Heroines from Barbie

Alexa was a steadily popular modern classic until Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa was released in 2013. It remains relatively well used in the US despite this, though its standing keeps dropping for obvious reasons. Too bad, because it's a strong and pretty name (which is probably why Amazon used it.)

Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."

Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel.

Though it relates to the Irish original, Ashlyn and its next most popular form, Ashlynn, owe more of their popularity as baby names in the US to the megastar Ashley, though all three have been dropping on the charts lately.

Azura is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. It derives from the Persian word "lazward" meaning blue or azure, and is connected to the blue gemstone lapis lazuli. In Hebrew tradition, Azura appears in some texts as the name of Adam's wife before Eve. The name evokes images of clear blue skies and the brilliant blue color of the azure stone. With its exotic sound and meaningful connection to nature, Azura has gained modest popularity in recent decades as parents seek names with both beauty and substance. The name carries a mystical quality while remaining accessible and pronounceable, making it an increasingly attractive choice for parents seeking something uncommon yet melodic.

Despite the voluptuous doll's various career choices, from astronaut to doctor, her name still remains a euphemism for "bimbo".

Blair with a little something extra, which some parents may feel feminizes the name. The Blaire spelling was given to a surprising number of baby girls, with about a third of baby girls with the name given this spelling. The final e also is reminiscent of Claire.

Catina is a feminine name with possible Italian or Greek origins. It may be a variation of Katina or Catrina, or a diminutive form of Caterina (Italian for Catherine). The name has a melodic, flowing quality with its soft consonants and vowel ending typical of Mediterranean names. Catina reached modest popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, though it never became mainstream. With its pleasant rhythm and feminine sound, Catina conveys warmth and charm. The name carries connotations of Southern European heritage and may appeal to parents seeking a name that's recognizable but not overly common, with a subtle exotic flair while remaining easy to pronounce and spell.

Chelsea is still being used, with about 400 baby girls named Chelsea in the US last year. But it was much more popular a few decades ago, peaking at Number 15 in 1992.

Corinne is one of the names that, it might surprise you to learn, ranked among the US Top 1000 girl names until 2020, when it fell off the charts after 140 years. Its most popular year was 1926, when it ranked Number 249. Corinna is another pretty ancient form of the name, technically a diminutive.

Among the Top 20 names of the 1990s, today's Courtney is more apt to be the babysitter than the baby. Courtney has dropped since its peak at Number 17 in 1995. Familiar from Courtney Love and Courtney Cox.

This is an energetic dance of an Irish surname, great for both genders. Could also be spelled Delancy.

Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia.

Edeline is a feminine name of Germanic origin, derived from the elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' or 'nobility' and 'lin' meaning 'little' or serving as a diminutive suffix. This elegant name can be considered a variant of Adeline or a feminine form of Edel. With its soft sounds and graceful ending, Edeline carries an air of vintage refinement while remaining relatively uncommon, making it appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional-sounding choice. The name experienced limited popularity in medieval Europe and has never ranked among common names in the United States. Its rarity, combined with its pleasant sound and noble meaning, gives Edeline a unique charm with historical roots.

Eden is an attractive, serene name with obvious intimations of Paradise, one of several place names drawn from the Bible by the Puritans in the seventeenth century.

Elina is one of the many variations of mother name Helen to make the US Top 1000 list, and is given to around 300 girls each year. While it might blend in among the Helenas, Elenas, and Alinas, it might be a good way to go if you want the eh-lee-nuh pronunciation or the potential for nicknames Elle, Ellie, or Ella.

The straightforward Erica is a Norse feminization that was long associated with the complex, mega-popular character Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci for decades on the soap opera All My Children. Used in Scandinavia since the early eighteenth century, where it was usually spelled Erika, it was in the Top 50 girls' list in the USA in the 1970s and eighties.