Awful but loved
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Guilty pleasure names: I love these names, but they seem silly, outdated, have horrible connotations, or otherwise don't seem appropriate for the first name slot.
- Valentine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"strength, health"Description:
Valentine is an attractive Shakespearean name with romantic associations, but those very ties to the saint and the sentimental holiday have sent it into a decline, one which we think may be about to turn around.
- Honey
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Honey entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024, following the lead of parents in England, who've elevated this nickname-name to the Top 300 girls' names in the UK. Honey's popularity in the UK can be credited to its status as a cute British celebrity baby name, used by actress Kate Winslet, chef Jamie Oliver, and TV presenter Fearne Cotton, among others.
- Jinx
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"spell, curse, bringer of bad luck"Description:
Jinx, a James Bond heroine name has an ominous meaning but kinetic energy. In the film "Die Another Day," the actual first name of the character played by Halle Berry is Giacinta. It could therefore be a playful nickname to Ginevra, Jessica, Genevieve, Gianna, Josephine, or Georgina, or a bold choice for those wanting some sparky and witchy.
- Kermit
Origin:
Irish, variant of Diarmaid/DermotMeaning:
"without injunction, without envy"Description:
Kermit was a Top 500 name until the 1960s, not coincidentally the decade in which Kermit the Frog made it a one-person (well, one-frog) name.
- Mystery
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Pretty sound, provocative meaning, but a little over-the-top.
- Snowdrop
Description:
Snowdrop is a delicate nature-inspired feminine name derived from the early-blooming white flower that often emerges while snow still covers the ground. This botanical name symbolizes hope, purity, and resilience as snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom at winter's end. Though uncommon as a given name, Snowdrop belongs to the category of modern flower and nature names that have gained popularity in recent decades. The name carries a whimsical, ethereal quality that appeals to parents drawn to nature-themed names. Snowdrop combines the purity associations of snow with the gentle beauty of a small flower, creating a name that's both distinctive and meaningful.
- Hershel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"deer"Description:
Gentle meaning and bona fide Hebrew history, but feels old-mannish, like Herman and Menashe.
- Columbine
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"dove"Description:
A beautiful flower name deriving from the Latin word for dove. Sadly, in America this name is now forever linked with a tragic terrorist attack on a Colorado high school.
- Butterfly
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
Fluttery and flighty. But there are a couple of names that mean butterfly you might consider, such as Yara and Farasha.
- Silence
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
The Puritans used it as a virtue name -- but today it would just be considered weird: silence is no longer golden.
- Sesame
Origin:
Food name and word nameDescription:
Poppy is the most widely-used seed name, opening the door for Sesame. While Sesame has a pretty sound, it is not often used as a name -- fewer than five baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021. In kids' minds, this might be overly associated with Sesame Street.
- Shadow
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
A word name with a touch of mystery surrounding it, Shadow is a bold, edgy choice for a baby which some may find a bit ominous. While it is predominatly used for cats, dogs, and other furry friends, it can be considered a wild word name that parents are actually using, having debuted in the US stats for girls in 1974 and for boys in 1987.
- Cinderella
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"little ash-girl"Description:
One familiar name never used for real people, for obvious reasons. Read more about Cinderella and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.
- Christmas
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
Christmas is a day name long and quietly used as a name for babies born at Christmas. Prettier and more modern than Noel or Noelle.
- Vanilla
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