O D D - S I G H T I N G S

The newest cowboy-cool kid on the block is Dutton, introduced by the hit Western drama series Yellowstone. It's seen as a surname in the series, which follows the Dutton family on their ranch. But Americans' affinity towards surname names and the similarities to Sutton have inspired fans of the show to use Dutton for their sons — so much so that Dutton took the title as the fastest-rising name in 2022, jumping a whopping 986 spots.

Lazer has some biblical cred as a form of Eliezer, Eleazar, or Lazarus, all relatives, and it's also a modern bad boy name a la Ranger and Breaker. Our recommendation would be to use one of the biblical forms as the proper name and Lazer as a nickname.

Spiritual in multiple senses of the word, Epiphany has been given to a handful of girls since the late 1980s, peaking in 1988 when it was given to 55 babies, following the release of the movie Angel Heart in 1987, which featured a character of the name, played by Lisa Bonet.

Legacy is proof that any attractive-sounding word can be turned into a name, and this one has the added attractions of an inspirational meaning and a cool creative namesake -- hot young artist Legacy Russell.

Cookie is most often used as a dog name, and it should stay that way.

A bright and appealing Spanish name traditionally given to honor the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.

It has a variety of associations from Smokey Robinson to Smokey the bear, but Smokey still feels a bit comical for a baby.

Greek name found in the New Testament makes for one of the unique baby names still undiscovered from the Bible.

Riverlyn is a contemporary feminine name combining nature elements with a lyrical suffix. This modern compound name blends 'River'—representing flowing water, continuity, and natural beauty—with the popular feminine suffix 'lyn.'

An English place and surname with a fierce natural meaning. Loxley is a village and river name from Yorkshire, England, famous for being the purported birthplace of Robin Hood. Loxley Chase was an extensive historic forest bordering Sherwood Forest in the Middle Ages.

Sean and Robin Wright Penn chose this name for their son to honor their friend Dennis Hopper; others might associate it with the painter Edward. Couldn't be more spirited.

It may sound sweet smelling, but remember, it was the name of the little skunk in Bambi. Better to pick a single bloom from the bouquet, like Violet or Lily or Daisy.

Baby is rarely seen as a given name — or even nickname — these days, although it did rank in the Top 1000 from 1989 to 2003. These instances can be accounted for in two ways. Firstly, infants whose birth certificates are not filled out on time are given generic placeholders for registration, such as Infant, Unknown, or Baby. But more influential during this decade was the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey as Frances "Baby" Houseman. It's the origin of the famed line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

Michelyn is a feminine name that represents a modern elaboration of Michelle, which itself is the French feminine form of Michael (Hebrew: 'Who is like God?'). The distinctive spelling with the '-lyn' suffix emerged primarily in the late 20th century in English-speaking countries, reflecting the trend toward creating unique variants of traditional names. While Michelle peaked in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, Michelyn offers a more uncommon alternative that maintains the familiar foundation. The name combines French sophistication with contemporary American naming patterns. Its melodic three-syllable pronunciation gives it a rhythmic flow that sounds both familiar and distinctive. Michelyn conveys femininity with a touch of individuality, appealing to parents seeking a name with recognizable roots but a more unique presentation.

Nick Cannon put this baby name on the map in 2021 when he welcomed a son by the name Zillion Heir (Zillionaire, get it?) — twin to Zion Mixolydian. Zillion is a new addition to the growing trend of numerical -illion names — Million, Billion, Trillion, and even Amillion currently chart for boys.

Navy, Indigo, Sky, Ocean, and Sapphire already rank as current US favorites, and Demin is another shade of blue that's on the rise. With the stylish, sturdy, and versatile feel of the fabric it denotes, Denim could be an unexpected route to nickname Demi, or a surprising color name that strands out from Scarlett or Hazel.

Familiar due to the English musician Siouxsie Sioux, singer of the 1970s-80s rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. Apart from its complicated look, the inclusion of the Native American tribe name Sioux in this name feels inappropriate by today's standards. Stick with Susie or Suzie.

Name that makes a dramatic musical statement.

Melodramatic wordplay name coined by actor Ving Rhames for his daughter, this could be considered a variation of "rainbow" or as a smoosh name, blending Reign and Beau, to mean "royal and beautiful".