By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 1823 pages
of 1823
Variation of Cadence, word name
We'd prefer to stick with the more-familiar Cadence and avoid the overly trendy Kay- prefix.
Variation of Nellie and Nell
"light"
Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing…
English variation of Devin, Irish
"poet"
A more feminine version of Devin.
Laynie is a contemporary feminine name that emerged as a modern variant of names like Elaine, Laine, or Lane. It has a youthful, playful quality with its 'ie' ending, a popular naming trend in recent…
Latin virtue name
"ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"
Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's…
Rori is a feminine name with Gaelic origins, though it can occasionally be used for boys as well. Traditionally, it's a feminine variation of Rory, which means 'red king' in Gaelic. The name has a…
Greek
"with healing power"
Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at…
English
"to bloom"
Now that parents have picked virtually every name in the garden, from the common Rose to the captivating Zinnia, some are reconsidering the old, more generic names like Flora and Posy and Blossom —…
Modern invented name
Jaylee belongs to the family of names including Haylee and Caylee, all of which experienced their greatest popularity five to ten years ago.
English variation of Casey, Irish
"brave in battle"
This spelling variation of unisex Casey leans farther to the girls' side. Kaycee ranked in the US Top 1000 in the late 80s and 90s, but has fallen out of favor now.
Spelling variation of Cody, English
"helpful, pillow"
The Kodi spelling of Cody, a gender neutral name that was in the Top 25 for boys in the early 90s and also on the Top 1000 for girls, found new life recently via actor Kodi Smit-McPhee and also the…
English and Spanish diminutive of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
A condensed version of Elizabeth made more familiar by The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 's Lisbeth Salander.
Russian and Scandinavian variation of Sophia
"wisdom"
Early European import, well known in the 1940s via Norwegian skating movie star Sonja Henie, that has sailed back across the Atlantic, despite the rising popularity of other Russian names.
"clearing with a hermitage"
Part Ashley, part Ainsley, part Annie, Ansley featured in the US Top 1000 from the late '90s until 2020. It peaked in 2011 when it nearly reached the Top 600, but has declined in recent years. An…
Hebrew, or Turkish, spelling variation of Ayla
"oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
Aylah is a spelling variant of the on trend Ayla, sharing that -ah ending with other current favorites like Delilah, Savannah, and Norah. Currently in the UK Top 800 and given to almost 200 girls in…
French
"dweller near the canal"
Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
Elaboration of Holly or spelling variation of Holland
"holly + lake, beautiful; forest land; point of the land"
Hollyn combines the Christmas- and nature-inspired feel of Holly, with the preppy, unisex style of Collins, all stung together with the globetrotter flair of Holland and the trendy -lyn ending of…
English, modern invented name or surname
"edge of the meadow"
With the sprightly "Ren" and "Wren" currently in fashion, and "ley" a productive suffix to create new names, this combination was inevitable, and is chirpy and appealing. Renley has been on the US…
Persian
"dawn"
Best known as the beautiful heroine to whom Cyrano de Bergerac says, "Your name is like a golden bell". After peaking in 1954, the name dipped out of the Top 1000 in 2012. It returned at Number 986…
Arabic
"beauty, grace"
Zaina is the simplified form of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad. Zayna is another accepted spelling, while international forms include Zainabu, which exists in both the Arabic and…
