Names that Peaked in 1996

Combination of Tristan and Christian that is beginning to catch on.

Attractive international Stephanie alternative. Estefania ranks in the Top 100 in Puerto Rico.

Elaboration of Dion publicized by the football and baseball star Deion Sanders -- aka Neon Deion.

An alternative spelling of Tristan, and also the modern Welsh form of the legendary hero's name.

Halie is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, most of them sea nymphs.

Lexus, an automotive newcomer, has recently entered the Top 1000 -- more because of its association, we fear, with the status symbol car than its relation to the name Alexis. If you love this name, do your child a favor and make it Alexis or at least spell it Lexis.

This obscure Native-American name owes its very life to country singer Shania Twain, who dropped her original name, Eileen, for it.

The letters "ae" are always a little tricky, and the more familiar Kayla has started to fall out of fashion, but there's nothing glaringly wrong with this version.

We're not sure that the 43 little girls named Odalys in the USA last year are going to thanks their parents when they realize the meaning of their name. This is a name that should be avoided despite its sweet sound. Better alternatives are Lyssa, Odette, or Odelie.

While the medieval romantic name Tristan is popular and holding its own, this spelling variation has been sagging in the polls. If you love the name, choose the original spelling.

The further you move away from the original Briana, the feminine form of Brian first used by Edmund Spenser in The Faerie Queen, the more invented and less authentic you get. But many parents want the distance from Brian as Breanna -- or Breana or Breeanna or any of the other variations -- feels more like its own name.

Flailing attempt to switch up popular Tristan.

Nearly 350 babies were named Austyn last year, about a quarter of them boys.

Variation of Tristan.