Safe girl names and guilty pleasures

This Italian and Portuguese variant of the classic Alexandra softens the classic name, while still maintaining its strength and dignity. Currently in the US Top 500, it also ranks in Brazil and Italy. Instead of Lexi, this form could get you to nicknames Essie or Alessa.

This diminutive, similar to Alex or Alexis, has been yo-yoing in popularity since the turn of the 21st century.

Allouette is a feminine name derived from the French word "alouette," meaning "lark" (a type of small songbird). The name evokes imagery of music, freedom, and natural beauty. In French culture, "Alouette" is well-known through the popular children's folk song "Alouette, gentille alouette." As a given name, Allouette remains quite rare, offering a distinctive quality with its melodic sound and French flair. The spelling with double 'l' is a variation of the more traditional Alouette. This name might appeal to parents with French heritage or those seeking a musical-inspired name with an elegant, international feel.

Altalune is an invention used by Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson as one of several middle names for their daughter. It's evocative Latin meaning roughly translates to "over the moon." Celebrity baby Altalune will be called the more familiar Luna for short.

Amalina is a delicate feminine name with multiple cultural connections. It blends elements from Arabic, Latin, and Germanic origins, potentially meaning 'work,' 'hope,' or 'tender.' The name can be seen as a combination of Amalia (meaning 'work' in Germanic traditions) and the diminutive suffix '-ina,' creating a name that sounds both classical and contemporary. Amalina carries a romantic, flowing quality with its melodic syllables and soft sounds. While not among the most common names, it has gained appreciation among parents seeking something elegant with cross-cultural appeal. The name offers versatility across different languages and cultures while maintaining a timeless feminine charm and sophistication.

This lovely name from Spenser's The Faerie Queene is borne by a character who represents married love. A related unusual-yet-usable choice: Amabel.

Anouk, made famous by French actress Anouk Aimée, is a singular name with a lovely sound and a Bohemian feel. Anouk Aimée was born as Francoise, but adopted the first name of the character she played in her debut film.

This feminization of Anthony, like other early French forms, such as Babette and Nanette, is not heard as often as it once was, but it could be time for a reappraisal of this delicate Gallic choice.

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 in 1882, before Arizona became a state. One notorious vintage bearer: criminal "Ma" Barker, born Arizona Clark.

Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.

Avalon, an island paradise of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend--it was where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds-- and also the colorful capital of the California island of Catalina-- makes a heavenly first name. Actress Rena Sofer and British musician Julian Cope used it for their daughters.

Attractive but somewhat unwieldy place-name name.

Bea is a former old lady name that's cute again as a short form -- and is now beginning to stand on its own. Bee is a variation that, like Bea, can work as a diminutive for any name that starts with the letter B, or in the middle. Bea actually stood alone on the popularity lists for four years at the beginning of the twentieth century--and it could happen again.

Bellamy is emerging as an up-and-coming girls' name, an Irish surname-y riff on the super-popular Bella series of names. While the Bella connection makes Bellamy sound a little trendier and more popular than it really is, we see the name possibly rising through the ranks for both genders in the coming years.

"Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera that was transmogrified into the modern play Rent. Boheme means a literary or artistic person who lives outside conventional society.

A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago.

Vocal name seldom heard, with most elle-ending names these days dropped in favor of the more straightforward Elle and Ella.

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin.