Spellings, Initials and Sounds
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A+ Baby Names
A is the hottest first initial around these days, with many baby names that start with A rising most quickly up the ranks. Why? It's partly an overall fashion for vowel baby names and partly that we associate the letter A with excellence. And studies prove that children whose names start with A actually do better in school than those whose names begin with D or F.
The hottest A baby names today:
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Baby Names That End In -Ley
Ashley started it, and today there is a whole raft of stylish baby names that end with -ley -- if not literally those letters, then at least the sound. Most -ley baby names are for girls but some work for boys too. The downside: The -ley ending is so trendy that baby names that carry it can feel more popular than they are.
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Baby Names with No Nicknames
Do you hate nicknames, or just hate the idea that someone other than you is going to decide what your child is actually called by shortening, say, Alexandra to Lexie? Then you might do well to choose among the baby names that don't have nicknames, or are too short to be abbreviated further, like the names on this list.
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Baby Names With Repeating Sounds
We're in a nickname-friendly era, and these adorable double baby names like Coco and Lulu are in keeping with that trend.
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Belles of the Ball
With Isabella in the Top Ten Girls' names, many other names that end with bel, belle, and bella (including Belle and Bella themselves) are under consideration by modern parents. Here, a roundup of the Belles among girls' names.
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Boy Baby Names That End in S
Boy baby names that end in S are a fashionable group. The S ending is commonly found in Roman names, stylish now for boys, as well as other fresh, cool choices. Stylish boy baby names that end in S include:
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C or K -- Your Choice
The C and K spellings have become interchangeable for many baby names. Here, a selection of boy names that work with either spelling.
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Cool Baby Names That Start With F
F is one of those sleeper initials that's fashionable precisely because it's so unfashionable. Some of the coolest F baby names:
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Cool Baby Names That Start With I
All vowel names are cool right now, but I-starting names may be the coolest baby names around. There are so many cool baby names that start with I that a parent in search of a name with that initial should have an easy time finding one to love.
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Cool Baby Names That Start With L
Baby names that start with L are intrinsically lovely, luscious, lilting -- and among the most stylish of our era. Here, a list of some of the most intriguing L-starting baby names.
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Cool Baby Names That Start With P
P, as in Peter, Paul, and....uh.... Patty, was a ubiquitous first initial at the middle of the last century. It's been keeping a low profile for a while now, but there are a lot of cool baby names that start with P. Here, our picks.
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Cool Baby Names That Start With Q
Baby names that start with Q can't fail to be cool -- or should we say qool? Here, a selection of cool baby names that start with that intriguing letter.
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Cool Baby Names That Start With U
U may be the most underused first initial of the baby naming alphabet. But yes, there are some cool baby names that start with U. Namely:
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Cool Baby Names That Start With Z
Z may be the zippiest, zestiest first initial for baby names around. Here, the wide selection of cool baby names that begin with Z.
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Girl Baby Names That End With A
A may be the most fashionable beginning letter for names today, but it's also a hit at the end, especially with girl baby names. From top choices Isabella and Sophia and Olivia to more obscure names, the letter a has feminine appeal. Here, some out-of-the-box a-ending ideas.
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Girl Baby Names That End With S
Okay, all these girls' baby names don't literally end with S. Some just end with the S sound. But that S-sound ending may be all it takes.
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Girls' Names That End in Y
Y has gone from the standard to an almost quaint way to end a girls' names, with the ee sound today as likely represented by an i, an ey, or an eigh. But y is classic and serviceable. Here are a collection of girls' names that traditionally end in y.
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K Versions of C Names for Girls
Some parents think it's kool to translate a traditionally C-starting name to a K spelling. Here, some choices of K-starting baby names that are traditionally spelled with a C.
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Kool K Baby Names
Spelling baby names with a K, whether they started out being spelled that way or not, may be one of the hottest trends of our time, inspired by the K-named Kardashians. Some of the koolest new K baby names:
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One-Syllable Middle Names for Boys
While we are happy to see baby namers move beyond boring middle names that were mere connective tissue, there are still times -- like when first and last names are elaborate -- when you want a short, strong middle name. Here, some cool one-syllable middle names for boys.
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One-Syllable Middle Names for Girls
There's a reason one-syllable middle names like Ann and Lynn have been used to the point of cliche. These middle names don't distract from the dazzle of the first name and serve as a calm, quiet bridge between the two stars of the show. So what if you want to transcend the basics like, nowadays, Rose and Grace, but still want a one-syllable middle name for your daughter? Here, some fresh ideas for short middle names.
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Short & Strong Girl Names
Looking for girl names that are unfussy and straightforward? Here are some choice baby girl names that are both short and strong. If you're having a boy, check out our post on strong boy names
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Short Baby Names
Sometimes -- when your last name is long and elaborate, when you simply believe in simplicity -- what you want most from baby names is that they be short. Sweet, maybe; mono-syllabic, possibly. But the most important quality: short. Here are some baby names that fit the bill.
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Son Baby Names
Baby names that end in son originated just the way you think: They designated that the person -- Jackson, say, or Jefferson -- was the son of Jack or Jeffery. Son makes a stylish first name ending today, mostly for boys but since the era of Allison, also for girls. Son baby names can make for an original way to honor an ancestor while slightly varying the name. Some prime examples:
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Streamlined Baby Names
Another approach to creative baby naming, this one as old as ElizaBETH and EuGENE, is to drop the first syllable or syllables, or even an initial letter of a name. These days, for instance, Drew and Ward are cooler baby names than Andy or Ed. Here are some other possibilities but, as with most recipes, feel free to improvise.
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Stylish L Baby Names
L is the letter that lends style to almost any name that contains it these days, whether at the beginning, in the middle, or -- most fashionably of all -- in a couple of different places. Also stylish are baby names that not only contain the letter L but its sound, as in Ella and Elliot. Here, fashionable baby names made all the lovelier by the letter L.
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The O Names
Baby names that begin or end with the letter o have long been particularly cool, especially (though there are a few feminine selections) for boys. The options, of course, range far beyond those offered here, especially considering the entire world of Latinate baby names out there, but this group should give you a pretty good start.
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Three-Syllable Baby Names
Three-syllable baby names strike the perfect balance for a short last name, but work perfectly fine with a one-syllable middle name and a two-syllable last name too. Here are some of the best three-syllable baby names.
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Two-Syllable Baby Names
Two syllable baby names sound best with surnames that are, well, NOT two syllables. If you feel that a two-syllable name would strike the right balance with your shorter or longer last name, here are a few of the best.
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Vowel Baby Names for Boys
Baby names that start with vowels are growing the most in popularity. Here, some of the best baby names for boys starting with A, E, I, O, and U.
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Vowel Baby Names for Girls
Many of the coolest baby names seem to start with vowels these days. Here are some cool baby girl names starting with A, E, I, O, and even U.
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X Factor Baby Names
The letter X seems to all by itself create cool baby names. Some of the best baby names with the X factor:
