Favorite Names

  1. Adelaide
    • Origin:

      Variant of Adelheidis, German
    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"
    • Description:

      Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.
  2. Alexander
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree.
  3. Alexandria
    • Origin:

      Variation of Alexandra, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Alexandria turns classic Alexandra into a more distinctive place-name, in both Egypt and Virginia, while also giving it a touchy of frilliness. The name peaked in the 90s when it entered the US Top 100 for the first time, but has since been on decline.
  4. Anchor
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability.
  5. Annalise
    • Origin:

      German, combination of Anna and Lise
    • Meaning:

      "grace and pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel.
  6. Cassidee
    • Charlotte
      • Origin:

        French, feminine diminutive of Charles
      • Meaning:

        "free man"
      • Description:

        Charlotte, the name of the young Princess of Cambridge, is the latest classic name to join Sophia, Emma, Olivia, and Isabella at the top of the popularity list. It is now among the most popular girl names in many English-speaking and European countries.
    • Chord
      • Delaney
        • Origin:

          Irish
        • Meaning:

          "dark challenger; dark river"
        • Description:

          Delaney has been a popular surname-style choice since 90s, when it joined other Irish surnames such as Cassidy, Kennedy, and Mallory on the US Charts. Buoyant, bright, and cheerful, it ranks in the US Top 250 and is given to nearly 1300 babies every year.
      • Echo
        • Origin:

          Greek mythology name
        • Meaning:

          "echo or sound"
        • Description:

          Echo, the pretty, resonant name of a legendary nymph, was the heroine of Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse. Nick Hexum, of the band 311, named his daughter Echo Love.
      • Eleanor
        • Origin:

          English variation of French Provencal Alienor, meaning unknown
        • Description:

          Eleanor's straightforward feminine image combined with its royal medieval history is striking just the right note for parents in search of a girls' name that combines substance and style.
      • Graham
        • Origin:

          Scottish
        • Meaning:

          "gravelly homestead"
        • Description:

          Well used in England and Scotland since the fifties, the smooth and sophisticated Graham is catching on here.
      • Gray
        • Origin:

          Color name
        • Description:

          This color name, spelled either Gray or Grey is rapidly catching on. Actress Jenny von Oy recently called her daughter Gray Audrey.
      • Ireland
        • Origin:

          Place name
        • Description:

          Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
      • Jack
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of John
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          Jack may have fallen from its Number 1 place in England, but in the US it's as popular as it was at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. A durable, cheery, everyman form of John, Jack ranks as one of the most popular boy names starting with J.
      • James
        • Origin:

          English variation of Jacob, Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "supplanter"
        • Description:

          James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages that is more popular—and yes, stylish—than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite boys' baby names, and is the most common male name, counting people of all ages, in the US.
      • Josiah
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "God supports, heals"
        • Description:

          Josiah—a biblical name with lots of quaint, old-fashioned charm—makes a much fresher sounding alternative to either Joseph or Joshua, combining the best of both. Josiah is among the several Biblical boys' names that have been on the rise this decade.
      • Josie
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Josephine, feminine of Joseph
        • 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.
      • Juliette
        • Origin:

          French from Latin
        • Meaning:

          "little Julia"
        • Description:

          Juliette, pronounced with the emphasis on the last syllable, adds a little something extra to Juliet. In the past years it has been rising up the chart.
      • Jasey