List of American Girl characters facts for kids

WellieWishers roster of 2016. From left to right: Camille, Emerson, Willa, Kendall and Ashlyn.

Samantha Parkington American Girl doll on display. She was one of the first three dolls released in 1986.

American Girl is a popular line of 18-inch (46 cm) dolls originally released in 1986 by the Pleasant Company, which is now part of Mattel. The dolls represent girls aged eight to thirteen from many different backgrounds. Each doll comes with books written from the girl's perspective. Originally, the stories focused on different time periods in American history. In 1995, the line expanded to include characters from today's world.

Below is a list of characters from the Historical series, Contemporary Characters, Girl of the Year, World by Us, and WellieWishers lines.

Overview of American Girl

Character Release Table

Other Releases

Historical Characters Series

The Historical Characters were the first dolls created by the company. This line teaches American history through books about nine-year-old girls living in different time periods. The stories cover important historical events and difficult topics like poverty, unfair treatment, and war in a way that is safe and educational for young readers.

Kaya (1764)

Quick facts for kids Kaya'aton'my
American Girl character
Created by	American Girl, Janet Shaw
Full name	Kaya'aton'my (She Who Arranges Rocks)
Information
Family	Toe-Ta (father) Eetsa (mother) Brown Deer (older sister) Speaking Rain (adopted sister) Wing Feather (younger brother) Sparrow (younger brother) Kalutsa (paternal grandfather) Aalah (paternal grandmother) Pi-lah-ka (maternal grandfather) Kautsa (maternal grandmother) Tall Branch (maternal aunt) Cut Cheek (brother-in-law)
Home	Pacific Northwest

Kaya (pronounced Ky-yah) is a girl from the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) tribe in 1764. She lives in the Pacific Northwest before European settlers arrived. Kaya wants to be a leader for her people but sometimes makes mistakes because she acts without thinking. Her stories teach lessons about leadership, courage, and caring for others. She loves her horse, Steps High, and her blind adopted sister, Speaking Rain. Kaya was the first Native American doll in the series.

Felicity Merriman (1774)

Felicity Merriman lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, just before the American Revolution. She is brave and loves horses, but she often struggles with the strict rules for girls in the 1770s. Her family and friends have different opinions about the war between the Patriots and the Loyalists.

Elizabeth Cole

Elizabeth Cole is Felicity's best friend. Her family supports the King of England (Loyalists), which sometimes causes problems, but the two girls remain close friends.

Josefina Montoya (1824)

Josefina Montoya lives on a ranch in New Mexico when it was still part of Mexico. After her mother passes away, Josefina and her three sisters try to keep their home running smoothly. Josefina dreams of becoming a healer like her grandmother. She learns about kindness and how to help her family during times of change.

Kirsten Larson (1854)

Kirsten Larson is an immigrant from Sweden who moves to the Minnesota Territory. She faces many challenges, such as learning English and adjusting to life in a new country. Kirsten works hard to help her family on their farm while keeping her Swedish traditions alive.

Addy Walker (1864)

Addy Walker is a brave girl who escapes from slavery with her mother during the American Civil War. They travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to find freedom. Addy's stories are about the importance of family, freedom, and hope. She learns to read and write and searches for the rest of her family who were separated from her.

Samantha Parkington (1904)

Samantha Parkington is an orphan living with her wealthy grandmother in the Edwardian era. She is kind and wants to help others. She becomes friends with Nellie, a girl who works in a factory. Samantha learns about the differences between rich and poor people and speaks up for what is right.

Nellie O'Malley

Nellie O'Malley is Samantha's best friend. She is an Irish immigrant who works hard to support her family. Later, she is adopted by Samantha's aunt and uncle.

Rebecca Rubin (1914)

Rebecca Rubin is a Jewish girl living in New York City. Her family came from Russia to find a better life. Rebecca dreams of becoming an actress, even though her family thinks she should focus on traditional values. She learns to balance her dreams with her family's traditions.

Claudie Wells (1922)

Claudie Wells grows up in Harlem, New York, during a time of great artistic creativity called the Harlem Renaissance. She is surrounded by musicians and artists and tries to find her own special talent.

Kit Kittredge (1934)

Kit Kittredge is a clever girl living during the Great Depression. When her father loses his job, her family must make big changes to survive. Kit loves to write and wants to be a reporter. She helps her family by being resourceful and finding new ways to solve problems.

Ruthie Smithens

Ruthie Smithens is Kit's best friend. Her family is wealthy, but she is very loyal to Kit and helps her during hard times.

Nanea Mitchell (1941)

Nanea Mitchell lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her life changes when Pearl Harbor is attacked, bringing the United States into World War II. Nanea wants to help her community and prove that she is grown up enough to make a difference.

Molly McIntire (1944)

Molly McIntire lives on the home front during World War II. Her father is a doctor serving in the war in England. Molly and her family have to deal with rationing (saving food and supplies) and missing their father. She learns about patriotism and pulling together to help the war effort.

Emily Bennett

Emily Bennett is a British girl who comes to stay with Molly's family to be safe from the war in London.

Maryellen Larkin (1954)

Maryellen Larkin lives in Florida during the 1950s. She has a big imagination and wants to stand out in her large family. She loves drawing and watching early television shows. Her stories explore the culture of the 1950s.

Melody Ellison (1964)

Melody Ellison is a singer growing up in Detroit, Michigan, during the Civil Rights Movement. She uses her voice to speak up for equality and fairness. Melody learns about courage and the importance of community.

Julie Albright (1974)

Julie Albright lives in San Francisco. Her parents are divorced, which was becoming more common in the 1970s. Julie is passionate about saving the environment and fighting for girls' rights to play sports.

Ivy Ling

Ivy Ling is Julie's best friend. She is a Chinese-American girl who loves gymnastics but struggles to balance her hobbies with her family responsibilities.

Courtney Moore (1986)

Courtney Moore is a gamer who loves video games like Pac-Man. She lives in a time of big hair and bright neon clothes. Courtney learns about real-world heroes and how to be a good friend.

Isabel and Nicki Hoffman (1999)

Isabel and Nicki Hoffman are twin sisters living in Seattle at the turn of the millennium. They have very different personalities but learn to support each other as they enter the year 2000.

Girl of the Year Line

The "Girl of the Year" dolls are special characters released for a limited time. They represent modern girls and their stories focus on contemporary issues.

Recent Characters

• Summer McKinny (2025): A dog-loving baker from Maryland who starts a business walking dogs and making treats.
• Raquel Reyes (2026): Released in late 2025, Raquel is a girl from Kansas City, Missouri, who loves pickleball and DJing. She is related to the historical character Samantha Parkington.
• Lila Monetti (2024): A competitive gymnast who also loves horse riding.
• Kavi Sharma (2023): A performer who loves Broadway and celebrates her Indian heritage.
• Corinne Tan (2022): A skier who helps her sister Gwynn adjust to their new family life in Aspen, Colorado.
• Kira Bailey (2021): An animal lover who visits a wildlife sanctuary in Australia.
• Joss Kendrick (2020): A surfer and cheerleader who wears a hearing aid.

Contemporary and Other Lines

WellieWishers

The WellieWishers are a group of younger friends who play in a garden. They wear colorful rain boots (wellies). The characters include:

• Ashlyn: A party planner who loves princesses.
• Camille: A kind girl who loves the ocean.
• Emerson: A performer who loves theatre.
• Kendall: An artist who is good at fixing things.
• Willa: A nature lover who climbs trees.
• Bryant: A boy who loves dragons and sports.

World by Us

This line focuses on friendship and social justice.

• Evette Peeters: Loves nature and vintage fashion. She cares about the environment.
• Maritza Ochoa: A soccer player who advocates for immigrant families.
• Makena Williams: A fashion lover who uses her style to speak up about fairness and justice.