Ancient Numerology 5 Names

Always the top spelling of the name; Neil peaked in the 1950s, but then enjoyed a second coming following the fame of such Neils as astronaut Armstrong and singers Sedaka, Diamond, and Young. Now semiretired.

A cool, windswept, surfer babe-magnet in 1965, a nice dad -- or even granddad -- today.

As a Japanese name, Suki has the sweet meaning "loved one". It's also an English diminutive of Susanna, making it a creative and modern way to honor a Susan in your life.

Still one of the most appealing short forms, which goes a long way toward explaining the sustained popularity of Matthew. Matt is perennially the popular guy in high school, friendly, attractive, and comfortable with a baseball. Matty or Mattie are cute for a younger boy.

Blair with a little something extra, which some parents may feel feminizes the name. The Blaire spelling was given to a surprising number of baby girls, with about a third of baby girls with the name given this spelling. The final e also is reminiscent of Claire.

Cute Gracie is one of the more recently revived nickname names by parents who chose it over the more formal Grace--or variations like Graziella or Grania. Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw cut straight to the nickname when they called one of their daughters Gracie, and actors Ron Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt named their newborn daughter Gracie James. Gracie Gold is a popular young figure skater.

Linda will live forever in baby name history for toppling Mary from its four hundred year reign as Number 1. Queen of Names in 1947, Linda has fallen even further in favor than Mary today.

A Caroline abbreviation that was wildly popular with Mom's generation...or Grandma's. At one time it was a name for baby girls born at Christmas. because of its association with Christmas carols.

A vibrant variation of Adele, with a bit of extra flair from that "-a" ending. It could join the army of popular A girls' names, especially with its tie to the success of singer Adele.

Now that Faye is back on the Top 1000 after a decades-long absence, its spelling variations are being revived as well. Fae was given to nearly as many baby girls last year as Fay and may be especially attractive as a middle name option.

Tim is a boyish short form occasionally given on its own. There were 37 baby boys named Tim in the US last year, versus over 1700 named Timothy.

Pavel may be widespread in the former Soviet Union, but it has a somewhat impoverished image here.

Nakota is a masculine name derived from Native American heritage, specifically referring to one of the three major divisions of the Sioux people (alongside Dakota and Lakota). The name means 'friend' or 'ally' in the Sioux language. While relatively uncommon in mainstream usage, Nakota has gained some attention from parents seeking names with indigenous roots and meaningful cultural significance. The name carries a strong, melodic quality with its alternating consonants and vowels. For families with Native American ancestry or those drawn to names honoring indigenous cultures, Nakota represents strength, community bonds, and natural harmony.

One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own.

Jordon is a masculine name that represents a variant spelling of Jordan, which derives from the Hebrew name 'Yarden,' referring to the Jordan River in the Middle East. The river holds significant religious importance in Christianity as the site where Jesus was baptized. As a personal name, Jordon gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century. This alternative spelling with an 'o' rather than an 'a' offers a subtle distinction while maintaining the name's recognized sound and heritage. Jordon peaked in usage in the 1990s in the United States but remains a steady choice for parents seeking a name with biblical connections that still sounds contemporary. The name conveys strength and has a modern, masculine feel.

This is one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah, deemed by Muhammad to be a recommended name for a male child. In this country, it's been primarily associated with boxing immortal Muhammad Ali, known as "the greatest." But Ali is also one of the most popular unisex names for both boys and girls.

A sweet, breezy short form of Eleanor, that happens to coincide with the name of an ancient Italian town. It is a popular choice in Switzerland, Finland, and France, though the spellings Eléa and Éléa are currently preferred in the latter country. Typically pronounced like Ella, you could pronounce it eh-lee-uh, it basing it on the ancient place name, though choosing Ellia would probably avoid confusion.

This attractive Arabic name is gaining attention in the US, used equally for boys and girls. Indeed, its sound (it rhymes with the feminine Tamar but ends with the fashionably masculine -ar sound as in Oscar) and most logical nickname (Sam) make it a choice that's at once accessible and distinctive for both genders.

A variant of Caelan, from a Gaelic name meaning "slender".