Contenders
Share
Copy link
- Arden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley of the eagle; high"Description:
Arden, the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It, is a stylish A name with a strong, straightforward image. Another reason to love Arden: its similarity to "ardent." Arden is solidly unisex, with the current gender distribution running about 60 percent girls and 40 percent boys.
- Arlo
Origin:
Irish, EnglishMeaning:
"between two hills"Description:
Arlo, an unexpectedly popular name for boys these days, is also finding new life as a girls' name. The first name Arlo may be rooted in the surname Arlow or the place name Aherlow, meaning "between two highlands". As a surname, it also has roots in a place name meaning "rocky hill".
- Carolina
Origin:
Variation of Caroline; also place-nameMeaning:
"free man"Description:
Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
- Christa
Origin:
Short form of ChristinaDescription:
Fading since the 1970s -- but still a lovely name.
- Ellie
Origin:
English, diminutive of Eleanor and EllenMeaning:
"bright shining one"Description:
Ellie first took off in the UK—yes, in this nickname form—and this warm and friendly name has also become hugely popular here. In 2011, Ellie entered the US Top 100 girl names for the first time and has remained near the top of the charts ever since.
- Everly
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wild boar in woodland clearing"Description:
Sweet and stylish, with a sporty, energetic undertone, Everly is a name that ticks lots of boxes.
- Lilah
Origin:
Variation of Lila, Arabic, EnglishMeaning:
"night"Description:
Lilah may be a simple spelling variation of Lila— itself an alternative form of the Arabic Leila — or you might think of it as a shortening of Delilah or an Anglicization of the Hebrew Lilach, which means lilac. Whatever the root, it's a beautiful and stylish name. The final h adds balance or creates needless complications, depending on your viewpoint.
- Micah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"who is like the Lord"Description:
While Micah is traditionally a boy name, it is now increasingly used for girls too, likely because it works as an alternative to Michaela, Maia, and McKenna. Still, Micaiah, the name from which Micah is derived, is a unisex name in the Bible, so it seems plausible that its contracted form might be used as such too.
- Novella
Description:
Novella is a feminine name with Latin and Italian roots, derived from 'novus' meaning 'new' or 'young.' Beyond its literal meaning, Novella carries literary associations as it refers to a short prose narrative in Italian literature – longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. This connection gives the name intellectual and artistic connotations. While not among the most common names, Novella has maintained a steady presence in Italian communities and has seen occasional usage internationally. The name carries a romantic, melodic quality typical of Italian feminine names, with its soft consonants and vowel ending. Novella offers a beautiful option for parents seeking a name with literary flair and a touch of European elegance.
- Paisley
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"church, cemetery"Description:
For a name related to a Scottish town, a patterned Indian fabric, and a country singer named Brad, Paisley has seen remarkable success. After appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, it is now an American favorite.
- Raleigh
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of deer"Description:
An attractive North Carolina unisex place name, Raleigh's soft sound is particularly appropriate for a girl.
- Riella
Origin:
Short form of GabriellaMeaning:
"God is my strength"Description:
If you have an aversion to Briella, you can shorten it even further to this.
- Raiella
- Zelah
Origin:
Biblical place-nameDescription:
A city in Benjamin's territory that makes a perfect first name.