By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Greek
"strife, discord"
Eris was the goddess of strife and discord, turned fairy tale and then popular culture figure Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Ironic, as her name sounds so much like that of Eros, the god of love.…
Egyptian
"throne"
Isis has gone from magical, feminist name on the rise to the forbidden list because of the extremist terror group called ISIS, an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Unsurprisingly, Isis was…
French variation of Nadia, Russian
"hope"
Part of the vogue for French-sounding names in the 1920s and 30s, Nadine has been replaced by the Russian sound of Nadia and Natasha.
Variation of Amy
This Amy/Mia combination debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2013. It could also be seen as a variant of Amaya.
English
Popular in the US from the 1920s to the 1950s, Arlene is of uncertain origin and seems to be a modern innovation, perhaps based on names like Marlene and Darlene which were popular around the same…
Spanish
"breeze"
Brisa is commonly used in Latino families, all but unheard of in others.
"well-known clearing"
Kenley is an area in the burrough of Croydon in South London, making this a place name in a couple of senses of the term. Kenley and its twin sister Kenlee may be favored by parents looking to name a…
Cornish
"joy"
Though it still swims out of sight below the Top 1000, Lowen jumped more than a thousand places in rank for girls between 2022 and 2023, a mark of a name destined for far greater popularity. Nearly a…
Anglicized variation of Maire, Finnish, Irish variation of Mary"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"
"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"
Somber, almost mournful name that still has a lovely sound. Neither really in nor out, Maura has played around at the lower half of the Top 1000 since the late 1940s. It might make one of those…
Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, Greek
"beautiful fragrance; who is like God?; follower of Demeter"
Mika is a sparky and stylish Japanese girls' name that translates easily to English. Also used as a Slovene and Hebrew diminutive for Mihaela and Michaela, as an alternative spelling to the Biblical…
Anvi is a feminine name of Indian origin, primarily used in Hindu communities. The name carries beautiful meanings including 'complete,' 'full of love,' or 'someone who is wanted.' In Sanskrit, it…
American variation of Kayla
Kaylin is a variation of Kayla and Katelyn that had several years of chart climbing before reaching a peak of Number 372 in 2009. Cailin and Kailyn are two other spellings.
Spelling variation of Kyla
Kylah makes Kyla feel like an old biblical name, but it's only a reproduction, not a real antique.
Diminutive of Eliza and Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Liza's heyday was the mid-1970s, following on the heels of super-popular sister Lisa. But thanks to the fact that it never became superpopular, Liza remains a name not especially tied to one…
Modern Invented Name
A variation of Riley with an added -lynn suffix, this girl name is bubbling right underneath the Top 1000.
Arabic
"high, exalted, praised"
Samiyah hovers near the bottom of the US Top 1000, used expecially by Arab-American and African-American families. Variations include Samiya, Samiah, and Samia.
Yazmin is a feminine name that represents an alternative spelling of Jasmine, which derives from Persian origins meaning "gift from God" or referring to the fragrant jasmine flower. This variation,…
Diminutive of Abigail
"my father is joyful"
Abbie is a gently old-fashioned nickname name that owes its rising popularity to Top 10 Abigail. Abby may be the more usual spelling today.
Mapuche
"ember; clear"
A rising choice for baby girls in Uruguay.
English occupational surname
The term for a female baker was Baxter, which ironically feels less appropriate for a baby girl than Baker itself. Josephine Baker was an American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent,…
