Punk Baby

Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.

This name of a third-century Christian martyr has an romantic, appealing feel in the modern world. It first came to American attention via Prince's love interest in the film Purple Rain.

We usually think of place-names as a modern invention, but in fact Arizona ranked on the US Top 1000 from its inception in 1880 until 1911, when it vanished below the surface. It peaked at Number 510 in 1882, before Arizona became a state. One notorious vintage bearer: criminal "Ma" Barker, born Arizona Clark.

A classic in its native Scandinavia, Axel has a cool rock 'n' roll flavor in the US, thanks to Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose (born William). With its distinctive letter 'x', it has an effortlessly cool vibe about it, and is currently growing in popularity.

Daenerys is yet another girls' name invented by "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin that is beginning to gain some traction in real life. Daenerys was used for 67 baby girls in 2013 while one of the character's titles, Khaleesi, was given to 241 baby girls. And the name Arya, also from the hyper-popular series, is one of the fastest growing girls' names in the country.

Daven as a feminine name represents an interesting gender crossover, as it's more commonly recognized as a masculine name of Celtic and Hebrew origins. For girls, it offers a modern, strong alternative to more traditional feminine names. The name possibly derives from the Hebrew 'David' meaning 'beloved' or from Irish roots where it relates to 'deer' or 'poet.' As a feminine choice, Daven carries an appealing androgynous quality that aligns with contemporary naming trends. While still quite rare for girls, it exemplifies the growing movement toward gender-neutral naming. Its short, crisp sound makes it practical yet distinctive, with a contemporary edge that appeals to parents seeking something uncommon but not difficult to pronounce or spell.

Yet another creative character name from Toni Morrison, Denver was a daughter of Sethe's in the novel Beloved. Today Denver is most familiar as the name of the largest city in Colorado, used almost equally for girls and boys.

Has a musty 1940s feel. Try Georgia -- or Georgiana.

Harli is a feminine name that represents a modern, streamlined spelling variation of Harley. Originally an English surname derived from Old English elements meaning 'hare clearing' or 'meadow of hares,' Harli has evolved into a given name with contemporary appeal. This spelling gives the name a softer, more distinctly feminine feel compared to the more unisex traditional spelling. Harli has gained moderate popularity in recent decades as part of the trend toward shorter, spunky names for girls. The name carries associations with freedom and independent spirit, partly influenced by the motorcycle brand. Its simplicity, distinctive spelling, and energetic sound make it appealing to parents seeking something modern yet accessible.

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.

Variant spelling of Indy

James for a girl? Believe it or not, this is one of the boy names for girls" gaining a lot of attention these days, since Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds shocked the world by choosing it for their eldest daughter in 2014 (after his late father).

The capital of England makes a solid and attractive twenty-first-century choice in the US where it is currently in the Top 1000. Given to nearly 1000 girls and 200 boys each year, it is a unisex option that has been in slow decline since its peak in 2013. Conjuring up images of Big Ben, red phone boxes, and the London Eye for some, but perhaps the rush hour commute and grey skies for others, London is far less popular in the UK and other English-speaking countries.

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. A unisex name, it is currently three times more popular for girls in the US where it sits in the Top 600. It has declined in use since its 2014 peak, but was still given to around 560 girls in a recent year.

Milo is most commonly considered to be Germanic name derived from the Latin word miles, meaning "soldier." However, there is evidence to suggest it also may have independently spawned from the Slavic root milu, meaning "merciful." Milo predates brother name Miles, a variation that evolved when the name immigrated to the British Isles in the Middle Ages. Mylo is an alternate spelling.

Effortlessly cool with a hint of the mystical, Phoenix rolls a lot of trends into one: it's a place-name and a bird name, it ends in the stylish letter x, it's got in-built nicknames, and it's unisex too. Familiar but not over-popular, Phoenix ranks in the US and UK Top 1000s.

Rayne is the unique name used for one of the girl sextuplets on the Sweet Home TV show.

Rollins is primarily a surname derived from the Germanic personal name Hrodland (composed of 'hrod' meaning 'fame' and 'land' meaning 'territory'), which evolved into Roland in French. As a first name, Rollins represents the growing trend of using family surnames as given names, a practice particularly popular in American naming traditions. It carries a distinguished, preppy quality reminiscent of upper-class naming patterns. The name also brings associations with jazz musician Sonny Rollins and the punk band Rollins Band, giving it artistic and countercultural connections. While uncommon as a first name, Rollins appeals to parents seeking a strong, distinctive masculine name with historical depth. Its sound is bold and commanding, with the rolling 'R' and strong ending creating a memorable impression.

The name of the wife of Alexander the Great, more attractive than the better-known Roxanne. Roxana was first used in the English-speaking world in the 1600s and was popularized by Daniel Defoe's novel Roxana, published in 1724. An underused and attractive possibility and perfect if you're searching for names that mean new beginnings.

An imaginative choice with an uptempo Cory/Rory/Tori sound, perfect for the child of a writer — or anyone with a good story to tell. Story has been finding some appreciation among celebs like Minnie Driver and others as a middle name. This is just one of the literary word names that have recently entered the realm of possibility, such as Fable, Sonnet and Poem.