By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 409 pages
of 409
English
"pleasant seaside meadow"
The combined inspiration of reggae master Bob and the dog-loving romp "Marley and Me" catapulted this name up the chart in recent years. But what goes up....
Modern invented name
"jazz by the lake; fower by the lake"
A modern invention that's been in use since the 80s and in the charts since the 90s, which combines the sounds of Jasmine (or Jasper or just the word jazz) with the popular suffix, -lyn . Inspiration…
English, contracted form of Leonora
"light"
A lovely (and uncommon) longer form for Nora, one of the most fashionable international nickname names around. Lenora fell off the US charts in the 70s, but just re-entered in 2022 as parents' love…
Word name
Among the children named Heaven are the daughters of TV personality Brooke Burke and rap singer Lil' Mo, who also has a daughter named God'iss Love. Some parents have taken to using Nevaeh…
Variation of Emery, English from German
"industrious"
Parents of female Emerie's would argue the suffix -ie makes it more feminine. It may also add a feeling of French flair. Clearly, there are enough thinking this to popularize it—the name entered the…
Greek
"defender"
Alexis, a one-time exclusively- boys’ name , was more popular than its sister Alexandra for quite a while, but in recent years Alexandra has overtaken it once again. Alexis was a Top 20 girls’ name…
English variation of Cameron, Scottish
"crooked nose"
As a Top 600 name for girls for more than 20 years, Kamryn has become a widely-accepted version of the original Cameron. It also ranks just below the Top 1000 for boys too, though it is used three…
Alternate spelling of Lillian, English
"lily; pledged to God"
Lilian is the far less popular than the 'Lillian' spelling. To avoid a lifetime of mistakes and misspellings, we suggest you go with the Lillian spelling, which also looks more polished on paper.…
Italian surname derived from Ermanno, German, Arabic
"; wish"
A designer baby name that has appeared alongside Gucci, Dior, Chanel, and Fendi in this era of branding everything from your purse to your offspring, Armani is an Italian surname, associated with the…
German
"work"
Originally popularized in eighteenth century Europe due to the fame of Anna Amalia, a Duchess who was a great patron of the arts, Amalia is now a widely cross-cultural name, heard from Italy to…
Feminine of Ivan, which is itself a variation of John
Ivanna / Ivana both come out of the name "John" by way of the Russian variant Ivan. Whereas Joanna feels dated, Ivanna feels cosmopolitan and fresh. Ivanka (of Trump fame) is a diminutive version of…
English occupational surname
"grinder of grain"
Miller is the third-most common surname in the United States and was one of the fastest-rising first names for both girls and boys in 2023. Miller rose nearly 300 places on the girls' side to vault…
Variation of Ximena, Spanish
"hearing, listening; son"
A popular choice in Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico, Jimena has also appears in the Top 600 in the US. It was historically borne by Jimena Díaz, the wife of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (better known by the…
English from Hebrew
"flowing down"
Originally used for children baptized in holy water from the river Jordan, it became one of the leading androgynous names of the nineties. As the balance tips toward the boys' side, it's slipping on…
Variation of Emilia or Amelia, Latin, Germanic, "rival;work
Emelia takes elements from soundalike sisters Emilia and Amelia, which actually derive from different roots and have different meanings. Emelia's current popularity (Top 600 in the US and Top 400 in…
Latin
"from the sea"
This pretty sea-born name was used to dramatic effect by Shakespeare in his play Pericles for the virtuous princess who says she is "Call'd Marina, for I was born at sea." Marina was an epithet of…
Variation of Eliana
The uber-popular nickname-name Ellie has led to the surge of all names that can be shortened as such. This includes Eliana, a current go-to for parents seeking a frilly name that shortens to a cuter…
Spanish
"saw"
Sierra is a name borrowed from the western mountain range, with Latin rhythm and cowboy charm, that has led to many offshoots: Cierra, Cyara, and so on. It is now probably past its peak but retains…
American variation of Amaya and Amaia, Spanish
"the end"
While this name is a phonetic variant of Amaya and Amaia, its popularity could also stem from its similarity to names such as Aliyah, Amelia, and Amara too. It entered the US Top 1000 back in 2003,…
Anglicized form of Yiddish Golde or Golda
"gold"
Goldie is a shimmering new addition to the nickname name lineup, and became one of the fastest rising girl names in 2023. After peaking at Number 114 in 1904-1905, Goldie slid off the list completely…
