My Favorite Names

Bird name Raven, once a symbol of pride for both African-American and Wiccan parents, is finding new life as a superhero name. Raven Darkholme is the real name of Mystique, heroine of the X-Men films played by Jennifer Lawrence. And there is another Raven superheroine in Teen Titans. Some parents may still choose Raven to signal black pride or mystical powers or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe fandom, but we are guessing most inspiration is coming from the comics.

Rebecca is a name representing beauty in the Bible, an Old Testament classic that reached the heights of revived popularity in the seventies but is still a well-used choice. It derives from the Hebrew name Rivkah, from the verb ribbqah, meaning "noose." The biblical Rebecca was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. Rebekah was a common spelling of the name in the Bible.

Fiery but slight middle name choice; much more apt to be a redhead's nickname.

River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.

Simultaneously a name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, a spelling variation of the popular Rowan and an anglicized form of Irish Ruadhán, Rohan is a cross-cultural choice.

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.

Rosalyne is a feminine name that blends classical elegance with a unique spelling variation. Derived from names like Rosalind or Rosaline, it ultimately traces back to Latin and Germanic roots combining 'rosa' (rose) with 'lind' (gentle, tender) or 'lin' (pretty). This graceful name carries the beauty and symbolic meaning of the rose flower while the distinctive spelling with 'y' adds a touch of individuality. Though never reaching mainstream popularity, Rosalyne has maintained consistent, albeit uncommon, usage throughout the 20th century. The name evokes images of classic literature and romantic heroines while feeling timeless rather than dated. Rosalyne offers parents a sophisticated choice that balances tradition with uniqueness.

Rose is derived from the Latin rosa, which referred to the flower. There is also evidence to suggest it was a Norman variation of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis, meaning "famous type," and also Hros, "horse". In Old English it was translated as Roese and Rohese.

Like Friends, Ross is off the air and into syndication as a baby name, having plummeted from its zenith in the late 80s to fall off the US Top 1000 in 2013. Today, Ross is more likely to be a dad name than a newborn name.

Vibrant, sassy, and bubbly, Ruby is a vintage gem that hasn't lost any of its sparkle. Currently popular in a number of English-speaking countries, Ruby is proof of the 100 Year Rule, trending again for the first time since its heyday in the 1910s.

Sabastian is an alternative spelling of the more traditional Sebastian, a masculine name with Greek and Latin origins. The name derives from 'Sebastianos,' meaning 'from Sebastia,' an ancient city whose name meant 'venerable' or 'revered.' This variant spelling has gained some popularity among parents seeking a slightly distinctive twist on the classic name while maintaining its historical richness. Sebastian, in its traditional form, has associations with numerous saints and historical figures, including Saint Sebastian, a third-century Christian martyr. The Sabastian spelling preserves the name's dignified feel while offering a subtle uniqueness. Though less common than the traditional spelling, Sabastian shares the same potential nicknames such as Seb, Bas, or Ian.

Sapphire goes waaaaay beyond Ruby and Pearl. This September birthstone, occasionally used a century ago, might be worth a reappraisal, perhaps as a Sophie/Sophia alternative. Sapphire is the pseudonym of Romona Lofton, who wrote the book Push, which was turned into the movie Precious. Sapphire entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, and is proving to be one of the freshest gem names for girls. Another intriguing variation is the lovely Sapphira.

Sarafina is a variant of Seraphina, which derives from the Hebrew word 'seraphim,' referring to a celestial being or angel. The name emerged in the late Middle Ages and became more widely recognized following Disney's 'The Lion King' film franchise, which featured a lioness character with this name. Sarafina carries connotations of fiery energy, warmth, and ethereal beauty. While not among the most common female names, it has maintained steady usage since the 1990s, with occasional peaks in popularity following media exposure. The spelling variation with 'a' instead of 'e' gives the name a more melodic quality while maintaining its angelic associations. Sarafina often appeals to parents seeking a name that combines spiritual significance with a distinctive feminine sound.

Sierra is a name borrowed from the western mountain range, with Latin rhythm and cowboy charm, that has led to many offshoots: Cierra, Cyara, and so on. It is now probably past its peak but retains its pretty-yet-strong sound. The meaning refers to the sharp, irregular peaks of some of the Western mountains such as the Sierra Nevada.

Steven, the phonetic and now predominant spelling of the classier Stephen, has finally dropped out of the Top 100 after seventy years. Steve has become one of the ultimate regular-guy names, right up there with Dave and Joe. and there have been innumerable pop-culture role models among its bearers--from Steven Spielberg to Steven Soderbergh to Steve Jobs.

Sullivan is a jaunty Celtic three-syllable name, with a real twinkle in its eye. It was immortalized in the 1930s classic film Sullivan's Travels and was chosen for one of Patrick Dempsey's twin boys. Nickname Sully is equally jaunty.

The image of the lovely Lady Sybil, tragic youngest daughter of the Crawley family on Downton Abbey is likely to go a long way towards reviving this almost forgotten name, off the list since 1966 and most popular in the 1920s and '30s.

Tessa is one of those golden names that's been popular but not TOO popular for several decades now. Tessa has ranked in the Top 500 in the US since 1981 but has risen only once above Number 200.

A solid classic with plenty of history, Thomas strikes the balance between strength and gentleness. A favorite in the UK, a staple in France, and Australia, and never absent from the US Top 100, Thomas feels like a safe bet and a name that fits into any era.