Names that Peaked in 2012
Across 4 pages
of 4
Blake
English
"fair-haired, dark"
Blake -- an early unisex option -- dropped out of the Top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains a sophisticated choice. And yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. It…
Kendall
English
"valley of the river Kent"
Originally an English surname, borrowed from the place name, Kendale, Kendall was given almost exclusively to boys until the 40s when it began to be used for a small number of girls each year. By the…
Alayna
Spelling variation of Alana or Elena
"handsome, cheerful; bright shining light"
Blending classic with contemporary elements, Alayna is considered a spin on the name Alana, which also draws inspiration from Elaine and Elena. An obscure choice until the 80s, it began to climb the…
Brynn
Spelling variation of Bryn, Welsh
"hill"
Brynn outshines the original Welsh Bryn in the popularity stakes. This simple, brisk name might be seen as a combination of Bree and Lynn, an androgynous-sounding choice that especially in this…
Madilyn
Spelling variation of Madelyn
Madelyn is the most popular, phonetically-clear spelling of the lovely and stylish French name. Madilyn edges it toward Marilyn, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Singers Madilyn Bailey and…
Alijah
Spelling variation of Elijah, Hebrew
"Yahweh is God"
Elijah is in the US Top 10 and is popular across New Zealand, The Netherlands, and The UK. Spelling variation Alijah however only appears in the US charts, where it has ranked in the Top 1000 since…
Armani
Italian surname derived from Herman or Arman, German or Persian
"son of Ermanno; soldier; wish,hope"
Armani is catching on along with other brand names, and this one is among the most gender-neutral — sitting in the Top 500 for both boys and girls. Its similarity to the likes of rising stars Amari,…
Camilo
Spanish
"young ceremonial attendant"
The increasing popularity of Camila may have pushed this underrated Spanish name into the Top 1000 — though it remains far less popular than its feminine counterpart. A perfect familiar-but-rare…
Kolton
Spelling variation of Colton
This inventive spelling is part cowboy and part Kardashian.
Boston
Place-name
Unseen in the USA since 1901, Boston rocketed back into the Top 1000 in 2004 and, like other place-names such as Brooklyn, London and Paris, is now a reliable presence on the list.
Azaria
Spelling variation of Azariah
"Yahweh has helped"
A Biblical name with a modern feel, Azaria is a spelling variation of the Hebrew name, Azariah. Used as a masculine name in the Bible, this spelling is now more commonly used on girls. Azaria first…
Yaretzi
Nahuatl, Aztec
"you will always be loved"
This unusual name from the Nahuatl or Aztec language has one of the best meanings around. It sprang onto the US popularity list in 2006 and made a brief appearance in the Top 300 before sliding down…
Kinley
Scottish surname
"fair hero"
A Scottish surname name, more popular as the Presidential McKinley, meaning "son of the fair hero". Kinley also feels like a modern invention, ala Kenzie or Kimbry. Kinley peack in 2011-12, when it…
Aliya
Arabic, Hebrew
"heavens, highborn, exalted; to ascend, to rise"
Simpler and less tied to the singer in this form, Aliya is a feminine form of the Arabic name Ali, meaning "lofty, sublime, high" or "exalted." Boosted to fame by the ill-fated singer, Aaliyah, and…
Ayleen
Variation of Aileen or Ayla
The rise of Ayla seems to have revived this variation.
Jagger
English occupational name
"carter"
Jagger is a swaggering Rolling Stone of a name that's been picked up by a number of fellow celebs, including Lindsay Davenport and Brett Scallions--while Soleil Moon Frye pulled a gender switch when…
Lilianna
Spelling variation of Liliana
Deriving from "Lilian", as an elaborate form of the flower name, "Lily", Lilianna is a clean and polished spelling for those wanting the pronunciation Lily-Ann-uh. While the Spanish-influenced…
Giuliana
Italian variation of Juliana
"youthful"
Italian names like Gianna, Giovanna, Ginevra, Giulia, and Giuliana are being used increasingly by trendy baby namers — whether they have Italian roots or not. The Gi standing in for the more…
Skyla
Variation of Dutch Schuyler
"scholar"
Skyla is the most feminine form of the Skylar / Sklyer trend - little Skyla will never be mistaken on paper for a boy.
Dominik
Variation of Dominic, Latin "belonging to the lord"
"belonging to the lord"
A variation of the classic Dominic, this is the German, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Polish, Hungarian, and Croatian form. Traditionally chosen for children born on Sundays (owing to its meaning), it…