By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Dutch contraction of Johanna
Could run into pronunciation confusion.
Hindi-Sanskrit
"victory"
This name of a Buddhist goddess, a possible alternative to the trendy Maya, was chosen for their daughter by Laura Dern and Ben Harper. Jaya is simple yet unusual, a winning combination, and one of…
English surname
"marshlands of Lincolnshire"
In the early eighties, Lindsay, in tandem with Courtney, approached the Top 10. Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the ey…
Arabic
"high, exalted, praised"
Samiya is a name used by parents of both Arabic and African ancestry. Spelling variations include Samiyah, Samiah, and Samia.
Variation of Zayla, invented name
Zayla is a modern invention that's ranked on the US Top 1000 for the past few years. Variation Zaila is still far from that milestone, but however you spell it, this is a name that's rising.
Hebrew, Polish
"encampment; grace"
This very unusual name, also related to Hannah, was chosen for his daughter by Vin Diesel.
English
"Hugh's son"
Climbing the charts for boys, and has just begun to cross over for girls, despite the macho "hud" sound followed by the "son" syllable.
Short form of Jessica, Hebrew
"behold or wealthy"
Once rare, this streamlined form of Jessica has been boosted by two very different television figures: the Jemima Kirke character on HBO series Girls , and reality television daughter Jessa Duggar.…
Lanie is a sweet, feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of names like Elaine, Alaine, or Melanie. With its roots in various European traditions, Lanie carries the meanings of its parent…
Lyana is a beautiful feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of 'Liana,' derived from the Latin 'ligare' meaning 'to bind,' or a feminine form of 'Lian,' which has Chinese…
Hebrew, Spanish
"beautiful; from Navarre or Nava"
Short, sweet, and sparky, Nava has been slowly climbing up the US popularity charts in recent years, owing perhaps to its similarity to Nova, Ava, Navy, and Nevaeh. Used quietly but consistently from…
Variation of Nur or Noor
"light"
Stylish and sweet, Noura is a strictly feminine form of the Arabic Nur. A name that could work well in various cultures and languages, Noura means "light" and is derived from one of 99 Names of Allah…
"pear tree"
Perry fits right in with rising boyish nicknames for girls and cool picks like Frankie and Scottie. This relaxed name sounds novel compared to such former favorites as Kerry and Sherry. Perry is the…
Word name
"queen"
Queen has seen a revival in recent times, reaching its record high in 2018 with 280 births — it has remained steady since then. Previously, Queen saw a peak in the 1920s, but its origins go back even…
English or Gaelic surname
"descendent of the champion"
Talented actress Rooney Mara (originally born Patricia Rooney) has single-handedly transformed this Gaelic surname into a wearable and elegant girls' name. Often said to mean "red-haired", the…
Sury is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may function as a diminutive of Sarah (meaning "princess" in Hebrew) or possibly derive from Sanskrit origins relating to "sun" or…
Hebrew
"blessing"
Bracha is literally the Hebrew word for blessing. It's rarely put on the birth certificate in the US, although many Jewish girls carry it as their Hebrew name.
English, feminine variation of Charles
"free man"
A Caroline abbreviation that was wildly popular with Mom's generation...or Grandma's. At one time it was a name for baby girls born at Christmas . because of its association with Christmas carols.…
Collette is a feminine name of French origin, serving as a variation of Nicole or Nicolette, ultimately derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' This elegant name…
English word name
Believe it or not, this was a fairly common appellation in early New England, interpreted not in the sexual sense, but more in terms of desiring salvation. In modern times, the French name Desiree,…
