By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 104 pages
of 104
Variation of Nellie and Nell
"light"
Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing…
English
"clearing with a hermitage"
Part Ashley, part Ainsley, part Annie, Ansley featured in the US Top 1000 from the late '90s until 2020. It peaked in 2011 when it nearly reached the Top 600, but has declined in recent years. An…
English, modern invented name or surname
"edge of the meadow"
With the sprightly "Ren" and "Wren" currently in fashion, and "ley" a productive suffix to create new names, this combination was inevitable, and is chirpy and appealing. Renley has been on the US…
English diminutive of Olivia, Latin
"olive tree"
Stylish, sweet, and bubbly, Livvy is a familiar short form of the popular Olivia, though it could easily work as a nickname to Olive, Lavinia, or Liv as well. In recent years, however, Livvy has been…
English, Celtic, Welsh
"friend or white"
It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan , which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie…
English surname meaning "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
"Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the "ey" ending was usually reserved for women and the "ay" ending reserved for men, and…
English, diminutive of Letitia or similar
"joy, gladness"
Letty is a sweet vintage gem, playful and cosy and more unexpected than Lottie, the popular pet form of popular Charlotte. Originally used as a nickname for Letitia or Lettice, it could also work for…
Delainey is a feminine name that evolved as a modern variant of Delaney, which itself originated as an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Dubhshláine,' meaning 'descendant of Dubhshláine.' The…
Turkish
"dark moon"
Lovers of Esme and Ayla might also like this beautiful Turkish name, with its mysterious, moonstruck meaning. The last syllable sounds like "rye", rather than with ray. A notable bearer was Esmeray…
English place name, Old Norse
"Geirr's island"
An established place name, associated with a sunny island in the English Channel, the Garden State in the US, knitted pullovers, reality TV, and a Broadway musical. It peaked in the late 2000s and…
Variation of Kaylee, English
"laurel, crown"
Kaylee meets Hailey.
Variation of Emery, German
"industrious"
Emry is a shortened form of the popular Emery, which now ranks in the Top 100 girl names in the US. Emry has not yet hit the Top 1000 but was given to about 200 babies in the US last year, about 80…
Aracely is a feminine name with Spanish origins, particularly popular in Latin American countries like Mexico. It likely derives from Araceli, which comes from the Latin phrase "ara caeli" meaning…
Variation of Leslie
Overly-streamlined Leslie variation holding on at the bottom of the Top 1000.
"stag meadow"
Smart and preppy, but with plenty of heart, Hartley is a surname style name that could work as an alternative to the popular Harley, Harlowe, Harper, and Hadley. Quietly used for boys throughout the…
Spanish, Latin American, and Caribbean variation of Eliana, Latin
"sun"
Ailany has been a big hit in the 2020s, and this Eliana variant is following in its footsteps. A spin on the sunny Eliana, it first appeared in the US stats back in 2001 and has been used quietly…
English Surname
"meadow with coarse grass"
We can't account for the popularity of this name, for either a boy or a girl, given the first syllable, the tacky connotations with a luxury car, and the range of other options which are more…
Diminutive of Joanna or Josephine, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine. Joey can be thought of as one of the Stevie/Billie/Frankie boyish nicknames for girls so fashionable today.
Latin
"truth"
If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in…
Rivky is a feminine name primarily used in Jewish communities, particularly among Orthodox and Hasidic families. It functions as a Yiddish diminutive form of Rebecca (Rivka in Hebrew), which means…
