Only 11 Babies in 2020 England and Wales

  1. Annabell
    • Description:

      Variation of Annabelle.
  2. Armani
    • Origin:

      Italian surname derived from Herman or Arman, German or Persian
    • Meaning:

      "soldier or wish,hope"
    • Description:

      One of the designer baby names -- Chanel and Gucci are others -- that have appeared in this era of branding everything from your purse to your offspring.
  3. Arrietty
    • Origin:

      Literary name, variation of Harriet
    • Description:

      A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.
  4. Beti
    • Origin:

      Welsh diminutive
    • Description:

      Betty pared down to the essentials. Diminutives are very fashionable in Wales, as elsewhere in Britain, and this vintage short form of Elisabeth has started to appear on birth certificated in recent years.

  5. Bronwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "white breast"
    • Description:

      Bronwen is widespread in Wales, but still rare enough here to sound somewhat international — we think Bronwen is a real winner. (Note: the Bronwyn spelling is an Anglicization, since the -wyn ending is masculine in Welsh).
  6. Darcie-May
    • Ebonie
      • Eloisa
        • Origin:

          Italian and Spanish variation of Eloise
        • Meaning:

          "healthy; wide"
        • Description:

          Eloisa captures a lovely name back from the spoiled little girl at the Plaza. Historical romance writer Eloisa James has helped make this antique name sound fresh and sassy again.
      • Eliza-Mae
        • Fenella
          • Origin:

            Celtic
          • Meaning:

            "white-shouldered one"
          • Description:

            More unusual than Fiona and more user-friendly than Fionnuala, the engaging Scottish Fenella, has been scarcely heard in this country.
        • Ginevra
          • Origin:

            Italian variation of Guinevere or Jennifer
          • Meaning:

            "white shadow, white wave"
          • Description:

            This lovely alternative for the Jennifer-lover ranks among the most popular girls' names in Italy. At this point in the US, the legions of Jennifers born in the 1970s are starting to become grandmas, so Ginevra might make an apt honor name for granny Jen.
        • Gracie-Rae
          • Jude
            • Origin:

              Diminutive of Judith or variation of Judah
            • Meaning:

              "praised"
            • Description:

              Jude may be a rising boys' name, thanks to Jude Law, but it's also a new way to spin Judy or Judith as well as a name that's long been used quietly for girls as well as boys. Alexis Stewart, daughter of Martha, named her daughter Jude and Jessica Lange plays Sister Jude on American Horror Story.
          • Judy
            • Origin:

              Diminutive of Judith
            • Description:

              Judy was the nickname of choice for almost all the Judiths born in the 1940s and 50s; today's little Judiths are much more likely to be called Judith -- or, possibly, Jude.
          • Lark
            • Origin:

              English bird name
            • Description:

              Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.
          • Lavender
            • Origin:

              English
            • Meaning:

              "purple flower"
            • Description:

              Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lila, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers along with other adventurous nature names like Clementine and Marigold.
          • Lilac
            • Origin:

              English, from Persian
            • Meaning:

              "bluish or lilac"
            • Description:

              Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well, providing a ready made nursery theme. In addition, the lilac is symbolic of first love.
          • Lacie-Mae
            • Lilah-Rae
              • Mirabel
                • Origin:

                  Latin
                • Meaning:

                  "wonderful"
                • Description:

                  Mirabel is one of those names that's not on the Top 1000 but ought to be, and undoubtedly will be soon following the release of Disney's 2021 Encanto. Mirabel is the film's quirky and highly relatable heroine. Mirabel had a significant rise in 2022, going from 34 births in 2021 to 153 births in 2022. Read more about Mirabel and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.