Names that Peaked in 1994
Across 5 pages
of 5
Zackary
Spelling variation of Zachary
While this spelling makes sense phonetically, it will inevitably cause confusion when nine out of ten people assume the traditional Zachary spelling. Zack Greinke, 2009 American League Cy Young award…
Katarina
Slovak; Swedish; Serbian; Croatian; Slovenian, variation of Katherine
"pure"
The Russian version of Katherine is usually Ekaterina, but this form is used throughout Eastern Europe and may be more friendly to the American ear.
Katerina
Macedonian, Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, and Greek form of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Katerina and its near-identical twin Katarina have a pleasingly lilting European sound, though for some Americans they may be uncomfortably close to Katrina, which will be linked for a long time to…
Karley
Karley is a feminine name that emerged as a modern variation of Carly or Karly, which themselves developed as feminine forms of Carl, meaning 'free man' or 'strong man.' This contemporary spelling…
Estevan
Estevan is a masculine name of Spanish origin, representing a variation of the more common Stephen or Esteban. Derived from the Greek name Stephanos meaning "crown" or "garland," it carries…
Baby
Word name
Usually reserved as a term of endearment, Baby is likely used as a name when parents have yet to choose an official one but need to register their baby. For a girl, it can be considered a nickname…
Deonte
Deonte appears to be a modern American name that emerged in the latter half of the 20th century. The name likely combines the popular prefix 'De-' (found in many names like Deon, Deandre, and Devon)…
Jamarcus
African American compound name, from James and Marcus
"supplanter + warlike"
Created from two classics, Jamarcus - also written as JaMarcus - is a smoosh name with strong, tough meaning. The name peaked in the 2000s and has since fallen down the US charts, though it is still…
Lucero
Spanish
"light"
Lucero is a relative or nickname of Luz, meaning light. This intriguing name is swimming just beneath the Top 1000 for girls in the US.
Jaleel
Jaleel is a masculine name with Arabic origins, meaning 'great,' 'noble,' or 'revered.' It has been used across various Muslim communities throughout the world and gained notable recognition in…
Dondre
Variation of DeAndre et al
"the son of Andrew"
An invented name that has its roots in DeAndre or D'Andre, which springs from "the son of Andrew." Feels like half Don or Dion, half Andre or Andrew, but not enough of something unto itself.
Shaquan
Modern invented name
Shaquan combines elements of both Arabic influence ('Sha' often appearing in names meaning 'king' or 'royal') with African sounds, though it was primarily created as a unique American name rather…
Adilene
Variation of Adeline or Adil, Mexican
"noble; just, fair"
A variation of the popular Adeline, Adilene appears in the title of a popular song by Mexican band, Los Yonics. It may be inspired by the Biblical place name Abilene or perhaps by the Arabic names…
Clarisa
Spanish variation of Claire or Clarissa
"bright, clear"
The pronunciation is different enough -- it's clar-EE-sa -- to make this feel like a distinct name. But an improvement on Claire or Clarissa? Not really.
Zana
Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Latvian, Albanian
"God is Gracious; lily; voice, fairy"
An international possibility, heard from England and Israel to Poland, Latvia, and Albania. It is a name with a vast range of possible meanings and origins, including: a Polish variation of Jane,…
Marissa
Variation of Maris or a combination of Maria + Louisa
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
Pretty feminissima name that never became as overused as cousin Melissa. The more streamlined Maris is a more modern sounding option. Namesakes include Marissa Mayer, the former CEO of Yahoo!. The…
Zhane
Modern invented name
Mix a bit of old-fashioned Jane with the male-inflected Zane, et voila.
Alek
Polish, Armenian, Serbian, and Russian form of Alex, Greek, Greenlandic
"defending men; harpoon line"
A variation of Alex used in a number of languages, Alek has the cool, solid feel of Erik and Axel. It can also be a name of Greenlandic origin, meaning "harpoon line".
Deandre
Modern invented name
"son of Andre"
A popular choice amongst the African American naming community in the 90s, Deandre has been falling out of style in favor of more contemporary choices. Deriving from Andre — the French and Portuguese…
Markell
Markell appears to be a blend name combining elements of Mark (from Latin 'Marcus' meaning 'dedicated to Mars,' the Roman god of war) with the common '-ell' suffix found in many traditional surnames…