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Children's Lit Names, Elizabeth Enright

  1. Belinda

    • Origin:

      Spanish or German

    • Meaning:

      "pretty one, or, serpent"

    • Description:

      Belinda, cousin of Linda and Melinda, enjoyed a brief return to the Top 1000 from 2005 through 2013, only to fall off again in 2014. A name that some may consider a modern spin on the midcentury popularity queen Linda is in fact a classic with deep and fascinating roots. In Babylonian mythology Belinda was the goddess of heaven and earth, and the name later was used for the heroine of Alexander Pope's satirical poem The Rape of the Lock.
  2. Tarquin

    • Origin:

      Latin, Roman clan name

    • Description:

      One of the few ancient Roman names that doesn't end in us, the rarely heard Tarquin has a decidedly creative, even dramatic flair, which could appeal to the parent looking for a strikingly original name. Sir Laurence Olivier used it for his oldest child, who was named Simon Tarquin but called by his middle name.
  3. Heron

    • Origin:

      Nature name or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "hero"

    • Description:

      Heron may feel like a very usable nature name -- the heron is a long-legged wading bird -- but it was also the name of a 1st century Greek inventor and of an Egyptian saint. Highly unusual yet easy to understand and meaningful on several levels, Heron is a fantastic choice.
  4. Merle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "blackbird"

    • Description:

      Originally a nickname for someone who loved to sing or whistle, Merle is sleek but gentle, with a hint of great grandpa about it..
  5. Yancy

    • Origin:

      American variation of Jansen, Dutch, Native American

    • Meaning:

      "son of Jan; yankee"

    • Description:

      Yancy has two separate American origins — first as the Native American term for "Yankee," and second as the Americanized variation of the common Dutch surname Jansen. Jan being the Dutch form of John, Yancy could work to honor anyone in your life with a John-related name.
  6. Mona

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "noble good"

    • Description:

      Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its simplicity. In one recent year, fewer than 100 baby girls received the name, and we don't see it reviving any time soon.
  7. Cicero

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "chickpea"

    • Description:

      Roman statesman's name with a cool and quirky sound. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman scholar, orator and lawyer who had an immense impact on the Latin language.
  8. Earl

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "nobleman, warrior"

    • Description:

      Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but there are also younger Earls in pop culture, like the reformed criminal in "My Name is Earl".
  9. Rush

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "basket weaver"

    • Description:

      Might suggest speed, excitement, even danger, were it not for its best-known bearer, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.
  10. Dave

    • Origin:

      Short form of David, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "beloved"

    • Description:

      Dave is the ultimate good guy name, but where father name David is still holding onto a spot in the Top 20, Dave -- widely used as an independent name in the middle of the last century -- dropped off the Top 1000 a few decades ago and shows no signs of a comeback. Baby Davids today, often named for dad or grandpa, are more likely to be called David than Dave.
  11. Gulliver

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "glutton"

    • Description:

      Gulliver is an obscure Gaelic surname known almost solely through its literary Travels until actor Gary Oldman used it for his son, instantly transforming it into a lively option. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland, and Helen McCrory also have a son named Gulliver.
  12. Coral

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a rock like substance formed by sea creatures; pinkish-red; gemstone"

    • Description:

      A color name, a gemstone name, and an ocean-inspired choice, Coral has a lot going for it with its sharp C sounds yet sweet vintage feel. Unlike Scarlett or Violet, however, it is only quietly used in the US these days, perhaps because of its similarity to more 'dated' Carol.
  13. Garnet

    • Origin:

      Jewel name, from the French

    • Meaning:

      "pomegranate"

    • Description:

      One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.
  14. Floyd

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "gray-haired"

    • Description:

      Floyd was a Top 100 name from the 1880s to the 1940s that somehow developed an almost comical hayseed persona along with a touch of retro jazz cool; it's beginning to appeal to parents with a strong taste for the quirky.
  15. Mab

    • Origin:

      Irish, English

    • Meaning:

      "intoxicating"

    • Description:

      An Anglicized form of Medb borrowed by both Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley for the of queen of the fairies. Perfect if you want something both adventurous and simple - though you could use it as a nickname for Mabel, Mirabel, Mabli, or Amabel too.
  16. Willy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of William

    • Description:

      See WILLIE.
  17. Waldemar

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "famous ruler"

    • Description:

      The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax.
  18. Minetta

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Minna or Wilhelmina, German

    • Meaning:

      "child of the red earth"

    • Description:

      Minetta is one of those names that's a diminutive of a diminutive -- Minna, a pan-European nickname that can be short for many names beginning or ending in Mina. Minetta may be most famous as Minetta Lane, a charming street in New York's West Village.
  19. Timmy

    • Description:

      Timmy is a warm, friendly masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Timothy. The root name Timothy comes from the Greek "Timotheos," meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God," and appears in the Bible as the name of Paul's young companion. Timmy gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, often used as both a nickname and a given name in its own right. The name evokes a sense of youthfulness and approachability, and has been featured in popular culture through characters like Timmy Turner in "The Fairly OddParents" animated series. While some parents now prefer to use Timothy on birth certificates, Timmy continues to be chosen for its cheerful, unpretentious quality and familiar sound. Its usage has declined since its peak but maintains steady recognition.

  20. Randy

    • Description:

      Considering that randy is slang for 'horny' this is not a great choice.