Girl Names That Start With H, Popular and Rare Picks
Currently popular H names for girls
- Hazel (English, from the tree and the eye color)
- Hailey (English/Scottish, meaning Hay’s meadow)
- Hadley (English, meaning heather field)
- Harmony (English, meaning perfect unity)
- Harper (English, an occupational name for a harp player)
- Hannah (Hebrew, meaning grace)
A current trend worth knowing
A large share of newer H names for girls are gender-neutral surnames repurposed as first names: Harper, Hadley, Harley, Harlow, and Hensley all fit this pattern, distinct from the older, more traditional H names below.
Classic H names for girls
- Helena (Greek roots, related to Helen)
- Harriet (a feminine form linked to Harry/Henry, meaning home ruler)
- Holly (English, from the plant)
- Henrietta (a feminine form of Henry, meaning home ruler)
Quick facts
| Common origins | English, Hebrew, Greek |
| Common meaning themes | grace, harmony, nature (trees, plants) |
| Note | many current H names are repurposed English surnames rather than traditional given names |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl’s name starting with H?
Hazel and Hailey are both currently strong choices, alongside Harper, which has become one of the most used surname-turned-first-names for girls.
Why are so many new H names actually old surnames?
This reflects a broader current naming trend, using occupational or place-based English surnames as first names, which happens to have produced an unusually large cluster of H names (Harper, Hadley, Harley, Harlow, Hensley).
Related reading
Boy equivalent: boy names starting with H (in progress). Broader unique-names list: unique girl names.