Baby boys and girls

Once a popular choice in for boys in the Middle Ages and again during the 19th century, Aubrey has mostly been used for girls in the US since the 1970's. With its arty, surname-y, and sophisticated feel, however, it is rising up the UK charts for both boys and girls.

Unseen in the USA since 1901, Boston rocketed back into the Top 1000 in 2004 and, like other place-names such as Brooklyn, London and Paris, is now a reliable presence on the list.

Coralee is a charming feminine name that combines the name Cora with the popular suffix 'lee.' Cora has Latin origins meaning 'maiden' or Greek roots meaning 'heart,' while the suffix adds a southern, melodic quality. This combination creates a sweet, slightly vintage feel reminiscent of American southern charm. Coralee evokes images of warmth and femininity, with connections to both the heart (cor in Latin) and coral from the sea. While never extremely common, the name saw modest usage in the early 20th century and has experienced a small revival along with other vintage names. It appeals to parents who appreciate names with a touch of nostalgia and sweetness, offering the appealing nickname options of Cora or Lee.

Coralie is a French name not often heard here, though she's gaining some recognition via Neil Gaiman's similar sounding spooky and lovely children's book, Coraline. Other literary appearances: Coralie is the stage name of an actress in Balzac's Lost Illusions, and a French girl in an 1850 Thackeray novel.

Coralie is currently very popular in French-speaking Quebec, and there is a contemporary French singer named Coralie Clement.

Danikka is a modern feminine name that appears to be a creative elaboration of Danica (meaning 'morning star' in Slavic languages). The added 'k' creates a distinctive spelling while maintaining the melodic sound of the original name. This contemporary variation emerged in the late 20th century when parents increasingly sought unique spellings of traditional names. While standard Danica has moderate popularity across several countries, Danikka remains much rarer. The name has a bright, energetic quality with its rhythmic syllables and crisp consonants. Its connection to the morning star gives it an uplifting, celestial association that many parents find appealing, while the unique spelling offers individuality.

This spelling of Electra makes this vibrant name less electric and more kinetic.

Elton is an unassuming, lesser-used place name belonging to several towns in the British Isles, the US and Canada, and even a lake in Russia. The singer Elton John gives it a bit of extra pizzazz.

Hendrix is one of those hip rock and roll names, like Lennon, Jagger and Presley, that have been used by fellow celebs and others, to honor the seminal guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi. And this one has the trendy 'x' ending, as well, helping to propel it up the charts and into the spotlight.

Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle.

Lucille is a name that had long been overpowered by its link to Lucille Ball, with an image of tangerine-colored hair, big, round eyes, and a tendency to stage daffy and desperate stunts. But with the newfound craze for double-L names like Lily and Lila, Lulu and Luna, and as the choice of Lucille by hipster parents Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson, Lucille is breaking free from its old clownish image, moving rapidly up the charts over the past decade after a long nap.

Matilda is a sweet vintage name that has been gently climbing the popularity list for the past 15 years, after a half-century slumber. The spunky children's book heroine Matilda is one factor in its rise, along with others of its class like Eloise and Caspian.

If you're a lover of the beach and sea, and want a name that relates to the largest body of water, there are several variations you could consider.

Prince rose to its highest ranking in a century in 2015, and the tragic death of its most famous bearer in April 2016 propelled it even higher. The Purple Rain legend isn't its only tie to pop royalty: Michael Jackson chose it for not one but two of his sons. Royal names such as King and Prince, once thought of as canine, have begun to be used by human non-royals for their sons.