Adam -- a primal Old Testament name -- was revived as a 1960s cowboy name. Adam is not as popular as it once was and feels ready for a respite, replaced by newer A names like Aidan/Aiden, Avery and Axel. Its most prominent current bearers include Adams Sandler, Levine, Brody and Driver -- who plays a character named Adam on Girls.
 Adam, of course, is the first man God created. It is also a generic term for mankind. Adam did not hit the U.S. Top 100 until 1970, peaking in the early '80s at Number 18.

Adam

This extra-L variation of Alan isn't quite as popular in the US as the original. Both spellings remain popular in Ireland and England.

Allan

Amanda may no longer be the most popular girls' name in her class, but she is still among the prettiest and has a lovely meaning. Amanda was one of the romantic-sounding <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls’ names</a> that rocketed to stardom in the eighties, along with Samantha, Vanessa, et al.
 Despite its somewhat trendy feel, Amanda is a certifiable classic—it appears in a play as early as 1694 and was prominent among saints, eighteenth century literary heroines, and in plays by Noel Coward and Tennessee Williams. But if you're looking for a fresher alternative, you might consider the French Amandine or Shakespearean Miranda.

Amanda

Amy is the English variation of the Old French name Amée—Aimée in modern French. Amée was a translation of the Latin name Amata, which derived from amatus, meaning "beloved." Other spelling variations include Amie and Ami.
 
Amy was second only to Jennifer for the whole decade of the 1970s and, though far less used for babies today, remains a short, sweet Little Women-style classic. When asked which seventies name might make a comeback, several Berries placed their bets on Amy.
 Amy rocketed to popularity in the late nineteenth century along with the other Louisa May Alcott Little Women names (Amy was the artistic one), fell from favor, then burst onto the scene again in the 1960s, when parents were turning back to basic names like Jessie, Maggie and Molly. 
 The many notable Amys on the scene today include actors Amy Adams, Amy Ryan and Amy Poehler, singer Amy Grant, director Amy Heckerling and author Amy Tan.
 Amy was the name of 'Little Dorrit' in the Dickens novel.

During its Top 10 heyday in the late 90s and early oughts, Andrew was one of the "cooler" classic boy names, an update on the old guard Roberts and Richards.
 While there are still plenty of babies named Andrew -- more than 5000 in the US last year -- it now feels more like a Dad Name than baby name. And the shamed Prince Andrew has not helped the name's image much.
 
Andrew is a variant of the Greek name Andreas, ultimately derived from the element aner, meaning "man." In the New Testament, Andrew was one of the twelve apostles and the first disciple to be called by Jesus. 
 
Although the origins of the name are Greek, Andrew is the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia, as well as Greece. It has associations with two of America's most famous artists, Wyeth and Warhol.
 
One advantage of Andrew is its host of nicknames: Andy makes it friendlier, while Drew adds to its sophistication.
 
Andrew also has several appealing foreign manifestations that are sometimes used in the U.S., including Andre (French), Andrei (Russian), Andres (Spanish), Andrea (Italian), Andreas (German, Dutch and Greek) and Anders (Norwegian and Swedish).

Andrew

As a boys' name, Angel has two distinct name personalities. One is as a perennial favorite Hispanic <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a>, popular in the US along with Spain, Mexico, and South America.
 
Then Buffy the Vampire Slayer brought Angel into the Anglo camp, where it's now heard more frequently, pronounced the English way. Angel entered the boys' Top 100 in 1997 and remains solidly there today.
 
Angel's popularity for girls began to wane at the same time the name took off for boys. Any child named Angel, of whatever gender or nationality, has a, well, angelic image to live up to or live down.
 Other notable male Angels: the husband in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, a character on Dexter, and several athletes.

Angel

Anya is a Russian variation of Anna, which came from the Hebrew name Hannah. Anya is the form found most frequently in Russia, Poland, and other East European countries, while Anja is the spelling usually preferred in Germany Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In the Hungarian language, Anya also means mother.
 
It is often used as a character name with a bit of foreign flair. Aside from its authentic use in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, Anya has appeared as Audrey Hepburn's name in Roman Holiday, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and as the latest Spider-Girl, who is also known as Arana. In literature, Anya Seton is the pen name of Ann Seton, author of such best-selling mid-century historical novels as Dragonwyck.

Anya

Aura has an otherworldly, slightly New Age-y glow, but is beginning to sound more more like a legitimate name. In Greek and Roman mythology, Aura was the Titan of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning. But at odds with her peaceful, well, aura, the mythological Aura is a tragic figure, ultimately transformed into a fountain by Zeus.
 At the end of the nineteenth century, Aura was not that unusual: she reached Number 511 on the Social Security list in 1882. Princess Aura was a character in the old comic strip Flash Gordon.
 Aura is currently popular in some areas of Central America.
 Aura alternatives for those who like the name's sound but want to temper the spiritual feel: Auria, Aurora, Aurelia.

Aura

Aphrodesia

Ben, the diminutive of Benjamin or Benedict, can easily stand on its own as a simple, strong, nice-guy choice, though it's somewhat attenuated. Ben is this generation's Bob or Bill. 

Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along.  Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.

Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy.  You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an all-purpose nickname now buried in a mid-century time capsule.

Buffy

Caleb is an attractive Old Testament name that has been in the US Top 100 for nearly three decades now. Consistently popular but never too popular, Caleb feels more like a classic than a momentary trend.
 Caleb has two potential derivations, the first being from the Hebrew kelev, meaning "dog," and the second from the Hebrew components kal and lev, together meaning "whole heart." 
 
In the Old Testament Caleb is one of only two ancient Israelites (Joshua was the other) who set out from Egypt to finally enter the promised land. 
 
Caleb Garth is a character in George Eliot's Middlemarch. Caleb was the full name of James Dean's character Cal in East of Eden, and the name has also been heard on Desperate Housewives and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.Julianne Moore chose Caleb for her son, as did Bo Bice. The shortform Cale is also rising in popularity, and the current Kaleb spelling picks up on the K-to-C initial trend.

Caleb

Caridad is a theological Virgin name, representing Our Lady of Charity, and a popular saint's name in Cuba. Would make an interesting choice, in the manner of the more familiar Soledad, Our Lady of Solitude.

Caridad

Though not much in use, still retains a cozy Little House on the Prairie-type pioneer feel. 

Cassie

Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic. 
 Along with the US, Chloe has been also mega-popular throughout the English-speaking world and is also a top girls' name in Spain, Italy, Chile, and the Netherlands. The creative spelling Khloe has been moving up as well, thanks solely to the Kardashian klan.
 Chloe appeared in Greek mythology as an alternative name for the goddess of agriculture and fertility, Demeter. She was referred to as Chloe in the spring months, due to the name’s relation to sprouts and growth. Chloe is also mentioned in the New Testament as the name of a Greek Christian woman. 
 
While Chloe has not been used for any recent celebrity babies, it is the name of the now-grown daughters of Olivia Newton-John and of Candice Bergen and the late French film director Louis Malle. Actress and style leader Chloe Sevigny is another high-profile bearer, as is rising young star Chloe Grace Moretz.
 Chloe is a titular character in the Greek pastoral romance Daphnis and Chloe, appears in Uncle Tom's Cabin, and is the real name of Nobel prize-winning writer Toni Morrison.

Chloe

Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm. 

Clem

Thanks to its dashing British image and c-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin/Collin has enjoyed a long run of popularity. 

Collin

Though Collins makes the Top 1000 for girls, it sounds strong and handsome for boys too, kind of like the newly-stylish Brooks.  The final s updates it from the 80s-ish Colin or the Twilightish Cullen.  Might make an innovative honorific for a grandpa Nick.

Collins

Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both style and substance along with its Shakespearean pedigree.
 <br/
Cordelia is a Nameberry favorite—Number 106 on the site—and it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 60+ year absence. By 2016 it sank below that line again, must to the relief of many Cordelia fans who feared the name would get too popular.
 
If you're torn between Cordelia and the equally lovely Cora, you can always choose Cordelia for long and then call her Cora for short—or Delia, Lia, Del, or even the extremely different Cordie.
 Cordelia also appeared in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye, as detective Cordelia Gray in P.D. James's mystery novels, and was promoted by a character on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.
 And then there's that quote from the heroine of Anne of Green Gables: "I would love to be called Cordelia. It's such a perfectly elegant name."

Cordelia

Chanterelle

Chao

D'Hoffryn

Dalton is a name with multi-faceted appeal. Many are attracted to the name's resemblance to other two-syllable n-ending favorites: Colton, Holden, and cousins. Others see it as a trendy Western name, recalling the legendary Dalton Brothers gang. It also has something of an upscale, preppy feel connected to the exclusive New York private school. 
 The most well known bearer of the name is blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, but there have been a number of high-profile fictional Daltons as well. Dalton Rumba was an adult character on Glee, Clive Owen played a Dalton in Inside Man, there was a scholarly Dalton on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Patrick Swayze opened the film Roadhouse by stating "My name is Dalton Russell."

Dalton

Darla

Davis is a fresh way to say David. Some sources define it as "son of David," but we see it as a surname spin on the original. While David is an everyman name, Davis has some creative edge -- and still gets you to the classic guy nickname Dave. 
 
Davis can be a good way to name a boy after grandpa David; Davies, Davison or Davidson will also do the trick.
 In the TV show One Tree Hill, the Sophie Bush character gives one of her twins her maiden name of Davis. Davis Guggenheim is an Oscar-winning director and documentarian, married to Elisabeth Shue.

Davis

Dawn's heyday in the US, Canada and the UK came in the 1960s and 70s. It peaked at #14 in the US in 1971, but has since sunk from sight to be eclipsed by other names with the same meaning, such as Aurora, Roxana or Zariah.

Dawn

Devon, spelled like the lovely seaside county in Britain that inspired the name, has crashed since its heyday around the Top 100 in the 1990s. Despite its use as a female name, for example for Devon on the TV show The 4400, Devon continues to be far more popular for boys than for girls.

Devon

A boy with this name is certain to be bombarded with "What's up, doc?" every day of his life. Even Doctor would be preferable.

Drusilla is an ancient Roman name, (probably) borne by descendants of Antony and Cleopatra, and is one of the 'illa' names that are ready for a comeback, especially with its cute short form Dru.
 Drusilla appears in the New Testament as the wife of Felix (twin alert?), and later made appearances in Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure, Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone and Faulkner's The Unvanquished. Drusilla is a vampire in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and was a long-running character on the soap The Young and the Restlass. 
 An alternate spelling is Drucilla.

Drusilla

Dreg

Ellis is a former Old Man Name turned gender-neutral choice for the 21st century. It's one of the less used names in the currently popular El-family. 
 
 A popular Welsh name in its own right, sometimes spelled Elis, Ellis is also an English surname derived from Elijah, by way of the Greek Elias.
 Ellis Bell was the male pseudonym of Emily Bronte when she wrote Wuthering Heights. Ellis Marsalis is the paterfamilias of the noted jazz family, father of Wynton, Branford and others, and some might associate the name with Ellis Island, through which millions of immigrants entered the United States.
 There have been a number of Ellises on the big and small screen -- in The Wire, Grey's Anatomy and No Country for Old Men, among others. As a surname, it's associated with designer Perry, writer Bret Easton and psychologist Havelock.
 At one point all-male, Ellis is now a popular name for both boys and girls. Currently there are two baby boys named Ellis for every girl.

Ellis

Ethan is a name that succeeds in being at once classic and fashionable, serious and cheery, strong and sensitive. Given a big boost via the name of the Tom Cruise character in the Mission Impossible film series, Ethan has fallen from its peak at Number 2 in 2009 and 2010, but is still popular in the US along with several other countries.

There are several Ethans in the Old Testament, the most prominent of whom, Ethan the Ezrahite, is praised for his wisdom. 
 
Ethan's prime historic namesake in the US is Ethan Allen, Revolutionary War hero; in literature the name is associated with the eponymous Ethan Frome of Edith Wharton's novel. A more current namesake is actor Ethan Hawke. 

Along with the English-speaking countries, Ethan is popular in France and other French-speaking European countries and in Latin America.

While Americans and Brits pronounce the name EE-thun, most other languages follow the pronunciation of its native Hebrew: AY-tahn. International variations include Etan, Izan, and Eitan, from which the name derives.

Ethan

Enyos

Faith is one of the most straightforward of the virtue names popularized by the Puritans in the seventeenth century, many parents still choosing it as an indicator of their religious conviction. Faith peaked in 2002 at Number 48.
 Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are the parents of a daughter they called Faith, little sister for Sunday -- a sibset suitable for a minister's brood. A prominent adult bearer is country singer Faith Hill.

Faith

Forrest is one of the earliest appealingly sylvan, outdoorsy choices, borne by newsman Sawyer, actor Whitaker, and football Hall of Famer Gregg. Forrest Gates was a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
 Forrest was steadily on the US popularity list until 2003, reaching a high of Number 175 in 1913, and then received a somewhat surprising blip after the release of "Forrest Gump." It started rebounding again in 2013, when it reentered the Top 1000 as one of the fastest-rising names on the list.
 Early Forrests were named in honor of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, head of a famous cavalry force, who advised 'Git there fuster with the mostest men.'

Forrest

One of those names that most Americans find just too too tea-sippingly British to consider; its meaning has led to occasional use for Capricorn boys. 

Giles

Has been used on its own since the 1920s, but still seems like only part of a name. Was very much tied to mid-century Italian sexpot Gina Lollobrigida.

Gina

Glory sounds fresh and uplifting and a lot more modern than Gloria (which is definitely feeling the stirrings of a revival, though some might still view it as a terminal Old Lady name).  Glory, as in "Glory Be" and "Old Glory," has both a religious and a patriotic flavor.

Glory

Well used in England and Scotland since the fifties, the smooth and sophisticated Graham is catching on here.
 Among the best known bearers are novelist Graham Greene, racing driver Graham Hill and painter Graham Sutherland, as well as musicians Graham Nash and Parker--and Gram Parsons.
 Though long associated with the Scots, Graham actually developed as a surname in England, dating back to the eleventh century. In the UK, it is sometimes spelled Graeme.

Graham

The Greek name of sixteen popes and fifteen saints, the gregarious Gregory became big in the United States with the emergence of admirable actor Gregory Peck (born Eldred) in the late 1940s. From 1950 to 1973, it was in the Top 30, with nickname Greg becoming a Cool Dude name. 
Gregory remained in the Top 100 in the US until the late 90s. Now, while Gregory may have morphed into an Upstanding Dad Name, it carries the winning combination of deep roots and a modern feel that still deserves consideration.
In addition to Gregory Peck, there have been dancer-actor Gregory Hines, racer Greg Lemond, golfer Greg Norman, and musician Gregg Allman. Gregory Goyle is a Harry Potter wizard.

Gregory

Hank is a midcentury guy nickname (which actually dates back to the seventeenth century) of the Al/Hal/Dick school, which has been on recess from the playground for decades. Now it's just beginning to be given on its own again, appreciated for its earthy, sportsguy cool. Hanks Aaron and Greenberg (born Henry) and Hank Williams (born Hiram) Sr and Jr. are worthy namesakes. 
 Kendra Wilkinson named her little boy Hank IV.

Hank

If Melody and Lyric are on your style sheet, the peaceful Harmony, popularized by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, should be too. 

Girls names starting with the "Har" sound like Harper, Harley, and Harlow have been trending in recent years. This musical choice fits right in, and it is no wonder that Harmony has been in the Top 200 since 2014.

Harmony

Halfrek

At the height of the Jennifer craze, many parents were cutting straight to the nickname and putting Jenny on the birth certificate. But now that Jennifer is the mom rather than the daughter, Jenny, which has been somewhat replaced by Jenna, has faded as well. 

Jenny

King David's father turned 1980s cowboy, Jesse is now down in popularity. The name is associated with a wide variety of bearers, from outlaw Jesse James to Olympic athlete Jesse Owens to activist Jesse Jackson to current actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Eisenberg. The spelling Jesse is more usual as a <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys' name</a> while Jessie is more traditional for girls.

Jesse

Jonathan was derived from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, eventually contracted to the modern Yonatan, meaning "gift of Jehovah." It comes from the elements yeho, in reference to God, and natan, meaning "to give." In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the valiant eldest son of King Saul, and it was his friendship with brother-in-law David that gave rise to the expression "Jonathan and David" to describe devoted, steadfast friends.
 
Jonathan is the biblical name that started to replace the stalwart John in the late fifties, sounding more playful, sensitive and modern. Now, after being high on the list for several decades, Jonathan has pretty much lost its luster.
 
Anne Hathaway named her oldest son Jonathan Rosebanks in 2016.
 
Jonathan has spawned numerous spelling variations, including Johnathan, Jonathon, and Jonothan.

Jonathan

Joy is from an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert a certain amount of personality pressure on a child. One interesting name that means the same thing: Chara.
 Joy began to be used as a name by the seventeenth century Puritans, with the idea of "being joyful in the Lord." It came into more general use in the late nineteenth central, part of the revival of virtue names. Her high point was in 1974, when she reached Number 109 on the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a> charts. Joy has also been often used as a middle name. Two recent bearers: comedian/TV personality Joy Behar and Joy Mangano, the inventor whose life was the basis of Oscar-nominated biopic Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Joyce was once a <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boy name</a>, but took off for girls during the mid-twentieth century, when it spent 1930 to 1947 in the Top 20. 
 Now, Joyce is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/j">girls' names starting with J</a> least likely to make a comeback any time soon.
 Joyce has a long history as a surname, perhaps most prominently connected to James Joyce, author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

Joyce

Jape

Jinx

There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.

Kathy

The hurricane blew this one out of the realm of possibility. 

Katrina

Kendra was once seen as a feminization of Kenneth -- but it's now firmly established as a standalone. American parents can't seem to make up their mind about it though: it was one of 2013's fastest-rising names, entering the Top 200 for the first time since 2000, but then it tumbled again. 

Kendra

This attractive surname name still projects that Kennedy family charisma. While it didn't come into widespread use until long after the deaths of martyred heroes President John F. or Senator Robert Kennedy, Kennedy is now one of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">popular unisex names</a> for girls as well as the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/k">girls' name starting with K</a>. This is one name that manages to sound trendy and classic at the same time.

Kennedy

Klyed

Your friendly next-door neighbor...not your baby. Although Larry was once one of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/l">boys' names starting with L</a>, that title now belongs to Liam.

Larry

Sweet Lorraine might just be old enough to be ripe for reconsideration. This French place name has moved in and out of fashion in the few hundred years it's been used as a girls' first name, somewhat influenced by the alternative name of Joan of Arc--Saint Joan of Lorraine. It was quite popular from the 1920s to the fifties, but has pretty much been in limbo since then. 
 Some memorable Lorraines are A Raisin in the Sun playwright Hansberry, actress Bracco and original SNL cast member Laraine Newman--the alternate spelling Laraine was popularized by forties star Laraine Day. Lorraine is also the name of Jack Nicholson's now grown daughter.
 In the movie Uptown Girls, Dakota Fanning's Lorraine character was nicknamed Ray--more modern sounding than Lorrie.

Lorraine

Luke is a cool-yet-strong Biblical name with a relaxed cowboy feel, which has been on the rise since the advent of Luke Skywalker.
 
Today, the Luke constellation of names is more popular than ever, with the ascendance of Top 10 Lucas and international star Luca. Luke ranks third in the group, but still stands in the US Top 50 and the Top 100 throughout the English-speaking world.
 
Luke originated as a short form of Lucas, a Latin derivation of the Greek name Loukas. The most famous bearer of the name is the first-century Greek physician—an evangelist and friend of Saint Paul, as well as the author of the third Gospel of the New Testament—who was also supposed to have been a portrait painter. He thus became the patron saint of doctors and artists.
 
Later Lukes have included Luke Duke of The Dukes of Hazzard, Cool Hand Luke, half of the classic soap opera duo of Luke and Laura, contemporary actors Luke Wilson and Luke Perry, and a number of star athletes.
 While Luke, Lucas, Luca, and the French Luc all have the same root and meaning, Lucius and Lucian have a different origin and meaning -- the more evocative "light".

Luke

Lydia is one of the first place names, after an area of Asia Minor whose inhabitants are credited with strong musical talent great wealth. Always among the US Top 1000 girl names, Lydia is a quietly fashionable classic.
 Although mentioned in the New Testament (Lydia was the first European convert of Saint Paul), it didn't really emerge as a viable first name until the eighteenth century, promoted via the character of Lydia Languish in Sheridan's popular 1775 play The Rivals, and the youngest of the Bennett girls in Pride and Prejudice.
 Lydia continued to be a literary favorite, found in the novels of George Eliot and D. H. Lawrence. And there's also the iconic Groucho Marx ditty: "Lydia the Tattooed Lady."
 Lydia is increasingly appreciated for its history and haunting quality. Cute nickname: Liddy or Lydie.

Lydia

Straightforward single-syllable name, though children named Lyle may get tired of hearing "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile". Lyle was at the height of fashion in the 1920s, which makes him due for a comeback right about now. The double L certainly gives it a fashionable sound.

Lyle

Maggie is a cute, earthy short form that has been in style for several decades now, still sometimes used as an independent name by such parents as Jon Stewart. First used in Scotland, it got a large bump in popularity via the 1971 Rod Stewart hit song "Maggie May." Today's Maggie might just as well be short for a more adventurous name such as Magdalena or Magnolia as for the classic Margaret. 
Maggie Gyllenhaal was born Margaret.

Maggie

Mason is an occupational surname that ranked among the Top 10 name for boys throughout the 2010s, after its choice as one of the first Kardashian baby names.
Part of its appeal is as a fresher-sounding replacement for dad name Jason. It's also one of the leaders of the Jackson-Hudson-Grayson-Kayson trend.
Along with Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Dissick, Mason was chosen for their sons by several other celebrities, including Cuba Gooding, Jr., Melissa Joan Hart and Kevin Richardson (as well as by Kelsey Grammer for his daughter).
And there were two cute TV werewolves named Mason: Mason Greyback on Wizards of Waverly Place and Mason Lockwood on Vampire Diaries--a far cry from the name's wholesome image.

Mason

Miller is an up-and-coming choice in the stylish occupational genre, chosen by Stella McCartney, Melissa Etheridge, and by Tea Leoni and David Duchovny. Miller is also among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/top-last-names-in-the-us">most common last names in the US</a>.
 Though relatively rare as a first name, Miller is the seventh most common surname in America, so there are innumerable Miller namesakes, including writers Arthur and Henry, and entertainers Dennis, Glenn, Jonny Lee, Larry, Mitch, Roger, Steve, and Sienna. And in fiction, there's Henry James's heroine, Daisy Miller.

Miller

Molly is one of the original nickname names, ALWAYS ranking among the US Top 500 girl names since statistics began, in 1880. Molly peaked in 1991 only to rise just as high again in 2011, and though softening retains a good measure of popularity and charm.
 
What is Molly short for? Molly originated as a diminutive of Mary, spawning from medieval variations Malle and Molle. Molly has been used as a stand-alone pet form of Mary since the Middle Ages, and has been consistently popular as an independent name in the U.S. over the past several decades.
 Likable and down-to-earth, mild yet saucy, Molly has a distinctly Irish feel as well, with such Gaelic associations as 'Sweet Molly Malone' and the martyred reformers known as the Molly Maguires. In the Jewish culture, Molly Goldberg was an early television personality. 
 Other references include the Revolutionary War heroine Molly Pitcher and the Molly Bloom character in James Joyce's Ulysses, as well as characters in novels by Fielding, Hardy, George Eliot, Dickens and Thackeray. More recently, "Good Golly, Miss Molly" was a Little Richard hit and Molly Ringwald a celebrity bearer.
 Amanda Peet is the mother of a Molly, as are Monica Potter and Veronica Webb.

Molly

Murk

A name that Yanks might see as overly British, but combined with the right surname, it does have a measure of Sherlock Holmesian dash via Nigel Bruce, who played the original Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. 

Nigel

Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself.
 
As a Punjabi name, Nikki is usually a pet name for youngest daughters. Nikku is the male equivalent.

Nikki

Norman, perhaps because it sounds so much like the word 'normal', conjures up the image of a normal-looking guy with a normal kind of job-- not necessarily an image many modern parents seek for their sons. But though it's been off the national popularity list for several years, Norman is Number 694 on Nameberry. It was a Top 100 name for more than half a century, hitting a high in 1931 at Number 36, but today it's nowhere near one of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/n">boy names starting with N</a>.
 Norman has had a variety of notable namesakes over the years, from Americana artist Norman Rockwell to feisty novelist Norman Mailer to creepy mama's boy Norman Bates in Psycho.

Norman

Olaf, though sainted and regal in Norway, is slightly oafish here. It is one of those names that has become completely familiar in the U.S. without ever becoming assimilated. Now that he's a comical character in Disney's Frozen, he might get some more attention.
 Olaf's solid Scandinavian history includes various kings of Norway, from the eleventh century St. Olaf (often mentioned by the Betty White character on Golden Girls) to the recent Olaf V.

Olaf

Olivia, a lovely Shakespearean name with an admirable balance of strength and femininity, is the Number 1 name for baby girls in the US and one of the top girls' names around the world. 
 
Olivia ranks among the Top 10 girls' names in several English-speaking countries as well as in Spain, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Argentina. And it's a Top 100 name in most countries that keep baby-naming statistics, making it an internationally flexible choice. 
Records of the name Olivia exist from as far back as 13th century England, but the name was popularized after Shakespeare used it for the name of the countess in Twelfth Night. Olivia is based on the Latin word oliva, meaning "olive." In ancient Greece, the olive was a symbol of Athena as well as a token of peace and fertility, and olive wreaths were awarded to the winners at the Olympic games. 
 
Olivia has been a popular celebrity baby name for fifteen years, and has also been a well-used TV character name, such as in Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU and the recent powerful lead Olivia Pope on Scandal.
 
Golden Age star Olivia de Havilland was influential in bringing the name to U.S. attention, followed by Olivia Newton-John, and now we have Olivias Wilde, Munn, Rodrigo, Colman and Williams.
 If you love <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a>, Olivia might be the perfect choice for you, but parents in search of a distinctive name will have to keep looking. Some related alternatives: Olive, Livia, Liv.

Olivia

Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
 Orlando has an impressive literary résumé, including the poem "Orlando Furioso,", Handel's opera "Orlando", Shakespeare's As You Like It and Virginia Woolf's gender-bending novel. Most recently, Orlando was a character in The Wire.
 Orlando Bloom's name was inspired by that of the sixteenth century composer, Orlando Gibbons. It is also the first name of several outstanding athletes--including Orlandos Woolridge, Cabrera and Cepeda, and is, of course, a place name, home of Disney World in Florida.

Orlando

This may be a legitimate Hebrew name denoting power, but to any American kid, it will evoke ruby slippers and a yellow brick road. The full Hebrew name is Ozni, who was a grandson of Jacob in the Bible.
As full names such as Ozias, Osgood, and Osmond start to sound more cool and less grandpa, the short form Oz will feel like a more modern possibility.

One of the first generation of surname names, along with Porter and Morgan, Parker's still one of the most appealing and remains firmly in the Top 100 for boys. About three times as many boys as girls get this occupational name. The association with Charlie Parker gives Parker itself a jazzy edge, and it also has a nature-related meaning. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Parker.

Parker

Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered Little Lord Fauntleroy image in this new era of boys with soft yet traditionally <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">male names</a> like Jasper and Elijah. Originating as an aristocratic Norman name, Percy became fairly widespread in England--and to some extent in the US--as an offshoot of the fame of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. 
 Percy Bresnahan is a character in the Sinclair Lewis novel Main Street, and one of Thomas the Tank Engine's sidekicks is named Percy; Percy Ignatius Weasley is a Harry Potter character and Perseus "Percy" Jackson is the protagonist of the Heroes of Olympus series.

Percy

Philip, the name of one of the 12 apostles, is still favored by parents in search of a solid boys' classic that is less neutral than Robert or John and more distinctive than Daniel or Matthew and has many historic, royal ties. 
 Famous bearers include Saint Philip and King Philip the Great, who was the father of Alexander the Great, plus there have been numerous other French and Spanish rulers named Philip.
 Thanks to the Duke of Edinburgh, though, Philip has a certain built-in reserve, somewhat straight and staid.
 When it comes to nicknames, you're not limited to the midcentury Phil -- more lively ones include Pip and Flip.
 The name can also be spelled Phillip; that spelling is consistently used almost exactly as much as this spelling, and in 2017 there were exactly as many baby Phillips as there were baby Philips.
 Some other modern Philip namesakes are writer Roth, late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, architect Johnson, and composer Glass. Model Eva Herzigova named her baby Philip.
 Philip comes via Latin from the Greek and was a Top 100 choice for a century, before fading in the late-1980s. In literature, Philip Pirrip is the full name of Pip from Great Expectations. Other Philips appear in the novels of Jane Austen, George Eliot, and William Thackeray -- not to mention Raymond Chandler's detective Philip Marlowe.

Philip

Quentin, an offbeat name with lots of character, relates to the Latin for the number five and is by far the subtlest and most usable of the Latin birth-order names, masculine as well as stylish and distinctive. It was borne by a third-century saint and came to England with the Normans.
 Sir Walter Scott wrote the novel Quentin Durward in 1823, about a young, upper-class Scotsman, and Quentin Compson is both a male and a female character in William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. Real-life bearers include movie director Quentin Tarantino; eccentric British author Quentin Crisp (born Denis); and Quentin Blake, illustrator of Roald Dahl books. Theodore Roosevelt had a son named Quentin.
 Trivia tidbit: St. Quentin is the protector against coughs.

Quentin

Rachel was derived from the Hebrew word rāchēl, meaning "ewe." In the Old Testament, Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. International variations include the Spanish Raquel and Israeli Rahel.
 
Delicacy, softness, and Old Testament importance made Rachel a top biblical choice from the seventies on. At a much earlier time Rachel was considered characteristically Jewish—it wasn't used as a Christian name until after the Reformation—but the fact that it has reached as high as the Top 10 in this country demonstrates that it has been fully embraced by parents of all backgrounds. While off its peak, Rachel is still one of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/r">girls' names starting with R</a> as well as one of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/322/classic-baby-names-for-girls">classic names for girls</a>.
 Rachel was a US First Lady name, via the wife of Andrew Jackson, and current prominent bearers include Rachels Weisz, Dratch, McAdams, Griffiths, Maddow, Roy, and Zoe. A major influence on the name was Jennifer Aniston's iconic character on Friends; other fictional Rachels were found in the Anne of Green Gables and Percy Jackson series, and on Glee.

Rachel

A classic old Norman name popular for a thousand years and favored for kings (Richard Nixon was named for Richard the Lionhearted), as well as the hoi polloi (as in every Tom, Dick and Harry), Richard was the sixth most popular US <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a> in 1925, and was still Number 8 in 1950, but is now much less popular. 
 We predict that if parents do readopt the name Richard, it will be in its full and formal version. All the possible nicknames -- Richie (too Happy Days), Ricky, (too I Love Lucy) and especially Dick (too tricky and teasable) -- sound so dated that it's hard to imagine Richard ever coming back into style. But not that long ago, people said that about now-hot <a href="https://nameberry.com/">baby names</a> Jake and Max.

Richard

Riley -- one of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/unisex">popular unisex names</a> -- is trendier now for girls though for boys it's a classic, ALWAYS ranking in the US Top 1000. 

In fact, after a decade of softening, Riley has recently taken a turn upward for boys, along with a lot of other gender-neutral names. These days, parents are embracing unisex names even more enthusiastically for their sons than for their daughters.

Riley ranks in the Top 100 for boys throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, though interestingly not in its native Ireland. In the US, Riley is the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/753/best-irish-girl-names">Irish name for girls</a>.

There are lots of athletes and other notable real-life namesakes for a boy named Riley, as well as fictional ones in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight: Eclipse. And Riley can easily be shortened for a boy to Ry or Lee.

Riley

Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys names</a> in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.

Robin is one of the unisex names that switched predominant genders a couple of times. Initially a boys' name, it hit its high point for both genders in the 1950s, eventually becoming more popular for girls. Now Robin is used near-equally for both sexes, given to 290 baby girls and 256 baby boys in the US in 2021.

Robin is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>.

Robin

Robson

We've seen Ray regain his cool, but could this country/cowboy name epitomized by Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye), Acuff, and Clark, do the same?
Roy came into use in the late nineteenth century, probably influenced by the main character of Sir Walter Scott's novel Rob Roy, in which the historical character Robert M'ac Gregor is nicknamed Roy for his red hair.
There have been lots of notable non-country namesakes, including baseball's Roy Campanella, humorist Roy Blunt, Jr., Walt's brother and partner Roy Disney, singer Roy Orbison and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Roy Hobbs was the protagonist of the Malamud novel The Natural, played in the film by Robert Redford.
 Roy was also the first name of clothing designer Halston.

Rupert is a charming-yet-manly name long more popular in Britain (where it's attached to a beloved cartoon bear) than in the U.S. Yet we can see Rupert as a more stylish, modern way to honor an ancestral Robert.
 Rupert has been more visible in this country of late via Rupert Grint, portrayer of Harry Potter's Ron Weasley and the character Rupert Giles, mentor of Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as actors Rupert Everett and Rupert Graves--not to mention media mogul Rupert Murdoch. 
 Off the US popularity lists since the early fifties, Rupert ranks high on Nameberry--at Number 170.

Rupert

Razor

Rona

Sandy

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

Scott

Irish place-name -- it's a river, a town, and an airport -- once popular but now supplanted by such newer immigrants as Saoirse and Seanan. 

Shannon

Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history.
 Though Smith was in fairly regular use until the 1920s--reaching as high as Number 326 in 1885--it would make a totally distinctive, sophisticated choice today.

Smith

Spike is part mid-century nickname-name, ala Buster or Buck, and part word name, with an all-over cool creative dude feel thanks to directors Spike Lee and Spike Jonze. Mike Myers named his son Spike. That's right: Spike and Mike. Spike qualifies as one of the distinctly <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/519/american-baby-names">American names</a>.

Spike

Stein

Snyder

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.
 American actress Tara Reid helped bring attention to this name, though her career dropped off in tandem with the popularity of the name. Her most recent credits include the B-movie Sharknado series.

Tara

Just like Sam and Ben, Tom could be revived as a simple, well liked name on its own. Tom, just Tom, is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>

Veruca is a name Roald Dahl made up for the horrid little girl Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A modern rock band adopted the name, though few parents familiar with the original namesake and meaning would choose to pass it on to an innocent child. Verruca is another spelling, but don't use that one either.

Veruca

Vi is a common short form for Violet and Viola, not commonly used as a full name. But if you're trying to bridge a long first name and a long last, the minimalist Vi might be exactly what you need in the middle.

Until recently Ward was, like Wally, a Cleaver name, but today's parents are seeing it as a cooler nickname for Edward than Eddie, and are also beginning to use it on its own. 

Ward

Long lingering in limbo, Warren suddenly seems to be on the cusp of revival. One of the oldest recorded English surnames, Warren's popularity in the U.S. dates back to the nineteenth century, and by 1921, reached its peak at Number 24.
 At one time it was bestowed in honor of General Joseph Warren, the first hero of the Revolution, who was killed at Bunker Hill. There have also been a number of notable first-named Warrens, including the 29th president, Warren Gamaliel Harding, financier Warren Buffett, actor Warren Beatty and musician Warren Zevon. NFL defensive tackle Warren Sapp was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Warren

slove2's list "Buffy The Vampire Slayer Characters" of 105 great name ideas: Adam - Xander!