​
​
Advanced Search

Big list

  1. Avalon

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "island of apples"

    • Description:

      Avalon, an island paradise of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend--it was where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds-- and also the colorful capital of the California island of Catalina-- makes a heavenly first name. Actress Rena Sofer and British musician Julian Cope used it for their daughters.
  2. Brooklyn

    • Origin:

      English Place name from Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "marshland"

    • Description:

      Extreme makeover: Brooklyn has gone from jokey Borough Boy name in the 1990s to a leading girls' name starting with B. The status of New York's Brooklyn as hipster heaven is ironic as few bona fide Brooklyn hipsters would choose this name.
  3. Drake

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "dragon; or, male duck"

    • Description:

      A simple one-syllable name that has been on the popularity list since the mid-1980s, Drake is most associated today with the single-named rapper (born Aubrey). The name peaked at Number 197 in 2010 and has since been on a slow decline, but it still can be counted among the stylish contemporary boy names starting with D.
  4. Eris

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strife, discord"

    • Description:

      Eris was the goddess of strife and discord, turned fairy tale and then popular culture figure Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Ironic, as her name sounds so much like that of Eros, the god of love.
  5. Giada

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "jade"

    • Description:

      Popular in its native Italy, Giada has been quietly and stylishly used in English-speaking countries for several years now. Television cook Giada De Laurentiis made this a possibility — then semi-subtly self-referenced when she named her daughter Jade.
  6. Gracelyn

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, combination of Grace and Lyn

    • Meaning:

      "graceful + lake; pretty"

    • Description:

      This name is a combination of the traditional Grace and the popular suffix -lyn. Gracelyn could work as an alternative to the popular Brooklyn while also sharing the modern feel of Emberlynn and Oaklyn.
  7. Adria

    • Description:

      Adria is a feminine name with multiple origins. It derives primarily from the Adriatic Sea, which was named after the ancient city of Adria in northern Italy. The name has Latin roots, connecting to 'Hadriaticus,' meaning 'dark' or 'from Hadria.' Adria is used across several European cultures, including Spanish, Catalan, Italian, and Slavic languages. While never extremely common in English-speaking countries, it maintains consistent usage as an elegant alternative to more popular names like Adriana or Adrienne. The name has a graceful, Mediterranean quality and carries associations with the sea. Adria peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s but remains a relatively uncommon choice with timeless appeal.

  8. Tenley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "burnt clearing"

    • Description:

      This name is currently best known on The Bachelorette's Tenley Molzahn. In the 1950s, it was attached to the Olympic figure skating champion Tenley Albright, and Jessica Biel played a Tenley in the movie Summer Catch.
  9. Caledon

    • Origin:

      Irish place-name from Caledonia

    • Meaning:

      "hard or rocky land"

    • Description:

      Caledon, the name of the arrogant Billy Zane character in "Titanic," is an Irish place-name related to Caledonia, the Latin word for Scotland thought to be derived from the ancient Celtic word for "hard." Cal is a wonderful nickname, and Caledon an inventive way to get there.
  10. Ariah

    • Origin:

      English variation of Aria, Hebrew, Italian

    • Meaning:

      "lion of God; song"

    • Description:

      When actress Tamera Mowry named her daughter Ariah, she said it was a Hebrew name meaning "lion of God" -- which it is, if you consider Ariah a variation of Ariel. But many sources consider Ariah a spelling variation of the Italian Aria, meaning song or literally air.
  11. Decker

    • Origin:

      German occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "roofer"

    • Description:

      Brawny name chosen for his son by rocker Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.
  12. Amia

    • Origin:

      Variation of Amy

    • Description:

      This Amy/Mia combination debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2013. It could also be seen as a variant of Amaya.