By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Modern invented name
This spelling of the name entered the US Top 1000 in 2001, rising until it found its apex at Number 487 in 2009. It has since been trending in the opposite direction. As with all her sister…
Variation of Marlene
"Mary Magdalene; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea + high tower"
Marla might have dropped out of style in the US back in the 90s, but it has seen a resurgence in the UK in recent years. With a little dated charm about it, this variation of Marlene, itself a…
Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian, Slavic
"lady"
Sharper and steelier than Martha, but with the same underused vintage appeal.
Diminutive of Roberta or Barbara, English
"bright fame; stranger"
A vintage nickname for Roberta or Barbara, most famously borne by Roberta "Bobbie" in Edith Nesbit's classic The Railway Children . Bobbie is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable…
English, diminutive of Edith
"prosperous in war"
Edie is part of the Evie-Ellie et al family of cute and friendly short forms that sometimes stand on its own. Briefly popular in the 1960s, it could well be due for rediscovery. It's already a…
American invented name
With Henley and Kinsley two of the most popular new ley-ending baby names for girls , why not Hensley? We can think of several reasons, but if you like this style of name, Hensley is as attractive as…
Arabic
"faith"
One of the best-known African names in the Western World because of the Somali-born model and wife of the late David Bowie.
Variation of Riley, Irish
"courageous"
Riley is the most popular Irish girls' name in the US as well as the most popular baby girl name starting with R, so it's no surprise that it's spawned legions of variations. Ryla is one of the rarer…
Vaani is a feminine name of Indian origin, primarily found in Hindu families. It derives from Sanskrit and carries the beautiful meaning of 'speech,' 'voice,' or 'music.' The name is associated with…
Angely is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, most likely derived from Angela or Angelina, ultimately coming from the Greek word 'angelos' meaning 'messenger' or 'angel.' This modern…
Caeli is a delicate feminine name with Latin origins, derived from 'caelum' meaning 'heaven' or 'sky.' This ethereal name carries celestial connotations and evokes images of the heavens above. In…
Diminutive of Regina, Eugenia, Georgina, and similar, English, German, Spanish
"queen; well born; farmer"
A short form for a whole variety of names, this short form has been used across Europe as a stand-alone since the 1920s. It spiked in popularity in the 1950s, owing to the fame of Italian actress…
Iylah is a modern feminine name that appears to be a stylized variant of Isla, which has Scottish origins meaning 'island.' The unique spelling with the 'y' gives the name a contemporary flair while…
Norwegian diminutive of Katarina or variation of Carrie, English
"pure; free man"
Kari and all her many sisters, from Carrie to Carey to Kerry and onward, originated for the most part as short forms of either Catherine Katherine or one of the Charles feminizations such as Carol or…
Old English
"settlement with a leek garden"
The most popular variation of this name for baby girls is Leighton, as in Leighton Meester, the actress who introduced her name to the mainstream when she rose to fame on Gossip Girl .
Lilyann is a feminine compound name that combines the flower name Lily with the classic name Ann/Anne. Lily derives from the Latin "lilium," symbolizing purity, innocence, and beauty in many…
Urdu from Arabic
"mercy"
A virtuous choice with connections to Islam, Rehmat is strong and beautiful. Popular in Canada, New Zealand and in the UK, Rehmat is a fast rising name. It was the highest riser in Canada in 2023,…
Place-name
Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin's daughter Ireland opened up the map for names like Scotland, and now that it's been chosen by Kourtney Kardashian for her daughter Penelope's middle name -- in honor of…
Compound name, Scot plus Lynn, Scottish and Welsh
"Scottish lake"
Scotlyn and her near-identical twin Scotlynn are scooting up the popularity ladder, though still hiding beneath the Top 1000.
Shaindy is a feminine Yiddish name primarily used in Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities. It likely originated as a diminutive form of names like Shaindel or Shayna, deriving from the Yiddish…
