Favorite Names

Elizabeth

Hebrew

"pledged to God"

Elizabeth is one of the most popular girls' names of all time, the female equivalent of James or William. Yet Elizabeth has so much going for it—rich history, broad appeal, and timeless style—that no…

Kendall

English

"valley of the river Kent"

Originally an English surname, borrowed from the place name, Kendale, Kendall was given almost exclusively to boys until the 40s when it began to be used for a small number of girls each year. By the…

Sydney

Variation of Sidney, English from French

"Saint Denis"

Sydney was a hot girls' name in the 1990s, but she's arguably still cool. One of the original old man names adopted for baby girls, Sydney's popularity may be down but she's not out. Cool girl…

Allie

Variation or diminutive of Alexandra, Alice or Allison; Greek, German or Scottish

"defending men or noble"

Allie is one short form that's gotten so popular it's often used as a name on its own. Cute, friendly, yet we'd recommend using one of the proper names such as Alice to give your daughter an option.…

Jordan

English from Hebrew

"flowing down"

Originally used for children baptized in holy water from the river Jordan, it became one of the leading androgynous names of the nineties. As the balance tips toward the boys' side, it's slipping on…

Karina

Scandinavian, German, Polish, and Russian variation of Carina

This sweet and loving name, favored in recent years by a mix of Hispanic-American parents and Bob Dylan fans, was chosen for her daughter by TV actress Melina Kanakaredes.

Lindsey

English surname meaning "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"

"Marshlands of Lincolnshire"

Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the "ey" ending was usually reserved for women and the "ay" ending reserved for men, and…

Ricki

Feminization of Ricky, English, or English diminutive of Frederica, German

"dominant ruler; peaceful ruler"

One of the earliest of the relaxed, unisex names, now relegated to oldies rock stations. Ricki is a spirited, retro nickname traditionally short for Frederica but now stands strong on its own.…

Lilli

Lilli is a charming feminine name with multiple origins. It's primarily considered a diminutive of Elizabeth or Lillian, but also stands as a name in its own right in many European countries,…

Peta

Native American, Blackfoot,or Greek, "golden eagle, or rock, stone"

"golden eagle, or rock, stone"

Too tightly tied to the acronym for the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.