Names That Mean Modern

This biblical beast name entered the US charts for boys in 1991, but its history as a name goes much further back. It was recorded on an English Romani woman around the start of the twentieth century. Will we ever see it on a modern girl?

An even more modern spin on Zayla.

Like Felicity, but faster. Given to 6 girls in 2020.

Parents outside France may not know this name, but it slipped into the French Top 100 after Insta-celebrity couple Jessica and Thibault Garcia gave it to their son in 2019. It helps that it sounds similar to other currently popular French boy names, like Maël, Malo and Milan. Look out for his little sister Leewane's name in the charts in future years.

Coined in the 1940s: an acronym of "radio detection and ranging".

"May" is a hot sound in girl names — just look at the rise of Maeve — which makes it ripe for creative new inventions. This cheerful, breezy number has been low-key on the US charts since 2011.

Hadith is an Arabic name referring to a collection of the sayings or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad is Islam.

This light, airy name has been given to a few dozen American girls since the early 2000s. It's a legitimate Italian word, but it's more likely to be inspired by the word "angel" backwards.

Hot R & B singer Kelis Rogers's name is a combination of those of her parents' -- Kenneth and Eveliss.

A rare smoosh of Dontae and Octavius, also spelled Dontavious.

Haisley, but with more pizzazz.

Coined in the 1960s to define the smallest photographic element of a televised image. It's a portmanteau of "picture" + "cell" or "element".

The popular Aiden has spawned a legion of offshoots used mostly for boys but sometimes for girls too: Brayden, Caden, Kayden, Zaiden and so on. While it is now predominantly used on boys, back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it was used more equally on girls. In a recent count, the name has fallen out of favor, with only 14 girls receiving the name in 2023.

See TRINA.

Harleth is a name which probably stems from combining the oh-so-trendy Harlow with the evergreen Elizabeth. However, literary parents may also remember the beautiful but difficult character Gwendolen Harleth from George Eliot's Daniel Deronda. Harleth has a fashionable edge to it, being associated with rising supermodel Harleth Kuusik.

This unusual name belonging to three generations of Deltha Lee O'Neals, the third being a football cornerback for the New England Patriots, could equally--or better--be used for a girl.

Francophone respelling of Jaylen.