Soap Opera Baby Names

  1. Channing
    • Origin:

      English or Irish
    • Meaning:

      "people of Cana or wolf cub"
    • Description:

      Channing is a sophisticated surname name whose use is probably linked to actor Channing Tatum and Channing Crowder, former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins.
  2. Gunnar
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Gunther
    • Meaning:

      "bold warrior"
    • Description:

      A key figure in Norse legend and a traditional Scandinavian favorite making inroads here.
  3. Ginger
    • Origin:

      English diminutive
    • Description:

      Originally a unisex nickname for a redhead -- red hair is called "ginger" in Britain -- or for the name Virginia, Ginger perennially wears pink gingham and spike heels.
  4. Ridge
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "an elevated body part or structure"
    • Description:

      Ridge may be the quintessential daytime drama name, but it's still better than most. This is one word name rising rapidly through the ranks, reentering the US Top 1000 in 2015 for the first time since 1989.
  5. Mitzi
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "bitter"
    • Description:

      Mitzi is a spunky German nickname name that might appeal to parents drawn to the genre of lively vintage chorus girl names that proliferated in 1930's musicals. Lively entertainer Mitzi Gaynor--who was originally named Francesca Marlene de Czani von Gerber--made the name notable in mid-century America.
  6. Blue
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Description:

      Among the coolest of the cool color names, particularly popular with celebs as a unisex middle name.
  7. Lynette
    • Origin:

      French elaboration of Lynn or Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "idol"
    • Description:

      Linda begat Lynn which gave way to Lynette, which peaked in the late 1960s. Lynette has been off the Top 1000 for a couple decades now, and the Lynn variations finding the most favor are those that put the "lyn" part at the end: Evelyn, Madelyn, Brooklyn.
  8. Arianna
    • Origin:

      Italian form of Ariadne, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "most holy"
    • Description:

      A smooth, attractive choice, Arianna's on the rise with both single and double 'r's and 'n's. Single 'r' double 'n' Arianna — the second most popular version of the name — is these days associated with Greek-born blog queen Arianna Huffington.
  9. Mortimer
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dead sea"
    • Description:

      Other kids might see a teasible connection to mortician or mortuary. Mortimer is an English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses; it was Walt Disney's original choice for the name of his mouse, until his wife talked him out of it.
  10. Arielle
    • Origin:

      French variation of Ariel
    • Meaning:

      "lion of God"
    • Description:

      While not as popular as the Ariel spelling of Little Mermaid fame, this rendition has achieved popularity in its own right.
  11. Claudette
    • Origin:

      French, feminine variation of Claude
    • Meaning:

      "lame; enclosure"
    • Description:

      Once seen as a dated French Claudette-Colbert feminization, along with Annette and Paulette, we can see Claudette moving into a more plausible Colette-Cosette arena. While some may be put off by the common "lame" meaning, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.
  12. Harmony
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "harmony"
    • Description:

      If Melody and Lyric are on your style sheet, the peaceful Harmony, popularized by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, should be too. Girls names starting with the "Har" sound like Harper, Harley, and Harlow have been trending in recent years. This musical choice fits right in, and it is no wonder that Harmony has been in the Top 200 since 2014.
  13. Eugenia
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"
    • Description:

      Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
  14. Cliff
    • Origin:

      Topographical name or short form of Clifford or Clifton
    • Description:

      Cliff is a familiar, timeless short form -- never too popular, yet widely known -- that you might also think of as a geographical name ala Vale or Field.
  15. Josette
    • Origin:

      French,pet form of JOSEPHINE, feminine of JOSEPH
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      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 six-year flurry here between 1967 and 1973. Josette may be feminine and flirty, but, given the choice, most parents today would prefer Josephine.
  16. Sid
    • Origin:

      Short form of Sidney, French
    • Meaning:

      "Saint-Denis"
    • Description:

      Sid originated as a nickname for Sidney, but we like it on its own, a la Sara Quin's and Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen's sons. Sid Vicious, member of the band the Sex Pistols, gives this name a punk rock vibe.
  17. Esperanza
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "hope, expectation"
    • Description:

      Esperanza is a Spanish classic that's found its way onto the national popularity list in recent years. It came into the spotlight not long ago when jazz singer Esperanza Spalding "stole" the Best New Artist Grammy from favorite Justin Bieber. It's also the name of the main character in the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, about a young Latina growing up in Chicago.
  18. Bishop
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Description:

      Reese Witherspoon's Deacon has opened this churchy direction for occupational names. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015.
  19. Sheridan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "searcher"
    • Description:

      Upper crust-y surname Sheridan gains some energy when used for a girl.
  20. Deveraux
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "riverbank"
    • Description:

      Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the River Eure in France. Mick Jagger has a son named Deveraux.