Only 8 Babies in 2020 England and Wales

Virginia is a lovely place name starting with the fashionable V and having deep historical roots, yet, unlike some other other girls' classics, has been sorely neglected in recent years.

Yesterday's sensation that rose with the popularity of Whitney Houston. Whitney may have lost some of its style value, but it still sounds like one of the quintessential English names for girls. Today, you might want to shorten it to cool nickname Whit.

In the eighteenth century there was a poetic fad for names with the 'inda' sound, and, along with Belinda, Clarinda, Dorinda and Florinda, Melinda was one of those created at that time. It came into non-literary use in the 1840's, peaking in the U.S. in the late 1960s and 1970s: Melinda was a Top 100 name from 1967 to 1980. It began to fade as nickname Mindy ascended. Nowadays, however, Melinda feels more contemporary than cousins Melissa, Mindy, Belinda and Linda.

Ancient martyr's name that, though not especially appealing, might still be mildly possible, especially for Anglophiles. It was widely used in early Scotland, but was overtaken by its nickname, Effie.

Edna is one of those names that, until what it seemed like a few minutes ago, felt so terminally frumpy that no one could imagine a parent choosing it for an innocent modern baby girl. But with the great upswing in names honoring ancestral family members, several of them being other four-letter, e-ending names, we wouldn't be so sure.

We've seen Beatrice and Beatrix climb in popularity, along with traditional nickname Bea. And now there's Bee, giving it a buzzy nature world spin, plus a tie to popular late night TV''s Samantha Bee, not to mention Aunt Bee on the old The Andy Griffith Show TV show. Bee can theoretically be short for any girl names starting with B.

A literary name created by J. R. R. Tolkien for a Lord of the Rings noblewoman of Rohan. Properly spelled with an accent over the first E – Éowyn – it would make an interesting choice for literature lovers or fans of names like Elowen and Evelyn.

Why is Evangeline so popular -- close to Number 200 in the US -- while Evangelina hasn't charted in the Top 1000 since the early 1950s? The stardom of Evangeline Lilly has something to do with the relative popularity of that form, but Evangelina is just as pretty and romantic but given to only 10% as many baby girls.

Rosemarie had its moment in the sun back in the middle of the last century, when parents were looking for new ways to recycle traditional family names. So a child might combine her two grandma's names and become Rosemarie (or Annmarie or Maryjean), but these combination names feel dated now.

Toby is an early unisex name with a Shakespearean pedigree; when used for a girl it retains its tomboyish quality. Fits well with the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls -- alongside rising choices like Frankie and Stevie. Toby peaked as a girl's name in 1936 and was last on the charts in 1975. Though, it's been slowly rising in recent years with nearly 100 baby girls named Toby in 2023.

Stormi is like Sunni, with angst. If naming your child Storm or Stormy is asking for trouble, naming her Stormi -- as Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott did -- is asking for trouble of several different kinds. But we're sure she'll be adorable and as celebrity baby names go, this one is nearly normal.

An ancient Aoibheann was the mother of Saint Enda, and Aoibheann remains popular in Ireland today, sometimes with its Anglicized spelling Eavan.

The Spanish and Portuguese form of popular Ruby is another addition to the list of attractive gem names for girls, that might sometimes be used by English speaking parents who want their child's name to stand out when written down. Rubi is also of Japanese origin, and associated with another gemstone: the lapis lazuli.

Starla is a feminine name that emerged in mid-20th century America as a creative elaboration of the word 'star.' This celestial-inspired name peaked in popularity during the 1970s and early 1980s, reflecting the era's interest in nature-themed and inventive names. With its glamorous connotations and cosmic imagery, Starla suggests brilliance, aspiration, and uniqueness. The name carries a distinctly Americana quality while evoking the beauty of the night sky. Though never extremely common, Starla developed a steady following, particularly in Southern states. The melodic combination of 'star' with the feminine 'la' ending creates a name that feels simultaneously familiar and distinctive.

Why bother to invent a new name or spelling when there are intriguing oddities like this in existence. Also in the Welsh encyclopedia of names: Ffion, Ffiona, and Ffraid, the Welsh form of Brigid.

Pennie is a feminine name most commonly understood as a diminutive or variant spelling of Penelope. While Penelope has Greek origins meaning 'weaver' or connected to 'penelops' (a type of duck), Pennie functions as its affectionate short form. The name might also be associated with English word 'penny,' giving it a bright, sweet quality. This spelling variation with '-ie' rather than the more common '-y' (Penny) adds a touch of uniqueness while maintaining the familiar pronunciation. Pennie has occasionally appeared on name popularity charts, particularly during the mid-20th century, though it's never reached the heights of related names like Penelope. The name conveys a friendly, approachable quality with its cheerful sound and familiar associations.

Probably a spelling mistake for Esmeralda.

Honour is a feminine virtue name derived from the Latin 'honor,' representing high respect, recognition, and integrity. Used primarily in English-speaking countries, particularly with British spelling (versus the American 'Honor'), it emerged as a given name during the Puritan era alongside other virtue names like Grace, Faith, and Patience. Though never extremely common, Honour has maintained a steady, understated presence in naming records. The name carries dignified associations with moral uprightness, honesty, and principled behavior. In recent decades, virtue names have experienced renewed interest, with Honour benefiting from this revival among parents seeking names with clear positive meanings and traditional roots. The name's straightforward pronunciation and spelling (in British English contexts) make it accessible despite its relatively uncommon usage.

Lexi Mai combines two distinct elements into a sweet, feminine compound name. Lexi, a diminutive of Alexandra (meaning 'defender of mankind'), has a modern, playful quality that became popular in the early 2000s. Mai, which can be a variant spelling of May (the spring month) or derive from Asian naming traditions where it has meanings like 'brightness' or 'dance' depending on the language, adds a multicultural dimension. The combination creates a brief but melodic name with a contemporary feel. Compound names like Lexi Mai have gained popularity as parents seek to create distinctive identities for their daughters while incorporating family names or complementary sounds. The name projects a friendly, approachable personality with a touch of uniqueness.