Ozian Names

This Elizabeth nickname has a decidedly retro feel--think Betsy Ross and the Betsy Wetsy doll-- once seen as a perkier, younger-sounding alternative to Betty. But with Betty on the brink of a comeback, pigtailed Betsy could return as well.

Billina is an uncommon feminine name that appears to be a diminutive form of names like Wilhelmina or Sybilla, adding the feminine diminutive suffix "-ina" to create a more endearing variant. The name gained some literary recognition through L. Frank Baum's Oz books, where Billina was a talking yellow hen character introduced in "Ozma of Oz." Outside of this literary connection, the name remains quite rare in modern usage. It carries a quaint, vintage quality that might appeal to parents seeking something distinctive yet with a somewhat familiar sound pattern. The name has a gentle, melodic quality with its soft consonants and ending vowel sound.

In the 1930s, Dorothy left Kansas and landed in the Land of Oz; by the '80s she had become a Golden Girl, living in Miami with roommates Blanche and Rose, giving her a decidedly older image. But parents today seeking a quiet classic are bringing Dorothy back—she reentered the Top 1000 in 2011 after almost completely disappearing.

There are a lot of little girls called Em today, but not that many named Em, just Em. As a first name, it's a bit reductive, especially with all the children named Emma, Emily, Emilia, Emeline, and onward. But we can see it working as a creative middle name, perhaps a clever way to honor Grandpa Mike?

Henry is back. The classic Henry climbed back onto the Top 10 in the US in 2021 for the first time in over a century, and now stands at Number 8.

Princess Ozma was the leading character of L. Frank Baum's book Ozma of Oz.