Girl names dads love: a meaning-first shortlist
A dad’s shortlist of girl names that pass the park test, the register and the job application, with what each one means and where it comes from.
Guides & stories
The girl.dad guides
Practical, honest help for the stuff that matters. Hair, days out, the big talks and raising kids who feel sure of themselves.
Every guide starts from the same place: a thing a dad actually has to do this week, written by someone who has had to do it badly first. There is no filler, no listicle padded to hit a word count, and no advice we would not follow ourselves. If a guide cannot tell you something useful in its first paragraph, it does not get published.
Guides
GuidesHow to talk to your daughter about social media
A dad’s guide to first phones and social media: trust, privacy, group chats, boundaries and what to do when something goes wrong.
GuidesHow to talk to your daughter about puberty
A calm, practical dad’s guide to talking with your daughter about puberty: body changes, questions, privacy and when to seek support.
GuidesHow to help your daughter start secondary school
A dad’s practical guide to helping your daughter start secondary school, from managing nerves and friendships to making day one feel smaller.
GuidesWhat your daughter needs from her dad, by age
What your daughter needs from you changes with her age. A stage-by-stage guide from toddler to teenager, and the one thing that never changes.
GuidesHow to be the dad your daughter talks to
Being the dad your daughter confides in is built in the small moments. How to get her to open up, when to talk, and what not to do when she does.
CommunityWhat do you do when your daughter only wants mum?
If your daughter only wants mum, it is normal and almost never about you. Why it happens, how long it lasts, and what a dad can actually do about it.
SkillsHow to do your daughter's hair: 8 styles any dad can master
A total-beginner dad guide to doing your daughter’s hair: the kit you need plus 8 simple styles, from a low ponytail to the school-run special.
SkillsHow to braid your daughter's hair: a beginner's guide for dads
A dad-friendly guide to braiding your daughter’s hair, from the basic plait to French, Dutch and fishtail braids, with fixes for common mistakes.
Days out50 father-daughter day out ideas (UK and US)
Fifty father-daughter day out ideas for UK and US dads, from free outdoor adventures to rainy-day rescues, big treats and tiny everyday moments.
ExperiencesFather-daughter date ideas by age: toddler to teen
Father-daughter date ideas sorted by age, from toddler to teen. Simple, doable one-to-one plans for busy and separated dads alike.
GuidesFather’s Day gift ideas for every kind of dad
A thoughtful Father’s Day gift guide grouped by type of dad, leaning towards small independent makers and meaning over money, not tat.
GuidesHow to raise a confident daughter: what the research actually says
Evidence-informed tips for dads raising confident daughters, from praising effort over looks to modelling feelings and handling your own mistakes.
CommunityWhat is a girl dad? The meaning behind the movement
A girl dad is a father raising daughters who leans into the role. Here is what the term means, where it came from and why it stuck.
CommunityWhat is a boy dad? The meaning behind it
A boy dad is a father raising sons who leans into the role. Here is what the term means, where it came from and why it caught on.
Days out50 father-son day out and activity ideas
Fifty father and son day out ideas for UK and US dads, from free outdoor adventures to rainy-day fun and big treats. Presence over cost, always.
GuidesHow to raise a confident son: what the research says
A calm, evidence-informed guide for dads raising boys: emotions beyond anger, effort over toughness, respect, failure, body image and repair.
SkillsHow to talk to your daughter about periods: a dad’s guide
A calm, practical guide for dads on periods: what to know, when to start the conversation, what to keep at home and when to see a GP.
GuidesHow to be a present dad: small habits that build connection
A present dad shows up in the small moments, not the big ones. Simple daily and weekly habits that build a real bond with your kids, starting today.
About these guides
How this library works
Who writes these guides?
One person, not a content farm. Every guide here is written and edited by Gautam Khorana, a dad writing about raising a daughter, and each one carries a byline and a date so you can see who said it and when. Nothing publishes under a house name.
Is any of this sponsored?
No guide is paid for or placed. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you, and those are labelled on the page. A brand cannot buy a recommendation, a position or a softer sentence.
Are these guides for dads of boys too?
Mostly yes, and a few are written specifically for it. The hair, days out and confidence pieces apply to any kid. Where the advice genuinely differs, such as the puberty and periods guides, we say so in the first paragraph rather than pretending one guide covers everyone.
Where does the advice come from?
Lived experience first, then checking it against people who know more than we do. Where a guide makes a claim about child development, we say where it comes from rather than asserting it. Where it is just one dad’s opinion, we say that too.
How often do you publish?
Roughly weekly, and we would rather skip a week than pad the library. Older guides get revisited when the facts move — prices, ages, what is actually on sale — instead of being left to rot with a two-year-old date on them.