Amanda

After a long run as the prettiest senior in class, this romantic name has lost some of its glossy sheen, though it's still quite lovely and well used. Amanda was one of the romantic-sounding names that rocketed to stardom in the eighties, along with Samantha, Vanessa, et al.

Despite its somewhat trendy feel, Amanda is a certifiable classic--it appears in a play as early as 1694,and was prominent among saints, eighteenth century literary heroines,and in plays by Noel Coward and Tennessee Williams. But if you're looking for a fresher alternative, you might consider the French Amandine or Shakespearean Miranda.