything that should be on your list
Here's the ultimate list of what you need, so the only thing to worry about getting is sleep
Couple sitting in the nursery

From picking out a name to picking out a nursery theme, having a baby comes with a thousand decisions that need to be made before you even have to start raising a little human. From the moment you find out you are pregnant, the list of what you'll need to buy grows by the minute. But what do you need, and what can you skip? We have the baby registry must-haves, so you will have all the items you'll need when you welcome your newest family member.
The best places for your baby registry

Go big box or go online? No matter where you register, make sure you understand how the site or store works and check out perks like coupons for the rest of your wish list or free gifts for signing up.
Big box stores are always a good idea

Read more
Glass vs. plastic baby bottles: Here’s what doctors have to say
How to choose the best bottle for your little one
A cluster of different baby bottles in a bowl.

Having a baby can be overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. It means making endless decisions about day-to-day activities and how they can impact the baby's safety. Even something as simple as choosing the type of bottle to use becomes an important decision. Glass vs. plastic baby bottles: Which is a healthier choice?

A baby's bottle is a vital purchase, and it's certainly worth exploring all the factors when it comes to glass or plastic baby bottles for health, convenience, and cost concerns. There are trade-offs to consider with each. So, here's what parents need to know when it comes to glass vs. plastic baby bottles.
The scoop on plastic baby bottles
With all the concerns around chemicals in plastics, it's natural for parents to wonder if anything from a plastic baby bottle might find its way into their baby's milk.

Read more
What is a baby sprinkle (and how to plan a great one)
Why you should at least have a baby sprinkle even if you already have a child
Cake for a baby shower.

We all know the standard pregnancy celebrations. We've seen gender reveal photoshoots all over social media and have been invited or know someone who has gone to at least one baby shower. But what about when someone is having a second baby? Or is having the first girl after two back-to-back boys? Well, that's where having a baby sprinkle comes in handy. Whether it's been a few years since the last little one or you're having one of the opposite gender and only need a few items, here's why a baby sprinkle is the perfect way to welcome this new addition.
What is a baby sprinkle?

If you don't know anything about pregnancy parties, think of it in scientific terms. What is a shower versus a sprinkle when it rains? Not as much water for one as the other, right? Take that and apply it to a baby shower versus a baby sprinkle. Think of a baby sprinkle as that grocery trip where you only need the fillers, and you're not restocking the whole kitchen.
If you already have a baby
If you are parents to one child (or two or three), you probably have most of the stuff you need from the last child. But if there were items you wish you would have grabbed for the first one or you have a list of needs for this next baby, a sprinkle is the perfect forum to get those goods.
If it's been a few years since you've had a baby
Even if you already have a child, maybe this next one is a few years further away than you wanted or planned. A baby sprinkle is the best way to get those items you may have donated, lost, or broke with the first kiddo.
If you have only one gender but find out you are having the other
Have all boys? You will want a sprinkle to get some girl items. Have only girls? You might use a sprinkle to get at least one item that isn't pink. Not that certain colors are meant for boys or girls, but maybe you had a Minnie Mouse-themed nursery, and you'd like your first boy to have a new theme for their nursery.
Let's sprinkle the details
A baby sprinkle isn't going to be exactly like your baby shower. It's more of a low-key event, should be less stressful, and is less formal.

Read more