Songs With Girls’ Names in the Title: The Big A-Z List

Songs with girls’ names in the title have been part of popular music for more than a century. Sometimes the name belongs to a real person. Sometimes it belongs to a fictional character. Sometimes it just sounds good in a chorus. Either way, a name in a song title gives listeners something personal to grab onto before the first verse even begins.

This list includes classic rock songs, oldies, pop hits, country favorites, soul songs, folk songs, show tunes, novelty records, modern indie songs, and a few songs that are probably here because a songwriter once met a girl named Caroline and never fully recovered. It happens.

Some names have dozens of songs attached to them. Mary, Sally, Jenny, Jane, Sara, and Caroline all show up again and again. Other names are rare enough that one song gets to own the whole lane. If your name made the list, congratulations. If it did not, musicians still have time to make things right.

Use this page to find songs by name, build a name-themed playlist, settle a trivia argument, or discover the one song you forgot existed until the title suddenly unlocked a dusty corner of your brain.

Famous Songs With Girls’ Names in the Title

These are some of the best-known songs in pop, rock, soul, country, and oldies history. They are not ranked only by chart position. Recognition, singalong value, playlist usefulness, and long-term staying power all matter here.

1. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
2. Jolene – Dolly Parton
3. Roxanne – The Police
4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
5. Ophelia – Taylor Swift
6. Layla – Derek and the Dominos
7. Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
8. Barbara Ann – The Regents / The Beach Boys
9. Angie – The Rolling Stones
10. Annie’s Song – John Denver
11. Gloria – Them / The Shadows of Knight / Laura Branigan
12. Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
13. Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
14. Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers
15. Help Me, Rhonda – The Beach Boys
16. Sara Smile – Daryl Hall & John Oates
17. Rosanna – Toto
18. Valerie – Steve Winwood / The Zutons / Amy Winehouse
19. Veronica – Elvis Costello
20. 867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone
21. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne
22. Michelle – The Beatles
23. Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
24. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
25. Maggie May – Rod Stewart
26. Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
27. Caroline – Status Quo
28. Lola – The Kinks
29. Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
30. Delilah – Tom Jones

Modern Songs With Girls’ Names in the Title

The name-song tradition did not stop with oldies radio. Modern pop, indie, country, hip-hop, and alternative artists still use women’s names in song titles because names feel immediate. A title like Heather, betty, Caroline, or Matilda already sounds like a story before the song starts.

• betty – Taylor Swift
• Marjorie – Taylor Swift
• Dorothea – Taylor Swift
• Clara Bow – Taylor Swift
• Carolina – Taylor Swift
• Matilda – Harry Styles
• Heather – Conan Gray
• Roxanne – Arizona Zervas
• Sofia – Clairo
• Caroline – Aminé
• Arabella – Arctic Monkeys
• Angelica – Wet Leg
• Margaret – Lana Del Rey featuring Bleachers
• Julianna Calm Down – The Chicks
• Victoria’s Secret – Jax
• Shameika – Fiona Apple
• Kyoto – Phoebe Bridgers
• Georgia – Phoebe Bridgers
• Ophelia – The Lumineers
• Angela – The Lumineers

Classic Rock Songs With Girls’ Names

Classic rock may be the champion of the named-woman song. These tracks gave listeners Marys, Janes, Roxannes, Rhiannons, Lolas, Laylas, and Maggies. Rock bands apparently met a lot of memorable women, or at least knew a good title when they heard one.

• Angie – The Rolling Stones
• Layla – Derek and the Dominos
• Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
• Sara – Fleetwood Mac
• Lola – The Kinks
• Roxanne – The Police
• Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground
• Jane – Jefferson Starship
• Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Martha My Dear – The Beatles
• Julia – The Beatles
• Dear Prudence – The Beatles
• Lovely Rita – The Beatles
• Melissa – The Allman Brothers Band
• Jessica – The Allman Brothers Band
• Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – Bruce Springsteen
• Sherry Darling – Bruce Springsteen
• Christine Sixteen – KISS
• Beth – KISS
• Shandi – KISS
• Valerie – Steve Winwood
• Veronica – Elvis Costello
• Alison – Elvis Costello
• Ophelia – The Band

Oldies Songs With Girls’ Names

Oldies music is loaded with girls’ names. Early rock and roll, doo-wop, teen pop, and novelty songs often used first names because they were easy to remember and sounded personal on the radio. A good name title could make a song feel like it was written for one person and broadcast to everybody else.

• Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
• Oh! Carol – Neil Sedaka
• Diana – Paul Anka
• Donna – Ritchie Valens
• Runaround Sue – Dion
• Hello Mary Lou – Ricky Nelson
• Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers
• Claudette – The Everly Brothers
• Barbara Ann – The Regents
• Denise – Randy & The Rainbows
• Maybellene – Chuck Berry
• Nadine (Is It You?) – Chuck Berry
• Carol – Chuck Berry
• Lucille – Little Richard
• Good Golly, Miss Molly – Little Richard
• My Girl Josephine – Fats Domino
• Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry
• Little Darlin’ – The Diamonds
• Venus – Frankie Avalon
• Gina – Johnny Mathis
• Tammy – Debbie Reynolds
• Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) – Edd Byrnes and Connie Stevens
• Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes – Bobby Freeman
• Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson
• Sally Go ’Round the Roses – The Jaynetts

Country and Folk Songs With Girls’ Names

Country and folk songs use names especially well because they often feel like stories. A woman’s name can become the emotional center of a song, whether the story is romantic, nostalgic, tragic, funny, or one banjo away from a family legend.

• Jolene – Dolly Parton
• Amie – Pure Prairie League
• Delta Dawn – Tanya Tucker / Helen Reddy
• Help Me Make It Through the Night – Sammi Smith
• Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
• Lucille – Kenny Rogers
• Amanda – Waylon Jennings
• Carolyn – Merle Haggard
• Hey Loretta – Loretta Lynn
• Mary Danced with Soldiers – Emmylou Harris
• Angel from Montgomery – John Prine / Bonnie Raitt
• Sweet Baby James – James Taylor
• Carey – Joni Mitchell
• Amelia – Joni Mitchell
• Suzanne – Leonard Cohen / Judy Collins
• Sweet Betsy from Pike – Traditional
• Hard Hearted Hannah – Ella Fitzgerald and others
• Sweet Leilani – Bing Crosby
• Goodnight Irene – Lead Belly / The Weavers
• Matilda – Harry Belafonte

Pop, R&B, and Dance Songs With Girls’ Names

Pop and R&B songs often turn names into hooks. Sometimes the name is romantic. Sometimes it is mysterious. Sometimes it is just fun to sing. If the title can be shouted across a dance floor, it has already done half the work.

• Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
• Maria Maria – Santana featuring The Product G&B
• Maria – Ricky Martin
• Jenny from the Block – Jennifer Lopez featuring Jadakiss and Styles P
• Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
• Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
• Candy – Cameo
• I Want Candy – The Strangeloves / Bow Wow Wow
• Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
• Joanna – Kool & The Gang
• Betcha by Golly, Wow – The Stylistics
• Lady Marmalade – Labelle
• Chanté’s Got a Man – Chanté Moore
• Roni – Bobby Brown
• If U Seek Amy – Britney Spears
• Valerie – Amy Winehouse
• Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
• Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin
• Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
• Sweet Georgia Brown – Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard / many later versions

Show Tunes, Movie Songs, and Character Songs With Girls’ Names

Some name songs became famous through movies, musicals, theater, and character-driven stories. These titles are useful for trivia because the name may belong to a character rather than a pop-song muse.

• Maria – from West Side Story
• Tonight – from West Side Story
• Maria – from The Sound of Music
• Hello, Dolly! – from Hello, Dolly!
• Sandy – John Travolta from Grease
• Beauty and the Beast – from Beauty and the Beast
• Belle – from Beauty and the Beast
• Roxie – from Chicago
• Kiss Me, Kate – from Kiss Me, Kate
• Gigi – from Gigi
• Tammy – Debbie Reynolds from Tammy and the Bachelor
• Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister) – Quincy Jones featuring Táta Vega from The Color Purple
• Alice – Avril Lavigne from Alice in Wonderland
• Clara Bow – Taylor Swift
• Barbarella / Electric Barbarella – Duran Duran

A-Z Name Finder: Songs With Girls’ Names in the Title

This A-Z section is built for quick searching. Some entries use a first name directly as the title. Others include a name inside a longer title. In a few cases, the same name appears in more than one famous song, because apparently “Jenny” and “Mary” had very busy music careers.

A Names

• Abby — Dear Abby – John Prine / Hearts
• Abigail — Abigail Beecher – Freddy Cannon
• Adeline — Sweet Adeline – The Mills Brothers and others
• Adia — Adia – Sarah McLachlan
• Adrienne — Adrienne – The Calling
• Alice — Alice’s Restaurant Massacree – Arlo Guthrie
• Alice — Alice – Avril Lavigne
• Alison — Alison – Elvis Costello
• Amanda — Amanda – Boston
• Amanda — Amanda – Waylon Jennings
• Amelia — Amelia – Joni Mitchell
• Amie — Amie – Pure Prairie League
• Amy — Amy – Elton John
• Amy — If U Seek Amy – Britney Spears
• Anastasia — Anastasia – Pat Boone
• Andrea — Andrea – The Sunrays
• Angela — Angela – John Lennon
• Angela — Angela – The Lumineers
• Angelia — Angelia – Richard Marx
• Angelica — Angelica – Wet Leg
• Angelina — Angelina – Louis Prima
• Angie — Angie – The Rolling Stones
• Angie — Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
• Ann — Dear Ann – George Baker Selection
• Anna — Anna Begins – Counting Crows
• Annie — Annie’s Song – John Denver
• Arabella — Arabella – Arctic Monkeys
• Athena — Athena – The Who

B Names

• Barbara — Barbara Ann – The Regents / The Beach Boys
• Barbara — Barbara, I Love You – The New Colony Six
• Barbarella — Electric Barbarella – Duran Duran
• Barbie — Barbie Girl – Aqua
• Bella — Bella Linda – The Grass Roots
• Belle — Belle – from Beauty and the Beast
• Bernadette — Bernadette – Four Tops
• Beth — Beth – KISS
• Bette — Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
• Betty — betty – Taylor Swift
• Betty — Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes – Bobby Freeman
• Billie — Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
• Bonnie — The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde – Georgie Fame
• Bonnie — I’ve Got Bonnie – Bobby Rydell
• Brandy — Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
• Brandy — Brandy – The O’Jays
• Bridget — Bridget the Midget – Ray Stevens
• Britney — Britney – Bebo Norman

C Names

• Candy — I Want Candy – The Strangeloves / Bow Wow Wow
• Carey — Carey – Joni Mitchell
• Carol — Carol – Chuck Berry
• Carol — Oh! Carol – Neil Sedaka
• Caroline — Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
• Caroline — Caroline – Status Quo
• Caroline — Caroline, No – The Beach Boys
• Caroline — Caroline – Aminé
• Carolyn — Carolyn – Merle Haggard
• Carrie — Carrie – Europe
• Carrie-Anne — Carrie-Anne – The Hollies
• Cathy — Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
• Cecilia — Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
• Chanté — Chanté’s Got a Man – Chanté Moore
• Charlotte — Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte – Patti Page
• Cherie — Cherie, I Love You – Pat Boone
• China — China Girl – David Bowie
• Christine — Christine Sixteen – KISS
• Cindy — Cindy Incidentally – Faces
• Cindy — Cindy’s Birthday – Johnny Crawford
• Claire — Planet Claire – The B-52’s
• Clara — Clara Bow – Taylor Swift
• Claudette — Claudette – The Everly Brothers
• Clementine — Clementine – Bobby Darin
• Corinna — Corinna, Corinna – Big Joe Turner / Ray Peterson

D Names

• Daisy — Daisy Jane – America
• Daisy — Daisy – Ashnikko
• Dawn — Delta Dawn – Tanya Tucker / Helen Reddy
• Dawn — Dawn (Go Away) – The Four Seasons
• Deanie — Hey Deanie – Shaun Cassidy
• Delilah — Delilah – Tom Jones
• Delilah — Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
• Denise — Denise – Randy & The Rainbows
• Desiree — Desiree – Neil Diamond
• Diana — Diana – Paul Anka
• Diane — Jack & Diane – John Cougar Mellencamp
• Donna — Donna – Ritchie Valens
• Donna — Donna the Prima Donna – Dion
• Dorothea — Dorothea – Taylor Swift
• Dorothy — Dorothy – Judy Collins

E Names

• Eileen — Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
• Eleanor — Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
• Elenore — Elenore – The Turtles
• Elisabeth — Goodnight Elisabeth – Counting Crows
• Elise — Für Elise – Ludwig van Beethoven
• Eloise — Dear Eloise – The Hollies
• Elvira — Elvira – The Oak Ridge Boys
• Emily — See Emily Play – Pink Floyd
• Emily — For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her – Simon & Garfunkel
• Emma — Emma – Hot Chocolate

F and G Names

• Faith — Faith’s Song – Amy Wadge
• Francene — Francene – ZZ Top
• Gabrielle — Gabrielle – Brett Eldredge
• Georgia — Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
• Georgia — Sweet Georgia Brown – many artists
• Georgia — Georgia – Phoebe Bridgers
• Georgie — Georgie Girl – The Seekers
• Geraldine — Geraldine – Jack Scott
• Gidget — Gidget – James Darren
• Gigi — Gigi – from Gigi
• Gina — Gina – Johnny Mathis
• Gloria — Gloria – Them / The Shadows of Knight
• Gloria — Gloria – Laura Branigan
• Gloria — Gloria – U2
• Gypsy — Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac

H and I Names

• Hazel — Hooray for Hazel – Tommy Roe
• Heather — Heather – Conan Gray
• Henrietta — Henrietta – Jimmy Dee
• Irene — Goodnight Irene – Lead Belly / The Weavers
• Iris — Iris – Goo Goo Dolls

J Names

• Jackie — Jackie Blue – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
• Jane — Jane – Jefferson Starship
• Jane — Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground / Cowboy Junkies
• Jane — Baby Jane – Rod Stewart
• Janie — Janie’s Got a Gun – Aerosmith
• Jean — Jean – Oliver
• Jean — Blue Jean – David Bowie
• Jean — The Jean Genie – David Bowie
• Jennie — Jennie Lee – Jan & Arnie
• Jennifer — Jennifer Juniper – Donovan
• Jenny — 867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone
• Jenny — Jenny from the Block – Jennifer Lopez featuring Jadakiss and Styles P
• Jenny — Jenny Was a Friend of Mine – The Killers
• Jenny — Jenny, Jenny – Little Richard
• Jessica — Jessica – The Allman Brothers Band
• Jill — Jill – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
• Joanna — Joanna – Kool & The Gang
• Joanne — Joanne – Michael Nesmith
• Joanie — Hello, This Is Joanie – Paul Evans
• Jolene — Jolene – Dolly Parton
• Josephine — My Girl Josephine – Fats Domino
• Josephine — Ride On Josephine – George Thorogood and The Destroyers
• Josie — Josie – Steely Dan
• Judy — Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Judy — Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) – John Fred and His Playboy Band
• Judy — Judy’s Turn to Cry – Lesley Gore
• Julia — Julia – The Beatles
• Julie — Julie, Do Ya Love Me – Bobby Sherman
• Juliet — (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet – The Reflections
• Julianna — Julianna Calm Down – The Chicks

K and L Names

• Katherine — Katherine Kiss Me – Franz Ferdinand
• Katie — Maybe Katie – Barenaked Ladies
• Kelly — Slide, Kelly, Slide – George J. Gaskin
• Kim — Kim – Eminem
• Laura — Laura – Woody Herman and others
• Laura — Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson
• Laura — Think of Laura – Christopher Cross
• Layla — Layla – Derek and the Dominos
• Leah — Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris
• Leilani — Sweet Leilani – Bing Crosby
• Lily — Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts – Bob Dylan
• Lily — Pictures of Lily – The Who
• Linda — I Saw Linda Yesterday – Dickey Lee
• Lisa — I’m Not Lisa – Jessi Colter
• Liza — Liza (All the Clouds’ll Roll Away) – Al Jolson
• Lola — Lola – The Kinks
• Lola — Whatever Lola Wants – Sarah Vaughan
• Lorelai — Lorelai – Styx
• Lorraine — Sweet Lorraine – Nat King Cole and others
• Louise — Louise – Maurice Chevalier
• Lucille — Lucille – Little Richard
• Lucy — Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – The Beatles
• Lulu — Lulu’s Back in Town – Fats Waller

M Names

• Maggie — Maggie May – Rod Stewart
• Mandy — Mandy – Barry Manilow
• Margaret — Margaret – Lana Del Rey featuring Bleachers
• Marjorie — Marjorie – Taylor Swift
• Maria — Maria – from West Side Story
• Maria — Maria – Ricky Martin
• Maria — Maria Maria – Santana featuring The Product G&B
• Marianne — C’mon Marianne – The Four Seasons
• Marie — Marie’s the Name (His Latest Flame) – Elvis Presley
• Marlena — Marlena – The Four Seasons
• Martha — Martha – Tom Waits
• Martha — Martha My Dear – The Beatles
• Mary — Along Comes Mary – The Association
• Mary — Arms of Mary – Chilliwack
• Mary — Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival / Ike & Tina Turner
• Mary — Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Mary — Mary Jane – Rick James
• Mary Lou — Hello Mary Lou – Ricky Nelson
• Mary Mary — Mary, Mary – The Monkees
• Matilda — Matilda – Harry Styles
• Maybellene — Maybellene – Chuck Berry
• Melissa — Melissa – The Allman Brothers Band
• Michelle — Michelle – The Beatles
• Minnie — Minnie the Moocher – Cab Calloway
• Molly — Good Golly, Miss Molly – Little Richard
• Mona Lisa — Mona Lisa – Nat King Cole
• Monica — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Mrs. Jones — Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
• Mrs. Robinson — Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel

N, O, and P Names

• Nadine — Nadine (Is It You?) – Chuck Berry
• Nancy — Nancy (With the Laughing Face) – Frank Sinatra
• Natalia — Natalia – Joan Baez
• Nikita — Nikita – Elton John
• Nona — Nona – Mötley Crüe
• Ophelia — Ophelia – The Band
• Ophelia — Ophelia – Taylor Swift
• Ophelia — Ophelia – The Lumineers
• Olivia — Olivia – One Direction
• Pamela — Pamela – Toto
• Patricia — Patricia – Perez Prado / Perry Como
• Paula — Hey Paula – Paul & Paula
• Peg — Peg – Steely Dan
• Peggy Sue — Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
• Philomena — Philomena – Thin Lizzy
• Polly — Polly – Nirvana
• Prudence — Dear Prudence – The Beatles

R Names

• Rhiannon — Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
• Rhonda — Help Me, Rhonda – The Beach Boys
• Rikki — Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – Steely Dan
• Rita — Lovely Rita – The Beatles
• Roberta — Roberta – Billy Joel
• Robin — Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day / Michael Jackson
• Rosalita — Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – Bruce Springsteen
• Rosanna — Rosanna – Toto
• Rose — Second Hand Rose – Barbra Streisand
• Rosemary — Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse
• Rosie — Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond
• Roxanne — Roxanne – The Police
• Roxanne — Roxanne – Arizona Zervas
• Ruby — Ruby – Ray Charles
• Ruby — Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
• Ruby — Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs

S Names

• Sadie — Sadie – The Spinners
• Sadie — Sexy Sadie – The Beatles
• Sally — Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
• Sally — Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton
• Sally — Sally Go ’Round the Roses – The Jaynetts
• Sandra — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Sandy — Sandy – John Travolta from Grease
• Sara — Sara – Fleetwood Mac
• Sara — Sara – Starship
• Sara — Sara Smile – Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Sarah — Sarah’s Place – Zach Bryan featuring Noah Kahan
• Shannon — Shannon – Henry Gross
• Shandi — Shandi – KISS
• Sheila — Sheila – Tommy Roe
• Sheila — Oh Sheila – Ready for the World
• Sherry — Sherry – The Four Seasons
• Sherry — Sherry Darling – Bruce Springsteen
• Sofia — Sofia – Clairo
• Stacy — Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne
• Stella — Stella by Starlight – many artists
• Sue — Runaround Sue – Dion
• Sue — Sweet Sue, Just You – many artists
• Susanna — Oh! Susanna – traditional
• Susie — Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers
• Susie Q — Susie Q – Dale Hawkins / Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Suzanne — Suzanne – Leonard Cohen / Judy Collins
• Suzanne — Suzanne – Journey
• Sylvia — Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

T Through W Names

• Tammy — Tammy – Debbie Reynolds
• Tessie — Tessie – Dropkick Murphys
• Tina — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Tracey — The Trouble with Tracy – Barenaked Ladies
• Valerie — Valerie – Steve Winwood
• Valerie — Valerie – The Zutons / Amy Winehouse
• Valleri — Valleri – The Monkees
• Venus — Venus – Frankie Avalon
• Venus — Venus – Shocking Blue / Bananarama
• Veronica — Veronica – Elvis Costello
• Victoria — Victoria – The Kinks
• Victoria — Victoria’s Secret – Jax
• Virginia — Meet Virginia – Train
• Virginia — Oh Virginia – Blessid Union of Souls
• Wendy — Wendy – The Beach Boys

Names From Mambo No. 5

Lou Bega’s Mambo No. 5 deserves its own little corner because it name-checks several women in one extremely sticky late-1990s hit. It is not a song for one name. It is a name buffet with horns.

• Angela — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Pamela — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Sandra — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Rita — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Monica — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Erica — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Tina — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Mary — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
• Jessica — Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega

Girl-Name Songs for Playlists

Best Singalong Name Songs

• Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
• Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
• Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
• Gloria – Laura Branigan
• Valerie – Amy Winehouse
• Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
• Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne
• Jenny from the Block – Jennifer Lopez featuring Jadakiss and Styles P

Best Classic Name Songs

• Jolene – Dolly Parton
• Layla – Derek and the Dominos
• Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
• Roxanne – The Police
• Michelle – The Beatles
• Maggie May – Rod Stewart
• Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
• Angie – The Rolling Stones

Best Oldies Name Songs

• Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
• Donna – Ritchie Valens
• Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers
• Oh! Carol – Neil Sedaka
• Runaround Sue – Dion
• Hello Mary Lou – Ricky Nelson
• Diana – Paul Anka
• Denise – Randy & The Rainbows

Best Modern Name Songs

• betty – Taylor Swift
• Matilda – Harry Styles
• Heather – Conan Gray
• Sofia – Clairo
• Caroline – Aminé
• Arabella – Arctic Monkeys
• Ophelia – The Lumineers
• Roxanne – Arizona Zervas

Trivia About Songs With Girls’ Names

Some Name Songs Are Not Really About People

A song title can use a girl’s name without being a straightforward love song. Martha My Dear by The Beatles was famously connected to Paul McCartney’s sheepdog, while Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac drew on a mystical name and image rather than a simple real-life romance. Names give songs personality, even when the story is not what listeners first assume.

Mary, Sally, Jane, Jenny, and Caroline Show Up Everywhere

Some names appear again and again because they fit naturally into pop phrasing. Mary, Sally, Jane, Jenny, and Caroline are especially strong name-song names because they are easy to sing, easy to rhyme around, and instantly recognizable. Songwriters do love a name that behaves well in a chorus.

Sweet Caroline Became Bigger Than a Regular Pop Song

Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline became one of the most famous audience-participation songs in American pop culture. It moved from radio hit to stadium anthem, wedding staple, and group-singalong emergency button. Once the crowd reaches the “so good” part, resistance is usually pointless.

Jolene Is One of Country Music’s Great Character Songs

Dolly Parton’s Jolene works because the title character feels vivid before she ever speaks. The name becomes the center of the drama, repeated with urgency and fear. It is one of the strongest examples of a woman’s name carrying the emotional weight of an entire song.

Billie Jean Turned a Name Into a Pop Mystery

Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean shows how a name can become instantly memorable through rhythm, storytelling, and repetition. The title sounds personal, but the song plays like a thriller. Few name songs have a stronger opening groove or a more recognizable title character.

867-5309/Jenny Gave Pop Music a Famous Phone Number

Tommy Tutone’s 867-5309/Jenny became one of the most famous number-and-name songs in rock history. The title is memorable because it feels like found graffiti, a phone booth mystery, and a singalong hook all at once. Also, it probably made life weird for anyone who actually had that phone number.

Why Songs With Girls’ Names Still Work

Songs with girls’ names in the title work because names make music feel personal. A name creates a character, a memory, a mystery, or a point of emotional focus. The listener does not need to know who Caroline, Jolene, Roxanne, Jenny, or Delilah really was to feel like the song is about someone specific.

These songs are also useful. People search for them when making playlists, planning parties, building trivia games, finding songs for a name, or trying to remember “that one song about Sara” without remembering the artist. Name songs are built for memory, which is why they have lasted across oldies, rock, country, pop, R&B, indie, and musical theater.

The best girl-name songs do more than drop a name into a title. They make that name carry a mood. Jolene feels urgent. Sweet Caroline feels communal. Roxanne feels dramatic. Layla feels desperate. Come On Eileen feels like a pub singalong caught fire. That is why these songs keep getting played, requested, remembered, and argued about long after their first chart run.

Some names are classics. Some are deep cuts. Some are still waiting for their perfect song. If your name is here, enjoy the musical evidence. If your name is missing, take it up with the songwriters. They clearly still have work to do.