Novel character names

Emma has now been among the top girl names in the United States for several years, claiming the Number 1 crown in 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018 before dropping back to second place.

Millie is back. It's a popular name throughout much of the English-speaking world, and broke the US Top 100 in 2024. Millicent would be an appealing long form, but many people are using Millie all by its cute self.

The name of a martyred medieval saint, Valerie has been on the popularity list since its earliest publication in 1880. Though it peaked in the 1960s, remaining in the Top 100 until 1988, it still doesn't sound terminally dated; the association with the word valor gives it a sense of boldness and makes it one of the special group of girl names that mean strong.

Brynn outshines the original Welsh Bryn in the popularity stakes. This simple, brisk name might be seen as a combination of Bree and Lynn, an androgynous-sounding choice that especially in this spelling is not truly unisex: Brynn, for boys, is not even in the Top 1000.

Like Peggy and Patsy, the kind of zesty moniker young Judy Garland would sport in her early let's-put-on-a-show flicks. It fell out of favor (and the Top 1000) for a while, but has recently rebounded by reentering the charts in 2013. Expect it to continue gaining traction on the heels of Penelope.

A mystical name with a watery feel to it, selkies are mythical creatures that resemble seals in the water but assume human form on land. Appearing in Scottish folklore, their name comes from the word selch meaning "gray seal".

Akari is a feminine name in Japan but gender-neutral in the US, with a slight edge as a masculine name.

The sweet Czech form of Sylvia.

Carlynn is a feminine name that blends elements of Caroline and Lynn, creating a modern-feeling name with traditional roots. It can be seen as a feminine variation of Carl (from Germanic origins meaning 'free man') with the popular suffix '-lynn' that became fashionable in the mid-20th century. The name has a contemporary sound while maintaining connections to classic naming traditions. Carlynn offers a fresh alternative to more common names like Caroline or Carolyn, providing distinctiveness without being difficult to spell or pronounce. While never among the most popular names, Carlynn saw modest usage in the United States from the 1950s-1980s and continues to appeal to parents seeking a name that balances familiarity with uniqueness.