User-created list
Characters from The Selection
Across 11 pages
of 11
Janelle
American, modern elaboration of Jane
It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.
Kayleigh
Variation of Kaylee, English
"laurel, crown"
The -leigh suffix seems to be losing its luster; several names in this category, including Kayleigh, Kyleigh and Ryleigh, peaked in popularity a few years back but have since lost quite a bit of…
Aspen
Nature and place-name
"a poplar tree that quakes in the breeze"
As trendy as the chic Colorado ski resort, with a hint of whimsy from the shimmering trees, Aspen has been climbing the charts for boys since the early 90s. While it has always been more popular for…
Tallulah
Choctaw, Irish
"leaping water, lady of abundance"
This hauntingly euphonious Choctaw name has re-entered the public domain, as memories of the outrageous actress Tallulah Bankhead have faded. For years, Tallulah was a name associated only with…
Annika
Swedish diminutive of Anna
"grace"
Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi…
Abril
Spanish and Catalan variation of April
This Spanish month name has been quietly used for several years now in the US.
Amberly
Modern variation of Amber
A rarely used play on Amber, making it more feminine and both more modern and old-fashioned at the same time.
America
Place-name
Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage. However, parents continue to take the risk. Actress America Ferrera may be have inspired some families to…
Arizona
Place-name from Papago Indian
"little springs"
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…
Astra
Latin
"stars"
A starry-eyed, intergalactic name, far rarer than Stella or Esther. It's attached both to a comic book character and to Princess Astra on "Doctor Who".
Ahren
Apsel
Baden
German
"son of Bade"
If Braden and Caden, why not Baden?
Barton
English
"from the barley settlement"
More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.
Blakely
English
"dark wood or clearing"
A decade or two ago, we might have stopped with Blake, but today the surname Blakely or Blakeley sounds more modern as a first name.
Brenna
Feminine form of Brennan
"descendant of the sad one; raindrops"
Brenna is a feminine form of the Irish surname Brennan, or perhaps a variation of Brenda or Brendan—all of which have different meanings. Whatever its derivation or authenticity, it's a modern…
Brenton
English
"town near the burnt land"
Name hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000 that may move higher with the fashion for two-syllable surnames. You could do worse...but you probably could also do better.
Brice
Scottish surname
"speckled, freckled"
Among the more masculine of the short unisex B names, Brice is less popular than Bryce for both sexes. There were 240 boys named Brice in the US in one recent year, versus only five girls -- and more…
Burke
French
"from the fortress"
Simple, usable surname choice.
Bariel