60 Songs for My Daughter, From Mom and Dad, for Every Age and Birthday

What is a lovely song to dedicate to my daughter?

From a mom, "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride and "Slipping Through My Fingers" by ABBA are the songs most often shared. From a dad, "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder, written about his newborn daughter, and "Daughters" by John Mayer. For a daughter who needs courage, "Brave" by Sara Bareilles says it better than any card. Pick the one that sounds like what you would say to her if you could find the words.

Songs for my daughter from mom

1. "Slipping Through My Fingers", ABBA: a mother watching her daughter leave for school and wishing for one more moment.
2. "In My Daughter's Eyes", Martina McBride: about how a daughter changes the way a mother sees herself.
3. "Never Grow Up", Taylor Swift: a gentle wish to keep her small a little longer.
4. "Dear Daughter", Halestorm: Lzzy Hale's letter of advice to a future daughter.
5. "Rainbow", Kacey Musgraves: comfort for a daughter going through a hard season.
6. "Lullaby", The Chicks: a soft question about how long you want to be loved.
7. "I Hope You Dance", Lee Ann Womack: a mother's hopes for the life ahead.
8. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: written by Lori McKenna, a mom of five, as advice to her kids.
9. "My Wish", Rascal Flatts: everything a parent hopes the world gives her.
10. "You Are My Sunshine": the bedtime song so many moms sang first.

Songs for my daughter from dad

11. "Isn't She Lovely", Stevie Wonder: written about the birth of his daughter Aisha.
12. "Daughters", John Mayer: about what fathers pass on to their girls.
13. "Butterfly Kisses", Bob Carlisle: from bedtime prayers to her wedding day.
14. "My Little Girl", Tim McGraw: a dad's promise from the very beginning.
15. "For My Daughter", Kane Brown: about being the father he never had.
16. "Right by You (for Luna)", John Legend: written for his daughter Luna.
17. "Ballerina Girl", Lionel Richie: written for his daughter Nicole.
18. "I'll Be Your Man (Song for a Daughter)", Zac Brown Band: a father promising to be there until someone better comes along.
19. "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)", Billy Joel: written for his daughter Alexa.
20. "Daddy's Little Girl", The Mills Brothers: the 1950s classic.
21. "There Goes My Life", Kenny Chesney: from a surprise baby girl to the day she leaves for college.
22. "Cinderella", Steven Curtis Chapman: about dancing with her while she is still little.

Empowering songs for daughters

Songs to build her up before a test, a tryout or a tough week:

23. "Brave", Sara Bareilles: about saying what you mean.
24. "Girl on Fire", Alicia Keys: confidence, full volume.
25. "Who Says", Selena Gomez: about being enough as she is.
26. "Who I Am", Jessica Andrews: a country song about knowing where you come from.
27. "Fight Song", Rachel Platten: for the days she needs to keep going.
28. "Roar", Katy Perry: finding her voice.
29. "Run the World (Girls)", Beyoncé: the girl-power anthem.
30. "Firework", Katy Perry: about the light she has inside.
31. "Scars to Your Beautiful", Alessia Cara: about self-worth beyond looks.
32. "Beautiful", Christina Aguilera: for a teenager who doubts herself.
33. "The Climb", Miley Cyrus: the journey matters more than the finish.
34. "Rise Up", Andra Day: strength in hard times.
35. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", Kelly Clarkson: for bouncing back.

Songs about daughters growing up

36. "Sunrise, Sunset", from Fiddler on the Roof: parents at their daughter's wedding, wondering where the years went.
37. "Ready, Set, Don't Go", Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus: a dad watching his daughter drive away.
38. "Dear Theodosia", from Hamilton: two fathers singing to their newborn children about the world they will inherit.
39. "Unwritten", Natasha Bedingfield: for a daughter starting a new chapter.
40. "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert: a grown daughter going back to her childhood home.
41. "Forever Young", Rod Stewart: a parent's blessing for the years ahead.

Songs to sing to a little girl

42. "Rainbow Connection", Kermit the Frog: dreamy and sweet.
43. "Baby Mine", from Dumbo: the classic lullaby.
44. "She's a Rainbow", The Rolling Stones: colorful and joyful.
45. "Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison: for a brown-eyed toddler who dances in the kitchen.
46. "My Girl", The Temptations: pure happiness.
47. "Sweet Pea", Amos Lee: a gentle nickname song.
48. "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes", from Cinderella: a bedtime favorite.
49. "How Far I'll Go", from Moana: for the little explorer.
50. "Let It Go", from Frozen: she will sing it whether you choose it or not.

Songs for a daughter far from home

When she has moved away for college, a job or a new life, a song can travel where a hug cannot. "Slipping Through My Fingers", "The House That Built Me", "You Are My Sunshine" and "I Hope You Dance" all say "I am still here" without making her homesick. Send it on a Sunday evening, when the week ahead feels big.

Songs for a daughter going through a hard time

After a breakup, a disappointment or a hard diagnosis, choose comfort over advice: "Rainbow" by Kacey Musgraves, "Rise Up" by Andra Day, "The Climb" or "Fight Song". Let the song do the talking and add one line, such as "I'm proud of you, no matter what". She may not reply right away, but she will listen.

Songs for my daughter by age

Baby and toddler

"Isn't She Lovely", "Baby Mine", "Rainbow Connection" and "You Are My Sunshine".

School age

"How Far I'll Go", "Let It Go", "My Girl" and "She's a Rainbow".

Teenager

"Brave", "Who Says", "Scars to Your Beautiful" and "Never Grow Up".

Grown daughter

"In My Daughter's Eyes", "There Goes My Life", "Sunrise, Sunset" and "Unwritten".

Birthday songs for my daughter

For the party itself, she will want something upbeat. These ten are the birthday songs families play most for daughters of every age:

51. "Birthday", Katy Perry: bright, fun and made for the occasion.
52. "Happy", Pharrell Williams: the feel-good song for any age.
53. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", Cyndi Lauper: a throwback the moms will dance to.
54. "Dancing Queen", ABBA: for the girl who owns the dance floor.
55. "Good Life", OneRepublic: a parent favorite for the birthday video.
56. "22", Taylor Swift: perfect for a birthday in her twenties.
57. "Sixteen", Thomas Rhett: about always wanting to be the next age up.
58. "I'll Be", Reba McEntire: a promise to always be there for her.
59. "Happy Birthday", Stevie Wonder: the R&B birthday classic.
60. "Shake It Off", Taylor Swift: for the girl who dances like nobody is watching.

What is the best birthday song for an adult daughter?

For a grown daughter, choose a song about time and pride rather than a party song: "In My Daughter's Eyes", "Slipping Through My Fingers", "I'll Be" or "There Goes My Life". Send it on her birthday morning with one line about the day she was born. For a milestone like her 30th or 40th, a song from the year she was born makes a sweet surprise.

A birthday song for your daughter with her name

Many parents look for a birthday song that actually sings their daughter's name. A personalized song can do that, and much more: her nickname, her favorite things this year, the moment you are proudest of. See our guide to a birthday song for your daughter.

Songs for my daughter on her birthday

For a little girl's birthday, pick something she can dance to: "Let It Go", "My Girl" or "Firework". For a teenager, an empowering song like "Brave" or "Girl on Fire" with a short note says you see who she is becoming. For a sweet 16, an 18th or a 21st, songs about time like "Slipping Through My Fingers" or "Never Grow Up" will mean more to her than she lets on. Ideas for the gift itself are in our guide to the best birthday gift for a daughter.

Songs for her graduation

When she walks across the stage, "Unwritten", "The Climb", "I Hope You Dance" and "There Goes My Life" capture the mix of pride and letting go. For a slideshow, start with the lullabies above over the baby pictures and finish with "Unwritten". More ideas in our list of graduation songs.

Songs for her wedding

If you are looking for the dance at her wedding, we have dedicated lists of father-daughter dance songs and mother-daughter songs, with the timing, the order of dances and how to choose.

How do you dedicate a song to your daughter?

• Write one sentence about why you chose it: a memory, a hope or something you are proud of.
• Choose the moment. Before school, on a drive, the night before a big day.
• Match her music. A teenager may roll her eyes at a ballad but secretly save the playlist.
• Do not wait for an occasion. An ordinary Tuesday works too.

A song written about your daughter

Every song above was written about someone else's daughter. A personalized song can be about yours: her name, the day she was born, her nickname, the stuffed animal she still keeps, the way she laughs and the things you hope for her. It is a gift she will keep long after the birthday, and play again when she has kids of her own. See our guide to a birthday song for your daughter and a graduation song for your daughter.

How to create a song for your daughter

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, country, acoustic, lullaby-style ballad and more.
2. Add her name, and yours if you want it in the song.
3. Share three memories from different ages, each with one concrete detail.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give her a song that is only about her: create her song and hear four previews for free.