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The names
Valeria
Latin
"strength, health"
Valeria -- the original form of the name, used by early Christians --has been experiencing significant popularity in recent years. While Valeria was nearly always on the charts, the name peaked in…
Grant
Scottish from French
"large"
One-time beach-boy compadre of Glenn, Greg, and Gary that originated as a nickname for a tall person, Grant has become a no-nonsense, career-oriented grown-up and one that is seeing new appreciation.…
Preston
English
"priest's estate"
Britney Spears put this old-fashioned surname name back on the map when she chose it as her son Sean's middle name, which the family uses as his first. One of the most popular names of its genre,…
Joy
English word name
"joy"
Joy is from an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert a certain amount of personality pressure on a child. However, Joy, like Grace, Hope,…
Salem
Biblical place-name or Arabic
"safe"
Salem is a Biblical place name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem, as well as the Massachusetts town famous for its late 17th century witch trials. Salem is also a popular first name in…
Hugh
English from German
"mind, intellect"
Patrician to the core, Hugh was firmly in the Top 100 until 1903. It's never achieved those heights again, though it has always managed to remain in the Top 1000, scraping bottom at literally Number…
Lance
English word name or English variation of Lanzo, German "long, pointed, medieval weapon; land"
"long, pointed, medieval weapon; land"
Though the fuller Lancelot has for the most part been shunned as a 'too-much-name' name, the short form Lance has been consistently in or around the Top 500 since 1938, climbing as high as Number 76…
Prima
Latin
"first"
Will assure your daughter she's numero uno.
Eirian
Welsh
"silver, bright, brilliant, snow"
A modern, unisex Welsh name with a shiny feel, Eirian can mean "silver" (from Welsh arian ) or "snow, brilliant, bright" (from eira ). It may appeal to those who like rising star Eira, but want…
Kirsi
Hindi, Finnish diminutive of Kirstina and Kirsten
"amaranth blossoms; Christian, frost"
This attractive multicultural name is found in India and Finland, where it is also a word meaning "frost."
Bibiana
Latin
"life"
Melodic and unusual, and she will outgrow any bib jokes.
Ahearne
Celtic
"owner of horses"
What a novel choice for those choosing to honor their Celtic heritage or love of horses (or both). One can imagine a little Ahearne running wildly through lush green fields.
Morrisania
Place name
New Yorkers will recognize this as a Bronx place name, others will see it as a gussied-up female version of Morris.
Deforest
English
"living near the forest"
Nature surname with an aristocratic edge. Spelling it DeForest distances it from deforestation.
Witt
English word name
"a talent for banter or persiflage"
In the old days, this might have been a short form for Dewitt, but today it's more likely to appear as a witty word name. We approve.
Dewitt
Flemish
"blond"
Vintage surname that's fallen out of use, but perhaps deserves a revival.
Mickey
Diminutive of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God?"
Pugnacious and spunky like the young Mickey Rooney and the original Mickey Mouse, but virtually never given to babies today.
Micki
Diminutive of Michelle or Michaela, Hebrew
"who is like God"
Briefly cool in the 1950s, but now gone the way of Ricki and Nikki. More contemporary: Mikie or Mikey.
Hatsy
Diminutive of Harriet
"estate ruler"
So-old-it's-cute-again short from of Harriet, reminiscent of Patsy and Betsy but fresher and more appealing than either of those choices. Hattie is another adorable short form.
Bess
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Although she declared her independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I — Good Queen Bess, Bess now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy.