Names That Mean Someone

Straightforward single-syllable name, though children named Lyle may get tired of hearing "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile". Lyle was at the height of fashion in the 1920s, which makes him due for a comeback right about now. The double L certainly gives it a fashionable sound.

A short but sophisticated, long-neglected name you might want to consider.

This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.

Though it's used far more often for boys, Lyle has a lot in common with today's trending girl names that share the double L sound: Lila, Layla, and Lola.

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

When actress Deborah Kerr entered the scene, there was a great debate over her name's pronunciation. Car or Ker. Your choice.

Schoolchildren will recognize this name via Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.

A long-haired classical conductor name, which could appeal to parents looking for a Laszlo-like appellation. This is an old and common name with many spelling variations. Stanislaw Lem was a noted Polish science fiction writer and philosopher, Stanislav Ianevski is the Bulgarian actor who played Viktor Krum in Harry Potter.

Simple and down-to-earth, but would probably work best as a middle name.

The well-known phrase "hale and hearty" gives this name a warm, positive feel. Hale is clean and straightforward but doesn't crack the top 1000 for either gender. For those in search of a namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale would make a strong one.

This is a solid surname choice for people looking for a change from Cooper, Parker and Carson. Australian parents will probably instantly associate this name with famous rock legend Jimmy Barnes, but this has an even older pedigree as a namesake - Barnes Wallis was a UK aviator and inventor, most remembered for designing the Dambuster bomb (a bomb that bounces across water to reach its target) and working on supersonic flight in the 1940s and 50s.

A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.

A surname that sounds stylish — given the soaring popularity of Brooks — but is surprisingly rare.