Tolkien-esque names

Eleanor's straightforward feminine image combined with its royal medieval history is striking just the right note for parents in search of a girls' name that combines substance and style.

Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.

Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.

Maybe it's because she shares that winning -elle sound with Isabel and Bella, but Estelle is no longer seen as a muumuu-wearing canasta player of a certain age (think George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld or Joey Tribbiani's talent agent in Friends). This could be in part thanks to the young Royal Couple of Sweden, who chose it for their firstborn daughter, or the single-named British R&B singer. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2012 after a nearly fifty-year absence.

Laura is a hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with long-standing literary links. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic girl names starting with L.

Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.

Este -- think Esme with a t -- comes to us via one of the rocking sisters in the musical group Haim. For long best known as the Esther diminutive used by cosmetics queen Estee Lauder, Este is a slimmed-down version that feels chicer for our star-struck times. While mother name Esther has Persian origins and impressive Biblical roots, it's a name used in a wide range of cultures.

Pronounced zheel, it's a dashing conquistador; as gill, it's the nice and slightly boring guy down the street.

In Tolkien's world, the derivation of this airy name is Elvish. Regular folks might consider it an artsier form of Erin, borne by cosmetics heiress and socialite Aerin Lauder.

Russel is a masculine name derived from the French surname 'Roussel,' meaning 'little red one' or 'red-haired.' This spelling variation (with one 'l' instead of the more common 'Russell') emerged in English-speaking countries and has maintained consistent, though modest, usage. The name carries associations with the color red, suggesting vitality and strength. Historically, Russel transitioned from a surname to a given name during the 19th century, following the trend of adopting family names as first names. The name projects reliability and steadfastness, with a classic feel that avoids trendiness. Russel has never been among the most popular names but maintains steady recognition. Notable bearers include philosophers, athletes, and actors, adding intellectual and cultural dimensions to the name's character. Common nicknames include Russ or Rusty.

Completely undiscovered double-l name with an abundance of rhythmic charm.

As Ryan quickly becomes a plausible option for a girl, some parents may be interested in the spelling Rian — the more authentic and original form of the name.