Lovely List

  1. Everett
    • Origin:

      English variation of the German Eberhard
    • Meaning:

      "brave as a wild boar"
    • Description:

      Everett is a preppy but outdoorsy name, with wintery New England vibes. In the last decade, it’s had a leap in popularity, perhaps because of its similarity to trendy girls’ names like Ava and Scarlett, or perhaps because it offers a fresh alternative to 90’s style Evan and Brett.
  2. Della
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Adela, Adele or Adelaide
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Fresh, bright, and sunny, Della could be an alternative to Ella, Delilah, or Adeline. Familiar but not yet overused, it combines the elements of contemporary favorites with vintage charm.
  3. Cecily
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Cecil
    • Meaning:

      "blind"
    • Description:

      Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.
  4. Arwen
    • Origin:

      Literature, Sindarin, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "noble maiden; fair, blessed"
    • Description:

      Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.
  5. Aida
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Italian; Lithuanian
    • Meaning:

      "returning visitor; happy; echo"
    • Description:

      Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
  6. Junia
    • Origin:

      Latin, Feminine variation of Junius
    • Meaning:

      "born in June"
    • Description:

      Juno is hot, June is showing signs of a comeback along with other month and day names, whereas Junia, the name of the the first century Christian referred to by the apostle Paul as an apostle (and who may have been male), is yet to be discovered.
  7. Sarai
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      Sharp but sweet, ancient but with a contemporary sound, Sarai has been rising steadily up the US charts since the 90s and now sits comfortably in the Top 1000. In the Old Testament, God changed Sarai's name to Sara, so this would make a clever and legitimate honor name for an ancestral Sarah.
  8. Cam
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cameron, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "crooked nose"
    • Description:

      Cameron is still more popular as a boy's name than a girls and this simple, snappy short form works well for either sex.
  9. Olwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "white footprint"
    • Description:

      Olwen is a Welsh favorite, the name of a legendary princess in what is believed to have been the earliest Arthurian romance, and in fact one of the first recorded examples of Welsh prose.
  10. Andi
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrea or Anderson, Greek or English from Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly, son of Anders"
    • Description:

      Boyish nickname name that first heard in the Ricki/Terri era but finding new favor among parents who love names like Billie and Frankie, Scottie and Stevie. Sister spelling Andie has also been on the rise in recent years, and when you combine the two, around 700 girls received the slightly retro moniker.
  11. Elden
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "noble friend"
    • Description:

      This old-fashioned name looks like it could be on the edge of a revival, following in the footsteps of Alden and Auden.
  12. Ita
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "thirst"
    • Description:

      The name of one of the most famous medieval Irish saints, who was known as "the foster-mother of the saints," and founded a nunnery in the county of Limerick. Might be of interest to someone looking for an unusual 3-letter name.
  13. Gael
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "wild"
    • Description:

      Now that the midcentury sound-alike name Gail for girls is sailing out to sea, Gael is becoming an increasingly popular name for boys -- and could make the gender switch in the opposite direction again.
  14. Eloi
    • Origin:

      French, Catalan and Spanish from the Latin Eligius
    • Meaning:

      "the chosen"
    • Description:

      From the saintly name Eligius, Eloi is popular in Catalonia but rarely used by English speakers. There's potential for confusion with Eli - and with the Aramaic word eloi, said to mean "my God", which appears in the bible.
  15. Nolwenn
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "shining, holy"
    • Description:

      Nolwenn is popular in Wales but would be a very adventurous choice in the US. Though with the increased visibility of names like Arwen, thanks to Lord of the Rings, it may not feel as odd going forward as it might have a generation ago. Other, similar ideas: Olwen, Anwen, Bronwen, Rowena.
  16. Idra
    • Origin:

      Aramaic
    • Meaning:

      "fig tree"
    • Description:

      Idra is one of the less obvious botanical names. In ancient times, a fig tree was a symbol of learning, peace, and prosperity.
  17. Pearce
    • Origin:

      English and Irish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Piers"
    • Description:

      The spelling Pearce softens the name's sharper edges, though we prefer the original Piers. That "pear" snippet could confuse pronunciation, which is just like Pierce.
  18. Cambrie
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Cute but slight mix of stylish sounds Cam and Bree, chosen by Rick Schroder for his daughter.
  19. Druella
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "elfin vision"
    • Description:

      A little too close to Cruella.
  20. Brodny
    • Origin:

      Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "one who lives near a stream"
    • Description:

      Off-putting cousin of Bradley and Rodney.