Favorites
- Ila
Origin:
Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, FinnishMeaning:
"from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"Description:
A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural element to the name.
- Ilia
Origin:
Variation of Iliana or Julia, Greek, Basque, Bulgarian "from Illium or Troy; youthful or sky father; Yahweh is God"Meaning:
"from Illium or Troy; youthful or sky father; Yahweh is God"Description:
Three syllables in only four letters is quite a feat, but that's exactly what you get with Ilia, a versatile, unisex option with various origins. It could derive from the Greek Iliana, which could denote someone from Illium, or it could be a feminine form of Ilian, a form of Elijah. Alternatively, it is a Basque form of Julia, or a Bulgarian feminine form of Ilya, with again links back to Elijah. Currently a gender neutral option in the US, it may be exclusively masculine elsewhere.
- Ivy
Origin:
Botanical nameDescription:
The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.
- Lennon
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"lover"Description:
A growing number of high-profile (and other) parents are choosing to honor their musical idols, such as Hendrix, Presley, Jagger, and now Lennon.
- Lennox
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"elm grove"Description:
Lennox is an aristocratic and powerful Scottish surname name made truly special by that final x. The worldwide fame of British boxer--World and Olympic champion--Lennox Claudius Lewis brought the name into the spotlight as a first name, while as a last it's tied to Eurythmics singer Annie L.
- Leonie
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lion"Description:
Leonie is a chic French and German form of a name that exists in a range of variations from Leona to Leonia to Leon to Leo to Lionel, all newly fashionable after a couple of generations in style limbo.
- Lilly
Origin:
English flower nameMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Lilly may contain one L too many for some people, though this secondary spelling of a name that's become wildly popular is still a popular choice. And the Lilly spelling does feel a bit less wispy, a bit more like a name as opposed to a mere flower, than the slender and delicate Lily. Lilly suggests the long-form Lillian, but it doesn't need to be an abbreviation for anything; Lilly can stand on its own.
- Lou
Origin:
Short form of LouiseMeaning:
"renowned warrior"Description:
Lou is usually a short form of Louise, Louisa, or Lucy in English-speaking countries, when Lou is used for girls at all. But in France and Germany, it's a fashionable choice all on its own, sure to gain even more widespread style credibility since Heidi Klum and Seal chose it for their daughter.
- Miles
Origin:
English form of Milo, Latin and Old German,"soldier or merciful"Meaning:
"soldier or merciful"Description:
Miles, which has a permanent veneer of cool thanks to jazz great Miles Davis, is a confident and polished boys' name that's an American classic. Always ranking in the US Top 1000, it's been drifting up the charts for the past half century and now ranks at its highest point ever, in the Top 50.
- Mey
- Nea
Description:
Nea is a concise feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Finnish, it means 'the one who is irritated,' while in ancient Greek contexts, it relates to concepts of youth or newness, meaning 'new' or 'young.' The name also appears in Swahili where it means 'to speak,' and has connections to Greek mythology as one of Zeus's lovers. Nea's brevity gives it a modern feel despite its ancient roots, making it appealing to contemporary parents seeking short, distinctive names. While never widely common in English-speaking countries, Nea has maintained steady usage in Nordic countries, particularly Finland. Its simplicity, cross-cultural presence, and easy pronunciation contribute to its subtle charm.
- Nemy
Origin:
MendeMeaning:
"sweet"Description:
Friendly and energetic name from the Mende language of West Africa.
- Oona
Origin:
Irish, variation of UnaMeaning:
"lamb"Description:
Oona is a name made famous by Eugene O'Neill's daughter, who became Charlie Chaplin's wife. One of the original Oona's granddaughters was named after her, and is now an actress famous in her own right for playing Talisa of Volantis in HBO's "Game of Thrones." The double-o beginning gives their name a lot of oomph.
- Penelope
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"weaver"Description:
Penelope is an unlikely 21st century baby name success story. Off the Top 1000 for 25 years, Penelope jumped back on in 2001 and has been heading uphill ever since, propelled by the trend for mythological names, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, and some high-profile celebrity babies.
- Poe
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"peacock"Description:
An evocative unisex one-syllable name, Poe is most distinguished by its literary reference. Edgar Allan Poe was an influential American author and poet, credited with inventing the genres of detective and science fiction, which might provide inspiration for parents who are fans. And now its choice as the name of the hero played by Oscar Isaac in the new Star Wars movie is sure to catapult it from literary choice to major favorite.
- Quincie
Description:
Quincie is a feminine name that appears to be a creative variation of Quincy, which originated as an English surname derived from the Latin name Quintus, meaning 'fifth.' This feminized spelling adds a playful, delicate touch to the more traditional form. While Quincy has historically been used primarily for boys, this variant with the 'ie' ending decisively shifts it into feminine territory. The name has a spirited, somewhat preppy quality while remaining uncommon enough to be distinctive. Quincie combines the trend of surname-inspired first names with modern spelling adaptations. The name has a bright, energetic sound and offers the cute nickname option 'Quinn.' Though relatively rare in official records, Quincie represents the contemporary trend of adapting traditionally masculine names for girls.
- Quinn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence"Description:
Quinn is an engaging Celtic surname that is still on the rise for girls but beginning to flag for boys. As a female name, Quinn is in the Top 100, used for over 3000 baby girls last year, but toward the bottom of the Top 500 for boys, given to 700 baby boys.
- Ruby
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"deep red precious stone"Description:
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.
- Sawyer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"woodcutter"Description:
Sawyer is a surname with a more relaxed and friendly feel than many others, and is one of the hottest occupational names right now, with the Nameberry seal of approval. Sawyer is becoming one of the top unisex names. Both Sara Gilbert and Diane Farr used Sawyer for their daughters, while it was given a boost as a boys' name by the character Sawyer on Lost, an alias for the character really named James Ford.
- Zion
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"highest point"Description:
Zion has taken off in recent years, especially after singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son in 1997 and incorporated the name into a hit song. It combines a user-friendly Ryan-Brian sound with the gravitas of religious significance. The Hebrew pronunciation is 'tzeeyon'.