Naughty Children

  1. Jezebel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "not exalted"
    • Description:

      Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a strong woman, the power behind the throne. Previously avoided as a baby name, Jezebel is now, along with the also previously avoided Delilah and Desiree, coming into use, helped by its relation to other 'bel' name such as Isabel and Bella.
  2. Mariah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is my teacher; or drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Thanks to Mariah Carey, everyone now knows this name – and is aware that Mariah's pronounced with a long i – just as Maria was in the Jane Austen era. And though Mariah now sounds modern, it was heard as far back as 1550 in Great Britain.
  3. Kylie
    • Origin:

      Noongar, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "boomerang; narrow spit of land"
    • Description:

      Popular pop name, inspired by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was at its height in Australia in the 1970s and early 80s; often cited as a Noongar name meaning "boomerang".
  4. Dakota
    • Origin:

      Native American tribe and place name; Sioux
    • Meaning:

      "friendly one"
    • Description:

      A Native American tribe name which is found in the names of two US states, Dakota was one of the first trendy nineties place names, but is now flagging a little in popularity. The cultural question around using a Native American tribe name as a baby name may be partly to blame.
  5. Jesus
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is salvation"
    • Description:

      Jesus -- pronounced hay-SOOS -- is used exclusively and extensively among Spanish speakers, though JEE-zus as in the first name of Christ is never used in the Anglophone world. Jesus Quintana was a character in The Big Lebowski and Jesus Velasquez appeared on True Blood.
  6. Jaiden
    • Origin:

      Hebrew variation of Jadon, modern invention
    • Description:

      Jaiden could be a variation of the Hebrew name Jadon, meaning "thankful", however, it may also be a modern invention, taking inspiration from Hayden and Aiden and combining it with the popular J- sound of James, Jason, and Jacob. While it has declined in use in the US in recent years, and is less popular than Jayden or Jaden, when combined with all its other spelling variations, it will still feel like a Top 50 name.
  7. Jessamy
    • Origin:

      English, variation of Jessamine
    • Meaning:

      "jasmine flower"
    • Description:

      Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.
  8. Alize
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aleeza or Alizee, Hebrew or French
    • Meaning:

      "joy or wind"
    • Description:

      Alize feels like a blend of Alice and Eliza but it's not related to either of those names, rather to the more unusual (in the US, at least) Aleeza, a Hebrew name meaning joy, or Alizee, a French name meaning wind, or the related Alizeh, a Persian name that also means wind. The final e can take an accent, which might elucidate pronunciation, but English speakers are sure to be confused.
  9. Estefania
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Stephanie
    • Description:

      Attractive international Stephanie alternative. Estefania ranks in the Top 100 in Puerto Rico.
  10. Jojo
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Jo-beginning names
    • Description:

      Sprightly and engaging nickname for human, full name for pet. Author Jojo Moyes and dancer/singer Jojo Sliwa have propelled the name into the public eye.

The Nameberry App Is Live

Nameberry app screenshot
Find your perfect baby name together in our iPhone app, now available on the App Store.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Download on the App Store
Nameberry app screenshot