Only 17 Babies in 2020 England and Wales
By AuntieofGretel
Updated Thu Dec 02 2021
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- Calliope
Origin:
Greek mythologyMeaning:
"beautiful voice"Description:
Melodic and beautiful but with a touch of sass, Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry — and perhaps less glamorously, the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016, and in more recent year, IT appeared in the Top 500.
Also spelled as Kalliope — the more traditional Greek transliteration — Calliope means "beautiful voice", making this a musical and poetic choice. It was rarely heard in the US until the 2000s when Calliope "Callie" Torres from the show Grey's Anatomy helped introduce it to a wider audience.
- Elaine
Origin:
French and ScottishMeaning:
"bright, shining light"Description:
This old Scottish form of Helen has had quite a history, going from appearing as one of the shining heroines of the Arthurian legends, the princess who fell in love with Sir Lancelot and became the mother of Sir Galahad, referred to as 'Elaine the fair' and 'Elaine the lovable', to being the name of the most famous of New York's celebrity restaurants, to being the archetypal New York neurotic on Seinfeld.
- Sally
Origin:
Diminutive of SarahMeaning:
"princess"Description:
Sally is a cheerful, fresh-faced girl-next-door name that was originally a nickname for Sarah, but has long been used independently. Sally was popular in the eighteenth century and then again from the 1920s to the 1960s--it was just outside the Top 50 around 1940. Though it hasn't been heard as a baby name for decades, we can see Sally bouncing back, especially after her exposure as young Ms. Draper on Mad Men--the Nameberries rank it at Number 621, and it's a Top 100 name in Sweden.
- Ethel
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"noble maiden"Description:
Ethel is a name we once declared as 'So Far Out They'll Probably Always Be Out,' but with the return of other names on that list and with its new starbaby cred via Lily Allen, its soft sound and admirable meaning, we're not so sure.
- Bernadette
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave as a bear"Description:
Although feminizations ending in "ette" are not particularly popular now, Bernadette is a pleasant, feminine, but strong name that doesn't feel prohibitively dated. And though strongly associated with the saint who saw visions of the Virgin Mary—Saint Bernadette of Lourdes—it is now no longer strictly inhabiting the Catholic diocese.
- Saylor
Origin:
Surname-name or spelling variation of SailorMeaning:
"ropemaker; dancer, acrobat; boatman"Description:
Currently in the US Top 300, Saylor finds the middle ground between the popular and unisex Taylor, and the more unexpected, wordier Sailor. In fact, it is currently used more often than either of its sound-alikes.
- Drew
Origin:
Diminutive of AndrewMeaning:
"strong and manly"Description:
Drew is an elegant formerly male-only alternative to Andy that joined the stylishly upscale Paige-Brooke-Blair sorority, thanks largely to Drew Barrymore. Barrymore comes by her first name legitimately: it was the maiden name of her paternal great-grandmother, Georgiana 'Georgie' Drew Barrymore, one of many esteemed actors in her family history.
- Clarissa
Origin:
Elaboration of ClaraMeaning:
"bright, clear"Description:
Clarissa, the daintier version of Claire, has a long literary history of its own, having been featured in the novels of Samuel Richardson, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf—Clarissa was the title character of Mrs. Dalloway—not to mention the 1990s teen sitcom, Clarissa Explains it All.
- Marianne
Origin:
French combination of Marie and AnneMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"Description:
A midcentury Catholic classic that's not chosen by many parents today. Leonard Cohen fans might think of the beautiful song So Long, Marianne, named for his lover and muse Marianne Ihlen.
- Bridie
Origin:
Irish diminutive of BridgetMeaning:
"strength or exalted one"Description:
Swap two letters of Birdie and you get Bridie, a traditional diminutive of Bridget. Bridie fits perfectly with the trend for standalone vintage nicknames like Betty and Sadie, but is surprisingly rare.
- Leanne
Origin:
Combination of Lee and AnneMeaning:
"meadow grace"Description:
One of the quintessential midcentury combination names, Leanne was spelled any number of ways: Lianne, LeeAnn, Leigh-Anne, and so on. Like many similar combo names -- Joanne, Maryann -- they're all dated now.
- Alexa
Origin:
Greek, EnglishMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alexa was a steadily popular modern classic until Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa was released in 2013. It remains relatively well used in the US despite this, though its standing keeps dropping for obvious reasons. Too bad, because it's a strong and pretty name (which is probably why Amazon used it.)
- Deanna
Origin:
English variation of Diana, Latin, feminization of DeanMeaning:
"divine; church official"Description:
Though still being used, Deanna peaked many decades ago.
- Chanel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"dweller near the canal"Description:
Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
- Betsi
Description:
Betsi is a charming feminine name that functions as a diminutive of Elizabeth or Betsy. The distinctive spelling with an 'i' ending gives it a sweet, playful quality while differentiating it from the more common 'Betsy.' Elizabeth, the name's root, has Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' and has been used throughout history across many cultures. Betsi maintains the friendly, approachable nature of Betsy but with a modern twist. While not among the most popular names, Betsi appeals to parents seeking something familiar yet distinctive. The name carries a sense of nostalgia combined with contemporary flair. In Welsh culture, there is some usage of Betsi as a variant spelling, adding a cultural dimension to the name. Its short, bright sound makes it memorable and easy to pronounce across language barriers.
- Clemmie
Origin:
English diminutive of Clementine, FrenchMeaning:
"mild, merciful"Description:
Cutesy pet form of Clementine.
- Suzie
Origin:
Short form of Suzanne, HebrewMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Suzie (and Susie) was the one of the It Nicknames of midcentury America, right up there with Debbie and Kathy.
- Pollyanna
Origin:
English compound name, Polly + AnnaMeaning:
"beloved + grace"Description:
Has become a byword in English for an overly optimistic person, thanks to the eponymous children's book heroine. Polly is an antiquated short form of Mary.
- Melodie
Description:
Melodie is a feminine name that represents a French-influenced spelling variation of Melody. Derived from Greek elements 'melos' (song) and 'oide' (ode), the name literally means 'song' or 'music.' This spelling variation adds a touch of European elegance to the musical name. Melodie gained modest popularity during the mid-20th century when musical names were trending. The name evokes qualities of harmony, creativity, and artistic expression. With its soft consonants and flowing vowel sounds, Melodie itself sounds musical when pronounced. While not as common as the 'Melody' spelling in English-speaking countries, this variant maintains its appeal for parents seeking a slightly distinctive twist on a recognizable and meaningful name with inherent musicality.
- Winnifred
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed peacemaker"Description:
The double 'n's in this spelling variation of vintage Winifred aesthetically looks closer to the loveable nickname Winnie which is likely the appeal for many parents. Winnifred, along with several other Win names, from vintage revivals Winnie and Winona to modern Winter and Winslow, is on the rise.