Law and Order SVU Names

Jo

Diminutive of Joanna or Josephine, Hebrew

"Jehovah increases"

The name Jo still evokes the spunky image of the character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women . Its literary status makes Jo one of the OG boyish nicknames for girls, ala Frankie, Billie, and…

Joanne

French variation of Joanna, Hebrew

"God is gracious"

A Top 100 name from the 1930s all the way through the 1950s, it's now firmly in Mom -- or Grandma -- land and supplanted for babies by Joanna.....or even great-grandmother Josephine. In its heyday,…

Jodie

Spelling variation of Jody

The Jodie spelling might be even more obscure, at this point, than the fading original, except actresses Jodie Foster and Jodie Sweetin have kept it in the public eye.

Joyce

Latin

"merry, joyous"

Joyce was once a boy name , but took off for girls during the mid-twentieth century, when it spent 1930 to 1947 in the Top 20. Now, Joyce is one of the girls' names starting with J least likely to…

Karen

Danish variation of Katherine, Japanese

"pure; lotus flower"

Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to…

Karyn

Karyn is a feminine name that emerged as a variant of Karen, which itself derives from the Danish form of Katherine. Originally from Greek, the name means 'pure.' Karyn gained popularity in the…

Kathleen

Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin

"pure"

Kathleen is the early Irish import version that came between Katherine and Kaitlin, and which hasn't been used in so long it's almost beginning to sound fresh again. It was a surprise pick by one of…

Kathy

English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

"pure"

There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.

Katriona

Katriona is a feminine name of Scottish Gaelic origin, being a variant spelling of Catriona, which itself is the Scottish form of Katherine. This name ultimately derives from the Greek 'katharos,'…

Kianna

Spelling variation of Kiana, American invented name

While Kianna and Kiana are credited with a range of origins and meanings online, it is an American invented name taken from Quiana, a polyester fabric that gained some following as a baby name in the…

Kim

English diminutive of Kimberly; Vietnamese; Scandinavian diminutive of Joachima; Soviet name

Kim was the coolest name... of the 1960s. Kim was popularized by actress Kim Novak, and its energy is still maintained by rapper Lil' Kim, but it holds lil' or no appeal for new babies. Parents who…

Kirsten

Scandinavian variation of Christine

Lovely, authentic name -- but any Kirsten will be condemned to a lifetime of hearing "Did you say Kristen?" They're both genuine Scandinavian names but too interchangeable.

Kitty

English, diminutive of Katherine

"pure"

This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related…

Kristen

Danish and Norwegian variation of Christine

"a Christian"

Kristen may be somewhat past its fashion high point, but it remains forever crystalline clear. Possible problem: confusion with the similar Scandinavian names Kristin, Kirsten, Kirstie, et al.…

Laurie

English, diminutive of Laura

"from Laurentum or bay laurel"

Laurie morphed into the more streamlined Lori in the sixties but now feels dated for a girl in either spelling. Update Lauren has been renovated as Laurel or Laura itself.