By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 607 pages
of 607
Choctaw, Irish
"leaping water, lady of abundance"
This hauntingly euphonious Choctaw name has re-entered the public domain, as memories of the outrageous actress Tallulah Bankhead have faded. For years, Tallulah was a name associated only with…
Greek mythology name
"hazelnut, spear"
A bright, airy choice, Elara appears in Greek mythology and is borne by a lover of Zeus who gave birth to a giant son called Tityos. One of Jupiter's moons is named after her, adding a celestial feel…
Italian and Dutch diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Lilting and nearly unknown here, with the currently popular ella ending, makes a good Marissa alternative. The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots…
Variation of Madeleine, French
"of Magdala"
Madalyn is a variant of the French name Madeleine — one of several which have graced the US top 1000 in recent years. While sister spellings Madeline and Madelyn have always been more popular,…
Latin
"warlike"
Marcella is a name of Latin origin, which has been neglected for decades now. Depicted as the world's most beautiful woman in Don Quixote (where it's spelled Marcela), it has plenty of flair and…
Czech; Slovak; Serbian; Croatian; Polish; Italian
"love, warmth, grace"
This popular name in various Slavic countries and in Italy holds considerable continental appeal. It is the full name of Ukranian-born actress Mila Kunis, noted for her award-winning role in the film…
Variation of Rosalie, French
"rose"
With sweet, sparky Rosalie revived and ranking in the US Top 200, this variant is also catching on. While some may consider it a modern, creative spelling, it has long been used in the US. In fact,…
Dutch, German, Slovene, and Polish diminutive of Anne, Hindi, Sanskrit
"grace; army, splendour"
Sweet but spiky, Anika is a multicultural choice with broad appeal. Familiar in the UK, Czechia, Poland, and the US, it is in the Top 100 in Slovenia. It is additionally popular in Bangladesh, India,…
Place-name
This evocative place-name is rising in popularity -- despite (or perhaps because of) the unfortunate association with an airplane that went missing in March 2014.
Maori, Arabic, Hebrew
"the East wind; king, ruler; treetop"
The fastest-rising boy name of 2021 is now among the fastest-rising girl names of 2022, both thanks to the rise of luxury fashion brand AMIRI. A commonly used name in Māori culture, Amiri refers to…
Greek
"foreign woman"
Barbara is back and among the fastest-rising names of recent years! Credit goes to 2023's breakout movie Barbie , which gave a new stylish feel to the classic Barbara and set it up to rank alongside…
Hawaiian, spelling variation of Leilani
"heavenly flower"
With the melodic Leilani in the US Top 100, and gaining traction across the pond in the UK too, alternative spellings have naturally come into use. Leilany and Laylani are currently the more popular…
Variation of Gianna, Italian
"the Lord is gracious"
Jianna was one of the fastest-rising names of 2020 after the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It continued to rise in 2021.
Compound name, Nova + Lee, Latin and English
"new meadow"
Can be shortened to Nova, which has seen a meteoric rise into the Top 50 in recent years. Novalee appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016 and continues to drift gently upward.
Combination name of Rose and Lynn
Roselyn was a frequent member of the US Top 1000 in the early twentieth century until it dropped off the charts in 1954. It didn't return until 2003. This name takes Rosalind and makes it rosier. As…
Latin; Celtic
"heart; daughter of the sea"
Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both…
Arabic
"premature child"
The Prophet Muhammad's first wife and the first convert to Islam, and a very popular name in the Muslim community. It ranks in the Top 200 girls' names in France, Italy and England & Wales (alongside…
Japanese
"bright, intelligent"
A popular Japanese name for both sexes that's migrated to the West because of its appearance in manga and video games and because of its international feel. It was a fast rising choice in 2024, when…
Spanish feminization of Areli, Hebrew, or contraction of Araceli
"lion of God; sky altar"
Appearing in the US Top 1000 and popular among Spanish speaking families, Arely may be one of two things: a twist on the Hebrew masculine name, Areli, or a shortened form of the Spanish Araceli. If…
American
A newcomer to the US popularity charts, likely influenced by the popularity of similar names Camila and Camilla.
