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Romantic and Classic
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Colette
French, short form of Nicole, feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek
"people of victory"
Like the French author with whom the name is most closely associated, Colette is a chic and charming name, sharp, stylish, and feminine but without the frills of Nicolette. After disappearing from…
Hezekiah
Hebrew
"God gives strength"
Strong and weighty, but with the modernizing short forms of Zeke and Kai, Hezekiah might once have felt reserved for the bolder of Biblical namers. Not anymore. It re-entered the US charts back in…
Royce
English
"son of the king"
It may seem like an indecisive cross between Roy and Reece, but Royce was fairly popular in the 1930s and '40s. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, helped by some well-known athlete bearers.…
Eileen
Anglicization of Eibhlín, Irish, German
"desired; or water, island"
The Gaelic Eileen was a mid-century darling that was on a long downward slide for decades. And then, in 2012, it took an unexpected pivot and has been inching upward in the US, perhaps inspired by…
Odette
French, from German
"wealthy"
Odette is the good swan in Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake , a role for which Natalie Portman won an Oscar ---and it would make a particularly sophisticated yet upbeat choice. In fact, it charted in…
Mariella
Italian and Dutch diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Lilting and nearly unknown here, with the currently popular ella ending, makes a good Marissa alternative. The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots…
Alrich
Amoriah
Brendan
Irish
"prince"
According to Irish legend, Saint Brendan the Voyager was the first European to touch American soil, and his name has been established here for decades, peaking in the late 1990s. Brendan first…
Christophe
Christophe is the French variation of Christopher, a masculine name with Greek origins meaning 'bearer of Christ.' This elegant form maintains the name's connection to Saint Christopher, the…
Hadrian
Latin
"from the Adriatic; dark-haired"
Most parents would find this old Roman name pretentious compared to the more accessible Adrian, but some history buffs just might want to commemorate the enlightened emperor.
Karl
German and Scandinavian variation of Charles
Manly almost to the point of macho.
Mathis
French and German form of Matthias or Matthew
"gift of God"
Very popular in France and Belgium, this name -- pronounced mat-tees, like the surname of the painter Matisse -- might make an appealing new way to say Matthew here.
Nicholai
Nicholai is a masculine name representing the Russian and Eastern European variant of Nicholas. Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, it combines the elements 'nike' meaning 'victory' and 'laos'…
Stephan
Variant of Stephen
If you wanted to try to get people to pronounce your son's first name the way Stephen Curry does, this might be a way to do it.
Ariadne
Greek
"most holy"
This name of the Cretan goddess of fertility is most popular now as the more melodic Ariana, but Ariadne has possibilities of its own. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. The renewed interest…
Arista
Greek or Latin
"the best; ear of corn"
From the root for aristocrat, an upwardly mobile choice -- or if you go by its other meaning, an earthy delicious choice. Arista is a rare name for girls that has the popular A beginning-and-ending…
Coleen
Coleen is a feminine name with Irish roots, typically considered a variation of Colleen, which comes directly from the Irish word 'cailín' meaning 'girl' or 'young woman.' The simplified spelling…
Darlene
English
"darling"
A modern(ish) invented name, only in widespread use since the 20th century. It is a combination of the English word darling and the popular midcentury suffix -lene. It was recently used on a…
Elenda