Eliza

Eliza is one of our favorite names; we love its combination of streamlined modernity and Eliza Doolittle charm and spunk, and offer Eliza as one of our top recommendations.

That said, a lot of other parents like Eliza too: it has been inching up the popularity lists, plus it's one of the most-searched girls' names on Nameberry.

Eliza could theoretically take the place of Elizabeth, cousin name Isabella, and the last generation's Lisa at the top of the charts, and bears a similarity to trendy sisters Ella and Lila. Still, it's got a good measure of eighteenth century backbone and tradition along with its contemporary zip.

Pride and Prejudice's Elizabeth Bennett was often called Eliza; in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, Eliza is the intelligent and courageous slave protagonist.

My Fair Lady’s spirited Eliza Doolittle is the classic musical character based on the Shaw play Pygmalion, who is transformed from cockney flower girl to elegant lady, played on stage by Julie Andrews and on screen by Audrey Hepburn.

Eliza Dusku is a charter member of the Joss Whedon rep company of actors, appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Dollhouse.

One note: Do not name sisters Eliza and Isabel or Isabella, as they're different forms of mother name Elizabeth.