Names I Like

Ophelia

Greek

"help"

Floral, elegant, and bold, Ophelia re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2015 after more than 50 years off the charts. It has risen more than 700 spots since then and shows no signs of slowing down. Now in…

Alessia

Italian variation of Alexis

"defending warrior"

Young Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara has given this spicy-sounding name a new lease on life, propelling it into the Top 1000 in 2016. It was one of the fastest rising girl names of the year in…

Willa

Feminine variation of William

"resolute protection"

Willa has become increasingly fashionable, with its combination of Willa (born Wilella) Cather-like pioneer strength and the graceful beauty of the willow tree. Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are the…

Selene

Greek

"moon"

While the Latin Selena is more familiar in the US these days, the sleek, Greek original has plenty to offer. Borne by the Greek Goddess of the moon, she is the sister of Helios the sun god. A recent…

Lyric

Greek

"of the lyre; songlike; a personal, emotive poem"

Associated with poetry, pop music, and the Greek lyre, Lyric has a light and zippy sound to it and joins the likes of Melody, Harmony, Cadence, and Aria as musical names that have become baby names.…

Tirzah

Hebrew

"delight"

A fairly common Hebrew name without much crossover potential.

Effy

Greek, diminutive of Euphemia

"fair speech"

This can be a short form of any Greek girls' name starting with 'Ef', such as Efstraria or Efrosini. It has also been suggested as a possible nickname for Elizabeth.

Zosia

Variant of Sophia, Greek

"wisdom"

This unusual and alluring choice was used by David Mamet for his daughter, who is now grown and an actress on the hit show Girls .

Waverly

English

"meadow of quivering aspens"

Waverly, with its literary resonance and lilting three-syllable sound, could well become the next generation's successor to Kimberly. Its upper-crusty surname feel places it among the new stylish…

Theia

Greek

"goddess, godly"

Theia is the Titan of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos. The name is more familiar in its Anglicized version,…

Zorah

Biblical place-name

Zorah, the Old Testament home of Samson, is both soft and substantial, and also has musical heritage, having appeared on a character in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, Ruddigore (1887). Similar in…

Manon

French, diminutive of Marie

"bitter"

Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the international yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon…

Oddetta

Oddetta is a feminine name of Germanic origin, serving as a feminine variation of Otto, which means 'wealth' or 'prosperity.' The name carries a distinctive quality with its double consonants and…

Yseult

French variation of Iseult, Celtic

"fair, light-skinned"

Variation of Isolde, the name of a great Celtic heroine. The mononymous French singer Yseult is the most notable bearer today.

Isolda

Isolda is a feminine name with Celtic and Germanic origins, best known from the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde (also spelled Iseult or Isolde). The name may derive from elements meaning 'ice'…