Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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…
What is the Ferber Method, and is sleep training safe for my baby?
Is sleep training using the Ferber Method right for your child? Learn more here
A baby awake in their crib in a sleep sack.

One thing every parent has in common is sleep deprivation. No one really tells you before you welcome your bundle of joy just how sleepless your nights, days, and everything in between can be with a new baby in the house, but it doesn't take long to learn the hard way. Getting your baby to sleep can be a struggle, which is why many parents choose to sleep train their baby, often using the Ferber Method.
The Ferber Method is named for Richard Ferber, M.D., a pediatrician who created the method in the mid-80s and based his 1985 bestselling book,  on his methodology. If you've been struggling with sleep deprivation and are eager to get just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, sleep training may be something to consider.

What is the Ferber Method?
The Ferber Method, also referred to as "graduated extinction" is a method of sleep training that helps teach your child to self-soothe so they will eventually learn to go to sleep on their own and fall back asleep should they wake in the middle of the night. It involves putting your child to bed while they're still awake and allowing them to fuss or cry for specified timed intervals before responding. Gradually, you begin to increase the amount of time you allow your child to self-soothe before checking on them.

Read more
When do babies smile and laugh? Social cue timelines, explained
When to expect a baby to smile and laugh. Here's when those sweet moments usually happen
Newborn smiling while asleep

New parenthood can be fraught with worry — is my child sleeping enough? Eating enough? It can be challenging to navigate your concerns on so little sleep.

Then, the subject of milestones comes up. Parents — understandably — want their babies to be on track (or advanced). It’s a sign that things are going how they should, even if life feels messy. Some of the first milestones: Smiles and laughs. The moments are priceless — get your camera ready — but often something a parent may ruminate about after a night feeding. When do babies smile? When do babies laugh?

Read more
What is the most common birthday month? The holidays play a key factor
The most common birthday dates (and the most common month) have one thing in common...
Getting ready for an outside birthday party

Have you noticed there's a specific month when everyone in your child's class has a birthday? Notice months that no one seems to have a birthday at all? There's a reason for that, and it has to do with the timing of the holidays. The most common birthday month that will keep you baking treats for your children's friends and have you constantly running from birthday party to birthday party is at the start of the school year for a reason.
Every child seems to be born in this month
No secret to September
Yes, September has the most common birthday dates. Why? Well, do the math backward, and where does that land you? During the holidays! And what do we do during the holidays?

Between the parties, gatherings, the holiday spirit -- and perhaps the holiday drinks -- we are in better moods, which leads to more adults enjoying each other's company. Plus, it's cold outside and we stay indoors longer. Track those nine months, and September is where the babies land.
The most common birthdays in order

Read more