Overview
Cool and famous baby names that start with L for girls include “Lupita” after Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and “Lily ” after British-American actress Lily Jane Collins.
Are you thinking of also choosing an L girl name for your little princess? We’ve prepared this list of baby names with meanings and popularity ranks to jumpstart your search. (1)
Our Top Selections: Names That Start With L For Girls
Leona
- Origin: Latin girl name
- Meaning: Badass girl name that means “lioness”
- Pronunciation: “lee-oh-nah”
- Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #534
- Namesakes: British actress and singer-songwriter Leona Louise Lewis and American author Leona Dalrymple
- Variants: Leone and Liona; also a feminine version of the powerful boy name “Leon”
Leyla
- Origin: Sanskrit and Arabic girl name
- Meaning: Also a black girl name that means “night beauty,” “dark,” or “night”
- Pronunciation: “lay-lah”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #593
- Namesakes: Peruvian volleyball player Leyla Chihuán and Turkish operatic soprano Leyla Gencer
- Variants: Layla, Lyla, Laila, and Leila
Louise
- Origin: Old German girl name
- Meaning: Warrior name that means “to battle or fight,” “renowned warrior,” “loud,” or “famous warrior”
- Pronunciation: “loo-eez”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #638
- Namesakes/Description: English high jumper Louise Miller and American story-writer, critic, and poet Louise Chandler Moulton
- Variants: Lluïsa (Catalan – Western Romance name), Loes (Dutch), Heloísa (Portuguese), Louisa, and Lou
The Most Popular Girl Names Starting With L
Lillian
- Origin: Latin girl name
- Meaning: Flower name for girls that means “lily” or a spiritual name that means “pledged to God”
- Also an elegant girl name because the lily is also considered a symbol of elegance and purity
- Pronunciation: “lil-eeh-uhn”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #50
- Namesakes: French ice hockey player Lilian Prunet and American author Lillian Smith
- Variants: Lilian, Lilly, Lilliane, Lily, Liliana, and Lilliann
Lucy
- Origin: Latin and English girl name
- Meaning: Name that means “light” or “light bringer”
- Pronunciation: “loo-see”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #48
- Namesakes: Magical girl name after Lucy Pevensie, the youngest of the Pevensies in “The Chronicles of Narnia” novel series
- Variants: Lucia, Lucette, and Lucinda
Trendy & Modern Girl Names Starting With L
Laurie
- Origin: Latin girl name
- Meaning: “Symbol of victory,” “sweet bay tree,” “from Laurentum (after the ancient Roman city of Latium),” or “laurel”
- Pronunciation: “lorr-eeh”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes/Description: Canadian cyclist Laurie Jussaume and American-born Mexican international soccer player Laurie Hill
- Also a middle name for girls (such as English singer-songwriter Adele Laurie Blue Adkins)
- Variants: Laura, Lowri (Welsh), Lauren, Lauri, and Lovro (Croatian)
Leslie
- Origin: Scottish girl name
- Meaning: “Holly garden”
- Pronunciation: “lez-lee”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #652
- Namesakes: American actress Leslie Bibb and French actress Leslie Caron
- Variants: Leslee and Lesley
Liv
- Origin: Scandinavian, Nordic, and English girl name
- Meaning: 1 syllable girl name that means “life”
- Pronunciation: “leev”
- Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #728
- Namesakes: Norwegian model and actress Liv Lindeland and American actress Liv Rundgren Tyler (the daughter of singer Steven Tyler)
- Variants: Livia
Lottie
- Origin: French girl name
- Meaning: Vintage girl name that means “free man (or woman)” or “little and womanly”
- Pronunciation: “lot-eeh”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #950
- Namesakes: American actress Lottie Briscoe and British actress Lottie Blackford
- Variants: Also a short form of “Carlotta” and “Charlotte”
Lucille
- Origin: French name for girls
- Meaning: Name that means “light”
- Pronunciation: “loo-seel”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #281
- Namesakes: German speed skater Lucille Opitz and American actress Lucille Bliss
- Variants: Lucilla, Lucija, and Llúcia
Mythical L Names For Girls
Lara
- Origin: Latin, Greek, and Russian girl name
- Meaning: “Citadel,” “protection,” or “cheerful”
- Pronunciation: “lah-rah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #695
- Namesakes: American actress Lara Flynn Boyle and Belgian professional racing cyclist Lara Defour
- Also a mystical name after the Amazonian mermaid known as the “Lady of the Lake”
- Variants: Larah, Larra, or Larrah
Luna
- Origin: Italian, Latin, and Spanish girl name
- Meaning: Name that means “moon”
- Pronunciation: “loo-nah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #10
- Namesakes: American actress and singer Luna Blaise and Dutch-Italian beauty pageant titleholder and model Luna Voce
- Also a goddess name after the Roman goddess of the moon
- Variants: Loona, Louna, and Lunette
Which Names Are Best For Girls Starting With L?
Lacey
- Origin: English gender-neutral name
- Meaning: “Cheerful” or “from Lassey (a place in France)”
- Pronunciation: “lay-see”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #875
- Namesakes: American actress Lacey Chabert and skateboarder Lacey Baker
- Variants: Lassy, Lacy, and Lassey
Lorraine
- Origin: German girl name
- Meaning: Strong girl name that means “famous army”
- Pronunciation: “lor-ayn”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American ice dancer Lorraine McNamara and Jamaican athlete Lorraine Fenton
- Variants: Laurène, Lauren, Loraine, and Lorainne
What Are The Prettiest & Most Beautiful Girl Names That Start With L?
Lilac
- Origin: English and Persian girl name
- Meaning: Girl plant name that means “flowering pale-purple shrub”
- Also a name that means “purple” or “bluish purple color”
- Pronunciation: “lai-lak”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English actress Lilac Emery-Haynes
- Also a middle name for girls (such as celebrity kid Tallulah Lilac Morgan, the daughter of actress Jessie Wallace and boyfriend Dave Morgan)
- Variants: Lilach and Lila (Filipino girl name)
Lydia
- Origin: Greek and Hebrew girl name
- Meaning: “Beautiful one” (name that means “beautiful”) or “noble one”
- Pronunciation: “leed-yah”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #93
- Namesakes: American fashion model Lydia Marie Hearst-Shaw and Puerto Rican actress Lydia Echevarría
- Variants: Lidka (Polish girl name), Lidija, and Lidia
What Are Cute Girls’ Names?
Leanne
- Origin: British girl name
- Meaning: “To twine around”
- Pronunciation: “lee-ann”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Australian fiction writer Leanne Frahm and American gymnast Leanne Wong
- Variants: Leane, LeeAnn, and Liane
Lennox
- Origin: Scottish nonbinary name
- Meaning: Earthy name that means “place of elms”
- Pronunciation: “len-ox”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #613 (girls)
- Namesakes: Also a last name (e.g., Scottish singer-songwriter and political activist Annie Lennox)
- Variants: Lenox
Cool L Baby Girl Names
Libby
- Origin: English girl name
- Meaning: “God is my oath,” “pledged to God,” or “God’s promise”
- Pronunciation: “lee-bee”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: British author Libby Rees and American crime fiction writer Libby Fischer Hellmann
- Variants: Also a short form of “Elizabeth” or a nickname for “Liberty”
Liling
- Origin: Chinese girl name
- Meaning: “White jasmine,” “beautiful jade tinkle,” or “sound of white jasmine”
- Pronunciation: “lee-leeng”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: California-based lawyer LiLing Poh
- Variants: Also fashioned as LiLing and Li Ling
Lyda
- Origin: Greek girl name
- Meaning: “Of the nobility,” “happy,” or “beautiful one”
- Pronunciation: “lie-dah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American stage and film actress Lyda Roberti and Italian actress Lyda Borelli
- Variants: Lydda
What Are The Most Unique & Rarest Girl Names?
Laverne
- Origin: Latin girl name
- Meaning: “Of spring” or “the alder tree”
- Pronunciation: “lah-vurn”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American cartoon animator Laverne Harding and actress Laverne Cox
- Variants: Laverna and Lavverne
Leimomi
- Origin: Hawaiian girl name
- Meaning: Combination of “lei” (that means flowers or child) and “momi” (that means pearl) to mean “string of pearls,” “pearl necklace,” “pearl flowers,” or “pearl child”
- Pronunciation: “lay-moh-mee”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: New Zealand-based, Hawaiian-born fashion and textile historian, sewing teacher, and patternmaker Leimomi Oakes
- Variants: None
Lexley
- Origin: English unisex name
- Meaning: “Glade by the lake” or “lynx glade”
- Pronunciation: “lex-lee”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: None
- Variants: Lesley, Leslie, and Lezley
Old-Fashioned & Vintage Baby Girl Names Starting With L
Linda
- Origin: Spanish and German girl name
- Meaning: Hispanic girl name that means “pretty” or a nature name that means “linden tree”
- Pronunciation: “leen-dah”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #807
- Namesakes: British TV presenter and interior designer Linda Barker and American actress Linda Bove
- Variants: Lindy, Lynda, Lynnda, and Lindah
Lorelei
- Origin: German girl name
- Meaning: “Alluring” or “temptress”
- Pronunciation: “lorr-uh-ly”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #442
- Namesakes/Description: American singer and actress Lorelei Mahoney and American actress Lorelei Hill Butters
- Variants: Lorelai and Laurelei
Lynette
- Origin: Welsh and French girl name
- Meaning: “Idol” or “pretty one”
- Pronunciation: “lie-net”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Puerto Rican fashion model and actress Lynette Chico and Australian actress Lynette Curran
- Variants: Linette, Linnet, and Lynett
Spiritual & Biblical Girl Names Starting With L
Leah
- Origin: Hebrew and English girl name
- Meaning: “Delicate” or “weary”
- Also a nature name for girls that means “lioness” in Latin
- Pronunciation: “lay-uh”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #52
- Namesakes: Biblical name after Jacob’s first but unloved wife (he prefers Rachel, her sister)
- Modern namesakes include American fashion designer Leah McSweeney and actress Leah Remini
- Variants: Leia (Portuguese), Liya (Amharic – Afro-Asiatic and African girl name), and Lea
Lois
- Origin: Old German and Greek name for girls
- Meaning: “Superior” or “most beautiful”
- Pronunciation: “loh-ihs”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian singer Lois Lilienstein and American actress Lois Smith
- Biblical name after the grandmother of Timothy (Christian evangelist and the first Christian bishop of Ephesus)
- Variants: Loyce, Louise, Loise, and Louisa
Exotic L Girl Names From Around The World
Spanish Girl Names
Lola
- Origin: Spanish girl name
- Meaning: “Sorrow”
- Pronunciation: “loh-lah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #262
- Namesakes: American actress Lola Glaudini and Italian actress Lola Pagnani
- Variants: Lolla and Lula
Lorena
- Origin: Spanish girl name
- Meaning: Girl plant name that means “laurel”
- Pronunciation: “loh-reh-nah”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Mexican actress Lorena Velázquez and former professional golfer Lorena Ochoa
- Variants: Lorenna or Lorrena
Lucia
- Origin: Spanish, Latin, and Italian name for girls
- Meaning: Name that means “light”
- Pronunciation: “loo-see-yah”
- Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #126
- Namesakes: American short story writer Lucia Berlin and Dutch professional boxer Lucia Rijker
- Also an anime girl name after the protagonist in the “Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch” (an anime series)
- Variants: Lucija (Slovenian), Lucy, Lucey, and Lucie
African Girl Names
Lindiwe
- Origin: African girl name
- Meaning: Rainbow baby name that means “awaited”
- Pronunciation: “lin-dee-weh”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: South African politician and musician Lindiwe Mazibuko and Zimbabwean association football goalkeeper Lindiwe Magwede
- Variants: None
Lissa
- Origin: English, Dutch, and African girl name
- Also a black name of African origin
- Meaning: “Heart’s desire,” “God is my oath,” or a nature name that means “honey bee”
- Pronunciation: “lees-uh”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American artist Lissa Hunter and the African supreme mother goddess Lissa (also the queen of the gods in African mythology)
- Variants: Liza, Lisa, and Lissah
Hawaiian Girl Names
Lehua
- Origin: Hawaiian name for girls
- Meaning: “Flower of the ohia” or “Hawaii’s state flower”
- Can also be a pet name for girls meaning “sweetheart” or a strong name that means “warrior”
- Pronunciation: “ley-hoo-ah”
- Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Also a place name (an island in Hawaii)
- Variants: None
Leilani
- Origin: Hawaiian girl name
- Meaning: “Royal child” or “a heavenly garland of flowers”
- Pronunciation: “lay-lah-nee”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #59
- Namesakes: German snowboarder Leilani Ettel and American actress Leilani Jones Wilmore
- Variants: Laylani and Lelani
Short Girl Names Starting With L
Lana
- Origin: Slavic girl name
- Meaning: 4 letter girl name that means “shining,” “light,” “child,” “little rock,” “handsome,” “blessed,” “precious,” “wool,” or “fleece”
- Pronunciation: “lah-nah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #422
- Namesakes: American singer Lana Del Rey (born Elizabeth Grant) and actress Lana Parrilla
- Variants: Lanna and Lanah
Lena
- Origin: Persian girl name
- Meaning: “Torch” or “ray of light”
- Pronunciation: “leh-nah”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #251
- Namesakes: American actress, director, and writer Lena Dunham and British soul singer-songwriter Lena Fiagbe
- Variants: Lenah and Lenna
Lexie
- Origin: American girl name
- Meaning: “Defender of the people” or “man’s defender”
- Pronunciation: “lek-see”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #953
- Namesakes/Description: American actress Lexie Stevenson and softball player Lexie Elkins
- Variants: Lexi; also a short form of the Greek girl names “Alexandra” and “Alexandria”
Lyra
- Origin: Latin and Greek girl name
- Meaning: Musical girl name that means “lyre” (a musical instrument)
- Pronunciation: “lie-ruh”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #497
- Namesakes: Northern Irish author and journalist Lyra McKee
- Also an angel name after the character Lyra Dawnbringer in card game “Magic: The Gathering”
- Variants: Lyre and Lyrae
Lyric
- Origin: Greek nonbinary name
- Meaning: Musical name that means “lyre” or “words or a song”
- Pronunciation: “lee-rik”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American writer-actress Lyric Anderson and actress Lyric Lewis
- Variants: Lyrik
Long Girl Names Starting With L
- Lakelyn
- Leandra
- Luciana
- Lucrezia
Travel-Themed Girl Names Starting With L
- Lima
- London
- Lynbrook
- Lynwood
Gender-Neutral & Nonbinary Names Starting With L
- Lane (also spelled as Laney and Lainey)
- Lennon
- Logan
Other Girl Names That Start With The Letter L
- Laetitia
- Lailie
- Lakeisha
- Lakota
- Lakshana
- Lakshmi
- Lala
- Lalasa
- Lalima
- Lalita
- Lamilla
- Lamorna
- Lanaya
- Lanelle
- Lanette
- Lanikai
- Laquetta
- Laraine
- Laree
- Larissa
- Lasca
- Lastri
- Lateefah
- Latia
- Latisha
- Latoya
- Laurana
- Laurinda
- Lavani
- Laveda
- Lavinia
- Leala
- Leanah
- Leauna
- Leba
- Leewana
- Legend
- Lehana
- Lemana
- Lemuela
- Lenis
- Leoda
- Leoma
- Leontine
- Lewanna
- Lia
- Liana
- Liannaka
- Liezel
- Lilith
- Lina
- Lindsey
- Lisha
- Litsa
- Liva
- Livi
- Lizette
- Lodema
- Londyn
- Loretta
- Lorilee
- Luxury
Bonus: Popular Names For Baby Boys That Start With L
- Lance
- Larry
- Liam
- Lucas
Factors To Consider When Choosing An L Name For Your Little One
Consider The Spelling & Name Meanings
- Choose a baby name theme
- Check for the possible meanings of baby names
- Check the spellings and name variations
Make A Shortlist
- Consider adding notes to your shortlist, such as meanings, origins, and variations
- Create a shortlist of the names with your favorite meanings or spellings
Unique & Exotic Vs. Popular & Common Girl Names
- Remember that although unique names can make your baby girl stand out, rare spellings and invented names can be confusing or difficult to pronounce.
- Check whether a popular name (with a slight spelling difference, if you want) might fit your baby.
Consider Middle Names For Girls
- Try to mix and match names
- Check how the name combination sounds by saying them out loud
Baby Name Lists By Letter
- Girl names starting with A
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- Boy names that start with L
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- Boy names starting with R
- Boy names that start with V
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Popular & Trending Baby Name Lists
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You can also find ideas from the top 15 baby name generators and baby names for 2023.
References
(1) https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
