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Missy
English, diminutive of Melissa
A name that works until your daughter is, say, six.
Crystal
English word name
"crystal, clear, ice"
Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character…
Brett
Celtic
"from Brittany"
Football great Brett Favre single-handedly kept this name in the limelight, though it continues to sink in popularity. Brett originated in the Middle Ages as an ethnic name for one of the Bretons who…
Karen
Danish variation of Katherine, Japanese
"pure; lotus flower"
Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to…
Marissa
Variation of Maris or a combination of Maria + Louisa
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
Pretty feminissima name that never became as overused as cousin Melissa. The more streamlined Maris is a more modern sounding option. Namesakes include Marissa Mayer, the former CEO of Yahoo!. The…
Deyaniris
Mike
English, diminutive of Michael
Unlike Jake or Sam, few parents put Mike on the birth certificate.
Montana
Spanish place-name; "mountainous"
"mountainous"
Relaxed western place-name that still has some masculine punch, but be warned: this whole posse of similarly trendy names, like Sierra and Dakota, will soon ride toward the sunset.
Billy
English, diminutive of William
"resolute protection"
Cute kid with freckles, bouncing a Spalding ball. Cool couple Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton put the name Billy Burton on their son's birth certificate. While the classic William, name of the…
Alexzandria
Leann
Leann is a melodic feminine name that emerged as a modern combination of the popular names Lee and Ann, or as a variant of Leanne. Its elements have distinct origins—'Lee' deriving from Old English…
Carena
Carena is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Carina, which derives from Latin meaning 'dear' or 'beloved,' or it could relate to the Latin word 'carinae' referring…
Kinsey
English
"king's victory"
Kinsey enjoyed popularity blip thanks to similarity to Lindsay, and because of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries heroine, Kinsey Millhone. Now, Kinsley has become more popular than Kinsey, perhaps…
Lynn
Diminutive of Linda, English, Welsh
"pretty, soft, tender; lake"
Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda to become a top mid-century middle (and first) name, ranking at #58 during its 1956 peak. Now, however, Lynn is out of the…
Kristen
Danish and Norwegian variation of Christine
"a Christian"
Kristen may be somewhat past its fashion high point, but it remains forever crystalline clear. Possible problem: confusion with the similar Scandinavian names Kristin, Kirsten, Kirstie, et al.…
Ashlee
Variation of Ashley, English
"dweller near the ash tree meadow"
The Ashlee variation of the megapopular 90s favorite Ashley is best-known as the name of Ashlee Simpson, younger sister of Jessica.
Loren
Variation of Laurence, English from Latin
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
A variant form of Laurence or Lawrence which ranked in the #200s in the US from the 1900s through to the 1960s. It didn't fall off the boys' Top 1000 until the late 1990s, following the huge…
Traina
Kristina
Scandinavian variation of Christina
"annointed, a Christian"
This streamlined form of a pretty and feminine classic may not be as popular as it once was, but it's never out of style. A royal name best used now in its full glory rather than as nicknames Kris or…
Kierra
American, invented name
Adding an extra 'R' to Kiera makes it rhyme with the fashionable Sierra. Kierra is a more distinctive choice than Kiera, Keira, or Kyra, all similarly pronounced, but there may be some pronunciation…