Favorite girl names, Middle names

Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.

Rosalie hit its apex in 1938 and then slid straight downhill until it fell off the U.S. Top 1000 completely in the 1980s, only to spring back to life in 2009 as the name of a character in the Twilight series. The beautiful vampire Rosalie Hale has breathed fresh life back into this mid-century name, and the fact that the character is both sympathetic and relatively minor means Rosalie has the chance to thrive again as a baby name without feeling unduly tied to Twilight.

Effortlessly stylish, with plenty of sweetness and strength, Valentina feels like a fresh alternative to Valerie, Victoria, or Vanessa.

Classic yet spritely, Tatiana has long been familiar and popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, though it wasn't until the 80s that it caught on in the English-speaking world. With short forms Tiana, Tati, and Tanya, it is a versatile choice that has nevertheless seen a decline in use in recent year.

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.

Marilla is a names that's familiar via its resemblance to Mary and variations, but also distinctive: It hasn't been on the Top 1000 since the 1800s and was given to only 27 baby girls last year.

The usual form of Eleonara is Eleanora, with each syllable pronounced, but transposing, adding, or subtracting a vowel or syllable here or there works fine and adds to the international, feminine spin on a solid name.

Tatianna is a feminine name of Russian and Latin origin, representing an elaborated form of Tatiana. The name ultimately derives from the Roman clan name Tatius, possibly meaning "father" or referring to the Sabine king Titus Tatius. In Russian culture, Tatiana gained prominence through Pushkin's poem "Eugene Onegin," featuring a character of this name. The doubled 'n' in Tatianna adds a distinctive flair to the traditional spelling. This name combines classical elegance with a touch of exotic appeal. Though less common than variants like Tatiana or Tatyana, Tatianna has maintained steady usage in the United States since the 1970s, offering a balance between familiarity and uniqueness for parents seeking a name with cross-cultural appeal.