hot baby names

Jesenia

Jesenia is a feminine name with Spanish origins, particularly popular in Latin American communities. It is believed to be a modern derivative of Jessenia, a genus of palm trees native to Central and…

Jezebel

Hebrew

"not exalted"

Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a…

July

English word name

"month name"

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and…

Kirby

English

"church settlement"

Unisex name around for several decades for boys and now ripe for girls.

Kitty

English, diminutive of Katherine

"pure"

This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related…

Lane

English

"a small roadway or path"

Lane is a unisex name equally accessible to boys and girls. Breezy, cool and contemporary, it might equally put in mind country lanes and banks of wildflowers. As a word name, Lane means "small…

Livinia

Livinia appears to be a variant of Lavinia, a feminine name with ancient Roman roots. In Roman mythology, Lavinia was the daughter of King Latinus and the wife of Aeneas, playing a significant role…

Lois

Greek

"most desirable"

The eternal fiancee of Superman turned sweet gray-haired lady who's always available to babysit her grandkids turned....hot new baby name? True to the Hundred Year Rule, Lois is poised to climb the…

Lucrezia

Lucrezia is an elegant Italian feminine name with ancient Roman roots. Derived from the Latin family name Lucretius, it's associated with wealth and prosperity. The name gained prominence during the…

Maire

Finnish, Irish variation of Mary

"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"

Both Maire and Mare have begun making inroads with parents seeking novel yet authentic ways of honoring an ancestral Mary. The Finnish variation derives from the word mairea , meaning "sweet."

Marzia

Italian

"of Mars"

A fresher, feistier Italian variant of Marcia.

Maud

English and French diminutive of Matilda, German

"battle-mighty"

Maud, lacy and mauve-tinted, was wildly popular a hundred years ago but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose Maud again, especially as a middle. Maude…

Melia

Greek mythology name, diminutive of Amelia, or Hawaiian

"ash tree; honey; work; plumeria"

This is a rich, melodic shortening of the popular girls' name Amelia that can stand on its own. There are several figures in Greek myth named Melia, most notably a daughter of Oceanus. The Meliae are…

Noe

Greek, Latin, and Georgian variation of Noah, Hebrew

"rest, repose"

Spelled Noë, this name is common among baby girls in the Netherlands. The umlaut clarifies the two-syllable pronunciation, at least to Europeans, and the spelling variation may help sidestep gender…

Noellie

Noellie is a feminine name derived from Noël, the French word for Christmas, ultimately from Latin 'natalis' meaning 'birth.' This charming elaboration of Noel adds a distinctly French flair with its…

November

English word name

"month name"

The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical…