User-created list
By npwgallagher · Updated May 2023
Across 11 pages
of 11
Irish
"old and wise"
The name of the longest river in the British Isles rose to the US Top 25 for girls in the 1970s and the Top 100 for boys, but has fallen off the Top 1000 for both genders. At the latest count, the…
Diminutive of Virginia, Ginevra, Genevieve, or Imogen
"virgin, pure; white wave; maiden"
A nickname to Latin Virginia, French Genevieve, Italian Ginevra, English Imogen, and any other name with the 'gin' sound in there, Ginny ranked in the latter end of the US charts in the mid 20th…
English diminutive
Originally a unisex nickname for a redhead -- red hair is called "ginger" in Britain -- or for the name Virginia, Ginger perennially wears pink gingham and spike heels.
English and French diminutive of Matilda, German
"battle-mighty"
Maude, also spelled Maud, is a lacy, mauve-tinted name that was wildly popular a hundred years ago, but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose it again,…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
The sweetest and most sensitive of the pet names for Elizabeth, now also one of the most dated.
Latin, feminine version of Marcius
"warlike"
Marcia is an ancient Roman name which derives from Mars, the god of war. It was used by Dante in the Inferno and later by Thomas Hardy and others. Marcia enjoyed a brief run of popularity in the…
English
"a bunch of flowers"
Posey is fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is only starting to be heard here. A possible alternative to Rosy or short form for Josephine. Posey…
Irish Gaelic
"bright"
Niamh, derived from the Old Irish Niam, is an ancient Irish name that was originally a term for a goddess. In Irish myth, one who bore it was Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god, who…
English, diminutive of Tamara
Made famous in fifties movies as a wholesome backwoods gal, Tammy was a Top 10 choice from the mid-60s to early-70s, but is now given to fewer than 100 babies per year in the US.
"fairy"
Fay, also spelled Faye, who had been napping quietly since the 1930's, has, like cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae, sat up and started rubbing her eyes, ready for a mini-comeback, especially as a middle…
Maddy is a feminine name that functions both as a diminutive and as a standalone given name. Most commonly, it serves as a nickname for longer names such as Madeline, Madison, Madeleine, or Matilda.…
English surname and place-name
"Wynn's channel or stream"
Winslet is one of a legion of surnames newly considered fair game as first names. The inspiration may be British star Kate, but she's not the only reason parents are attracted to Winslet, one of…
English, diminutive of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Kay, a cigarette-smoking, nightclubbing name of the 1930's, could be ready for a comeback along with cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae. Kay has been out of sight since the mid-eighties, but was in the…
English diminutive of Rebecca, Hebrew
"servant of God"
Down to earth and versatile, Becky is a popular diminutive of the classic Biblical name, Rebecca. In the US, it was most popular as a stand alone name back in the 60s, while in the UK, it remained in…
Spanish
"butterfly"
Mariposa is a rare, romantic choice with an intriguing meaning. Uncommon but not unknown, Mariposa is an elegant entrant in the nature names category. And it comes with the adorable nicknames Mari or…
Greek
"she who brings victory"
Rarely heard today-- it fell off the list around 1980--Bernice is a biblical name of Greek origin. In the Bible, she is a sister of King Agrippa. Bernice was a Top 100 name in the US for more than…
English, from Persian
"bluish or lilac"
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,…
Cami is a feminine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a diminutive of names like Camille, Camila, or Cameron. With Latin roots, it relates to 'ceremonial attendant' through its…
English diminutive of Barbara, Greek
"foreign woman"
Despite the voluptuous doll's various career choices, from astronaut to doctor, her name still remains a euphemism for "bimbo".
Diminutive of Amanda, Latin
"she must be loved"
A seventies favorite, Mandy once appeared in the US Top 100, joined by the likes of Brandi, Kristy, Nancy, Lori, and Misty. By the mid-2000s, it had fallen out of favor, and while long form Amanda…
