The popular appeal of the strong, intelligent Saint Teresa of Avila, combined with the selfless compassion of the more recent Mother Teresa, have fused to give this second-tier classic a somewhat noble, religious image. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, it has been prevalent particularly in forms Theresa, Teresa, and Therese throughout Europe for centuries.

Despite a rich history in Irish myth preceding its plantation appearance in Gone with the Wind, widespread use in the seventies caused Tara to lose its Irish accent.

Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for Natashas the world over, the Obamas shorten their Natasha's name to Sasha.

Taylor is one of the prime unisex surnames used for girls and has also been a soap opera favorite. Taylor was in the Top 10 for the last several years of the twentieth century, so that now it tends to feel a little nineties – though Taylor Swift is keeping it in the spotlight and Tay is a charming nickname. Garth Brooks and Bryan Cranston have daughters named Taylor; Taylor Schilling portrays lead Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black.

Rarely used until the 90s, Payton rose up the charts when it was popularized by the football star, Peyton Manning, and, interestingly, by the character of "Peyton Flanders", the villainess of the 1992 film, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

Early European import, well known in the 1940s via Norwegian skating movie star Sonja Henie, that has sailed back across the Atlantic, despite the rising popularity of other Russian names.

While Skylar is currently the most popular spelling choice for girls, the Skyler option is more (statistically) unisex. Given to boy and girls in nearly equal numbers each year, it ranks around the middle of the US Top 1000.

Rylie is a spelling variation of the more-popular traditional Riley. In the US Top 1000 since 1997, it has peaked in 2004, 2008, and 2016 when it nearly reached the Top 300. It fell significantly in 2023, however, its popularity has always been bumpy. Riley, Rylee, and Ryleigh all rank above Rylie but when you combine all the spellings, it feels like a Top 20 name.

The Reid spelling is surprisingly more popular than the naturey Reed for both boys and girls, though more than 95% of little Reids are male.

Oliva is a feminine name with Latin roots, serving as a variation of Olive or Olivia. Derived from the Latin word for the olive tree, 'oliva,' it symbolizes peace, fertility, and victory in classical traditions. While less common than Olivia, which has enjoyed significant popularity in English-speaking countries, Oliva is more frequently found in Spanish, Italian, and Scandinavian regions. The name carries the same gentle, natural elegance as its variations but with a slightly more distinctive edge. Its connection to the olive branch as a symbol of peace gives it a meaningful depth beyond its pleasing sound. The name offers the cute nickname option of Liv or Livvy.

See TRICIA.

A relic of the midcentury Mandi-Sandi-Andi era.

Tristen is a feminine name with Germanic origins, though it's used for both genders in modern times. It's a variant spelling of Tristan, from the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde, a tragic romance from medieval literature. The name likely derives from the Celtic elements "drest" or "drust," meaning "riot" or "tumult." This spelling variation emerged in the late 20th century as parents sought alternative forms of traditional names. As a feminine name, Tristen offers a soft yet strong sound with its crisp consonants balanced by the gentle ending. While never reaching high popularity, it saw modest usage in the 1990s and early 2000s in the United States. The name carries romantic, literary associations while its unusual spelling gives it a contemporary edge for girls.