5 Favorite Names

Though it sounds modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, and the name of a historic seaport in the Western Netherlands, also known as Brill. Today, it is used more widely as a nickname for Gabrielle and as a stand-alone name that fits in easily with Isabelle, Briana, and Brinley. In a recent year, it appeared in the US Top 200, ranking above the longer form and used nearly four times as often.

Kizzy remains the most popular spelling of the Keziah short form, at least in some part thanks to its appearance in the 1977 television show Roots.

Lunden is a modern masculine name with likely Scandinavian or English influences, possibly derived from place names or surnames. It may be connected to London or to the Old English 'lund,' meaning 'grove' or 'forest.' As a first name, Lunden emerged primarily in the late 20th century, offering a contemporary sound with subtle traditional roots. The name has a strong, sophisticated quality while remaining uncommon enough to be distinctive. Its crisp sound and straightforward pronunciation make it accessible across cultures. Lunden appeals to parents seeking a modern name with an urbane feel and subtle nature connections. While still relatively rare, it fits comfortably alongside other contemporary names ending in '-en' or '-an.'

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.

Fairly popular a hundred years ago but out of sight now, the quirky Roscoe deserves a place on every adventurous baby-namer's long list. It joins Rufus, Roman, Remy, Romulus, and Ray as one of the R names that sound fresh again after too many years of Robert, Richard, and Ronald.

Waverly, with its literary resonance and lilting three-syllable sound, could well become the next generation's successor to Kimberly. Although, like Kimberly, it's overwhelmingly catching on for girls. Its cool, bohemian surname feel places it among the new stylish English names for girls, successors to Ashley and Whitney.