Names that Peaked in 1991

Classical and Shakespearean name that may appeal if you like your names long, flowing and multicultural.

While not as popular as the Ariel spelling of Little Mermaid fame, this rendition has achieved popularity in its own right.

German might seem like an unlikely occupant of the Top 1000 list, unless you realize that it's a Spanish name, with the accent on the second syllable. It's been on the U.S. list since 1973.

Attractive translation of Beatrice, popular with Hispanic parents. Beatriz is currently a Top 10 girl name in Portugal.

A wise ruler of legend--his sage advice helped the Greeks win the Trojan War--whose name is a possibility for the adventurous, though related in sound to the dated Lester-Hester family.

Used far more for boys with this spelling, but still has a nice impish Irish feel for a girl.

Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.

An intriguing mythological name whose one challenge might be pronunciation questions.

This name, which refers to Mary as the Virgin of the Dew, is all but unknown in the Anglo community, but popular enough in Hispanic families that it made the US Top 1000 until least until 2006. Also spelled Rocío, it remains popular in Spain and Chile, where it ranks in the Top 100.

Both Karissa and Carissa are trending downward, along with the other issa names that first rose to popularity in the 1970s. Karissa fell out of the Top 1000 in 2014, two years after Carissa.

Not quite a nature name and not quite a surname — whatever Laken is or isn't, we know it's definitely a name to watch.

Unisex option Dominique peaked for boys at Number 170 in 1991, perhaps due to the popularity of basketball player Dominique Wilkins. It's one of the most truly gender-neutral baby names right now.

Alberto is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese variation of Albert and lends a more unusual and fashionable edge to this name which is still a grandpa name to many.

Kiefer is a strong occupational surname associated with "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, but one that could well join the other 'er' surnames currently in favor. Keifer is a German surname transferred to first name use, derived from two old Germanic words, kien and forhe, both of which mean "pine tree."

This British last-name-first-name could make a more masculine alternative to Shelby.

Trending down, now that country music's Shania is the hot variety.

Variation of CASEY or combination of initials K. and C. From the time when initial names seemed really neat. K. C.

This internationally appealing choice is related to far more popular cousin Kayla, which currently ranks at Number 115.

Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.