Modern Names That Are Still Sane

Realistic yet fun names to name your child or your character. Personally, I find a lot of modern and contemporary names like Stormi, Lidda, Nim, Cason, and Jonet dumb, but I still like fresh names for my characters, so I put together a list of names that are unique without being completely and utterly obnoxious.
  1. Adelei
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Nouveau name related to Adele, Adeline, and the boys' biblical Adlai.
  2. Adelyn
    • Origin:

      Variation of Adeline
    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"
    • Description:

      Adeline in all its forms, including Adelyn, is rocketing up the list, but we do prefer the original to the variations. Or you might consider varying it yet further to Adelia, Adele, or Adelaide. Or lengthen it to Madeline/Madelyn.
  3. Aida
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Italian
    • Meaning:

      "returning visitor; happy"
    • Description:

      Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
  4. Auvera
    • Caspian
      • Origin:

        Place name
      • Meaning:

        "white"
      • Description:

        One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.
    • Elodie
      • Origin:

        French, variation of Alodia, German
      • Meaning:

        "foreign riches"
      • Description:

        The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. It's a uncommon member of the trending El- family of names, which includes Ella, Eloise, and Eleanor.
    • Genevieve
      • Origin:

        English from French
      • Meaning:

        "tribe woman"
      • Description:

        Genevieve is derived from the Germanic medieval name Genovefa, or Kenowefa, which consists of the elements kuni, meaning "kin", and wefa, meaning "woman." The medieval saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, defended the city against Attila the Hun through her rational thinking, courage and prayer.
    • Madelynn
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Madelyn, English
      • Meaning:

        "woman from Magdala or high tower"
      • Description:

        Madelynn is the fourth most popular variation of this durably popular name, with Madelyn ranking first in the Top 100, Madeline dropping to the Number 2 spot, the French Madeleine taking third place, and Madelynn coming in fourth but still ranking in the Top 500.
    • Magdalena
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "from Magdala"
      • Description:

        Magdalena is a pretty name forever associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen; often heard in the Hispanic community. But forward thinking parents are reviving Magdalena along with Magdalene and the unrelated but similar-sounding Marguerite.
    • Margo
      • Origin:

        French, diminutive of Margaret
      • Meaning:

        "pearl"
      • Description:

        Margo and Margot sound exactly the same, so why has the Margot spelling hopped back onto the Top 1000, outpacing Margo in numbers more than two to one? (Over 350 baby girls were named Margot in the most recent year, versus 150 named Margo.)