broadway stars

Kimiko

Kimiko is a feminine Japanese name composed of elements that can have various meanings depending on the kanji characters used. Common interpretations include 'noble child' (貴美子), 'empress child'…

Patti

English diminutive of Patricia

"patrician"

Long one of the most popular girls' names starting with P , Patti replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter but has now joined her in the retirement home.

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.

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…

Liza

Diminutive of Eliza and Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

Liza's heyday was the mid-1970s, following on the heels of super-popular sister Lisa. But thanks to the fact that it never became superpopular, Liza remains a name not especially tied to one…

Lindsay

English surname

"marshlands of Lincolnshire"

In the early eighties, Lindsay, in tandem with Courtney, approached the Top 10. Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the ey…