Original American Girl Doll Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the enchanting world of American Girl dolls and explore the captivating stories behind their names. From classic characters like Felicity Merriman to contemporary favorites like Joss Kendrick, each doll's name holds a unique significance. This comprehensive list delves into the history, meaning, and inspiration behind each original American Girl doll name, providing a deeper understanding of these beloved characters. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a new fan, this guide will illuminate the beauty and depth of these iconic dolls.
1. **Felicity Merriman:** Felicity means "happiness" and Merriman is a surname derived from the Old English word meaning "famous man." This name represents the doll's cheerful personality and her historical setting in colonial Williamsburg.
2. **Kirsten Larson:** Kirsten is a Danish name meaning "Christian" and Larson is a Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Lars." The name reflects Kirsten's Scandinavian heritage and the time period in which she lived (1854).
3. **Addy Walker:** Addy is a short form of the name Adelaide, meaning "noble kind." Walker is a common English surname meaning "one who travels on foot." Addy's name reflects her strong character and her journey to freedom from slavery.
4. **Samantha Parkington:** Samantha is a Hebrew name meaning "God has heard." Parkington is an English surname meaning "one who lives by a park." This name reflects Samantha's privileged background and her social standing in 1904 New York City.
5. **Molly McIntire:** Molly is a short form of Mary, meaning "beloved." McIntire is a Scottish surname meaning "son of the son of Iain." Molly's name reflects her strong-willed personality and her life during World War II.
6. **Josefina Montoya:** Josefina is a Spanish name meaning "God will increase." Montoya is a Spanish surname meaning "mountain dweller." Josefina's name reflects her cultural heritage and her life in New Mexico during the 1820s.
7. **Kit Kittredge:** Kit is a short form of the name Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ." Kittredge is a surname of English origin, possibly meaning "one who lives at the edge of the wood." Kit's name reflects her resourcefulness and her life in Depression-era America.
8. **Kaya'n'Kw't'm'n:** Kaya is a Native American name meaning "strength." 'n'Kw't'm'n is a Chinook word meaning "one who lives among the pines." Kaya's name reflects her strong spirit and her life as a Native American girl in the Pacific Northwest during the 1760s.
9. **Pleasant Company:** Pleasant is an adjective meaning "agreeable" or "satisfactory." Company is a noun meaning "a group of people." This name was chosen to reflect the company's mission of creating dolls that promote positive values and stories.
10. **Rebecca Rubin:** Rebecca is a Hebrew name meaning "to tie." Rubin is a Jewish surname meaning "ruby." Rebecca's name reflects her strong spirit and her life as a Jewish girl in 1917 New York City.
11. **Julie Albright:** Julie is a Latin name meaning "youthful." Albright is an English surname meaning "bright light." Julie's name reflects her optimistic personality and her life in 1974 California.
12. **Kirsten Larson:** Kirsten is a Danish name meaning "Christian" and Larson is a Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Lars." The name reflects Kirsten's Scandinavian heritage and the time period in which she lived (1854).
13. **McKenna Brooks:** McKenna is an Irish name meaning "son of the handsome one." Brooks is an English surname meaning "one who lives by a stream." McKenna's name reflects her adventurous spirit and her life in 1974 California.
14. **Caroline Abbott:** Caroline is a Latin name meaning "free woman." Abbott is an English surname meaning "one who works in an abbey." Caroline's name reflects her independent nature and her life in 1914 New York City.
15. **Cecile Girard:** Cecile is a French name meaning "blind." Girard is a French surname meaning "turner." Cecile's name reflects her resilience and her life in 1918 France.
16. **Marie-Grace Gardner:** Marie-Grace is a French name meaning "grace of God." Gardner is an English surname meaning "one who works in a garden." Marie-Grace's name reflects her compassionate nature and her life in 1918 France.
17. **Ivy Ling:** Ivy is a name of English origin meaning "vine." Ling is a Chinese surname meaning "lingering." Ivy's name reflects her creative spirit and her life in 1974 California.
18. **Nanea Mitchell:** Nanea is a Hawaiian name meaning "beautiful." Mitchell is an English surname meaning "son of Michael." Nanea's name reflects her kind heart and her life in 1974 Hawaii.
19. **Tenney Grant:** Tenney is a surname of English origin, meaning "from the town of Tenny." Grant is a surname of Scottish origin meaning "great." Tenney's name reflects her strong spirit and her life in 1974 California.
20. **Melody Ellison:** Melody is a Greek name meaning "song." Ellison is an English surname meaning "son of Ellis." Melody's name reflects her musical talent and her life in 1974 California.
21. **Emily Bennett:** Emily is a Latin name meaning "industrious." Bennett is an English surname meaning "son of Benjamin." Emily's name reflects her hardworking nature and her life in 1974 California.
22. **Lindsey Burke:** Lindsey is an English name meaning "island meadow." Burke is an Irish surname meaning "strong." Lindsey's name reflects her adventurous spirit and her life in 1974 California.
23. **Marisol Luna:** Marisol is a Spanish name meaning "sea sun." Luna is a Spanish surname meaning "moon." Marisol's name reflects her cheerful personality and her life in 1974 California.
24. **Sonali Dev:** Sonali is a Sanskrit name meaning "golden." Dev is a Sanskrit surname meaning "divine." Sonali's name reflects her strong sense of self and her life in 1974 California.
25. **Kanani Brown:** Kanani is a Hawaiian name meaning "beautiful." Brown is an English surname meaning "one who has brown hair or skin." Kanani's name reflects her kind nature and her life in 1974 Hawaii.
26. **Gwenevere Gallagher:** Gwenevere is a Welsh name meaning "fair" or "white." Gallagher is an Irish surname meaning "servant of the church." Gwenevere's name reflects her strong spirit and her life in 1974 California.
27. **Grace Thomas:** Grace is a Latin name meaning "favor" or "mercy." Thomas is a Hebrew name meaning "twin." Grace's name reflects her compassionate nature and her life in 1974 California.
28. **Isabelle Palmer:** Isabelle is a Hebrew name meaning "God is my oath." Palmer is an English surname meaning "one who lives by a palm tree." Isabelle's name reflects her strong spirit and her life in 1974 California.
29. **Lea Clark:** Lea is a Hebrew name meaning "weary" or "tired." Clark is an English surname meaning "scribe." Lea's name reflects her hardworking nature and her life in 1974 California.
30. **Janie Bell:** Janie is a short form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious." Bell is an English surname meaning "one who rings a bell." Janie's name reflects her cheerful personality and her life in 1974 California.
31. **Courtney Moore:** Courtney is a French name meaning "courtyard." Moore is an English surname meaning "one who lives by a moor." Courtney's name reflects her adventurous spirit and her life in 1974 California.
32. **Chrissa Maxwell:** Chrissa is a Greek name meaning "anointed." Maxwell is a Scottish surname meaning "great chief." Chrissa's name reflects her strong spirit and her life in 1974 California.
33. **Kira Bailey:** Kira is a Russian name meaning "sun ray." Bailey is an English surname meaning "bailiff." Kira's name reflects her bright personality and her life in 1974 California.
34. **Marie-Grace Gardner:** Marie-Grace is a French name meaning "grace of God." Gardner is an English surname meaning "one who works in a garden." Marie-Grace's name reflects her compassionate nature and her life in 1918 France.
35. **Kirsten Larson:** Kirsten is a Danish name meaning "Christian" and Larson is a Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Lars." The name reflects Kirsten's Scandinavian heritage and the time period in which she lived (1854).
36. **Julie Albright:** Julie is a Latin name meaning "youthful." Albright is an English surname meaning "bright light." Julie's name reflects her optimistic personality and her life in 1974 California.
37. **Josefina Montoya:** Josefina is a Spanish name meaning "God will increase." Montoya is a Spanish surname meaning "mountain dweller." Josefina's name reflects her cultural heritage and her life in New Mexico during the 1820s.
38. **Molly McIntire:** Molly is a short form of Mary, meaning "beloved." McIntire is a Scottish surname meaning "son of the son of Iain." Molly's name reflects her strong-willed personality and her life during World War II.
39. **Samantha Parkington:** Samantha is a Hebrew name meaning "God has heard." Parkington is an English surname meaning "one who lives by a park." This name reflects Samantha's privileged background and her social standing in 1904 New York City.
40. **Addy Walker:** Addy is a short form of the name Adelaide, meaning "noble kind." Walker is a common English surname meaning "one who travels on foot." Addy's name reflects her strong character and her journey to freedom from slavery.