Names that Peaked in 1883

Updates Ellis -- but also has a lot of feminine potential thanks to Allison/Ellie similarity.

Ananias is a New Testament name of three different figures. The two good ones were a high priest and a disciple of Paul. The not good Ananias was the husband of Sapphira who conspired to deceive the apostles and was struck dead.

Emelia takes elements from soundalike sisters Emilia and Amelia, which actually derive from different roots and have different meanings.

Currently in the Danish Top 50, Milas blends the trendiness of Silas with the old-school bookishness of Miles. Milas might derive from Latin roots, meaning soldier, or from Slavic roots meaning great/powerful.

Familiar through the similarly pronounced TV Warrior Princess, but the original Xena spelling is cooler.

Benton is an old English surname of a type usually given to local landowners. It is also recorded in early records as Beneton and Bentune. Benton newly returned to the Social Security list in 2011 after a forty-plus year absence, perhaps as a fresh route to Ben.

A rarely heard Hebrew name whose zippy first initial Z transforms it from dated Yetta-like image to more lively Catherine Zeta Jones-like appeal.

A romantic choice, this appealing Spanish name for boys is both accessible and distinctive.

Gray-bearded name heard primarily in Sweden and Germany.

Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.

Upper-crusty nickname occasionally used in Britain, particularly in 1930s novels featuring significant garden party scenes, but eclipsed here by Carrie et al.

Ever since the enormous German cannon was dubbed by Allied soldiers "Big Bertha" in World War I, this name hasn't worked for a sweet little baby girl. But this was not always so. Hard as it might be to imagine now, Bertha was a Top 100 name until the 1930s, and in the 1880s was the seventh most popular name in the land--the equal of Joseph.

This nickname-name is very popular in Germany, though Lottie is still the preferred version in the US. The problem, of course, is that you'll have to put up with a lotta jokes. See?

Unless it runs in your family, or Alexander Hamilton is your particular hero, you might consider something less imposing -- and without the teasable nickname Ham.

This variation of the more well known Alvin adds an unusual and feminine touch to the original. It sounds a bit more like what it means--"elf friend."

More familiar and melodic to the American ear than either Hans or Hansen, and some might attach it to the three-brother pop-rock band called Hanson.

Lem is a corn-cob pipe-smoking, back porch-rocking nickname name. But we predict as Sam and Gus become ho-hum, more parents will look to Lem.

Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.

The German Matilda has some European variations that are popular in their native countries. Matilde ranks in Italy's and Portugal's Top 10 for girls, while the French variation Mathilde ranks among the Top 100 girl names in France, Denmark, and Norway.

This name is usually seen as a surname, but could be used as a first in the tradition of Cooper, Sawyer etc.