This neglected Biblical name--it was the name of the commander of Saul's army and appears twice in the New Testament--is ready to flee Dogpatch. It was regularly used in the nineteenth century, but was pretty much demolished by the long-running hillbilly comic strip L'il Abner, which began in 1934 and ran through 1977. A more respectable namesake is Abner Doubleday, who has been credited with inventing baseball.
 Abner also has literary credentials, having appeared in works by James Fenimore Cooper, Thomas Hardy and Eugene O'Neill.

Abner

Aderyn, like cousin Elowen, may have found her moment: Aderyn makes an original full name that gets you to the cute and trendy nickname Addie. Just remember to put the emphasis on the second syllable.

Aderyn

This biblical name is getting wider notice. While Adrian has had its time in the limelight since the late 70s, parents are beginning to look for fresher alternatives. 

In the Bible, Adriel was the husband of Merab, a daughter of King Saul. Adriel, like other names ending in -el like Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, is also the name of an angel. The angel Adriel is known as the Angel of Death.

Adriel entered the charts in 2002, and has risen now into the Top 200. 

Adriel

A name possibly derived from Etain, an ancient Irish sun and horse goddess whose name is still used.  Adina is a related choice.

Aideen

Amairani

Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, is the antagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy. The name Anakin first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. Its meaning is unknown but is thought to be an homage to a friend of George Lucas.

Anakin

Angeli

Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.

 A locational surname name deriving from several places in England, there are multiple legitimate derivations for this name. One is from Old English earn "eagle" + denu "valley", while another is from the Celtic ard meaning "high".

 For literature lovers: Arden is the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It (Shakespeare's mother's name was Mary Arden), and it also appears in the name and titular character of a poem by Tennyson, Enoch Arden.

Arden

Although Ashanti is a much better known name via the female hip-hop singer, Asante is also an appealing way to honor Asante or Ashanti heritage. It's the name of a people and language based in Ghana.

Asante

The African name Ayan was first seen on the US Top 1000 for boys in 2014.  It's both simple and distinctive, a winning combination.

Ayan

Abidael

Aiyan

Alexza

Analine

Anamika

Anelia

Anelynn

Araya

Arienne

Aurin

Azucena

Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls. 

Bailey

Beau

Birdie was until recently a middle-aged Ladies' Club member wearing a bird-decorated hat --but now it's just the kind of vintage nickname (think Hattie, Josie, Mamie, Millie) that's coming back into style in a big way. Actress Busy Philipps named her baby Birdie (inspired by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson), as did soap star Maura West.
 In an earlier heyday of nickname names--the 1880's--Birdie was a Top 200 name.

Birdie

Brianda

Banon

Biridiana

Briceyda

Casey is a name with a big wide grin, Irish, friendly, and open, and associated with several American folk heroes--Casey Jones, the engine driver of the Cannonball Express who gave his life to save his passengers, and the legendary Casey at the Bat.
 Casey was at its height of popularity in the 1980s bur recently has started climbing the charts again in the US, maybe because some of the Caseys born in the 1980s have become famous in the 2020s.

Casey

Celeste is a softly pretty and somewhat quaint name with heavenly overtones, which kids might associate with Queen Celeste of Babar's elephant kingdom. She's a light and lovely choice that's finally getting noticed.
 Celeste has been in the Top 1000 every year since 1880. Best known modern Celeste is Oscar-winning actress Celeste Holm.
 If you want a more unusual variation, consider Celestine, Celestia -- or even Celestial.

Celeste

Infinitely preferable to the tease-inspiring English version of the word. 

Cerise

The great sax player John Coltrane could be a cool naming inspiration for a jazz fan. 

Coltrane

Caramia

Anyone who's seen "The Book of Mormon" or visited Utah knows this as the title taken by male Mormon missionaries during their term of service. We'd advise anyone who lives somewhere with any significant Mormon population to avoid it for that reason. That said, Elder does have some history as a boys' name, especially in Latin America, where the stress is on the second syllable. The "el-" sound has become extremely fashionable, so we wouldn't be surprised if this started climbing up the charts.

Elder

Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names. 
 Emerald is the birthstone of May, making it extra appropriate for a girl born in that month. Some pleasant associations: the Emerald Isle and the Emerald City.
 Esmeralda is the Spanish version.

Emerald

Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
 Evander was prominent in Greek and Roman mythology: in classical lore Evander was a wise Arcadian hero who founded the city in Italy that preceded Rome, appearing in Virgil's Aeneid.
 Evander also derives from a Norse name meaning bow warrior.
 In modern times, the name has been associated with boxing champ Evander Holyfield.
 Evander could make a more distinctive aternative to Alexander.

Evander

In Roman mythology. Felicitas was the deity of good luck.

Felicitas

Fany

German might seem like an unlikely occupant of the Top 1000 list, unless you realize that it's a Spanish name, with the accent on the second syllable. It's been on the U.S. list since 1973.

German

Heywood

This feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000 list since, but perhaps cute retro nickname Jeannie could tempt some vintage-loving parents back.

Jeannine

Jadeline

Jenovia

Jewelina

Keaton is an engaging surname with warmth, energy and a sense of humor, identified with silent comedian Buster Keaton and contemporary actors Michael and Diane Keaton. Although rare as a first name, a young Keaton would fit right in with classmates Keenan and Kellen.

Keaton

Kristie

Libia

An international name that, although short and simple, sounds strong and distinctive.
Manu means "thinking, wise" in Sanskrit, and in Hindu tradition is a title of the progenitor of humans. In Polynesian languages, such as Hawaiian and Māori, it means "bird".
It is also the Finnish form of Magnus, and is short for Manuel or Emmanuel in several European languages including French, German and Spanish.

Manu

A less-popular alternative to Juliette, perhaps – although it feels rather more dated.

 The meaning of Marie is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Mariette

This name may be related to the Latin Maximus, which means "the greatest," or to a British landowner's name, but for most modern parents, it's one of several ways to get to short form Max.

 Probably its most noted bearers is influential twentieth century painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish, who was born Frederick but later adopted the maiden name of his maternal grandmother.

Maxfield

This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.

Merlin fell off the US Top 1000 half a century ago, though it ranks in the Nameberry Top 1000, which could be a harbinger of its return. About 50 baby boys were named Merlin in the US last year, and about ten girls. It is used in contemporary Germany.

Merlin

Mirielle

Mabryn

Modesto

Myrka

Traditionally given to girls born on the September birth date of the Virgin Mary. 

Natividad

Nicolene

Nyanna

As with the more popular variant Odalys, this is a name which should be avoided due to its connection to Ottoman Empire harems and concubines. May we suggest Odette, Odelie, Odessa or Lyssa as better alternatives?

Odalis

Softer and more romantic than Octavia, this is a name once used when it wasn't uncommon for families to have eight children. A possible substitute for the epidemically popular Olivia.

Ottavia

A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century. 
 Currently among the most popular girl names in Croatia, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Petra ranked in the US Top 1000 every year from 1880 to 1951, reaching a high of #493 in 1929.
 There have been Petras in two European film classics: Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. The most prominent Petra in recent years is gorgeous supermodel Petra Nemcova, who is also an international disaster relief activist. Petra is also the name of a famous Christian rock band.

Petra

Part of the trend for formerly canine royal names; this is one a little girl might love—up till the age of eight. 

Princess

Reena

One of many Spanish elaborations of Rosa. 

Rosalba

Scout, a character nickname from To Kill a Mockingbird (her real name was Jean Louise), became a real-life possibility when Bruce Willis and Demi Moore used it for their now grown middle daughter, followed by Tom Berenger a few years later. A unisex choice that is growing in popularity for both genders -- but given to girls about four times more often than to boys -- it was picked by skater Tai Babilonia for her son and Kerri Walsh for her daughter Scout Margery.
 It makes a virtuous, upstanding choice for a girl--a good scout. And though it hasn't made it onto any popularity lists, it's gone from slightly eccentric to mainstream.

Scout

Sela is a Biblical place name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is finding new life through actress Sela Ward, star of several TV series. The young daughter of singer Lauryn Hill is named Selah, pronounced the same but with a different derivation and meaning. Found among early African-American enslaved people, it was sometimes spelled Cela or Cella.

Sela

Selia

Serina

Sheenah

Sadena

Sharaya

Shravya

Solisa

Taran

Wyneth

Yarissa

Yelintza

ilahwillah's list "Names of Real People I Know" of 77 great name ideas: Abner - Yelintza!

Names of Real People I Know

Just some names I find interesting, unique or just beautiful that belong to real people I've met or have known in my life.