By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 68 pages
of 68
Word name, English
Though perhaps not as currently stylish as Ruby, Jade, or Pearl, Amber has a colorful history (remember the notorious Forever Amber heroine?). Unfortunately, it does come with the "Amber Alert"…
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…
Cornish variation of Guinevere, Welsh
"white shadow, white wave"
Jennifer is the Cornish variation of Guinevere, which ultimately derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. As such, it is connected to the queen of Arthurian legend, and sharees the same meaning of…
Arabic; Dutch variation of Eleonora
"light"
An interesting name associated with the elegant American-born Queen Noor of Jordan. Noor is very popular among modern Muslim parents around the world and is beginning to cross over, perhaps because…
Spelling variation of Skylar or Schuyler
While Skylar is currently the most popular spelling choice for girls, the Skyler option is more (statistically) unisex. Given to boy and girls in nearly equal numbers each year, it ranks around the…
English
"horse trainer"
Baylor is a possible occupational alternative to the tired Taylor, especially for a horse lover.
English or French place-name and surname
"green valley; from Anvers"
Yet another creative character name from Toni Morrison, Denver was a daughter of Sethe's in the novel Beloved . Today Denver is most familiar as the name of the largest city in Colorado, used almost…
"one who hunts"
This surname gained momentum in the 1990s, when it was particularly in vogue for males. However, it seems to be experiencing a surge for females—it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2013,…
English from French occupational name
"candle maker"
In the US, nearly 300 baby girls were named Chandler in the US last year, which first appeared on the girls' Top 1000 in the heyday of Friends . While the TV character was masculine, today the name…
Diminutive of Kimberley
This diminutive of Kimberley is gaining momentum as a standalone name. For our part, we're stumped by its rise.
Spelling variation of Carter
"transporter of goods by cart"
The K-spelling of Carter has been in the boys' Top 1000 since 2005. In 2014, Karter cracked the girls' Top 1000, too. Karter joins the plethora of surnames turned boys' names that are now entering…
French
"keeper of provisions"
Yes, Spencer makes a plausible and powerful female choice these days, though it's still used four times as often for boys as for girls. But Spencer does not swim that far beneath the Top 1000, used…
English color and flower name
"purple flower"
Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lila, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers along with other adventurous nature names…
French surname
"golden"
Dior has joined Chanel and Armani on the fashionista hit parade of names, appealing due to its designer quality, its succinct sound, and contemporary air. Nearly 400 baby girls were named Dior in the…
Occupational name
Supermodel Christie Brinkley launched an entire name genre when she picked this breezy occupational name for her daughter in 1998, and it has become more prevalent in recent decades. The Saylor…
English word name
"clover"
Clover has been one of the fastest-rising girl names in recent years, with parents loving the quirky, offbeat nature vibe. Spelling variation Klover is following in these footsteps and is on the rise…
English surname
"barrel maker"
Cooper is one of the American names used for both genders, but much more often for boys. More than 140 American parents chose it for their baby girls in the most recent year counted....compared with…
English botanical name
"small shrub"
This flower name was one of the most popular in her class in the seventies and eighties, a fact reflected in the 1989 movie Heathers , in which every snobby girl in the high school clique bears the…
Spelling variation of Eleanor, English, French
A sleek, literary alternative to Eleanor, this stripped back form of Eleanor is a well-established spelling. It notably appears in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility , borne by Elinor Dashwood,…
Variation of Noor, Arabic
Noor is the prevailing spelling of this beautiful Arabic name, while Nour is preferred in many European countries, including France and Spain.
