Girl needs a new name (3)
I believe the answer is:
ann
'girl' is the definition.
'a new name' is the wordplay.
'a new' becomes 'an' (I've seen this in other clues).
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'an'+'n'='ANN'
'needs' is the link.
(Other definitions for ann that I've seen before include "... Margret or Hathaway" , "Lady's name" , "- Widdecombe MP" , "female" , "- - Jones, 1969 Wimbledon champion" .)