This bold choice soared in popularity from 2008 to 2013, and now seems to have plateaued. But watch out—the character Major Major Major Major in the classic absurdist novel Catch-22 had a terrible time.

Palma is an appealing Latin name that's both geographical and botanical, referring to the sunny and culturally rich capital of Majorca and to the foliage of a palm tree. As the word for "palm" in Spanish, Italian, and Croatian, it is occasionally given to girls born on Palm Sunday, and with its similarity to the likes of Alma, Thelma, Velma, and Wilma, it appeared in the US Top 1000 in the early 20th century.

Variant spelling of Camila, common in Eastern Europe. Kamila and Kamilah are also feminine forms of the Arabic name Kamil, meaning "perfect".

Heard in both Italy and Spain, Tulio could make a more unusual alternative to Julio. Or with the rediscovery of many Roman names, you might want to go to the original Tullius, the middle name of the philosopher and statesman Cicero.

Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.

Although often connected to the men's magazine title, Maxim is a chic and powerful name for a little boy. It's proving moderately popular too, having been in the Top 1000 in the US since the year 2000.

Quade is a confident, contemporary-sounding name that would fit right in with classmates Cade, Zade, Slade and Jade, boasting the quirky Q-beginning.

Saint Germain, the intellectual center of Paris, lends the name a creative aura. But most Americans would say jer-mayn. The Latin Germanus may mean sprout or bud, or brother.

This name of a famous ancient Roman jurist is sometimes heard in the Hispanic community.

Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison . Definitely more striking than Cadence or even the increasingly popular Aria.

Minimalist nickname via XXX star Diesel (born Mark Vincent).

The name of the Roman god of love, the son of Venus, considered so romantic as to be unfit for mere mortals. Yet now that Romeo and Venus herself are fair game for modern babies, why not Cupid?

A combination name that might be dismissed as a clown and cow name. The sounds are nevertheless pretty and the meaning is good - though spellings Claribel or Clarabel might help distance it from the cow association.

A pleasantly unfamiliar addition to the ella family of names.

The revival of long-dormant Roman names would put this back in the lexicon if it wasn't so connected to a telecommunications network.

Men may be from Mars as the saying goes, and the name may derive from the Latin maris meaning male, but soul singer Erykah Badu and Workaholics star Blake Anderson have given it potential as a unisex name after they both used it for their daughters.

One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.

For many, this is a Disneyfied name: Faline was the sweet doe Bambi fell in love with. The name is possibly based on Feline, a Latin name meaning "cat-like", however other sources suggest it comes from the French faon meaning "fawn", combined with the suffix -line. It is pronounced as FUH-LEEN in French and English or as fah-LEE-nuh in German, and was given to 7 girls in the US in 2024.

Esaias is a masculine name of ancient origin, representing the Greek form of Isaiah (Hebrew Yesha'yahu), meaning 'God is salvation' or 'Yahweh is salvation.' This classical variation was used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. While less common than Isaiah in English-speaking countries, Esaias maintains popularity in certain European regions, particularly in Greece and among communities with strong Orthodox Christian traditions. The name carries the gravitas of its biblical connection—Isaiah being one of the major prophets in the Old Testament—while offering a distinctive alternative to more common biblical names. Its elegant pronunciation and meaningful heritage continue to attract parents seeking a name with historical depth.