By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 139 pages
of 139
French
"April"
The French Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne put the spotlight on this name when she made the charts with "Sk8er Boi". It is simply the French form of April, the fourth month of the year, whose name…
Yiddish variation of Menachem
Mendel is an Old World Jewish name that is also the surname of the founder of genetics.
River name, color name, or variation of Niall, Irish
"champion"
Water names are a cool category these days, and this one of the famous Egyptian river is no exception. It streamlines the fussier Niles and also may be thought of as a color name, meaning dark blue…
Spelling variation of Aidan, Irish
"little fiery one"
Aydan has been a popular alternate spellings of Aidan, though it has been declining in usage since 2008. While 106 boys were still given the name in 2024, this was less than half the number it was…
Feminine variation of Darius, Persian or Latin from Greek
"kingly or possess well"
An early Christian martyr, a bespectacled MTV cartoon heroine, and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy: Daria is a name that manages to feel contemporary and usable without being exactly stylish. Which…
Spelling variation of Payton
Payton and Peyton are both very popular names for girls as well as boys, but Paityn is a spelling variations used almost exclusively for girls.
English variation of Emily, Latin
"rival"
Again, we see the trendy -ee suffix.
English, variation of Ashton
"ash trees place"
This name feels modern and on-trend, thanks to that cool first similar — similar to trendy Asher — as well as associations with actor Ashton Kutcher. This particular spelling is nearly completely…
Polish variation of Casper, form of Jasper, Persian
"bringer of treasure"
Jasper and its many international variations, from Kasper to Casper to Gaspard, is finding new popularity.
Russian variation of Michael
"who is like God"
One of the most familiar Russian names in the West, thanks to ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov and state head Mikhail Gorbachev.
Spelling variation of Riley, Irish
"courageous"
The -ee suffix is decisively feminine, so it's no surprise that male usage of this name lags behind female usage.
Spelling variation of Camden
Less popular than Camden by a lot and Kamdyn by a little. The prominent trend of substituting other vowels with a y continues to propel new spellings of names up the popularity list, which was the…
Spanish, Russian, Greek
"pearl, daisy"
Margarita is an international form of Margaret that shares its meaning of "pearl", but also directly translates to "daisy" in Spanish and Greek. Despite being widely associated with the alcoholic…
Portuguese variation of Katherine
One of the most popular names of all time in Portugal and Brazil, with a romantic, lively sound. The main risk is confusion with other names that sound similar: Catalina, Katrina, and so forth.…
German surname or Hebrew
"landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
More common -- when it was common -- with the Meyer spelling.
Variation of Carly, English
"free man"
Carly and company have had a good run, fueled by Nickelodeon's popular series iCarly , as well as Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen. Now most spellings of the name, including Carlie, Karlee, and…
American variation of Azariah or Azhari, Hebrew, Malay
"helped by God; shining, brilliant"
Azari is a rising name for both sexes, hitting a bunch of style trends at once — three syllables, strong Z, and an I ending. It's technically an invented name, likely inspired by the fashionable…
Spelling variation of Jacob
No, adding a Y does not do enough to separate this name from the ever-popular Jacob.
Spelling variation of Carson
"son of the marsh-dwellers"
Carson is finally beginning to fall slightly after a nearly 2-decade reign of popularity, and we suspect its many spelling variations will follow suit.
Basque and Scandinavian variation of Michael
A Basque and Scandinavian form of Michael, pronounced MEE-kel. In the US, it is sometimes chosen as a modern alternative spelling of Michael.
