Baby Girl
- Cassia
Origin:
Feminine form of Cassius or GreekMeaning:
"cinnamon"Description:
Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow."
- Cassidy
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"curly-haired"Description:
Has fallen off its Kathie Lee Gifford inspired peak in the 1990s, but since that notably celebrity baby is now a grownup and out of the limelight, Cassidy may once again reclaim its own Irish charm.
- Chiara
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"light, clear"Description:
Chiara is a lovely and romantic Italian name that's familiar but not widely used here: a real winner. You might consider Chiara instead of Claire, Clara, Cara, or even Keira.
- Corinne
Origin:
French variation of Greek KorinnaMeaning:
"maiden"Description:
Corinne is one of the names that, it might surprise you to learn, has never been off the US popularity charts. Its most popular year was 1926, when it ranked Number 249. Corinna is another pretty ancient form of the name, technically a diminutive.
- Daria
Origin:
Feminine variation of Darius, Persian or Latin from GreekMeaning:
"kingly or possess well"Description:
An early Christian martyr, a bespectacled MTV cartoon heroine, and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy: Daria is a name that manages to feel contemporary and usable without being exactly stylish. Which may be a positive, in terms of Daria not being in danger of overpopularity.
- Demi
Origin:
Diminutive of Demetria or GreekMeaning:
"half"Description:
Demi appeared in the US as a baby name thanks to a single celebrity, actress Demi Moore, who put it on the Top 1000 throughout the 1990s. As her star faded, so did the visibility of the name, though now it is rising again on its own steam. It's popular in Europe, too, especially in The Netherlands. Demi may be that unusual name that's launched by a celebrity and then maintains its visibility all by itself.
- Elena
Origin:
Spanish, Italian, German, Greek variation of HelenMeaning:
"bright, shining light"Description:
Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.
- Genesis
Origin:
Word name, BiblicalMeaning:
"the origin and formation of something; The First Book in The Bible"Description:
With the sounds of Jennifer and Alexis, and the vibes of Eden and Serenity, Genesis is a Biblical inspired choice that has been popular in the US since the 2000’s.
- Gia
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"God's gracious gift"Description:
Gia is a cute if slight name that calls to mind stylish sisters Mia, Lea, Pia, Tia, and Nia. One of the most familiar Italian baby names in the US, Gia is a short form of Gianna, which in turn is a diminutive of Giovanna, the feminine form of Giovanni, the Italian equivalent of John—all of them meaning "God's gracious gift."
- Imara
Origin:
KiswahiliMeaning:
"firm"Description:
This could make a hauntingly evocative name for an American child, striking the perfect balance of the unusual and the familiar. Imara's meaning adds further appeal placing it among the special class of girl names that mean strong, brave, or powerful.
- Jocelyn
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"member of the Gauts tribe"Description:
Jocelyn has gotten new life and popularity as a result of the current passion for lyn endings. Though it was a male name in medieval times, now Jocelyn couldn't sound more softly feminine.
- Julissa
Origin:
Spanish variation of JuliaMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Julissa is a Spanish version of Julia used mostly in Latin America. It peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s and now hovers near the bottom of the Top 1000.
- Kylah
Origin:
Spelling variation of KylaDescription:
Kylah makes Kyla feel like an old biblical name, but it's only a reproduction, not a real antique.
- Lauryn
Origin:
Spelling variation of LaurenDescription:
Given a new shot of style by singer Lauryn Hill, this spelling of the name has fallen quite a bit in popularity since its peak of 167 in 1996.
- London
Origin:
English place-nameDescription:
The capital of the United Kingdom makes a solid and attractive twenty-first-century choice, with a lot more substance than Paris. It's in the unisex column, with both girls and boys given the name in recent years.
- Myla
Origin:
Spelling variation of Mila or feminine variation of MiloMeaning:
"soldier or merciful"Description:
Myla can be seen as a female variation of Milo or a different spelling for popular Mila. Though frequently unnecessary in alternate spellings, the "y" here does connote a specific pronunciation.
- Nadia
Origin:
Russian, ArabicMeaning:
"hope; tender, delicate"Description:
Nadia, an accessible Slavic favorite, has a strong run of popularity in the US in the early 2000s, partially thanks to the character on Lost called Nadia but actually named Noor, but it's since slumped down the rankings. An earlier inspiration was Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won the 1976 Olympics.
- Naia
Origin:
Hawaiian, Greek, BasqueMeaning:
"dolphin; to flow; wave, sea foam"Description:
Multicultural option, equally intriguing as, but more unusual than, Maia.
- Naiara
Origin:
Basque place nameDescription:
Basque name for a Spanish city where the Virgin Mary appeared in medieval times, now a popular girls' name throughout Spain.
- Nylah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"winner"Description:
Nylah is the Arabic name of a princess -- Nyla is another variation -- that's rising quickly through the ranks, partly thanks to an adorable kitty that enjoyed 15 minutes of YouTube fame. But we predict this attractive and unusual name will get a longer turn in the sun than the pop-culture cat.