Baby name expert SJ Strum has shared the “cool” girl names you need to consider that have an “it girl edge'” if you’re looking for something to ensure your child is different to everyone else
The baby names are different (stock image)(Image: Getty)
Selecting a baby name can be tough, as most parents want to pick something that’s pretty but also cool and trendy. SJ Strum is a baby name expert, well known for picking out stunning and genuinely unique names for you to consider for your little one, and she frequently appears on ITV’s This Morning to help people pick out baby names to complement the names of their other children too.
Parents or soon-to-be parents will know the struggles that come with trying to pick the perfect baby name for their little bundle of joy. Most people don’t want their kids to have the same name as everyone else when they’re being called on the register at school but, equally, parents don’t want them to be singled out for having a particularly quirky name.
That’s why SJ Strum has shared some trendy baby name alternatives for girls to help them have a “cool it girl edge,” if that’s what you’re looking for.
1. Alternatives to Olivia
Olivia has been our top girl name for five years. It’s got a really whimsical but traditional style that makes it enduringly popular.
SJ said: “For alternatives, I love more unique Ophelia; with a literary namesake jumping into the zeitgeist with Taylor Swift’s hit, [The Fate of Ophelia], Ophelia is fresh and poetic. Verity, meaning truth, is a beautiful name matching the vibe of Olivia with a cool ‘it girl edge’.”
2. Alternatives to Lily
Lily has been a top girl name in England and Wales since Victorian times. With Poppy at number seven and Ivy at number nine, flower and botanical names are here to stay, and there are some gorgeous names further down the charts with the same style.
Posie, Marigold, Hyacinth and Dahlia all make great alternatives.
3. Alternatives to Amelia
Vintage classics like Amelia are always top of the charts; try Aurora or Eliana as trendy alternatives.
4. Alternatives to Isla
Alba, meaning fair, was one of the fastest-rising girl names in the top 500, or Iris would be a standout pick if you love Isla, but it’s just too popular.
5. Alternatives to Florence
Names from the 1800s are charming and pretty. Try Daphne, Harriet, Winifred, or Pearl for less-overused options.
6. Alternatives to Freya
Goddess names are trending in the name charts. Athena, Celeste or Phoebe, goddess of the moon, are all great picks.
7. Alternatives to Elsie
Vintage nicknames as first names are endlessly stylish. She added: “My favourites are Tess, Bessie, Willa and Sylvie if you want rare gems in this style.”
8. Alternatives to Isabella
Ella names are all over the charts; try sophisticated Arabella or pretty Luella. Parenting website The Bump has shared that Mia is an unexpectedly popular name of 2026, but they note a “retro-cute” wave of names like Evelyn, Harper, Eleanor and Ophelia, as SJ suggested.
Want something a little more fun, airy and fresh? You’re not alone, as parents on The Bump have also been loving Lyra, Ayla and Freya.
