Sophia

Sophia, which hit the Number 1 baby names spot in the US in 2011, has a sensuous sound and high-minded meaning. Sophia's been chosen by several celeb parents, and reached the top of the charts without losing any -- okay, much -- of its sophisticated beauty. Sophia's a real winner.

Like its sister baby names Isabella and Olivia, Sophia has gained widespread favor by appealing to a broad range of parents: Intellectuals who like it for its meaning and those attracted to its femininity, parents who want a classic name and those looking for a name with Latin roots --the Sofia spelling is also popular. Sophie is the French version of the name, more popular than Sophia in some parts of the world.

Sophia's only downside is its huge popularity. Alternative baby names you might want to consider: Sophie, Seraphina, Susannah.