A solid classic with plenty of history, Thomas strikes the balance between strength and gentleness. A favorite in the UK, a staple in France, and Australia, and never absent from the US Top 100, Thomas feels like a safe bet and a name that fits into any era.

Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also the name of a Basque goddess and an Estonian word name.

When Gary cracked the Top 10 in 1950, it was one of the first nonclassic boys’ names to do so, largely due to Gary (born Frank) Cooper, who was renamed after Gary, Indiana, his agent's hometown. Now, a 65 years later, Gary isn't particularly high in the charts, and has lost any glitter it had. May we suggest the fuller name Gareth?

Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.

Best known as the beautiful heroine to whom Cyrano de Bergerac says, "Your name is like a golden bell".

Baby girl Danas outnumber baby boys with the name nearly ten to one. But Dana is an attractive, sleek name that can certain work for babies of either gender.

Attractive British place-name with a sense of humor. Fun fact: John Wayne played five characters with the first or second name of Kirby.

Paula still seems somewhat stuck in the era of duo Paul and Paula bopping out the song "Hey, Paula." Two pronunciations are possible—the English "PAW-la" and the Portuguese "POW-la."

Spelled with one 'n', this was the name of the wife of Alexander the Great, and is more attractive than the better-known Roxanne.

Gerard is currently in style limbo, after reaching peak popularity in the 1950s. With its strong meaning and gentle sound, it may be back in a generation or two. But for now, a boy called Gerard will likely be the only one in his class...unless you live in Catalonia, where it was recently in the Top 10.

A perennial classic in the Netherlands, short-and-sweet Dirk is starting to feel like a fresher alternative to cousin Derek.

Rahn is a concise masculine name with diverse origins. In German contexts, it derives from Middle High German 'rah' meaning 'slender' or 'thin,' originally a nickname for someone of slim build. It also appears as a variant of the Hebrew name Ran, meaning 'singing' or 'joyful.' In some Persian communities, Rahn relates to concepts of path or way. This multicultural name remains uncommon in English-speaking countries but has seen occasional use across Europe and the Middle East. With its short, strong phonetics and cross-cultural versatility, Rahn appeals to parents seeking a distinctive yet accessible name. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce while still feeling distinctive.

This regal Spanish name combines several of today's top trends: names that end in S, last names that can also be first names, royal-sounding names, and unisex options. It has a long history of use in Spain as both a surname and a given name.

A name that took on a pronounced country twang via Nashville megastar Garth (born Troyal) Brooks.

Although Kenton has the trendy K beginning and on ending, and a jazz reference to Stan Kenton, it still manages to sound stiff and old-fashioned.

Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.

Garry is a masculine name typically considered a variant spelling of Gary, which originated as a diminutive of names like Gareth or Gerald, or from the Germanic element "gar" meaning "spear." This alternative spelling with the double 'r' was particularly popular in the mid-20th century. Garry peaked in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s alongside Gary, associated with celebrities like actor Garry Cooper and musician Garry Moore. The name has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining masculine strength. Though less common than the single-r spelling, Garry offers a slightly distinctive alternative to the more standard form. Its usage has declined since its mid-century peak, now giving it a somewhat vintage character that connects to mid-century American culture.

Vernita is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may have developed as a feminine form of Vernon, which derives from the Latin 'vernus' meaning 'spring-like' or 'flourishing.' Alternatively, it could be a variant of Vernetta or Verna, both with similar Latin roots relating to spring. The name has been in use in the United States since at least the early 20th century, with modest but consistent usage throughout the mid-20th century. Vernita experienced a period of increased popularity between the 1940s and 1960s but has become less common in recent decades. The name's classic Latin derivation gives it a timeless quality, while its relatively uncommon status makes it distinctive. Records show usage across various communities in the United States, representing an established but uncommon naming tradition.