Unnamed List

Guns 'n' Roses musician Axl (born William) Rose created this name by dropping a vowel, a la Barbra Streisand. The traditional Axel is more popular, though celebrity parents Fergie and Josh Duhamel deliberately chose the Axl spelling to honor her rock hero.

One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.

Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his boy Buddy, and Alicia Silverstone called her son Bear Blu, followed by Kate Winslet's Bear Blaize.

Rockers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz put a new baby name on the map when they chose this downscale New York borough name for their son. The Bronx, the place, was named for early Dutch settler Jonas Bronck. Might Bronx become the next Brooklyn? We'd be surprised if it did.

Prime example of the aggressive word names that are an off-the-grid branch of the new macho names. Makes Cannon, Maverick, and Ranger feel almost soft and sensitive by comparison.

The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism.

Letice is a feminine name that represents a historical variant of Letitia or Laetitia, derived from the Latin word 'laetitia' meaning 'joy' or 'happiness.' This medieval spelling was once more common in England, particularly during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. The name carries associations with gladness and delight through its etymological roots. Letice has a delicate, antique quality that distinguishes it from more common contemporary names. While relatively rare in modern usage, it might appeal to parents drawn to vintage names with historical depth. The name's connection to happiness and its gentle sound, typically pronounced LEH-tiss, gives it a positive and graceful character while maintaining its distinctive Old-World charm.

There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice.