Practical names

  1. Addison
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Adam"
    • Description:

      Despite its origin as a patronymic meaning "son of Adam", Addison really caught on for baby girls in the US around the turn of the millennium, following in Madison's footsteps to peak at #11 in 2007 and again in 2010.
  2. Amara
    • Origin:

      Igbo, Sanskrit, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "grace, immortal, tribe"
    • Description:

      Strong, attractive, and stylish, Amara is a true multicultural choice enjoying some popularity in both the US and the UK. In the US Top 1000 since the turn of this century, Amara has been holding steady in the rankings between overly popular and obscure.
  3. Ambrose
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "immortal"
    • Description:

      Gentle but grandiose and beloved by British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose was a fast rising name in 2022. Entering the UK Top 1000 for the first time and proving popular among Nameberry users, its elegance, softness, and vintage style means it fits in with popular Theodore, Sebastian, and Jeremiah.
  4. Arayah
    • Ari
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Ariel, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "lion of God"
      • Description:

        Ari, the short form of Ariel (or any other Ari- beginning name, such as Aristotle) stands up better as a boys’ name than its progenitor does. It is also short for Aristotle, as in Onassis, and is a prominent character on TV's Entourage -- the uberagent Ari Gold.
    • Ari
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Ariel, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "lion of God"
      • Description:

        In 2010, baby boys named Ari outnumbered baby girls 4 to 1; today, there are nearly equal numbers of boys and girls named Ari. And that's only counting the babies who receive Ari as a full name. Ari can also be short for not only Ariel but Aria, Arya, Ariana, and any other name starting with Ari. Ari entered the US Top 1000 for girls in 2016.
    • Arya
      • Origin:

        Sanskrit; Modern variation of Aria
      • Meaning:

        "noble; air/song"
      • Description:

        Arya was derived from an Indo-Iranian word meaning "Aryan" or "noble." It is a masculine given name in Iran, Indonesia, Bali, and Sanskrit-speaking regions of India. In Hindu- and English-speaking parts of the world, Arya is more often a feminine name, the latter influenced by the similar Italian name Aria, meaning "air" or "song."
    • Avellana
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "hazelnut"
      • Description:

        This alluring Spanish word name has the quirky meaning "hazelnut". Avellana has a beautiful sound, although it may be misheard as the trending Avianna.
    • Daven
      • Georgana
        • Georgette
          • Origin:

            French, feminine variation of George
          • Description:

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

            English, feminine variation of George
          • Meaning:

            "farmer"
          • Description:

            Georgia is so rich, lush and luscious, it's almost irresistible. Georgia's now a rising star among the feminizations of George, helped by associations with the southern state (named for British King George II) and painter Georgia O'Keeffe, with the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind" or maybe "Sweet Georgia Brown" playing in the background.
        • Georgiana
          • Origin:

            English, feminine variation of George
          • Meaning:

            "farmer"
          • Description:

            Long a popular upper-crust form in England, where it's pronounced George-ee-AH-na, Georgiana has been been neglected here. But with Georgia growing more popular and the general fashion for elaborate feminine names, Georgiana might have room to grow.
        • Iris
          • Origin:

            Flower name; Greek
          • Meaning:

            "rainbow"
          • Description:

            Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
        • James
          • Origin:

            Hebrew
          • Meaning:

            "supplanter"
          • Description:

            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).
        • Jaxon
          • Origin:

            Spelling variation of Jackson
          • Meaning:

            "son of Jack"
          • Description:

            Jaxon has been mostly climbing in popularity since it entered the Top 1000 in 1997, proving that many parents have decided to rev up the cool factor of Jackson by giving it this streamlined spelling. (Though we still prefer the original.)
        • Kai
          • Origin:

            Hawaiian, Frisian, Chinese
          • Meaning:

            "sea; warrior; triumph"
          • Description:

            Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries.
        • Lyra
          • Origin:

            Greek
          • Meaning:

            "lyre"
          • Description:

            Lyra is a name with ancient and celestial roots that's finding new popularity thanks to its starring role in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, seen in the movie The Golden Compass. Simple yet unique, Lyra hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual.
        • Mae
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Latin
          • Meaning:

            "beloved, bitter, drop of the sea; pearl"
          • Description:

            Mae, a sweet and springlike old-fashioned name, hadn't been on the national charts in forty years, but finally made it back in 2010. Mae is derived from May, the month name that was chosen for its connection to Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and motherhood.
        • Milo
          • Origin:

            Latin and Old German
          • Meaning:

            "soldier or merciful"
          • Description:

            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.