Girls
- Annalisa
Origin:
Comnibation of Anna and LisaDescription:
One of the more widely used combination forms.
- Annalise
Origin:
German, combination of Anna and LiseMeaning:
"grace and pledged to God"Description:
Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel.
- Annamae
Origin:
Compound name, blending Anna and MaeMeaning:
"graceful pearl; grace and bitterness; grace of the mother"Description:
Combining two classic names, Annamae has both vintage charm and a playful spark to it. The meaning can vary depending on which of Mae's root you choose to follow; a diminutive of Margaret, Mary, and Maia, you can play around with the meaning to find the one you like best.
- Annamaria
Origin:
Italian combination of Anna and MariaMeaning:
"grace + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
A pretty smoosh name predominantly used by Italian Catholics.
- Annia
Origin:
Latin, female variation of AntoniusMeaning:
"priceless one"Description:
An ancient Roman name that has never made it into the modern world.
- Anthea
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"flowery"Description:
This unjustly neglected floral name has a BBC accent and a Greek mythological heritage: Anthea is an epithet of Hera, the Greek queen of the gods, and her name has been used as poetic symbol of spring.
- Arabella
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"yielding to prayer"Description:
Arabella, lovely and elegant, has long been well used in Britain and finally made it onto the American list in 2005. Its meaning may also be interpreted as "beautiful," thanks to -bella.
- Ariana
Origin:
Italian variation of Ariadne, GreekMeaning:
"most holy"Description:
The smooth, attractive Ariana is on the rise along with the fame of pop princess Ariana Grande. Also famous is twin spelling Arianna, which is associated with Greek-born online presence Arianna Huffington. Both Ariana and Arianna are widely used names and are equally acceptable spellings.
- Arianna
Origin:
Italian form of Ariadne, GreekMeaning:
"most holy"Description:
A smooth, attractive choice, Arianna's on the rise with both single and double 'r's and 'n's. Single 'r' double 'n' Arianna — the second most popular version of the name — is these days associated with Greek-born blog queen Arianna Huffington.
- Arietta
Origin:
Compound name, variation of HarrietMeaning:
"little song; little lion; home ruler"Description:
A name that is either inspired by the classic Harriet - and by the character Arrietty in The Borrowers - or, a compound name, merging Aria or Ari with Etta.
- Ashley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the ash tree meadow"Description:
Ashley was a sensation in the 1980s and 1990s; it hit Number 1 in 1991. Ashley is still pretty but more and more parents are turning to newer names like Ashlyn and Aubrey, and spellings such as Ashleigh and Ashlea. If you hear the name Ashley in a playground today, it's more likely to be the mom than the little girl.
- Avalon
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"island of apples"Description:
Avalon, an island paradise of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend--it was where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds-- and also the colorful capital of the California island of Catalina-- makes a heavenly first name. Actress Rena Sofer and British musician Julian Cope used it for their daughters.
- Aveline
Origin:
French from GermanMeaning:
"desired; or island, water"Description:
Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root.
- Bethannie
- Bethany
Origin:
Biblical place name and HebrewMeaning:
"house of figs"Description:
Bethany is a lyrical name that still strikes many parents as a fresher, more substantial substitute for the overused Brittany/Brittney or the more antiquated Beth.
- Bethel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"house of God"Description:
A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.
- Bethia
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"daughter of Jehovah"Description:
Long forgotten Old Testament name with modern potential.
- Bianca
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"white"Description:
Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.
- Briar
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a thorny patch"Description:
Fairy-tale memories of Sleeping Beauty inspire some parents—such as Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen—to call their daughters Briar Rose. But Briar plus a different middle name might work even better. It's one of the newly popular nature-word names, charting in the US for the first time in 2015 for both genders.
- Bronte
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"thunder"Description:
This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. While the original name took an umlaut over the e, modern English speakers may find that more trouble than it's worth. Trivia note: The Anglo-Irish clergyman who was the father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne changed his name from the original Brunty. According to scholars, the family pronounced the name brun-tee, though in the 21st century world it's commonly pronounced bron-tay. In Australia, the name is more likely to take inspiration from Bronte Beach in Sydney. It was named after Lord Nelson, the 1st Duke of Bronté. He got his title from a town in Sicily, itself named after a mythological Cyclops.