Updated November 2023
Across 3 pages
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Irish
"girl"
Midcentury Irish-American favorite, never used in Ireland itself, being the generic word for "girl"; rarely given today.
Norse and Scandinavian
"thunder"
Thor, the powerful name of the Norse god of thunder, strength and rain, would make a bold statement. Long a comic book staple, Thor has now invaded the big screen, and could land on birth…
Spanish, Portuguese, from French, meaning unknown
This name of the French town where a young peasant girl had a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1858 vaulted into the spotlight when Madonna chose it for her daughter, but few other families except for…
Scandinavian variation of Christine
Christine was one of the first megapopular C-to-K baby names , from Scandinavian variations such as Kristine and Kirsten to Kris, Kristy, and Kristy. While Kristine retains its krisply lovely sound,…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
The sweetest and most sensitive of the pet names for Elizabeth, now also one of the most dated.
English, Irish
"black, dark"
Cary Grant's debonair image has stood the test of time: he is still rated as one of the most handsome and admired men in Hollywood. Charming, succinct, and witty, Cary (also spelled Carey) was a…
English, diminutive of Tamara
Made famous in fifties movies as a wholesome backwoods gal, Tammy was a Top 10 choice from the mid-60s to early-70s, but is now given to fewer than 100 babies per year in the US.
Spanish and Portuguese form of Wilfred, German
"desires peace"
Wilfredo has been consistently used in Hispanic and Latino communities for generations, though it's never reached extreme popularity. The name carries a dignified, traditional quality while remaining…
French
"of Thracia"
Almost always a girl's name now.
Greek
"angel"
Angelia, also called Angelos, was a daughter of Zeus and Hera. She stole her mother's anointments and gave them to Europa, then to escape her mother's wrath went into hiding. Angelia's father Zeus…
Starla is a feminine name that emerged in mid-20th century America as a creative elaboration of the word 'star.' This celestial-inspired name peaked in popularity during the 1970s and early 1980s,…
Latin
"laughing"
Shelly is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive of Michelle or as a reference to seashells, giving it both personal and nature-inspired origins. Popular during the 1960s and 1970s in…
Lynnette is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Lynn or Linda. It has French and English roots, with Lynn deriving from the Welsh word 'llyn' meaning 'lake' or possibly from the…
Melony is a feminine name that represents a modern spelling variation of Melanie, which derives from the Greek 'melaina' meaning 'dark' or 'black.' This alternative spelling emerged in the mid-20th…
French from Italian
"impulsive change of mind; lively music"
Caprice is a word name with an appealing sound and a light-hearted meaning that may well put parents off. While it was given to just 10 girls in a recent year, the name did have a moment back in the…
Diminutive of Thaddeus, Aramaic
"gift of God"
An approachable mini name that could go on the birth certificate, but may work best as a nickname. Full name options include Thaddeus, Theodore, and Thomas, which was the given name of Abe's son Tad…
English surname
"from Paris"
Parrish is unrelated — but often said to be related — to the English word "parish". Instead, the surname arose as a designator for one who lived in Paris.
Deron appears to be a modern given name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Darren (from the Irish Ó Dairinín, meaning "descendant of Dairin"), or could be derived from the Greek…
Anglicization of Eduardo, Spanish, English
"wealthy guardian"
A spin on Eduardo, the Spanish and Portuguese form of the regal English classic, Edwardo keeps the familiar W but also includes the stylish -o ending. It ranked in the latter half of the US Top 1000…