My Favourite Names

  1. Cole
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "swarthy, coal black"
    • Description:

      Cole -- a short name that embodies a lot of richness and depth -- has long been associated with the great songwriter Cole Porter. It's quite popular in Scotland.
  2. Dashiell
    • Origin:

      Anglicization of French surname de Chiel, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Dashiell, though missing from many other name sources, is among the hottest new names, chosen by such celebs as Cate Blanchett and author Helen (Bridget Jones) Fielding. With its great dash and panache, Dashiell is associated with detective writer Dashiell Hammett (born Samuel, as in Sam Spade, Dashiell being his mother's maiden name). Alice Cooper was ahead of the game: He named his son Dashiell in 1985.
  3. Vienna
    • Origin:

      Place-name: the capital of Austria
    • Meaning:

      "forest stream; white foundation"
    • Description:

      Vienna is one of the more popular of the European place-names, with a particularly pleasant sound, evoking elegant images of the Blue Danube, of castles and cafes, sweets and sausages and Strauss waltzes—and Sigmund Freud. It could be a possible substitute for the popular Sienna or Vivienne, though it has been climbing the charts itself.
  4. Kinsley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "king's meadow"
    • Description:

      Light and glittery, but with plenty of spirit, Kinsley has risen quickly into the US Top 100. Balanced between preppy and cutesy, it feels like a fresh alternative to Kelly, Kaitlyn, or Kimberly.
  5. Deacon
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "messenger, servant"
    • Description:

      This name was transposed from the word for a church officer to a baby name when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe chose it for their son, after a baseball player ancestor, and Don Johnson followed suit. Its popularity also got a boost from Nashville character Deacon Claybourne -- only to fall a bit in recent years.
  6. Lilia
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Italian and Russian
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry to the US Top 1000 in 2023.
  7. Reese
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "ardor"
    • Description:

      The sassy, steel magnolia appeal of Oscar-winning Reese (born Laura Jeanne—Reese is her mother's maiden name) Witherspoon has single-handedly propelled this formerly boys’ name into girls' popularity.
  8. Ellery
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "island with elder trees; descendant of Hilary; cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      In the past few years Ellery has gone from middle-aged male detective -- from old school fictional hero Ellery Queen -- to a plausible girls' name, a la Hillary.
  9. Easton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "eastern town"
    • Description:

      Easton is a stylish Ivy League-ish place and surname name, more modern than Weston, on its way up for both sexes as part of the new direction baby names are taking, as in North and West. Easton was used for her son by Jenna Elfman--and by Elizabeth Rohm for her daughter.
  10. Logan
    • Origin:

      Scottish surname
    • Meaning:

      "little hollow"
    • Description:

      Logan, with its appealing Scottish burr, is a very hot boys' name—it's in the national Top 10 and heading for Number 1 in some states—and can also make a rich and resonant choice for a girl. Jason and Jordan Mewes have a daughter named Logan Lee.
  11. Hayley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "hay field"
    • Description:

      It all started in 1946, when Hayley Mills was given her mother's maiden name. Now that spelling is in third place, after Hailey and Haley, with all three adding up to one of the most popular names in the country. Hayley is the most used spelling in Australia.
  12. Rylan
    • Origin:

      English and Irish
    • Meaning:

      "rye land"
    • Description:

      A unisex name, Rylan plays on many popular baby names, including Ryan and Riley. For boys, the trendy Rylan is in the US Top 500, while for girls, it fell out of Top 1000 in 2023, having been a regular feature since 2009.
  13. Sofie
    • Origin:

      German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech
    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"
    • Description:

      A streamlined spelling of Sophie, popular in several European nations, including Norway, Czechia, Denmark, and The Netherlands. While English speakers may say this as SO-fee, it may also be said as zo-FEE in German, so-FEE-uh in Danish and Norwegian and SO-fih-yeh in Czech.
  14. Jaron
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "to sing out"
    • Description:

      Not a biblical name, but one with authentic Hebrew roots that's used in Israel; would fit in with the current trend for two-syllable J names. Jaaron, Jairon, Jaran, Jaren, Jarin, Jarone, Jarran, Jarren, Jarrin, Jarron, Jaryn, Jayron, Jayronn, Je Ronn, J'ron.
  15. Ema
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene, Croatian, Bosnian, Czech, Slovak, and Lithuanian variation of Emma, German
    • Meaning:

      "universal"
    • Description:

      Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.
  16. Graeme
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Graham
    • Meaning:

      "gravelly homestead"
    • Description:

      An interesting vowel combination lightens up Graham.
  17. Payson
    • Origin:

      English, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Surname-sounding unisex cousin of Peyton is gaining in popularity, especially for girls.
  18. Keagan
    • Origin:

      Irish, spelling variation of Keegan
    • Description:

      Right in step with the two-syllable irish surname-names now on the rise.
  19. Bretton
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Breton, French
    • Meaning:

      "from Brittany"
    • Description:

      Veering toward Brittany.
  20. Alora