By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 409 pages
of 409
German variation of Leonora, Italian derivative of Eleonora, meaning unknown
A "modernization" of Leonora that has suddenly come back on the radar along with the many other Leo names--both male and female. With literary cred via a famous eponymous poem by Edgar Allan Poe (and…
Variation of Noelle and Noel, French
"Christmas"
Noelle may be literally 15 times as popular, but Noella was given to more than 100 baby girls in the US last year, a not insignificant number. The growing popularity of Nola may increase the…
Arabic
"deserts"
A beautiful and evocative place-name that deserves wider use, Sahara brings to mind deserts and heat. Derived from Arabic, it is the name of the world's largest hot desert, located across the North…
Word name; variation of Storm
Stormy is on the rise following the birth of Kylie Jenner's daughter Stormi, although the starbaby's spelling has taken over the lead.
Janyla appears to be a modern invented name that emerged in American naming practices during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name likely combines the popular prefix 'Jan-' (found in names…
Arayah is a modern feminine name that combines elements of several naming traditions. It may be a variation of Araya, which has Thai origins meaning 'noble' or could be related to the Hebrew name…
Variation of Kalea, Hawaiian
"joy, happiness"
Hawaiian names are up across the board, but the lilting and lovely Kalea is headed for the mainstream, along with variants Kaleah and Kaleia.
English
"cleared wood; reed clearing; channel clearing"
Can one prominent character affect the gender identity of a name? Definitely, as has supernatural bad girl Ridley Duchannes of the Beautiful Creatures series-turned-movie, played by the gorgeous Emmy…
Modern invented name
Aerith Gainsborough is a lead character in the video game Final Fantasy. The name was invented by the developers as a translation for the character's original Japanese name Earisu.
Feminine form of Cassius or Greek
"cinnamon"
Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the…
"aristocracy"
Gentry is a word name that's gaining ground for girls as a kind of updated Jennifer, especially in the Jentry (or Jentri or Jentree) spelling.
spelling variation of Hattie
While this version of the name has never made it into the US Top 1000, it is nonetheless slowly on the rise. In 2015, 162 girls were given this name. The related Hattie is the highest it's ever been,…
Variation of Ivana
"God is gracious"
High-profile First Daughter Trump bears a nickname for her mother's name, Ivana. But though quite common in Slavic countries, and despite its international appeal, Ivanka is likely to remain a…
Kylani is a modern feminine name with Hawaiian influences, combining elements like 'Ky' and 'Lani.' The element 'lani' in Hawaiian means 'heaven' or 'sky,' giving the name a celestial quality. This…
Jaycie is a contemporary feminine name that emerged as a creative variation of names like Jayce, Casey, or Jessica. With American origins, it combines the popular 'Jay' sound with a feminine ending,…
English and French diminutive of Marie
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
An underused classic that has proved surprisingly unisex over the last few decades, being given to roughly the same number of baby girls and boys in the US from the 1970s to the 2000s. For a girl,…
Mayzie is a whimsical feminine name that gained recognition from Dr. Seuss's character Mayzie the lazy bird in his stories. The name has a cheerful, playful quality with its 'ay' sound and diminutive…
English from German
"Swiss"
Swayze is an Anglicization of the German surname Schweiz or Schweizer, referring to a Swiss person. It's most commonly associated with late actor Patrick Swayze, of Dirty Dancing fame. Interestingly,…
"happy, carefree"
Blythe is Nameberry gem — one of those names that visitors to the site are often searching for, despite the fact it's never ranked in the US charts as a given name. The name is derived the Old…
French
"yew wood"
Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust…
