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This is hard.

  1. Vega

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "swooping eagle; meadow"

    • Description:

      Another astral name, this one relating to one of the largest and brightest stars in the heavens, is popular in Scandinavia and Spain, where it ranks among the Top 50 girls' names. Although still very rare in the US, we think it has serious potential to follow the likes of Luna and Lyra up the charts.
  2. Gray

    • Origin:

      Color name, also diminutive of Grayson

    • Description:

      The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative--if slightly somber-- choice, especially in the middle. Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney recently named their son Leo Grey.
  3. Roma

    • Origin:

      Italian place-name

    • Description:

      Never as popular as Florence; today's parents might prefer Venezia, Verona, or Romy. It is also a Hindu name meaning "one with shiny hair" and is another name for the goddess Lakshmi.

  4. Linden

    • Origin:

      Variation of Lyndon

    • Meaning:

      "linden tree hill"

    • Description:

      The graceful, natural image of the verdant shade tree transcends any connection with President Johnson.
  5. Mona

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "noble good"

    • Description:

      Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its simplicity. In one recent year, fewer than 100 baby girls received the name, and we don't see it reviving any time soon.
  6. Kenzo

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "strong and healthy"

    • Description:

      Kenzo is a common Japanese name with several creative bearers: the single-named fashion designer, prizewinning architect Kenzo Takada, and painter Kenzo Okada, which makes it internationally recognizable.
  7. Tova

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Swedish

    • Meaning:

      "good, pleasing; beautiful, beloved"

    • Description:

      A lively feeling choice with multicultural origins, Tova is both a Hebrew name with a positive meaning and a Swedish variant of Tove, a modern Old Norse name meaning "beautiful, beloved". In Hebrew, it would be pronounced as TOH-VAH, while in Swedish, it would be said as TOO-vuh.
  8. Avi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father"

    • Description:

      Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  9. Zia

    • Origin:

      Short form of Luzia or Terézia, Hungarian, Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "light; harvest"

    • Description:

      A short and zippy name that would blend right in with but also stand out among a group of girls named Mia, Gia, Lia and Tia. It is a multicultural choice, used in Hungary as a short from of Terézia, or sometimes Ambrozia, and as a Romansh and Portuguese nickname for Luzia or similar.
  10. Aviva

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "springlike, fresh, dewy"

    • Description:

      Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza.
  11. Rivka

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to tie, bind"

    • Description:

      A traditional name still used in Orthodox families. Rivka is the original form of Rebekah or Rebecca, today used far more widely than the original. Rifka is a variation.
  12. Kinley

    • Origin:

      Scottish surname

    • Meaning:

      "fair hero"

    • Description:

      A Scottish surname name, more popular as the Presidential McKinley, meaning "son of the fair hero".
  13. Adella

    • Origin:

      Variation of Adele or Adeline

    • Description:

      Now that all names Adel- are the height of fashion, Adella is an unusual name that nevertheless sounds very trendy. Adella is one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.
  14. Riva

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "maiden"

    • Description:

      A modernization of the Hebrew Rivka, which doesn't sound so modern anymore.
  15. Miri

    • Description:

      Miri is a charming feminine name with diverse cultural roots. In Hebrew, it means 'bitter' or 'rebellion,' though it's often associated with Miriam. In Swahili, Miri suggests 'mystery,' while in Japanese it can mean 'truth' or 'reason.' The name appears in various cultures, including as a Maori name meaning 'twine' or as a diminutive for Miriam or Miranda in Western contexts. Miri has gained appreciation for its brevity and melodic quality. In popular culture, the name received attention through characters in works like Star Trek. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across languages, appealing to parents seeking a short but meaningful international name with a gentle, feminine sound.

  16. Kiah

    • Origin:

      Short form of Hezekiah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God gives strength"

    • Description:

      Drawn from old record books, Kiah is an antiquated nickname that feels perfectly appropriate for modern times -- maybe more so than father name Hezekiah.
  17. Nori

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Norse

    • Meaning:

      "doctrine or seaweed; north or small person"

    • Description:

      Attractive, simple Japanese choice that, while not strictly unisex, could work even better for a girl, especially now that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use it as the nickname for their daughter North. Nori is also the name of an edible seaweed used in wrapping sushi.
  18. Akiva

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to protect, shelter"

    • Description:

      Akiva has a distinguished scholarly pedigree and a lovely meaning. Its softer sound is very on trend for masculine names at the moment and is in line with more familiar monikers like Ezra, Elijah and Theo.
  19. Navi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to name"

    • Description:

      Nickname for the star Gamma Cassiopeiae given by the late astronaut Gus Grissom after his own middle name (Ivan) spelled backwards. Navi also relates to the prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
  20. Tilden

    • Origin:

      English place-name

    • Meaning:

      "fertile valley"

    • Description:

      Though it has some distinguished political and tennis world associations, most modern parents would go for the more contemporary sounding Holden. Tilden Park is a beautiful hillside wilderness in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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