2 of All the Letters: Anna, Emmett and Vivienne
- Otto
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"wealthy"Description:
Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
- Emmett
Origin:
English masculine variation of Emma, GermanMeaning:
"universal"Description:
Emmett, honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, not to mention being a character in the popular Twilight series.
- Anna
Origin:
Variation of Hannah, HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
- Hannah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Hannah is one of the nation's top biblical girls' names — it surpassed Sarah in 1998, and ranks in the Top 100 along with Elizabeth, Abigail, Chloe, and Naomi. Hannah is a name with many sources of appeal: Old Testament roots, soft and gentle sound, and a homey yet aristocratic image.
- Vivienne
Origin:
French variation of VivianMeaning:
"life"Description:
Vivienne is an elaborated Gallic version of the name Vivian, chosen first by Rosie O'Donnell for her daughter and then catapulted to superstardom when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie used it for their twin daughter. An adult namesake is the British designer Vivienne Westwood. Rosie O'Donnell also has a daughter named Vivienne, known as Vivi.
- Elle
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"she"Description:
Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
- Isis
Origin:
EgyptianMeaning:
"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. Interestingly, however, since 2020, it has begun to see increased use again, and 2023 saw it given to 151 girls.
- Viviette
Origin:
French variation of VivianMeaning:
"life"Description:
Embroidered lace hankie of a name, used in a Thomas Hardy novel. That literary cred lends some gravitas.
- Lili
Origin:
Spelling variation of Lily or diminutive of LilianDescription:
Lili has been blooming in many forms for a couple of decades now. The Lili version will surely get more attention now that the Duke and Duchess of Susses, aka Harry and Meghan, are using is as a short form for their daughter Lilibet Diana's name. Lili makes the slight and light though that is not necessarily a bad thing; it also mutes the name's floral identity and gives it a cute and quirky repetitive spelling, ala Coco and Lulu. A famous German song is titled Lili Marlene.
- Lilianna
Origin:
Spelling variation of LilianaDescription:
Deriving from "Lilian", as an elaborate form of the flower name, "Lily", Lilianna is a clean and polished spelling for those wanting the pronunciation Lily-Ann-uh.
- Emme
Origin:
American invented name; homonym of EmmyMeaning:
"universal"Description:
Introduced by "plus-size" model Emme (born Melissa) and now a legitimate member of the Em-starting girls' name group, especially since it was chosen by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for their twin daughter.
- Zaza
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"movement"Description:
Funky choice with za-za-zoom. Zaza could be used as a nickname for almost any name with the "za" cluster, including Elizabeth and Esperanza.
- Noon
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Cool middle name possibility.
- Amma
Origin:
Tamil, AkanMeaning:
"mother, or born on a Saturday"Description:
An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning.
- Barbra
Description:
Barbra is a feminine name that emerged as a variant spelling of Barbara, which comes from Greek origins meaning 'foreign woman' or 'stranger.' This spelling was particularly popularized by legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand, who adopted this variant of her birth name Barbara. The dropped middle 'a' creates a more streamlined pronunciation that better matches how the name is commonly said. While less common than the traditional Barbara, this variant has maintained steady usage since the mid-20th century, largely due to Streisand's influence. Barbra carries the same classic, strong qualities as Barbara but with a slightly more modern feel. The name evokes sophistication and artistic talent, thanks to its famous namesake, while still connecting to the long history of Barbara as a traditional women's name.
- Abba
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father"Description:
Double exposure: 1970s rock sensation (Mamma Mia) and scholar/diplomat name in Israel.
- Ebbe
Origin:
German, ScandinavianMeaning:
"strength"Description:
A Top 30 name in Sweden, derived from Eberhard (strength of a wild boar) or Esben (god bear) – either way, a strong meaning.
- Annaelle
Description:
Annaelle is a feminine name that combines elements of Anna and the French suffix 'elle.' Anna has Hebrew origins meaning 'grace' or 'favor,' while the suffix adds a delicate, feminine quality. Popular in French-speaking regions, particularly in France and Quebec, Annaelle offers parents a melodic alternative to the more common Anna or Annabelle. The name maintains its traditional roots while feeling fresh and contemporary. Annaelle carries an elegant, sophisticated air with its flowing syllables and soft ending. Though not widely used in English-speaking countries, its international appeal and pleasant sound make it an increasingly considered option for parents seeking a name with both substance and style.
- Vivianna
Description:
Vivianna is a feminine name derived from Latin roots, elaborating on the name Vivian or Viviana, ultimately from 'vivus' meaning 'alive' or 'full of life.' This melodic four-syllable name carries connotations of vitality, energy, and vibrance. Vivianna appears across several European naming traditions, particularly in Italian, Spanish, and Latin American cultures. The extra syllable adds a flowing, romantic quality to the already lyrical Viviana. While less common than Vivian or Viviana, Vivianna has maintained steady if modest usage. The name's repeated 'vi' sound creates a pleasing rhythm, while the 'anna' ending connects it to classic feminine names. Vivianna offers the perfect balance of familiarity and distinction, conveying both timeless elegance and life-affirming meaning.
- Alla
Origin:
Galician diminutive of Olalla, or Russian, Ukrainian Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, or DanishMeaning:
"sweetly speaking"Description:
A short form of Alexandra and Alice used everywhere from Russia to Spain. A fresh alternative to Allie.