Don't Give Your Daughter A Stripper Name

For names that lack class, style and substance.
  1. Amber
    • Origin:

      Word name, English
    • Description:

      Though perhaps not as currently stylish as Ruby, Jade, or Pearl, Amber has a colorful history (remember the notorious Forever Amber heroine?). Unfortunately, it does come with the "Amber Alert" connotation for modern parents (and their children).
  2. Babe
    • Origin:

      Word name or diminutive of Barbara
    • Description:

      You can call your baby "babe," but don't name her that.
  3. Bebe
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Beatrice or any other B name
    • Description:

      High-kicking cohort of Coco, Gigi, Fifi, Kiki, et al.
  4. Brandy
    • Origin:

      Dutch
    • Meaning:

      "burnt wine"
    • Description:

      The alcohol-laced member of the Randy-Candy-Mandy sorority of 1970s to 80s nickname names; now pretty much on the wagon.
  5. Candy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Candace
    • Description:

      Too sugary sweet and inconsequential for a modern girl.
  6. Chanel
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the canal"
    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
  7. Cher
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      For years there was only one Cher, and then along came the charming heroine of the movie "Clueless." The world now officially has enough Chers in it.
  8. Cherry
    • Origin:

      Fruit name
    • Description:

      With other fruity names like Clementine, Olive and Plum ripe for the picking, sweet Cherry remains remarkably underused: just 27 baby girls received the name in 2017, down from 343 at its peak in 1948. The unsavory slang meaning no doubt goes a long way towards explaining its fall from grace.
  9. Coco
    • Origin:

      Spanish and French pet name
    • Description:

      Coco came to prominence as the nickname of the legendary French designer Chanel (born Gabrielle) and has lately become a starbaby favorite, initially chosen by Courteney Cox for her daughter Coco Riley in 2004. At first it was the kind of name that the press loves to ridicule, but we predict Coco's heading for more broad acceptance and even popularity.
  10. Delilah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "delicate"
    • Description:

      Melodic and lively, Delilah has cut itself (mostly) free from its treacherous past to become a contemporary favorite.
  11. Desiree
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "desired, wished"
    • Description:

      One of the original French names chosen by midcentury parents for their sophistication and je ne sais quoi, Desiree has since become completely assimilated in the US. It ranked in the Top 1000 from 1954-2017, but has since dropped back out.
  12. Dior
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Description:

      Has joined Chanel and Armani on the fashionista hit parade of names. The meaning of Dior is uncertain but it may be "gold".
  13. Elizabella
    • Origin:

      Combination of Eliza and Bella
    • Description:

      Elizabella is a much more obscure smoosh than sisters Isabella and Annabelle, but the megapopularity of Isabella may give this unusual combo name a boost.
  14. Eroica
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "heroic"
    • Description:

      The name of Beethoven's third symphony, and too close to the word erotica.
  15. Gigi
    • Origin:

      French diminutive
    • Description:

      Joining the likes of Coco and Fifi, Gigi has a style but some may feel it lacks substance. Model and TV personality Gigi Hadid (born Jelena) has likely drawn attention to this name, while designer Cynthia Rowley may have inspired parents to use it as a given name by choosing it for her daughter.
  16. Honey
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      A term of endearment turned cute British celebrity baby name, used by actress Kate Winslet, chef Jamie Oliver, and TV presenter Fearne Cotton, among others. Honey was given to only 40 girls in the US in 2017, but it's relatively popular across the pond, where it ranks in the current Top 500 baby names for girls.
  17. Janica
    • Origin:

      Variation of Jannik
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      With its upbeat Slavic/Scandinavian air, it has the most potential of all the Jan names.
  18. Jezebel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "not exalted"
    • Description:

      Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a strong woman, the power behind the throne. Previously avoided as a baby name, Jezebel is now, along with the also previously avoided Delilah and Desiree, coming into use, helped by its relation to other 'bel' name such as Isabel and Bella.
  19. Maritza
    • Origin:

      Spanish diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Used especially in Latin America, this would make a funky spin on Maria.
  20. Meilani
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Meilani may sound like a Hawaiian name, kind of a mashup of Leilani and Melanie, but it's actually an invention by that style-maven JWoww, AKA Jenni Farley of Jersey Shore, who used it for her daughter. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.