Could be the next Nova, now that celestial baby names are in the ascendent.

Angel is one of those names that has a very different trajectory for girls and boys. As a female name, it was most popular in the US from the 1970s until the turn of this century, almost breaking into the Top 100 at its peak in 2001 but then beginning a long slide down the list.

The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More distinctive than Isabella.

Audacious offshoot of Roxanne, the wayward heroine of the musical Chicago.

Looking to honor Grandma Mary (or Maria) with something original? This Russian short form bears an unfortunate resemblance to the English word "mash", but if you can look past that, Masha has possibilities.

Fairy's reputation as a slur directed at gay men takes it off the table as a baby name option. Go with Pixie or Faye instead.

While for some, it may feel stuck in the shadow of the Dolly Parton song, Jolene re-entered the charts in 2010 and has seen increased use in recent years, ranking in the US Top 700 in the latest count. Tuneful and spirited, it combines the 'Jo' sound of Joanne, Josephine, and similar, with the lene suffix. As such, it could be said to share their meanings, "God is gracious" and "Jehovah increases".

Lisbeth is one of the many short forms of Elizabeth that are used on their own. Not only is it the name of the mother of the main character in George Eliot's novel Adam Bede, but it takes on a whole new, powerful image as the heroine of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Lizbeth is another spelling.

Bonnie meets Annabel (or Belle, or any other name ending in this sound) in this jaunty modern compound.

Sunshine was seen as a quintessential hippie name of the 70s, reaching as high as Number 536 in 1975. Now such names are making a bit of a retro comeback, seen, for example, as a character on Glee.

Apolonia is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from Apollo, the Greek god of sun, light, music, and poetry. It can be considered a variant of Apollonia, which gained recognition through Saint Apollonia, an early Christian martyr.

We think the more spelling, Lorelei, works better.

Messy is an unconventional masculine name that likely developed as a nickname before occasionally being used as a given name. It might be derived from names like Messiah or Messias, which have Hebrew origins meaning 'anointed one.' Alternatively, it could be an affectionate nickname that became formalized. The name gained some recognition through association with football star Lionel Messi, though his surname has different origins. As a given name, Messy remains extremely rare and may present challenges due to its association with the English word for disorderly. Nevertheless, its playful sound and potential religious connections give it a distinctive quality that appeals to some parents seeking truly unique options.

Bernadetta is the feminine Italian and Polish form of Bernard, derived from the Germanic elements "bern" (bear) and "hard" (brave, strong), meaning "strong as a bear." The name gained prominence through Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the French visionary of Lourdes, though Bernadetta represents a more formal variant of her name. This elegant name carries a classic European charm and remains in use particularly in Italy, Poland, and other Catholic countries. While not among the most common names internationally, Bernadetta offers a sophisticated alternative to the more familiar Bernadette. The name conveys both strength and femininity, with potential nicknames including Berna, Detta, or Etta, adding to its versatility.

This name of a showy, lemony plant makes an unusual entry into the name garden.

One of the more prominent by-products of reality TV, via Disney.

Light, sweet, and multicultural, Nemi is a simple name with a complex etymology. It notably appears as the title character of a 90s comic strip, drawn by Lisa Myhre, who likely took the name from an Italian lake. The lake in question, Lake Nemi, likely takes its name from the Latin nemus "holy wood", and was the site of a Roman temple to the goddess Diana.

More uncommon and powerful than garden varieties like Rose and Lily. Named for Scottish botanist Dr Alexander Garden.

The full name of one of the main characters on Netflix's Dear White People, though she usually goes by Coco. Colandrea occasionally pops up as a surname, but as a first name, it feels more like a mashup of Coco and Andrea -- and a not unappealing mashup at that.