Death Names

The girls have dibs on Spring, Summer, and Autumn, leaving this name evocative of snowy landscapes as the one possible seasonal choice for boys. And naturally, it's one of the most obvious names for winter babies.

Now that parents have picked virtually every name in the garden, from the common Rose to the captivating Zinnia, some are reconsidering the old, more generic names like Flora and Posy and Blossom — which was last in favor in the 1920s and still has a Floradora showgirl aura.

Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.

Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning.

Rosemarie had its moment in the sun back in the middle of the last century, when parents were looking for new ways to recycle traditional family names. So a child might combine her two grandma's names and become Rosemarie (or Annmarie or Maryjean), but these combination names feel dated now.

Lisa was so popular for girls in the late sixties and early seventies that according to government statistics some parents chose it for their sons, too. Either that or there were some serious mixups in the records bureau.

Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.

A multicultural choice with two rather different meanings, Thana is an Arabic name with the spiritual meaning of "praise". It may also appear as Thanaa, Sana, and Sena, the latter spellings reflecting its pronunciation in Urdu and Turkish.

Shivani sounds fresh and powerful.

An ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, war and justice, with a name that fits modern tastes. In recent years it has become a rare but steady fixture near the bottom of the charts, and feels full of potential for parents looking for an offbeat name from mythology.

A euphonious and lovely name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image, Raphaela is, like Gabriella and Isabella, beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream.

Ysai is a less-known variation of the popular Isaiah.

Now that the Irish Ciaran and Ciara -- aka Kieran and Kiera -- are becoming more popular beyond their native shores, the short and strong Ciar might find some favor. As of now, more than 160 baby girls were named Ciara in the US last year, with half that many boys named Ciaran, but so far no baby boys named Ciar, though 17 were called Keir.

The modern French take on Luna, ranking in the French Top 100, but sure to cause confusion in the US.

A distinctive alternative to Conan.

Celka is a feminine name with Slavic origins, functioning as a diminutive of Celestyna or other names beginning with 'Cel-'. In Polish contexts, it carries connections to the Latin 'caelestis,' meaning 'heavenly' or 'celestial.' This charming, compact name has traditional usage in Eastern European countries but remains rare in English-speaking regions. Celka combines an exotic feel with relatively simple pronunciation, making it accessible despite its uncommon status. The name carries a delicate, feminine quality while still offering substance through its celestial associations. For parents seeking a name with Slavic heritage or simply a distinctive yet melodic choice, Celka provides an option that feels both unique and connected to traditional naming practices.

Gaynor is an early androgynous name with a positive association, related to the Cornish megahit name Jennifer.

A Zulu name given to a child who is planned be the last born, literally meaning "enough, sufficient".

Reduces and lightens up the Job connection even further, sounding like a lively, Jody-like nickname name.

Although now almost exclusively feminine in the English-speaking world, Celeste (or Céleste in France) is traditionally a unisex name in Italy and France. It Italy, it was more popular for males until around the middle of the 20th century.