Reject Pile (Or is it?)

  1. Wesson
    • Origin:

      Variation of Weston, English
    • Meaning:

      "from the western town"
    • Description:

      This weapon name, linked to arms manufacturer Smith and Wesson, entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.
  2. Winslet
    • Origin:

      English surname and place-name
    • Meaning:

      "Wynn's channel or stream"
    • Description:

      Winslet is one of a legion of surnames newly considered fair game as first names. The inspiration may be British star Kate, but she's not the only reason parents are attracted to Winslet, one of those British girl names that sounds at once classy and winning. Yet be warned that if you choose this, people will forever assume you are major fans of the actress. Other Win- beginning names up for new consideration: Winslow, Winston, Wynton, Winifred and Winnie, along with just plain Win or Wyn or Wynn.
  3. Xanthippe
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "yellow horse"
    • Description:

      Famous as the long-suffering wife of the philosopher Socrates.
  4. Yandel
    • Yara
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "friend, helper"
      • Description:

        The multicultural Yara is also the name of a beautiful green-skinned Brazilian goddess and might make a more unusual spin on Mara or Sara.
    • Yaretzi
      • Origin:

        Nahuatl, Aztec
      • Meaning:

        "you will always be loved"
      • Description:

        This unusual name from the Nahuatl or Aztec language has one of the best meanings around. It sprang onto the US popularity list in 2006 and made a brief appearance in the Top 300 before sliding down a bit. It's popular in Mexico and with US Americans of Latino or Hispanic heritage, hitting on two big girl name trends in those communities: Ya- beginnings and -i endings.
    • Yehuda
      • Origin:

        Variation of Yehudah
      • Description:

        This modernized version of Yehudah could be assimilated further by making it Judah. The name is traditionally given to boys born at Chanukah. It first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2001.
    • Yehudah
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "to praise"
      • Description:

        Anglicized as Judah, this name of a biblical patriarch is given symbolically to boys born on Chanukah; a form of it was spotlighted by violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.
    • Yesnia
      • Yevgeniya
        • Origin:

          Russian form of Eugenia
        • Meaning:

          "well born"
        • Description:

          In an English-speaking country, stick with Eugenia.
      • Yolanthe
        • Ysais
          • Ysidoro
            • Yuri
              • Origin:

                Russian variation of George
              • Description:

                Common Russian name familiarized here via cosmonaut Yury Gagarin and a character in Dr. Zhivago, but we don't see it ever gaining permanent resident status.
            • Zelig
              • Origin:

                Yiddish, variation of Selig
              • Meaning:

                "blessed, happy"
              • Description:

                Woody Allen introduced us to the name Zelig as the ever-morphing title character of his 1983 film. Zelig does have an upbeat meaning, and nickname Zelie makes it accessible for a girl, though it's an undeniably quirky choice for either gender.
            • Zenaida
              • Origin:

                Greek
              • Meaning:

                "the life of Zeus"
              • Description:

                This name of a daughter of Zeus has an intriguing air of antiquity.
            • Zerline
              • Origin:

                French variant of Zerlin and Zerlina
              • Meaning:

                "beautiful dawn"
              • Description:

                Although a variant of the operatic Zerlina, Zerline has her own theatrical tale. She is the star character of the opera Fra Diavolo by Daniel Auber. Zerline, daughter of the innkeeper of Terracina, is in love with an impoverished soldier, Lorenzo, but her father wants her to marry the rich old Francesco. Various tragedies and events occur. In the end, Zerline is free to marry her beloved Lorenzo.
            • Zoraida
              • Origin:

                Arabic
              • Meaning:

                "captivating woman"
              • Description:

                This name of a beautiful Moorish woman character in Don Quixote is rarely heard.
            • Zsanett
              • Zuleika
                • Origin:

                  Arabic
                • Meaning:

                  "fair, brilliant beauty"
                • Description:

                  Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.