Names that end in y

Tracey is the spelling of Tracy used by British comedian Tracey Ullman, who was born Trace. A Top 10 name in 1970, Tracy was last year given to fewer than 50 baby girls in the US and Tracey to only 13. But if the Hundred Year Rule holds, Tracey and Tracy are halfway back to a comeback.

One of those casual down-home names last popular in the 1960s.

Like Verity and Amity, this inclusive virtue name used by the colorful British literary Mitford family is ready to join its more popular peers Hope, Faith, and Grace.

Although this name literally means disaster, the use of Calamity as a descriptor of Martha Jane Cannery, aka Calamity Jane, was meant to signal that she was a good person to have in troubled times. Calamity Jane was well regarded as a frontierswoman and nurse, someone who was said to be extremely generous and compassionate to the sick and troubled.. Calamity's connection to the American West gives this a roguish name a sort of windswept charm about it. Indeed, the most controversial aspect of this name is its connection to the frontier wars that led to the dispossession of Native American peoples.

No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.

The Brits say BARK-lee, but we pronounce it the same as the name of the California college: either way it's quite pretentious and of another era.

Romany is a melodious name referring to the Roma or Romani community and their culture, which makes it a potentially controversial choice for a baby not of that heritage. Romany Malco is an actor who appeared on the television show "Weeds." Other similar ideas: Roman, Romano, or Romeo.

Wrigley is a fast-rising name for boys and girls right now in the US. You're unlikely to hear it outside of Chicago, though, as most of these parents are huge fans of the Chicago Cubs, who play at Wrigley Field. For a more subtle Cubs-related baby name, try Addison or Clark—two streets that border the ballpark.

Better yet, find a name with the same meaning: Belle, Cosima, Indira, Uilani, Zeynep.

Cady is one of those names that sounds popular but is actually rare in this form, given to only a few dozen baby girls in the US last year.

Name of World War II hero that sounds feminine today. Worth update of Holly, Hallie, or cousins.

Amory is best known for the hero of Fitzgerald's 1920 This Side of Paradise, Princeton student Amory Blaine. Amory is in some danger of being borrowed by the girls, a la Avery. Alternate spellings Amori or Amorie also relate to the Latin word for love.

Though Embry became famous as the name of a boy werewolf in Twilight, we think its Em- beginning and -y ending make it perfectly appropriate for a girl. You might consider it as an alternative to Emma, Emily, or Aubrey. Embry or Embury is an established English surname. 

A bright and optimistic middle name choice.

Diminutive of Montague or Montgomery that has long been used as a standalone for boys – and for a few girls too, especially during the middle years of the 20th century. It has largely fallen out of favor, though it is frequently used as a standalone boys'name across the pond. With boyish nicknames for girls - a la Charie and Stevie - on trend, Monty has the chance to come back.

Calloway is more popular among boys, while Callaway takes the title for girls. Perhaps it's the built-in floral nickname Calla.

A very common boys' name in South Asia, with a strong meaning. Some are bound to pronounce it AJ, as in Soprano.

Yorleny is a uniquely Costa Rican name with a fascinating story. The name comes from the letter sign-off "Yours, Lenny," written by sailor Lenny Smith to his wife in Costa Rica. The name debuted in Costa Rica in the 1940s, eventually peaking in the '60s. Here in the US, Yorleny made its first appearance in 2000, and has been given to a few girls every year since.