Names that Peaked in 1996
Across 5 pages
of 5
Carley
Variation of Carly, English
"free man"
Cheyanne
English variation of Cheyenne, Sioux
"people of a different language"
This is a variation of Cheyenne that is slipping in the popularity list toward obscurity.
Christiana
Latin feminization of Christian, Greek from Latin
"follower of Christ"
Not cutting edge, but still graceful and feminine. Parents who care about style may pass on all names Chris (or Kris) related, which were so popular in the second half of the 20th century. But…
Estefania
Spanish variation of Stephanie
Attractive international Stephanie alternative. Estefania ranks in the Top 100 in Puerto Rico.
Hayley
English
"hay field"
It all started in 1946, when Hayley Mills was given her mother's maiden name. Now that spelling is in third place, after Hailey and Haley, with all three adding up to one of the most popular names in…
Halie
Greek mythology name
"dweller in the sea"
Halie is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, most of them sea nymphs. The most prominent mythological Halie was the mother of Rhodos, who gave her name to the island Rhodes, and six sons…
Jocelyne
Jocelyne is a feminine name of French origin, representing a variant spelling of Jocelyn. The name derives from a Germanic masculine name 'Gautselin,' meaning 'little Goth' or 'member of the Goth…
Kiersten
Variation of Kirsten
Kiersten is the version of Kirsten you use if you really really really don't want anyone to mispronounce it as ker-sten or kris-ten. But they probably still will.
Lexus
Greek variation of a diminutive of Alexis
Lexus, an automotive newcomer, has recently entered the Top 1000 -- more because of its association, we fear, with the status symbol car than its relation to the name Alexis. If you love this name,…
Precious
Latin word name
"of great worth, expensive"
Though many might find it too syrupy, hundreds of parents each year choose this name for their daughters to make them feel special. Precious Ramotswe is the engaging African sleuth in the popular No.…
Sarina
Italian diminutive of Sarah or spelling variation of Serena, Hebrew or Latin
"princess or serene"
With its melodic three syllables and flowing sound, Sarina offers a softer, more elaborate alternative to Sarah while maintaining an accessible pronunciation. The name gained modest popularity in the…
Shania
Ojibway
"I'm on my way"
This obscure Native-American name owes its very life to country singer Shania Twain, who dropped her original name, Eileen, for it.
Tristan
Celtic
"noise or sorrowful"
Though Tristan was the male figure in the romantic legend and his name has become trendy for boys, it's used now for girls, too: About 15 percent of the baby Tristans are female. And about three…
Tristen
Tristen is a feminine name with Germanic origins, though it's used for both genders in modern times. It's a variant spelling of Tristan, from the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde, a tragic romance…
Unique
Word name
"one of a kind"
Finding a really distinctive name is probably a better way to make sure your child stands out, but then again, is choosing Unique really any different to parents choosing Saint, Messiah, Chosen,…
Anfernee
Anfernee is a masculine name that gained recognition primarily through NBA basketball star Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway. The name originated as a unique phonetic spelling of Anthony, which comes from…
Austyn
Spelling variation of Austin
Nearly 350 babies were named Austyn last year, about a quarter of them boys.
Kristian
Danish, Albanian, Breton, Bulgarian, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish variation of Christian
Variation of Christian.
Dontae
Dontae appears to be a variant spelling of Dante or Donte. The name Dante has Italian origins, derived from the medieval shortened form of the name Durante, meaning 'enduring' or 'lasting.' The…
Deshaun
Deshaun is a masculine name that emerged in American naming practices during the 1970s and gained more significant popularity in the 1990s. The name appears to combine the common prefix 'De-' (found…