Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.

Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.

The name of prize-winning American architect Robert Venturi would make a somewhat awkward first.

A unique New Age possibility with a pleasing sound.

The jazziest nickname for Charles.

Almond may seem like a hippy modern name, but its use for American boys goes right back to the mid-nineteenth century. In these cases, it was either a variation of Almund, meaning "noble strength," or the surname Aleman, meaning "German."

Soraia is a feminine name of Arabic and Portuguese origin, derived from the Arabic Thurayya meaning 'the Pleiades' or 'chandelier', referring to the famous star cluster. The name traveled to Portugal during the Moorish influence on the Iberian Peninsula and has become particularly popular in Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil and Portugal. Soraia exudes an exotic elegance with its flowing syllables and rich cultural history. The name's celestial connection gives it a poetic quality, symbolizing beauty and light. While not widely used in English-speaking countries, Soraia has maintained steady popularity in Lusophone cultures, appreciated for its melodic sound and meaningful astronomical reference.

Frisco is a frisky, roguish semi-place-name (San Francisco natives never call it that) that could make a lively, unusual o-ending choice.

Didion is an unusual feminine name that likely derives from surnames or place names of Greek or French origin. It may be connected to the Greek name 'Didymus' meaning 'twin,' or possibly from French regional surnames. The name gained some recognition through association with celebrated American author Joan Didion, whose literary contributions may inspire parents to choose this name. As a first name, Didion remains extremely rare, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive, intellectual choice with literary connections. It has a sophisticated, modern sound despite its historical roots. The name's uncommon nature means a child named Didion would likely be the only one in their community, making it an individualistic choice with cultural cachet.

nature namesare in, and even fish names like Pike and Salmon are open for consideration.

A bold new word name that conjures up images of peg-legs and eyepatches. It was brought to national attention by pop musician Billie Eilish, whose full name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell.

The chickadee gets its distinctive name from its distinctive call: chick-a-dee-dee-dee!

Place names like Memphis, Harlem, Cairo, Vienna, Milan, and Astoria are right on trend at the moment, and Egypt could fit in, thanks to its similarity in sound to the likes of Edith and Eden. Alicia Keys used the name for her son back in 2010, but before that, it was used as a stage name for three famous belly dancers.

Fad fruit name or a trendy syllable smash? We aren't certain, but we have noticed a number of babies name Acai on the US charts. Spelled Açai, with a cedilla, it's the name of a Brazilian palm that produces açai berries, known for their use in smoothie bowls. But parents may be using Acai as a variation of Kai or Malachi, pronounced as written.

No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.

Peppy is undeniably cute, but we bet that after a while the jokes aren't.

As the former stage name of TLC founder Perri Reid and the name of the youngest member of the animated Flintstones clan, it's got some pop culture cache. But it'll be too cutesy by half for most parents.