Classic Baby Names · Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
Telegraph Baby Names
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Lilac
English, from Persian
"bluish or lilac"
Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well,…
Eron
Eron is a masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variation of Aaron, which comes from Hebrew meaning 'high mountain' or 'exalted one.' Alternatively, it could be related to the…
Penn
English
"enclosure"
Not commonly used for girls, but Bruce Willis used it as the middle name for his daughter Evelyn.
Hebe
Greek
"youth"
The name of the Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera, is rarely used today but may be ripe for revival considering the popularity of rhyming Phoebe. Sweet as Bebe but with the…
Meriel
Variation of Muriel, Irish
"of the bright sea"
This pleasant modernization of a dated original is still rare but has real modern possibilities. Alternate versions include Merial and Meryl. Meriel was given to fewer than five baby girls in the US…
Neila
Hebrew
"locking, closing"
This name of the final service on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is sometimes given symbolically to girls born on that day.
Orielle
Hebrew, English, German, French, Roman
"my light is God; fire-strife; golden"
A name with various meanings and possible origins, Orielle may appeal to those who like Ariel, Aurelia, Orla, and Oriana. As a Hebrew name, it is a variation of Oriel or Uriel, meaning "my light is…
Liberty
Word name
Less common than other virtue names, Liberty is nonetheless a name with a long American heritage. Liberty is seeing a level of popularity not seen since the end of the First World War, but its heyday…
Bertie
Diminutive of Albertine or Alberta, English or Germanic
"noble, bright"
So uncool it's cool! Bertie makes for a boyish nickname for Alberta, Roberta, Bertille, Albertine... or just use it on its own, à la Billie or Frankie. Old school unisex nickname names are back in…
Amani
Variation of Imani, Arabic
"faith"
A Top 1000 pick for girls, but rising among baby boys as well.
Sandy
Scottish and English diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
A sweet Scottish short form of Alexander which is feeling newly appealing now the era of Sandra is far behind us. Sandy would also work well as a nickname for a child with pale red or dark blond hair.
Ariane
Ariane is a feminine name of Greek origin, representing the French form of Ariadne. In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos who helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth. The name…
Manfred
German
"man of peace"
Hipsters might consider reviving this old German name, though we're not so sure their sons wouldn't have preferred the classic Fred name Frederick. Manfred B. Lee (born Manford) was half of the team…
Silvy
Silvy is a charming feminine name that functions as a diminutive form of Silvia or Sylvia, which derive from the Latin word 'silva' meaning 'forest' or 'woods.' This sweet, compact variation carries…
Thurstan
Scandinavian, variation of Thurston
"Thor's stone"
Thurston Howell was the snooty millionaire on Gilligan's Island , but these days such surname names don't have the same elitist air.
Xandra
Spanish, diminutive of Alexandra
"man's defender"
The initial X is pronounced like a Z. Confusing? Potentially. But there are enough Alexandras and Xanders through the Western World these days that this spelling wouldn't seem outlandish.
Clio
Greek
"glory"
Clio is the name of the ancient Greek mythological muse of history and heroic poetry, one that is rich with modern charm and would make an intriguing choice, especially thanks to its dynamic…
Zuleika
Arabic
"fair, brilliant beauty"
Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max…
Milagros
Spanish
"miracles"
Even in the Hispanic community, very religious and old-fashioned.
Cuthbert
English
"famous, brilliant"
Years ago we might have said that this name was unthinkable, but with clunky, old-fashioned names being so popular right now — consider Augustus, Stanley, Wilfred, etc — what's to stop Cuthbert from…