May faves

  1. Emilia
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Emil, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "rival"
    • Description:

      Emilia is the feminine form of the Roman clan name Aemilius, which derived from the Latin aemulus, meaning "rival." In Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia is the wife of Iago and confidante of Desdemona. Amelia, although homonymous, has a different root and meaning.
  2. Emma
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "universal"
    • Description:

      Emma has now been among the top girl names in the United States for several years, claiming the Number 1 crown in 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018 before dropping back to second place.
  3. Erik
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Eric, Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "eternal ruler"
    • Description:

      K can substitute for C at the end of a name too, as in this example of Erik as a spelling variation of Eric. Or is it the other way around?
  4. Elinea
    • Filip
      • Origin:

        Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian, Polish, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian, Romanian, and Finnish variation of Philip, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "lover of horses"
      • Description:

        Streamlined spelling found all across Europe. The Spanish Filipo has extra zip.
    • Fiona
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "white, fair"
      • Description:

        Fiona entered the American consciousness with the opening of the 1954 Broadway musical Brigadoon, but didn't come onto the U.S. popularity list until 1990.
    • Gabrielle
      • Origin:

        French, feminine variation of Gabriel
      • Meaning:

        "God is my Strength"
      • Description:

        The quintessentially elegant and worldly Gabrielle -- designer Coco Chanel's real name -- is on its descent after years on the rise. Gabrielle was a hit in the 90s and early 2000s, peaking at number 46 in 1999. Popular nickname options include Gabby, Bri, and Brielle. Today Gabriella has taken over as the more popular version and still sits in the Top 100, while Gabrielle is soon to lose its spot in the Top 500. This follows a collective trend of "-a" ending version surpassing the more tailored versions, similar to how Daniela replaced Danielle.
    • Gideon
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "hewer; or, having a stump for a hand"
      • Description:

        Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.
    • Harriet
      • Origin:

        English variation of French Henriette
      • Meaning:

        "estate ruler"
      • Description:

        Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it.
    • James
      • Origin:

        English variation of Jacob, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "supplanter"
      • Description:

        James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages that is more popular—and yes, stylish—than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite boys' baby names, and is the most common male name, counting people of all ages, in the US.
    • Jasmine
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from Persian
      • Meaning:

        "gift from God"
      • Description:

        Jasmine was derived from the Persian word yasmin, referring to the jasmine flower. Scented oil was made from the plant, and it was used as a perfume throughout the Persian Empire. Variants include Jazmin, Yasmin, Yasmine, and Jessamine.
    • Jon
      • Origin:

        Variation of John or Jonathan
      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious; or gift of Jehovah"
      • Description:

        Streamlined version of the classic boys' names, sometimes a short form of Jonathan, which is in fact an entirely different name from John attached to a different Biblical personage. Jon feels more modern than the traditional John, but some may find it an overly slight variation on an already slim name. Jon Snow is a popular character on HBO's Game of Thrones.
    • Jonathan
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "gift of Jehovah"
      • Description:

        Jonathan was derived from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, eventually contracted to the modern Yonatan, meaning "gift of Jehovah." It comes from the elements yeho, in reference to God, and natan, meaning "to give." In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the valiant eldest son of King Saul, and it was his friendship with brother-in-law David that gave rise to the expression "Jonathan and David" to describe devoted, steadfast friends.
    • Julian
      • Origin:

        English from Latin, variation of Julius
      • Meaning:

        "youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father"
      • Description:

        Cool and charming, with plenty of flair and sophistication, Julian manages to strike the balance between being a sensible classic and contemporary choice. Appealingly international, it is no wonder Julian is a rising star.
    • Kevin
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "handsome"
      • Description:

        Kevin came to the US with the large wave of Irish Immigrants after World War I, hitting the US Top 1000 list for the first time in 1921 and never leaving.
    • Konstantin
      • Laura
        • Origin:

          English from Latin
        • Meaning:

          "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
        • Description:

          Laura is a hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with literary links stretching back to Dante. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic girl names starting with L.
      • Leon
        • Origin:

          Greek variation of Leo
        • Meaning:

          "lion"
        • Description:

          Leon is one of the leonine names that is extremely hot in Europe right now. Although it peaked here in the 1920s, it is slowly making its way back, and it could climb further with parents wanting a more serious and studious alternative to Leo.
      • Liam
        • Origin:

          Irish short form of William
        • Meaning:

          "resolute protection"
        • Description:

          Liam is the top boys' name in the US, holding the Number 1 spot for the past five years and also ranking as one of the most popular boys' names around the western world.
      • Linnea
        • Origin:

          Swedish
        • Meaning:

          "twinflower, lime tree"
        • Description:

          Linnea is an attractive Scandinavian name that derives from the renowned 18th century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who developed the Linnean system of classifying plants and animals.