absolute favorite names

Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies pronunciation.

Greta is an Old World name long tied to the iconic Garbo, but now synonymous with environmental activism.

Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.

A frilly southern-accented flower name yet to be planted on many birth certificates. In the language of flowers, the wisteria is a symbol of devotion. It is named for American horticulturalist John Caspar Wister.

This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names such as Colette and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it.