The "Just Can't Decide If I Like it or Not" List

  1. Acacia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorny"
    • Description:

      Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.
  2. Adra
    • Alden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "old, wise friend"
      • Description:

        Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine, Alden was among the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
    • Althea
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "with healing power"
      • Description:

        Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at Wimbledon.
    • Amerie
      • Origin:

        Modern invented name
      • Description:

        Pop princess Amerie is half Korean, half African-American. Her name may relate to Amelia, Emily, Emery, or Amory, though there's no exact equivalent among historical names. But doubtless there will be more Ameries, starting now.
    • Augusta
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "great, magnificent"
      • Description:

        Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.
    • Aurelia
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "the golden one"
      • Description:

        Aurelia is an ancient Roman name that's become a surprise hit in the contemporary world. A top favorite on Nameberry, it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 70-year absence and continues to climb.
    • Ayla
      • Origin:

        Hebrew, or Turkish
      • Meaning:

        "oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
      • Description:

        Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the Top 100.
    • Amica
      • Bay
        • Origin:

          English word, Old English
        • Meaning:

          "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
        • Description:

          Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"
      • Baz
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Sebastian or Basil; Kurdish
        • Meaning:

          "regal; falcon"
        • Description:

          As Bas, it's a popular name in The Netherlands, but Baz, as in director Luhrmann, has potential for independent life too.

          Curiously, Australian-born Moulin Rouge director Luhrmann was born neither Sebastian nor Basil, but had the name Mark Anthony on his birth certificate; his nickname arose from his supposed resemblance to a British TV fox puppet named Basil Brush.

      • Bliss
        • Origin:

          English word name
        • Description:

          A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot.
      • Brenner
        • Origin:

          German
        • Meaning:

          "to burn"
        • Description:

          Brenner is an occupational surname for both a charcoal burner and a distiller of spirits. One of the least used of occupational surnames, it has that 'er' ending that definitely adds to its stylishness; a possible successor to Brendan.
      • Bridget
        • Cambria
          • Origin:

            Place-name
          • Description:

            Most names that start with Cam- are on the upswing, so why not this obscure term for Wales as well as for a prehistoric time period.
        • Cecile
          • Origin:

            French feminine form of Cecil
          • Meaning:

            "blind"
          • Description:

            Cecile is a fairly common French saint's name, scattered throughout classic French literature--in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in Balzac's Cousin Pons, and Zola's Germinal.
        • Chester
          • Origin:

            Latin
          • Meaning:

            "fortress, walled town,"
          • Description:

            Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.
        • Coraline
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Coralie and Caroline, English
          • Meaning:

            "coral; man; army"
          • Description:

            Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is more distinctive and has a more mysterious feel. The 2002 novel Coraline was made into a 2009 animated film voiced by Dakota Fanning and nominated for an Academy Award.
        • Crew
          • Origin:

            English word name
          • Meaning:

            "a band or force of armed men"
          • Description:

            Crew is yet another word name that was added to the baby name lexicon when this one was chosen by The Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow for his son. It debuted on the Top 1000 in 2010. We've also heard spelling variations Cru and Crue.
        • Darcy
          • Origin:

            Irish or French
          • Meaning:

            "dark one, or from Arcy, or from the fortress"
          • Description:

            Delicate ballerina name with grace, charm, and heft courtesy of Jane Austen's Mr.