Tilted, Charmish and Wonderful

  1. Aisha
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "living, prosperous"
    • Description:

      Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.
  2. Arabella
    • Origin:

      Latin, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "yielding to prayer; lovable"
    • Description:

      Arabella, lovely and elegant, has long been well used in Britain and finally made it onto the American list in 2005. A Top 50 choice in the UK, in the US in remains in the Top 300, given to around 1300 babies each year.
  3. Barbara
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "foreign woman"
    • Description:

      Barbara is back! Among the fastest-rising names of 2023, Barbara came back from oblivion at the very bottom of the Top 1000, gaining nearly 100 places on the popularity list.
  4. Bonnie
    • Carina
      • Origin:

        Italian
      • Meaning:

        "dear little one"
      • Description:

        Carina is a pretty delicately feminine name whose fall from popularity is not helped by its similarity to hurricane name Katrina or slang victim Karen.
    • Carolina
      • Origin:

        Variation of Caroline; also place-name
      • Meaning:

        "free man"
      • Description:

        Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
    • Doe
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "a female deer"
      • Description:

        Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls.
    • Dominika
      • Dree
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Andrea, feminine form of Andrew
        • Meaning:

          "strong and manly"
        • Description:

          This unique one-syllable name was added to the mix by Mariel Hemingway for her now grown model/actress daughter; it could make a distinctive middle name or Bree substitute.
      • Evening
        • Origin:

          Day name
        • Description:

          Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too? It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a perfect addition to this newly stylish group.
      • Gabriela
        • Origin:

          Italian and Spanish, feminine variation of Gabriel
        • Meaning:

          "God is my strength"
        • Description:

          This strong yet graceful feminine form of Gabriel is a modern favorite. The double L spelling is given to more than three times as many girls as the Gabriela version.
      • Josie
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "Jehovah increases"
        • Description:

          Josie is jaunty and friendly: among the most winning of all nickname names. She's been on the social security list since records began being kept.
      • Leonie
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "lion"
        • Description:

          Leonie is a chic French and German form of a name that exists in a range of variations from Leona to Leonia to Leon to Leo to Lionel, all newly fashionable after a couple of generations in style limbo.
      • Lola
        • Muse
          • Origin:

            Greek mythology name
          • Description:

            Remember, the Muse is passive: someone else's inspiration.
        • Margot
          • Stasia
            • Origin:

              Greek
            • Meaning:

              "resurrection"
            • Description:

              Anastasia is a lovely yet very long name, and Stasia is a fresher, classier short form than Stacy.
          • Tilda
            • Origin:

              Estonian, diminutive of Matilda
            • Description:

              Actress Tilda Swinton injected this dated nickname name with some modern charm.
          • Tilden
            • Origin:

              English place-name
            • Meaning:

              "fertile valley"
            • Description:

              Though it has some distinguished political and tennis world associations, most modern parents would go for the more contemporary sounding Holden. Tilden Park is a beautiful hillside wilderness in the San Francisco Bay Area.