*1 list you'll never forget (a list of interesting names)

  1. Iolana
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "soaring like a hawk"
    • Description:

      Iolana is a hip-swaying, melodic, and unusual choice. Similar Hawaiian bird-themed choice: Iolani.
  2. Iona
    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name
    • Description:

      This name of a small island off the coast of Scotland is trending upwards along with other I names.
  3. Irie
    • Origin:

      Jamaican
    • Meaning:

      "positive and powerful"
    • Description:

      A name used in the Caribbean, taken from the Rastafarian term that translates best to "positive and powerful." Rastas often greet each other by saying, "Are you feeling Irie today?"
  4. Iris
    • Origin:

      Flower name; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"
    • Description:

      Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
  5. Isis
    • Origin:

      Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "throne"
    • Description:

      Isis has gone from magical, feminist name on the rise to the forbidden list because of the extremist terror group called ISIS, an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Unsurprisingly, Isis was one of the fastest-falling names in 2014, dropping 130 ranks to reach #706.
  6. Isla
    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name or Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "island"
    • Description:

      Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.
  7. Italia
    • Origin:

      Italian place-name
    • Description:

      Authentic, melodic place-name for the adventurous, chosen by rapper LL Cool J for his daughter. Like Roma, Venezia, and Milana, Italia is one of the place-names that make great Italian names for girls.
  8. Ivy
    • Origin:

      Botanical name
    • Description:

      The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.
  9. Jace
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, diminutive of Jason
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is salvation"
    • Description:

      Jace may sound like only half a name -- it's usually pronounced like the first half of Jason though some may consider it a spelling-out of the initials J. C. -- but it's a popular choice for baby boys. Jace has been heard on such TV shows as Teen Mom 2 and Duck Dynasty.
  10. Janelle
    • Origin:

      American, modern elaboration of Jane
    • Description:

      It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.
  11. Japeth
    • 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.
    • Jasper
      • Origin:

        Persian
      • Meaning:

        "bringer of treasure"
      • Description:

        Jasper originated as a variation of the Latin Gaspar, which ultimately derived from the Persian word ganzabara, meaning "bringer of treasure." As a given name, Jasper’s etymology is unrelated to that of the gemstone, which comes from a Semitic word meaning "speckled stone." Jasper is the usual English form for one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the infant Christ according to medieval tradition and appears in the Bible as a reference to the stone itself in Revelations 4:3.
    • Javon
      • Origin:

        Hebrew variation of Javan
      • Meaning:

        "Greece"
      • Description:

        While the biblical Javan, the son of Japheth, is spelled with two a's, the -on version is by far the favorite in contemporary America. Variant spellings and pronunciations abound. This name has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1976, though it's in danger of falling off.
    • Jayla
      • Origin:

        Modern spelling of Jaalah, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "to ascend"
      • Description:

        Not quite as unusual as it might seem, it first entered the popularity list in 1995, as a possible alternative to the very popular Kayla. In the Bible, an alternate spelling is Jaala.
    • Joss
      • Origin:

        English diminutive of Jocelin
      • Meaning:

        "the merry one"
      • Description:

        Joss hadn't been heard much in this country before the emergence of Joss (born Joseph) Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, et al; it would make a catchy middle name choice. Female British singer Joss Stone was born Jocelyn.
    • Julian
      • Origin:

        English from Latin, variation of Julius
      • Meaning:

        "youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father"
      • Description:

        Cool and charming, with plenty of flair and sophistication, Julian manages to strike the balance between being a sensible classic and contemporary choice. Appealingly international, it is no wonder Julian is a rising star.
    • Junia
      • Origin:

        Latin, Feminine variation of Junius
      • Meaning:

        "born in June"
      • Description:

        Juno is hot, June is showing signs of a comeback along with other month and day names, whereas Junia, the name of the the first century Christian referred to by the apostle Paul as an apostle (and who may have been male), is yet to be discovered.
    • Justice
      • Origin:

        English word name
      • Meaning:

        "the quality of being just, impartial, or fair"
      • Description:

        Justice is a fashionable word name, used for both girls and boys. Justice has the distinction of being a virtue name without the religious implications of Faith or Grace. It still feels more male than female, perhaps partly due to the classic Roman name Justus, but Justice has become a more common pick for girls in recent years.
    • Kade
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Cade
      • Description:

        Kade is a prime example of the new trend for substituting K's at the beginning of traditionally C-starting names.