The name of a town in North Carolina, Ellerbe is derived from the Old English surname Elwordebi, meaning "Aelfweard's farmstead". Contracted and altered overtime, it appears in various forms, including Elleby, Ellerby, Elerbie, and more.

An appealing alternative to Hayden and Hayes, perhaps in homage to Old Hollywood actress Rita Hayward.

An English surname derived from the Old French taillis, this nature inspired choice could be an alternative to Wallis, Alice, Tallie, or Ellis. Other sources suggest it could derive from the Greek name Thales (TA-LEHS) meaning "to blossom".

Surname-sounding unisex cousin of Peyton is gaining in popularity, especially for girls.

Cowboyish occupational name that's one of the hottest choices below the Top 1000, increasing in rank more than 5000 places since the year 2000. Roper may not be a unique choice much longer.

Common surname in the US and UK. Stephens is notably the legal last name of John Legend.

A jaunty English surname which may derive from "betony", the name of a pretty purple-flowering shrub. A famous bearer is British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.

Unusual, serious, no-nonsense occupational surname that could be borrowed from the boys.

Belles may look like a playful nickname to any of the stylish belle related names — and it could easily be used as such — however, it is also an occupational English surname, originally given to bell ringers, a Scottish surname meaning "handsome" or a French or Spanish word name meaning "beauties". It is currently rarely used as a given name.

Quincy may be unisex, but Quimby is decidedly feminine — at least according to the stats, it's never been used for boys. Perhaps it's because of Beverly Cleary's children's book heroine Ramona Quimby, or the queen-related meaning. In either case, Quimby is a quirky, unexpected choice for a daughter.

Dropping the H off hot surnames gets you a whole new name. The trend is multiplying: Hadley becomes Adley, Harley become Arley, Harlow becomes Arlowe, and now Halston becomes Alston.

You occasionally see the German and Danish word for "summer" pop up as a first name -- 16 girls were given it in 2016 -- and that trend may continue, now that the original has risen to Number 202 on the American popularity list.

Hunter is gaining favor among girls, as is Sutton, and for those in search of something less common, surname-style Hutton might just be the one, as it blends elements of both. Used quietly for boys since the 80s, it started to gain a little bit of traction in the 2010s, and the most recent count saw it given to around 52 boys. In comparison, it made its debut for girls back in 2011, and was given to 9 babies in a recent year. Given its stylish sounds, it this number might rise.

Beyoncé's surname could be considered for a less-obvious honorific.

Larimer is an occupational surname that originally denoted someone who made and sold spur bits, along with other equine hardware. It could be a fitting choice for a child of a horse-enthusiast.

Spirited and sassy, Lively could be a feminine leaning counterpart to the trending boy name Wilder. A modern virtue of sorts, it has more energy that Patience, Prudence, and Temperance, and is far less popular than Hope or Grace.

This English surname was originally a nickname for someone with a pock-marked face. It's a less-than-ideal meaning, but Greeley's upbeat sound and modern unisex style keep it on our lists.

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.