Lily is the most popular of the popular delicate century-old flower names now making a return, thanks to its many irresistible attributes: a cool elegance and a lovely sound, a symbol of purity and innocence, and a role in Christian imagery.

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.

June, a sweetly old-fashioned month name derived from the goddess Juno, was long locked in a time capsule with June Allyson (born Ella) and June Cleaver, but is rising again especially as a middle name.

Riley -- one of the most popular unisex names -- is trendier now for girls though for boys it's a classic, ALWAYS ranking in the US Top 1000.

Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk. Long popular throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Poppy is finally starting to rise toward the top in the US, where it entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.

Can a name as virtuous as Hope be cool and trendy? Strangely enough -- yes. But though this optimistic Puritan favorite is experiencing substantial popularity, Hope is too pure and elegant to be corrupted, a lovely classic that deserves all the attention it's getting.

Opal is on the verge of a repolishing, following other jewel names like Ruby and Pearl. A Top 100 name during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the opalescent Opal has a good chance of coming back as another O-initial option.

Shoji is a masculine Japanese name with multiple possible meanings depending on the kanji characters used in writing it. Common interpretations include 'shining ruler,' 'minister,' or 'prosperous peace.' Beyond being a personal name, Shoji also refers to traditional Japanese sliding doors made of translucent paper and wooden frame, adding cultural richness to the name's associations. The name is pronounced with two syllables (SHO-ji) and carries a gentle yet dignified sound. While common in Japan, Shoji remains relatively rare in Western countries, making it distinctive in international contexts. The name connects a child to Japanese heritage and aesthetics, valued for its brevity, clear pronunciation, and cultural significance. Shoji embodies traditional Japanese values of harmony, respect, and natural beauty.

A name that has a bit of a shouldn't-I-be-a-middle-name sound, though still in use as a first for both genders. Lee might be a good choice if you want something that sounds at once traditional yet modern, unisex but not newly-minted.

Chin is a common surname among those with Chinese or Korean heritage. It is related to the Chinese family names Chen, Jin, Qian, and Qin, and the Korean surname Jin.

An international take on Theo that would be easily wearable for a child in the US or any European culture, Teo is a simple but versatile choice. It's popularly used across a number of countries, including Georgia, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Czechia, Italy, England, and Bosnia and Herzegovina too.

Simultaneously a name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, a spelling variation of the popular Rowan and an anglicized form of Irish Ruadhán, Rohan is a cross-cultural choice.

Kya, a variation of the popular Kaia, the feminine form of the also-popular gender-neutral name Kai, was one of the fastest-rising girls' names of 2023.

Cross-cultural winner.

Ilah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Arabic, it means "God" or "deity," derived from "Allah" without the definite article. In Hebrew, it's related to Eila, meaning "oak tree," symbolizing strength and endurance. Some also connect it to the Hindi name Ila, meaning "earth" or referring to the earth goddess in Hindu mythology. Ilah's brevity and open vowel sounds give it a gentle, flowing quality. While not among the most common names, it has seen modest usage across different cultures due to its spiritual connections, simplicity, and cross-cultural appeal. Its pronunciation (EE-lah) is intuitive in many languages, adding to its universal charm.

Cameron is still more popular as a boy's name than a girls and this simple, snappy short form works well for either sex.

Several artistic Hiroshis make this one of the more plausible Japanese imports.

A sailing and sea-related choice, which also feels connected to the reparative powers of nature (via dock leaves) and to doctors generally, Dock made the Top 1000 in the first half of the 20th century, though today, it is only quietly and sporadically used.

A international feeling name of Japanese origin that could be used to refer to a child's place in the family, Kenji has attracted notice in the US as the name of The Food Lab chef, James Kenji López-Alt, know simply as Kenji. It appeared in the latter end of the US Top 1000 in 2023.