Nico is one of the great nickname names, full of charm, energy and effortless cool -- a neo Nick.

Elliot (which boasts several spellings depending upon how many 'l's or 't's you want to use) is a winner -- it has the ideal quality of being neither too common nor weirdly unique. Elliot had a style boost back in the early 1980s via the young hero of the movie E.T. , who was named Elliott. Since then there have been Elliots on Law & Order: SVU and Mad Men.

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.

Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."

When Jennifer finally gave up her Number 1 place on the girls' popularity list, her crown was passed to Jessica, who reigned for not one but two decades. Jessica was the Number 1 name in both the mid-1980s and 1990s, never sounding quite as trendy as its predecessor, maybe because of its classic Shakespearean pedigree.

Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.

Lauren was derived from Laurence, an English name from the Roman family name Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum." Laurentum, an ancient Italian city, got its name from the Latin word laurus, meaning "bay laurel."

Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s, all baby names Ash-related have been used in the U.S. for both girls and boys, from Ashlyn to Ashby, Ashton to Asher. Despite its separate roots, Asha is part of this group.

Brittany first arrived on the US popularity list in 1971, and rapidly zoomed up the charts, in the Top 100 a decade later. By 1986 it had entered the Top 10, becoming the third most popular girls’ name in the country by 1989.

This is a more spunky and Nordic looking variant of Erica, but the k also makes the connection to the beautiful flower less apparent.

Muhammad approved all ninety-nine attributes of Allah as worthy names, and this is one of the most popular. It was in the US Top 1000 for the first time since 1998 in 2016, when it was one of the 10 fastest-rising boys' names. Perhaps the most well known person in America with the name is former Houston Rockets center and Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

Hot star Ashton Kutcher is pushing this unisex choice toward the boys' camp, but its variation Ashtyn is on the rise.

Long considered Mr. Hall's exclusive property, it's now ready to be adopted by others.

Y-ending color adjectives like Tawny and Rusty are nowhere near as stylish as the more sophisticated Lilacs and Violets.

This abbreviated spelling, which also relates to Whitney, quickly took on a life of its own, thanks to the megafame of Britney Spears, but it's already beginning to burn out.

Kelsey (ex-Frasier) Grammer is a famous male bearer, although most modern Kelseys are female (in the US at least). It derives from several English place names, possibly meaning "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce".

Cassondra is a feminine name that represents a variant spelling of Cassandra, which derives from Greek mythology. The original Cassandra was a Trojan princess blessed with the gift of prophecy but cursed so that no one would believe her predictions. The name stems from Greek elements possibly meaning 'shining upon men.' This particular spelling, with the inserted 'o,' emerged in the 20th century as a way to create a more distinctive version of the classic name. Cassondra peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with the trend for more elaborate name variations. It offers the familiar sound and mythological weight of Cassandra while providing a unique spelling that sets its bearers apart.

Kendell is a masculine name derived from the Welsh place name Kendal, meaning 'valley of the River Kent.' This contemporary spelling variation of Kendall adds a distinctive touch to the traditional name. Kendell emerged in popularity during the late 20th century as part of the trend toward using surnames as first names. The name has a modern, strong sound while maintaining a connection to British geographical heritage. While less common than similar names like Kendrick or Kenneth, Kendell offers a unique option that balances familiarity with distinctiveness. The name has a professional, sophisticated quality that grows well with a person from childhood into adulthood, contributing to its steady though modest popularity in English-speaking countries.

With the rise of many once-dated leonine names, from Leona to Lionel to Leonora, Leandra is an unusual choice that might be looking at a comeback..