Here's a little secret about me — I absolutely love names. It all began when I was back in elementary school and started writing fictional stories. To me, a character's name was just as important as their personality. I wanted to give each person a name that wasn't hard to pronounce but was unique in its own way.
When it came to naming my own child, there were more things at stake. When naming kids, you don't want to joke around. Nor do you want to accidentally give them initials you're ashamed of, or a name that can easily morph into an insult. You really need to think about all the angles.
That's why sometimes it's good to play it safe. Even though some baby names are constantly on the "most popular" list, it's likely because they're universally loved. The truth of the matter is, some people go the unique route because they worry about their child having a top 20 name. Still, there's not too much of a chance that their Ava will end up being in a class with 12 people who have her exact name. One or two? Maybe. But even that's often a long shot.
Here are the top 20 baby girl names of 2020 so far, along with some more information on how they originated.
20. Sofia
Sofia is a classic name, which is likely why it's so popular. According to Nameberry, it has a Greek origin and means "wisdom." It's slightly more popular with the spelling of Sophia, but both names are similar enough. You can also shorten it to Sophie if you feel the need.
19. Zoey
What can you say? Zoey is the new Chloe. It's always been a popular name, but it's becoming more prominent in 2020. It can also be spelled Zoe if you're looking for something more traditional. Regardless of how you spell it, it's a Greek name that translates to "life," which is special for any baby.
18. Abigail
Abigail is a beautiful and versatile name that's currently the 18th most popular for girls. You can shorten it to either Abby or Gail — or keep it as-is. Nameberry reports that Abigail is a Jewish name that means "my father is joyful." It's perfect for any daddy's girl-to-be.
17. Avery
Avery is a beautiful name choice, which is likely why it's ranking as No. 17. As FamilyEducation points out, it used to traditionally be a boy's name until it successfully crossed over as a unisex name. Avery has a pretty incredible meaning behind it: "ruler of the elves."
16. Ellie
Ellie can be short for Eleanor or Elliot, but it can also serve as its own name. It reportedly has an English origin and means "bright shining one," which is probably one of the reasons why it's so popular. Famous Ellies include singer Ellie Goulding and actress Ellie Kemper.
15. Evelyn
Evelyn is another classic name that has a lot of possibilities. Eve or Evie are popular shortened nicknames. That said, the name is slowly going down the charts. Nameberry reports that in 2018, Evelyn — which means "wished for child" — was actually the 10th most popular name for a newborn baby girl.
14. Mila
This might have entered the top 20 due to actress Mila Kunis. But, to be fair, the name has actually been around since 1881. It's a Slavic name that somewhat originated from the name Margaret, and it means "gracious" and "dear." Any young girl would be happy to have it as a name.
13. Aria
Game of Thrones fans know you can also spell this name as Arya, if you so choose. This name is rising in popularity. Back in 2018, it was pegged as being the 19th most popular. Now it's currently sitting pretty at No. 13. The name, which has an Italian origin, means "song or melody."
12. Camila
Singer Camila Cabello might be one of the reasons why this name has been rising in popularity. The name, which has a Spanish origin, means "young ceremonial attendant." In spelling it, some people chose to go with Camilla. Camila is most often pronounced "Ca-me-la."
11. Ella
There are so many famous, noteworthy Ellas out there — but the best by far is legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. Ella is no stranger to the top 20. The name means "fairy maiden," and has both German and English origins. Nameberry states that the name is also fairly popular in Australia and Sweden.
10. Luna
Chrissy Teigen may have been responsible for making Luna a top 10 baby name. And if it wasn't her, then it might have been the Harry Potter franchise. Luna is an Italian name that means "moon," and it's soared in popularity this past decade.
9. Harper
This is the name of a future poet or singer. The unisex name has been in the top 10 for years — since 2015, to be specific — with no signs of slowing down. Plenty of celebrities have also chosen the name for their own children, including actor/comedians David Spade and Bill Hader and musician Dave Grohl.
8. Charlotte
While always a classic name, the royal family may have given it a bit of a nudge after Kate Middleton and Prince William named their daughter Charlotte. It's a name with a French background that originates from the male name of Charles. A lot of parents choose to shorten it to Charlie or Lottie.
7. Amelia
Amelia is another classic that's going through a popular spell. The German name means "work," and famous Amelias include Amelia Earhart and the fictional Amelia Bedelia. It's cute, easy to say, and very sweet for a new baby.
6. Mia
Mia typically means "mine," which makes it a very personal and emotional newborn name. It's been featured in the top 10 for years, and it may very well be there to stay. One of the most popular Mias is actress Mia Farrow, who was given the birth name of Maria. If you like Mia but want it to stand out a little more, Maya is a fun alternative.
5. Sophia
Look familiar? Don't worry, you're not seeing double. The name Sophia is so popular that both spellings have ended up in the top 20. That doesn't mean you should spell it in a different way in order to be unique. There's plenty of room in this world for multiple Sofias and Sophias.
4. Isabella
Isabella, and Bella, have both outlived the Twilight saga hype. You might not know this, but Isabella is the Spanish and Italian variation of Elizabeth, which is another classically beautiful name. Other nicknames include Izzy, which is much less popular (yet still adorable).
3. Ava
It's easy to say, and technically only includes two letters. What more could you ask for? Ava has Latin roots and comes from the word "life." It's been the No. 3 baby girl name since 2018, which means that you may bump into another little Ava at some point in time. If you like this name, you might also want to consider Eva or Avery, which are both similar.
2. Emma
Maybe Rachel Green on Friends helped keep this name trendy. There are so many popular Emmas out there that it's been on the Top 10 girls name list for years. The name means "universal," and actresses Emma Watson and Emma Stone seem pretty content with it.
1. Olivia
Olivia is currently the most popular baby girl name of 2020. And not just in America — in places like Australia, Canada, and the UK as well. Not surprisingly, Oliver is also a very popular baby boy name. The sound of both of them is just quite pleasing. Actresses Olivia Wilde and Olivia Munn and singer Olivia Newton-John are some of the most famous Olivias out there to date.
