Guilty Pleasure Names

  1. Alaric
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "all-powerful ruler"
    • Description:

      Alaric is an ancient regal name that sounds modern enough to be considered. Alaric was a traditional name for the kings of the Ostrogoths, the most famous of whom was Alaric I, the King of the West Goths who sacked Rome in 410.
  2. Alouette
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "lark"
    • Description:

      Alouette is a sweet Gallic twist in the stylish bird name genre made familiar via the charming French children's song, Alouette, gentile alouette.
  3. Aoife
    • Origin:

      Irish Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful, radiant"
    • Description:

      Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, is derived from the Irish word aoibh, meaning "beauty." Aoife was borne by several different heroines of ancient Irish legend. In one tale, she was the fiercest woman warrior in the world and enemy of her twin sister, Scathach.
  4. Briony
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Bryony
    • Meaning:

      "to sprout"
    • Description:

      Briony may be the variation and Bryony the original, but many parents will see this as the more authentic-feeling version of this attractive botanical name. Still unusual in the U.S., Briony is in the British Top 100 and may appeal to parents as a fresh spin on Briana or Brittany or an honorific for a Brian, though it bears no relationship to the male name.
  5. Bryony
    • Origin:

      Latin flower name
    • Meaning:

      "to sprout"
    • Description:

      Bryony is an unusually strong plant name --the bryony is a wild climbing vine with green flowers --that caught on in the U.K. before sprouting here. The name of the young character in the Ian McEwan novel Atonement is spelled Briony, which is the variation and Bryony the original.
  6. Demetrios
    • Desdemona
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "ill-starred"
      • Description:

        Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time, there might be some adventurous parents willing to overlook that.
    • Eugenie
      • Origin:

        French form of Eugenia, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "wellborn, noble"
      • Description:

        Eugenie enjoyed a major dusting off when Fergie and Prince Andrew chose it for their daughter, restoring a patina of royal sheen it hadn't had since the time of Napoleon III's glamorous empress--who spent much of her life in England. It was also borne by Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, after whom Prince Andrew's younger daughter was named.
    • Evander
      • Origin:

        Scottish; Greek
      • Meaning:

        "bow warrior; strong man"
      • Description:

        Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
    • Fairchild
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "fair-haired child"
      • Description:

        Only if it's a family name, and even then, better in the middle.
    • Gwendolen
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "white ring, circle"
      • Description:

        Gwendolen, an ancient Welsh favorite, retired decades ago in favor of the short form Gwen, but now, as in the case all across the naming board, the nickname has faded and the more distinguished original is up for reappraisal.
    • Gwyneth
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "blessed, happy"
      • Description:

        Because of Gwyneth Paltrow, this has almost become a one-person name, but not in the prohibitive there's-only-one-Oprah sense. Also seen as Gwenyth and Gweneth, this mellifluous appellation is definitely becoming more and more appreciated by American parents-- enough to land it on this year's Top 1000.
    • Halcyon
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "kingfisher bird"
      • Description:

        This highly unusual name -- the Halycyone was a mythic bird who could calm the seas -- conjures up images of utter peace and tranquility because of the phrase "Halycon days"...and the sleeping pill.
    • Hannelore
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "grace + god is my light"
      • Description:

        A pretty and substantial German smoosh name, a combination of Hanne and Eleonore. Most popular in Germany from the 1930s to the 1950s. Former German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt both had wives named Hannelore.
    • Hawthorne
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "lives where hawthorn hedges grow"
      • Description:

        The great American novelist sets this above many other surnames (and nature names, for that matter), but it's still an imposing and adventurous choice. Do nicknames Hawk or Thorne make it more approachable? How about Hank or Hal instead?
    • Iolo
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "weathy lord"
      • Description:

        Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.
    • Jason
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "to heal"
      • Description:

        Jason, the Number 3 name for the entire decade of the 1970s -- thus the title of our original baby-naming book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason -- is more likely to be dad's name now than baby's, but it's still a widely used name.
    • Kismet
      • Origin:

        Word name
      • Meaning:

        "fate"
      • Description:

        The next Destiny? Kismet seems like it might be fated for increased use.
    • Laird
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "lord of the land"
      • Description:

        Laird is a Scottish title for the landed gentry – it ranks just below a Baron – with a pleasantly distinctive Scottish burr that must have appealed to Sharon Stone, who chose it for her son.
    • Leilani
      • Origin:

        Hawaiian
      • Meaning:

        "heavenly flower"
      • Description:

        Lyrical, lively and bold, Leilani is a name that feels fresh, floral, and summery. Sharing sounds with the popular Lillian, Layla and Luna, Leilani is a fairly recent addition to the US Top 100.