Which girl names emerged in the U.S. baby name data in 2023 for the first time ever?
A total of 659 girl names debuted in the data last year, and the most impressive debut was made by Rumani. Here are the top debuts overall:
- Rumani, 88 baby girls
- Cimani, 67
- Naiari, 66
- Azaylie, 39
- Nizaraly, 38
- Seoni, 37
- Aryya, 22
- Aluney, 21
- Yanaisy, 21
- Yuleini, 19
- Yameiry, 18
- Deriany, 17
- Adalett, 16
- Alicent, 15
- Waziha, 15
- Dayali, 14
- Ketzali, 14
Aluney’s appearance is likely related to the rise of Eluney last year, and Alicent comes from a character in the TV series House of the Dragon (the Game of Thrones prequel).
Here are some more debuts:
| 13 baby girls | Aesira, Anant, Biani, Izariya, Jazaely, Nazaia, Shrivi, Zelyiana |
| 12 baby girls | Axyla, Mariham, Storiee |
| 11 baby girls | Ahlora, Ishira, Jaretssy, Keyorie, Nehmat, Rhayn, Savanni, Sheynnis, Solomiia, Xanthi, Yelenny |
| 10 baby girls | Ahzuri, Ailiany, Aquetzali, Barkat, Ezriah, Ifora, Maisleigh, Marliya, Mulanii, Oveah, Rhaena, Riani |
Jaretssy (as with Aluney/Eluney) can be attributed to the rise of Jaretssi last year, and Sheynnis comes from Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, who was crowned Miss Universe 2023 last November.
Finally, here’s a selection of the rest of the debuts:
- 9 baby girls: Azary, Croia, Hrida, Khemani, Truveya, Tsireya
- 8 baby girls: Adalette, Dalahni, Digiannia, Elunay, Eylen, Jophiel, Mare, Milki, Navvy, Oleander, Rouss, Xenobia, Yahlani
- 7 baby girls: Aemma, Aleinad, Chimnora, Ezeriah, Freydis, Jasoni, Kaelli, Khalanni, Namora, Poetic, Renzi, Ruemani, Seonie, Shlay, Zeylani
- 6 baby girls: Ahado, Bibihawa, Chantzy, Dalanni, Elswyth, Heysell, Iluminada, Itotiani, Kayeli, Leihana, Native, Oslin, Raphtalia, Rosemina, Ryza, Salix, Whiskey, Wood, Zarissa
- 5 baby girls: Alluka, Aomi, Bethesda, Calliandra, Calluna, Doxa, Dune, Elloa, Energy, Gaeli, Greyshell, Hades, Haumea, Iyris, Jashly, Kavery, Marycollins, Millaray, Muxi, Peridot, Rahmani, Remirose, Roulette, Sarvi, Trulove, Tsumugi, Ungwa, Viper
Tsireya is a character from the 2022 movie Avatar: The Way of Water, and Namora is a character from the 2022 movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Digiannia must come from Colombian influencer/singer Digiannia “Digi” Lanca.
Raphtalia is a character in the Japanese manga/anime The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Tsumugi might come from a character in the Japanese video game franchise Danganronpa.
Ryza could be based on RZA, which was used as a (male) baby name by Rihanna and ASAP Rocky recently.
(A few extra facts: Iluminada means “illuminated” in Spanish, Ungwa means “blood” in Hopi, and Itotiani is derived from the Nahuatl word itotia, which refers to dancing. Willow trees are of the genus Salix, heather is of the genus Calluna, and various “powder puff plants” are of the genus Calliandra.)
If you can explain any of the other debuts, please leave a comment!
Sources: SSA, Wiktionary, Online Nahuatl Dictionary
Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri
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