User-created list
Black American Babies
Across 8 pages
of 8
Antoine
French variation of Anthony
"priceless one"
Antoine is a venerable French name that is still stylish in its native habitat, where it is in the Top 30. In the US, it was most popular in the 1970s and '80s, reaching Number 262 in 1985. There…
Terrance
Variation of Terence.
Hiram
Hebrew
"brother of the exalted one"
Hiram is the kind of forgotten biblical name that adventurous parents who wish to move beyond David and Daniel are beginning to reconsider--even though it has bits of its old stiff-collared image…
Ishmael
Hebrew
"God will hear"
Ishmael is most familiar through "Call me Ishmael," the opening line spoken by the youthful narrator of Moby-Dick . Few American parents have followed that advice, though the Spanish and Arabic…
Denzel
Cornish
"from the high stronghold"
This old Cornish name took on a whole new identity via Denzel Washington, who has inspired several thousand namesakes. The actor was named after his father, who was named for a Dr. Denzel, who…
Treasure
Ciara
Irish
"little dark one"
Ciara is very popular in Ireland, more familiar here as the Anglicized Kiera or Keira. The uninitiated will tend to pronounce Ciara as the Italian Chiara, a form of Claire—kee-AHR-a or even…
Erica
Norse feminization of Eric or Italian word name
"eternal ruler; heather"
The straightforward Erica is a Norse feminization that was long associated with the complex, mega-popular character Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci for decades on the soap opera All My Children .…
Kourtney
Variation of Courtney, English from French
"short nose; courteous, from the court"
This spelling variation of Courtney has been popularized by celebrity Kourtney Kardashian.
Yvonne
French
"yew wood"
Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust…
Nikki
Diminutive of Nicole or Indian, Punjabi, Sikh
"people of victory; little one"
Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself. As a Punjabi name, Nikki is usually a pet name for youngest daughters.…
Tasia
Tasia is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive of Anastasia, which comes from Greek meaning 'resurrection.' This shortened form maintains the melodic quality of its longer counterpart while…
Tasha
Diminutive of Natasha
See NATASHA.
Coral
English word name
"a rock like substance formed by sea creatures; pinkish-red; gemstone"
A color name, a gemstone name, and an ocean-inspired choice, Coral has a lot going for it with its sharp C sounds yet sweet vintage feel. Unlike Scarlett or Violet, however, it is only quietly used…
Chanel
French
"dweller near the canal"
Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
Danae
Greek
An intriguing mythological name whose one challenge might be pronunciation questions. In Greek myth, Danae, a goddess of music and poetry, was the mother of Perseus by Zeus, who appeared to her in…
Yvette
French, feminine of Yves
"yew tree"
This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names like Colette and Odette, and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it. Related to the sleek French name Yves, it was popular in…
Kiya
Kiya is a feminine name with ancient Egyptian origins, most notably borne by Kiya, a minor wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BCE. The name may mean 'shine' or 'sparkle' in ancient…
Diamond
Word name, English from Greek
"diamond"
Diamond sparkled all through the nineties--reaching as high as Number 150 in 1999. Although its shine has diminished quite a bit, it remains in use. Followers of the British royal family may know…
Shavonne
Phonetic variation of Siobhan
Many of the parents who choose this name may not even be aware of the lovely Irish_Gaelic name that spawned it.
