Joyous Names

Variant of Ombeline

A medieval French feminine form of Humbert, also found as Humbeline.

Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 boys names in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.

Looks modern, but sounds like the dated Ronnie.

Roni may sound like the Doowop-era Ronnie or Ronni, often named for her dad Ron, but it's actually a freestanding Hebrew name with an uplifting meaning.

Rupert is a charming-yet-manly name long more popular in Britain (where it's attached to a beloved cartoon bear) than in the U.S. Yet we can see Rupert as a more stylish, modern way to honor an ancestral Robert.

Sachi, often short for Sachiko, was given to 25 girls in the US in a recent year. While it is technically Japanese, this short form has an unidentifiably international feel and might be a relative of the stylish Sacha.

The Indian name Saran is used primarily in Punjab among the Sikh population. As a West African name, Saran has its origins in the Jula language, spoken in Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and Mali.

Seeley is a Medieval surname with a happy, fortunate meaning.

Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works mainly as a laxative. While that is a less-than-savory association, Senna has a pretty sound and is a fresh entry in the flourishing botanical names genus.

Unfashionable surname, best left in the forest with Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

An upbeat Hebrew name with a meaning to match.

Over-the-top glitzy. Sparkle debuted in 1976 and peaked in 1979 when it was given to 124 baby girls.

Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile, along with its soundalike Sonny.

Sunshine was seen as a quintessential hippie name of the 70s, reaching as high as Number 536 in 1975. Now such names are making a bit of a retro comeback, seen, for example, as a character on Glee.

Tayo, also written as Táyò in Yoruba, is a name that sounds as joyful as its meaning.

Modern feminine form of Xavier