miriamdufer's list "Family Names" of 20 great name ideas: Katrina - Brittney!

Family Names

The hurricane blew this one out of the realm of possibility. 

Katrina

Like Ray, a formerly funky nickname name that is newly cool. Comedian Amy Schumer used it for her son. 

While technically Gene is short for Eugene, it can certainly be used on its own as an honor name for grandpa Eugene or even grandma Jean.

Gene

Pam was a somewhat pampered prom queen of the sixties who was never called by her full name, which is a pity because Pamela is so mellifluous and rich in literary history. A Top 25 name from the late 1940's through the late 60's, Pamela has just, sadly, dropped out of the Top 1000. 
 Pamela was first used by Elizabethan poet Sir Philip Sidney in his sixteenth century pastoral epic Arcadia, but it was Samuel Richardson's enormously popular novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded two centuries later that really promoted it.
Rarely used now, Pamela might almost be ready for a revival, and the appealing Pam (wife of Jim, the male-equivalent name) on The Office may help bring it back. 
 But no, we won't be recommending the name of Pamela's partner--Linda.

Pamela

Less used than Liv or Livvy, Ollie is a boyish nickname for girls, sometimes used for Olivia and Olive. Currently out of the US charts, you might be surprised to learn that Ollie actually ranked more highly for girls than boys in the US between the 1890s and the 1950s. Around 975 girls were given the name in 1919 when it ranked alongside Claire, Goldie, and May.

These days, Ollie is more likely to be chosen as a given name for boys: it's in the England and Wales Top 150, and in the US, Ollie was used two and a half times more often for boys than girls.
 
Usually said to derive from Olivia and Olive (meaning "olive tree"), Ollie could also work for names like Ottilie, Isolde, Ophelia, Apolline, Nicola, and so on.

Ollie

Elton is an unassuming, lesser-used place name belonging to several towns in the British Isles, the US and Canada, and even a lake in Russia. The singer Elton John gives it a bit of extra pizzazz.

Elton

Sweet and frilly but with a surname-feel, Lacie is a spelling variation of Lacey. It rose up the charts in the US back in the 1980s and then in the UK in the 2000s and 2010s, following in the footsteps of its more popular form. Usually said to derive from the name of a town in Normandy, Lacie is occasionally considered a diminutive of Wallace or Larissa too. 

Lacie

Korey

Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
 
While some may associate Yolanda with Quentin Tarantino's crime movie, Pulp Fiction or with reality TV personality, Yolanda Hadid, Yolanda has also been borne by several members of European royalty, and by activist Yolanda King, gospel singer Yolanda Adams, and presenter Yolanda Vega.

Yolanda

There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.

Kathy

Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.

Essie

Taryn is an offshoot of Tara that has a variety of meanings in a variety of cultures. In 1953, Taryn was presented to the public as an invention by actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian for their daughter's name, at which point it gained a short spurt of popularity. Taryn returned to the Top 1000 in 1974, peaked in the 1980s, then disappeared from the charts back in the 2010s. 
 
Ultimately, Taryn has its origins in Irish, as a variation of Tyrone, or possibly of Tara. Tyrone is an Anglicized form of Tir Eoghain, meaning "land of Eoghan", or more poetically, "land born of the yew trees" or "land of the well-born", depending on which root of Eoghan you follow. Tara comes from Teamhair, another place name, possibly meaning "rocky hill" or "elevated place".
 
Nicollette Sheridan played a character named Taryn Blake in a 1980's TV series, and Taryn Baker was the name of an O.C. character. Real life bearers include actress Taryn Manning and soccer player Taryn Hemmings.
 
More recently, the name appeared in Holly Black's The Folk of the Air book series, borne by the twin sister of protagonist Jude. This pop culture reference has yet to inspire parents to reconsider the

Taryn

Kay, a cigarette-smoking, nightclubbing name of the 1930's, could be ready for a comeback along with cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae. 
 Kay has been out of sight since the mid-eighties, but was in the double digits from 1936 to 1945, attached to several glamorous actresses of the period, such as fashion plate Kay Francis, as well as Eloise author Kay Thompson.
 Kay was also once a unisex name, as in Sir Kay, in Arthurian legend one of the Knights of the Round Table.
 Bottom line: Parents in search of a fresh, more cosmopolitan alternative to Kate might consider Kay..

Rarely heard today-- it fell off the list around 1980--Bernice is a biblical name of Greek origin. In the Bible, she is a sister of King Agrippa. Bernice was a Top 100 name in the US for more than three decades--from 1900 to 1936--hitting a high of Number 39 in 1921. Last year in the US, fewer than 50 baby girls were named Bernice.
 The original spelling of the name was Berenice, the name of the wife of Ptolemy I of Egypt, and it's also the name of a fourth century saint. Berenice Abbott was an important twentieth century photographer, and Bernice was the birth name of Bea Arthur. One of F. Scott Fitzgerald's best remembered short stories is "Bernice Bobs her Hair."
 Bernice has a plethora of nicknames--you can take your pick of Berry, Benny, Bernie, Binnie and Bunny.

Bernice

Salina is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Spanish, it derives from 'sal' meaning 'salt,' often referring to salt flats or salt mines. The name also has Greek roots, possibly connected to 'selene' meaning 'moon.' In Arabic culture, Salina (or Salima) means 'peace' or 'safe.' The name appears in various forms across different countries, including the Italian Selina and the Hebrew Selina. Salina has maintained steady but modest popularity, appealing to parents seeking a melodic name with cross-cultural appeal. Its gentle sound and natural connection (to salt or the moon) make it attractive, while remaining distinctive enough that most Salinas won't share their name with many classmates.

Salina

Kim was the coolest name... of the 1960s. Kim was popularized by actress Kim Novak, and its energy is still maintained by rapper Lil' Kim, but it holds lil' or no appeal for new babies. Parents who like Kim's short, sweet sound might look to a choice such as Sam, Lou, or Belle.

As frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves. 

Cheryl

Wright is a masculine name that originated as an English occupational surname referring to a craftsman or builder—specifically a woodworker or carpenter (from the Old English "wyrhta," meaning "worker"). As a first name, Wright carries strong traditional and artisanal connotations, suggesting skill, craftsmanship, and creation. It remains relatively uncommon as a given name, maintaining an air of distinction and uniqueness. The name has a strong, concise sound with its single syllable and consonant blend. Those named Wright might appreciate the name's connections to craftsmanship and its subtle suggestion that one can build or create their own path in life. Its surname-as-first-name style also reflects contemporary naming trends.

Wright

Corwin is an upstanding surname name that has been seen occasionally as a first in literature, but rarely in real life. But maybe with the recent acceptance of Darwin, that might change.
 In the Water trilogy, Corwin appears as a teenage Merlin, and Prince Corwin is a main character in the the Chronicle of Amber series by Roger Zelazny.
 Alternate definitions of the name are 'leather worker' and 'lives near a white enclosure or castle.'
As a family name, it's associated with screen and radio writer Norman and Animal Planet host Jeff.

Corwin

Isac is a variation of Isaac, a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'he will laugh' or 'he will rejoice.' This spelling is particularly popular in Scandinavian countries, Romania, and parts of Latin America, offering a streamlined alternative to the more common biblical spelling. The name carries significant religious heritage as Isaac was the son of Abraham in the Old Testament, making it meaningful across Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. Isac maintains the warm, friendly sound of the original while appearing slightly more modern with its simplified spelling. Though less common than Isaac in English-speaking countries, its international usage makes it recognizable worldwide. The name conveys joy and heritage while remaining succinct and distinctive.

Isac

While all spellings of these name are off their popularity peak, Brittney gained some recent notice as the name of the American basketball player arrested in Russian, Brittney Griner.