By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 326 pages
of 326
French,pet form of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
One of the group of French 'ette'-ending names that emigrated to this country in the last century, though never as popular as some others, such as Claudette and Paulette--it did have a little…
English, combination of Mary and Jane
"drop of the sea, bitter, beloved + god is gracious"
Mary was such a common name for so long that it sprouted a whole family of chimeric name splices: Maryann, Marybeth, Mary-Lousie, ad infinitum. Spiderman 's Mary Jane Watson, the closed toe shoe with…
Renlee is a modern feminine name that combines elements of traditional names with contemporary styling. Likely a creative blend of the prefix 'Ren' (found in names like Renee, meaning 'reborn') and…
English
"darling"
A modern(ish) invented name, only in widespread use since the 20th century. It is a combination of the English word darling and the popular midcentury suffix -lene. It was recently used on a…
French diminutive pet form of Francoise
"from France or free man"
With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a…
English variation of Emily, Latin
"rival"
Again, we see the trendy -ee suffix.
English variation of Casey, Irish
"brave in battle"
A respelling of Casey, with a slightly softer look and a hint of classic Katie about it. It ranked in the US Top 1000 in the 80s and 80s, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Less popular than it once…
Diminutive of Valentina or Valerie or word name, English, Latin
"strength, health; valley"
Vallie is one of those names that doubles up as a sweet, stylish nickname for several well-established choices and as a modern, nature-connected word name. A Top 1000 choice in the late 19th- and…
Spanish variation of Denise, French from Greek
"god of Nysa"
Denisse was the fastest-rising name for girls of 2020 — influenced by Denisse Novoa, a contestant on the 2019 season of the popular reality TV show Exatlón Estados Unidos . Traditional spelling…
Word name
Divine seems more proper a name with the rise of Heaven and its turned-around twin Nevaeh. Though superlative names like Divine -- Unique, say, or Precious -- sometimes seems as if they're trying to…
Variation of Carly, English
"free man"
This nouveau spelling peaked at Number 583 in 2004. In spite of its trend-making K and "ee" ending, Karlee is much less popular than the original Carly.
Kolbie is a feminine name that originated as a gender-neutral variant of Colby. The name Colby has English origins meaning "dark-haired" or refers to someone from a "coal town" or a "farm by the coal…
Carly and company have had a good run, fueled by Nickelodeon's popular series iCarly , as well as Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen. Now most spellings of the name, including Carlie, Karlee, and…
Chevelle is a feminine name with French influences, deriving popularity primarily from the iconic American muscle car produced by Chevrolet in the 1960s and 70s. The name carries connotations of…
Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew
"lily"
In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own. Susie, which might be short for Susan or Susannah, might be off its fashion peak but it's still cute and perky.
Old Norse
"chooser of the slain"
In Norse mythology, the valkyries decided the fate of men in battle and conveyed the spirits of the fallen to Valhalla, to dwell with the god Odin. Often associated with ravens, swans, and horses,…
"small bay"
Cove is an up-and-coming nature name whose cool sound and peaceful image saw it rising for both sexes until COVID-19 hit. It decreased slightly for boys in 2020 and remained steading in 2021, but it…
English feminization of Charles, German and French
Charlene is a Charlotte variation that, along with similar names like Arlene and Marlene, spiked in popularity in the 1940s and fifties, reaching a high of Number 100 in 1949. Most parents today…
Modern invented name
Cute but slight mix of stylish sounds Cam and Bree, chosen by Rick Schroder for his daughter.
