Master List

This is just a cumulative list of names I like over-all.
  1. Archer
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bowman"
    • Description:

      Archer is an Anglo-Saxon surname that feels more modern than most because of its on-target occupational and Hunger Games associations. And it's a nice way to bypass the clunky Archibald to get to the cool nickname Archie.
  2. Aria
    • Origin:

      Italian and Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "air; song or melody; lion"
    • Description:

      Aria is a multi-cultural name with two extremely popular versions: this more word-like one along with Arya, the spelling used for the feisty young heroine of Game of Thrones. There were about 6400 baby girls named Aria in the US last year alog with 2400 named Arya, which counted together places the name in the Top 10.
  3. Audrey
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "noble strength"
    • Description:

      Audrey is one of the girls' names that have been rising due to their connection to Old Hollywood glamour—in this case the eternally chic and radiant Audrey Hepburn. Audrey has another very different appeal as one of the elite group of girl names that mean strong, brave, or powerful.
  4. Aya
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "colorful, bird, sign"
    • Description:

      Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2012.
  5. Adler
    • Bayard
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "russet-haired"
      • Description:

        An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse.
    • Conan
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "little wolf"
      • Description:

        The fierce image of the Barbarian made a complete turnaround thanks to amiable talk show host O'Brien, making Conan one of the newly desirable Irish choices, a perfect alternative to Conor/Connor.
    • Daniel
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "God is my judge"
      • Description:

        Daniel is one of only a handful of male names that sounds both classic and modern, strong yet approachable, and popular but not cliched. It also has a solid Old Testament pedigree. The only real downside: There are about 10,000 Daniels named each year, making it a less than distinctive choice.
    • Dexter
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "dyer, right-handed"
      • Description:

        The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism.
    • Emiliana
      • Origin:

        Italian variation of Emily
      • Meaning:

        "rival"
      • Description:

        The enormous popularity of Emily and Emma means that parents will be looking further afield for substitutes -- and this is one of the prettiest.

    • Emily
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Emil, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "rival"
      • Description:

        Emily may have dropped somewhat in the current standings, but it was the most popular girls' name for over a decade because it appeals on many levels: Emily is feminine, classic, simple, pretty, and strong. Emily is Number 1 among Gen Z names. It also has those nice literary namesakes, like Emily Dickinson and Emily Brontë.
    • Ezra
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "help"
      • Description:

        Ezra has a lot going for it: the strength of its heroic Biblical legacy, its quirky sound, and its fresh but familiar feel. Ezra is now at its highest point ever, but its intuitive streamlined spelling and deep roots could make it a worth successor to Elijah in the Top 10 -- or even to Liam or Noah at Number 1.
    • Fox
      • Origin:

        Animal name
      • Description:

        Fox is one animal name backed by a longish tradition, and then popularized via the lead character Fox Mulder on X Files. Fox is simple, sleek, and a little bit wild, and could make an interesting middle name.
    • Georgiana
      • Origin:

        English, feminine variation of George
      • Meaning:

        "farmer"
      • Description:

        Long a popular upper-crust form in England, where it's pronounced George-ee-AH-na, Georgiana has been been neglected here. But with Georgia growing more popular and the general fashion for elaborate feminine names, Georgiana might have room to grow.
    • Grayson
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "the son of the bailiff"
      • Description:

        Grayson, which you might think of as a Jason-Mason substitute, has been rising through the US Top 1000 since 1984 and has ranked in the Top 100 since 2011.
    • Greta
      • Origin:

        German, diminutive of Margarethe
      • Meaning:

        "pearl"
      • Description:

        Greta is an Old World name long tied to the iconic Garbo, but now synonymous with environmental activism.
    • Kallisto
      • Ketziah
        • Kora
          • Origin:

            Variation of Cora
          • Description:

            This trendy spelling jumped 216 spots between 2012 and 2013, making it one of the fastest-rising names of the year. We predict it will continue to gain momentum, riding the popularity of more traditional Cora.
        • Kimbra