Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.

Abby

Abigail has been in for so long -- the name has ranked in the US Top 100 since the late 1980s -- it's amazing that it isn't more out by now. But Abigail's biblical and historic roots make it a fashionable classic rather than a passing fad.

The name Abigail comes from the Hebrew name Avigail and is derived from the Hebrew elements ab, meaning "father," and g-y-l, meaning "to rejoice." In the Old Testament, Abigail was the wife of David, said to be beautiful, wise, and prophetic. 

Abigail was well-used for centuries but In the early 1800s, abigail became a slang term for a lady's maid, which led to a fall from favor. It was well on its way down by the time the US Social Security office began keeping records on baby name popularity in 1880, and by the early 1900s fell off the Top 1000 completely.

Abigail's resurgence was tied to the rediscovery of many old biblical names starting in the 1960s. Abigail was in the first wave of the Old Testament names that were revived then, including Hannah, Rebecca, and Rachel for girls, Joshua, Aaron, and Benjamin for boys.

Abigail has been the name of two of our First Ladies—three, if you count the character on The West Wing—and Abby has been the name of a host of television and movie characters in everything from Mad Men to The Lovely Bones.
 
If you like Abigail but want something fresher, you may consider such other biblical choices as Lydia and Priscilla or names popular in Revolutionary Era America that have been neglected in recent years, such as Susannah and Hester.

Abigail

Adebayo

Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
 Aida did have a period of some U.S. popularity; in 1954, it reached as high as Number 663, but fell off the list in 1976. Aida Turturro played Tony Soprano's sister in The Sopranos.

 Arabic families often pronounce it with two syllables — as EYE-dah — rather than three.

Aida

An attractive Scandinavian take on Helga, or a potential Helen nickname.

Aili

More commonly seen here as Anya, this traditional yet unique Irish name belonged to the queen of the Munster fairies and is sprinkled throughout Irish folklore as an early Celtic goddess of summer and prosperity. One of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular baby names</a> in Ireland, Aine's spelling and pronunciation might seem simple but could prove confusing in the U.S.
 When the British cracked down on authentic Irish names in the seventeenth century, Aine was "translated" as Ann. Now, the original Aine or Anya is one of the prime <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/433/goddess-baby-names">goddess names</a> for baby girls.

Aine

Lyrical choice with an ornamental H — a common phenomenon among Puerto Rican names.

Alahia

Alaia, a fast riser in the US, sounds just like several other popular stylish names, many of them with different origins and meanings.  There's Arabic Aaliyah, like the late singer, and the Hebrew Aliya and the Sanskrit Alaya.  Azzedine Alaia is a high-fashion Parisian designer of Tunisian origin.

Alaia

Alair is a lighter, more unusual form of Hilary. 

Alair

This cute masculine nickname -- with connections to princes, Hogwarts headmasters and the Manzo family of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" -- almost has enough heft to stand on its own. But all of its precursor names have merit.

Albie

Aliza might seem like yet another variation of the eternal Alyssa/Alicia/Eliza loop, but it's a distinct name all its own. The z adds zip. 

Aliza

In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/a">girl names starting with A</a>.
 One of the most creative sounding of names, Allegra has been associated with the American prima ballerina Allegra Kent, and has been chosen as a first or middle name for their daughters by poets George Gordon, Lord Byron and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as by R. Buckminster Fuller and Donatella Versace.
Caveat: There is that current connection to the allergy medication.

Allegra

A variant of Alyona, which itself originated as a nickname for Yelena, a variation of Helen.

Alyiona

Though Abigail has long been a very popular girls' name in the US, modern Hebrew form Avigail is rare here but among the Top 10 girls' names in Israel. 

Avigail

A rare girls' name with cross-cultural appeal to burn, Avira might be a good option for parents interested in Ava but put off by its huge popularity.

Avira

This charming West African mini name fits in with the other similarly short names that are all the rage right now. Actress Ayo Edebiri is the star of TV's The Bear.

A beautiful meaning for a long-awaited child.

Ayodele

A melodious Yoruba name with one of the best meanings around.

Ayomide

The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.

Blythe originated as a nickname for an upbeat person, coming from the Old English word bliðe, meaning "merry" or "cheerful." Today the homophone blithe shares the same meaning. Blythe was eventually adapted to a surname before it became a feminine given name.
 
Blythe embodies a cheerful, carefree spirit and could be the next Blair/Blaine/Blake/Brett/Britt, with the advantage that it's clearly pink. It joins other other light-hearted names for girls: Felicity, Hilary.
 Blythe is the middle name of Drew Barrymore—in her case a surname from her rich theatrical history.
 The title of the memorable Noel Coward play Blithe Spirit is taken from Shelley's poetic line, "Hail to thee, blithe Spirit"—a nice tribute to a baby Blythe.

Blythe

Rare word name that works for either gender.

Bright

Bright is a rare yet intriguing word name used for a female character in Ann Patchett's novel The Dutch House.<,/em >

With its word name style and two equally lovely meanings, Brilliance could be one to watch.

Brilliance

A new aspirational name with two shining meanings.

Brilliant

Slightly awkward girl's version of a straightforward male name.

Brycin

Like Brighton, but without the brightness.

Bryton

Chara is the name of a star in a constellation that represents hunting dogs, recently named as one of the most likely to host extraterrestrial life.  Also, Chara is a variation of both Sarah and Charlotte.

Chara

A lucky word name that started to rise out of obscurity in the 2010s. Like Dream and True, Charm could be just one celebrity baby away from becoming a big trend.

Charm

This name was used by Shakespeare (who got it from Plutarch) in Antony and Cleopatra for one of the attendants of the Egyptian queen. An interesting possibility, it is heard occasionally in the UK, even less frequently in the US.

Charmian

Thanks to associations with Prince Charming, this name has only ever been recorded for boys. It first made the charts in 2015.

Charming

This simplified spelling of Claire does not improve on the more popular version.

Clair

A combination name that might be dismissed as a clown and cow name. The sounds are nevertheless pretty and the meaning is good - though spellings Claribel or Clarabel might help distance it from the cow association. 

Clarabelle

This is the original, more prosaic spelling, but the airier Claire now dominates.
 If you're seeking a literary connection, look no further than Nella Larsen's 1929 novel Passing, which stars Clare Kendry as one of the two protagonists.

Clare

The name of the guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life is rarely heard the rest of the year because of its studious, near-nerdy image, but this could change in the current naming climate. 
 An English peerage title, Clarence enjoyed great popularity at the turn of the last century, reaching as high as Number 18 in 1900, and staying on the list until 2010. It has two prominent legal bearers--Clarence Darrow, defense attorney at the Scopes Trial, and current Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We can thank Clarence Birdseye for the invention of frozen food. Aretha Franklin and Louis Armstrong both named their sons Clarence.

Clarence

A joyful Yoruba name which would be perfect for a long-awaited baby.

Dayo

Sam Branson (son of businessman Sir Richard Branson) and his wife put this pretty place name on the baby name map when they called their daughter Eva-Deia in 2015. Their inspiration was the beautiful bohemian village of Deià in Mallorca, where the Branson family has a luxury residence.
 
In 2023, Filipino actress Iza Calzado and her husband Ben Wintle named their daughter Deia Amihan.
 
The name could also be considered a variant spelling of Latin Dea, meaning "goddess", or of Daya/Daia, meaning "joy". Either way, it fits perfectly into the current trend for short, light-sounding names which work across multiple cultures.

Deia

Eila is a Hebrew name heard in Israel, and could be due for wider consideration thanks to sound-alike sisters Ayla, Ella, and Isla. 
 
Alternatively, it is a Finnish and Norwegian name, derived from Elina, and in turn Helen - or, from Aila, a form of Helga.

Eila

This old Scottish form of Helen has had quite a history, going from appearing as one of the shining heroines of the Arthurian legends, the princess who fell in love with Sir Lancelot and became the mother of Sir Galahad, referred to as 'Elaine the fair' and 'Elaine the lovable', to being the name of the most famous of New York's celebrity restaurants, to being the archetypal New York neurotic on Seinfeld.
 Elaine is a homophone for French Helene, just one of many names that a was imported to Scotland during the centuries that Scotland and France had a mutual enemy in England.
 Elaine entered the Top 100 in the early 1920s, and remained there for close to forty years, peaking at Number 42. Now, after a long slump, we see signs of a possible rise along with all the other El-names. For parents looking for a more unusual name, try Yvaine.

Elaine

The usual form of Eleonara is Eleanora, with each syllable pronounced, but transposing, adding, or subtracting a vowel or syllable here or there works fine and adds to the international, feminine spin on a solid name.

Eleonara

The Elin variation makes an old favorite sleeker and more modern. Elin came to prominence via the ex-Mrs.Tiger Woods and is now perhaps best known via novelist Elin Hildebrand.. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2010, though it's now dropped off again.

Elin

Elina is one of the many variations of mother name Helen to make the US Top 1000 list, and is given to around 300 girls each year. While it might blend in among the Helenas, Elenas, and Alinas, it might be a good way to go if you want the eh-lee-nuh pronunciation or the potential for nicknames Elle, Ellie, or Ella. 
 
Popular in Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Latvia, and Armenia, Elina is an international name that can also be spelled with various accents, depending on where it is used. Elīna is most often seen in Latvia, while Élina is sometimes used in France.

Elina

Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.

Elio

The name of one of the three Graces or Charities in Greek mythology, put on the earth to fill it with pleasant moments and goodwill.

Euphrosyne

In the language of the Ngurelban people, 'Yera-o' is said to mean "joyful". This Anglicization is reminiscent of other <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">feminine names</a>like Eulalia and could work well for those looking for a less familiar choice.

Euroa

Faine is a very unusual one-syllable option. 

Faine

Fane, used as a nickname in the Middle Ages for someone with a cheerful disposition, is one of the more offbeat members of the Zane-Kane family. 

Fane

Felicity is as accessible a virtue name as Hope and Faith, but much more feminine -- and dare we say, happier. The hit TV show did a lot to soften and modernize the once buttoned-up image of Felicity, and it got further notice as the red-haired Colonial doll, Felicity Merriman, in the American Girl series. A current bearer is actress Felicity Huffman.
 Two nicknames for Felicity: Flick and Fee. Other forms include Felicia and Felice.

Felicity

Felix is one of those ancient but nontraditional names for boys that have come into favor over the past few decades, a favorite of parents who want a masculine name with history and heft that breaks ranks with the standard Franks and Freds. Felix is also an international darling, ranking in the Top 100 in several European and English-speaking countries.

Felix was originally a Roman surname but was adopted as a nickname by the ancient Roman Sulla, who believed that he was especially blessed with luck by the gods. It is the name of four popes and sixty-seven saints; in the Bible, Felix is a Roman procurator of Judea.
 
Felix, energetic and upbeat with a felicitous meaning, has finally transcended its negative associations to Felix The Cat and the persnickety Felix Unger. 
 
The name appears in literature as the central character in George Eliot's novel Felix Holt, the protagonist of Thomas Mann's Confessions of Felix Krull, in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Henry James's The Europeans, Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, and as a member of the Volturi Guard in the Twilight series. In movies Felix has popped up in everything from several James Bond films to Spy Kids and The Hangover.
 
Gillian Anderson and Elizabeth Banks are two modern celebrities who chose Felix for their baby boys. A notable namesake is Felix Frankfurter, a long-term Supreme Court Justice.
 
Popular in the Hispanic community, Felix is also celebrating a surge abroad. Felix has been on the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">U.S. popularity list</a> for as long as records have been kept and is rapidly becoming a Nameberry fave.

Felix

An Ethiopian girls' name with a bright and cheerful sound — rhyming with Haven. Feven is the Ge'ez variant of Biblical Phoebe, also the goddess of the moon and hunting in Greek mythology. In 2022, there were 5 baby girls given the name Feven. 

Feven

All varieties of Hob are antiquated nicknames for Robert, though this one is saddled with the "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon association. 

Hobbes

Uplifting name that's technically for boys but practically would work much better for girls.

Ilara

Hilary may feel too connected to a single personality, but this version offers a fresh and interesting alternative.
 
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin (born Hillary Lynn Hayward-Thomas) chose this variation of Hilaria's adopted name for their third daughter, Ilaria Catalina Irena.

Ilaria

Joy is from an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert a certain amount of personality pressure on a child. One interesting name that means the same thing: Chara.
 Joy began to be used as a name by the seventeenth century Puritans, with the idea of "being joyful in the Lord." It came into more general use in the late nineteenth central, part of the revival of virtue names. Her high point was in 1974, when she reached Number 109 on the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a> charts. Joy has also been often used as a middle name. Two recent bearers: comedian/TV personality Joy Behar and Joy Mangano, the inventor whose life was the basis of Oscar-nominated biopic Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Joya

Joyce was once a <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boy name</a>, but took off for girls during the mid-twentieth century, when it spent 1930 to 1947 in the Top 20. 
 Now, Joyce is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/j">girls' names starting with J</a> least likely to make a comeback any time soon.
 Joyce has a long history as a surname, perhaps most prominently connected to James Joyce, author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

Joyce

Modern update to midcentury favorite Joy.

Joyful

Along with Joyful, Joyous works as an updated version of Joy. It would make for an inspired middle name to honor an ancestral Joy.

Joyous

In English, Kailea is an unusual variant spelling of Kayley or Kaylee. In Hawaiian, Kaileʻa means "sea of joy".

Kailea is one of <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/us/state/hawaii>hawaii's top baby names</a> for girls.

Kailea

The -ayah suffix is ultra hot at the moment, with names like Alayah and Avayah attracting hundreds of parents each year. Kalayah may be building off of those, but it could also be used as a variation of the classic Hawaiian name Kalea.

Kalayah

Kalea is a Top 100 name for girls in Hawaii. Sources differ on the meaning of the name, but the most authoritative land on joy or happiness...though kalea is also the Hawaiian word for orgasm.

Kalea

Japanese classic with optimistic meaning. 

Keiko

Lainie is a nickname for Elaine that has been in the public eye via Lainie Kazan (that was her full given name), who was a popular singer in the 1960s and 1970s (she was Barbra Streisand's understudy in "Funny Girl"), and then became a motherly character actress.  We still find Lainie a bit flimsy for a full first name.

Lainie

Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie may inspire some baseball history fans to adopt his surname as a first or middle name for their child. He was a second baseman for Philadelphia and Cleveland's teams in the early 19th century and is one of the only MLB players to have over 3000 career hits.
 
With French phrases such as Jadore entering the baby name lexicon, Lajoie doesn't seem like too far of a stretch. The proper French pronunciation is la-ZHWA, but Nap Lajoie said it LAZH-uh-way.

Lajoie

Leta has hipster cred as the daughter of cool mommy blogger Dooce. Related to the Greek mythological Leda, a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy, Leta is a name that's as unique as it is historic: Only 14 baby girls were named Leta in the US last year, and 18 were named Leda. Pronunciation is lee-tah.

Leta

Lovejoy's use as a surname follows that as a nickname. In Medieval times, when many people shared names, nicknames were relied upon to distinguish individuals. Many of these nicknames later became surnames. Lovejoy, from the Middle English love(n) and joie, referred to someone who was affectionate and joyful — although the Oxford Dictionary of American Family Names notes that Lovejoy may have been bestowed ironically, at times.

Lovejoy

Could Lowen be the next Owen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, yet fewer than 50 babies receive the name each year.

Lowen

Variation of Lowenna - the consonant ending makes this one feel more masculine.

Lowena is the Cornish word for "joy". As a given name, it is most commonly spelt as in this entry - Lowenna.
Lowen is a lovely unisex option which is closely related: it means "joyful" or "glad".

Lowenna

Luminance

Meriweather

She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">names for Christmas babies</a>.

Merry

Moonglade

Naim, also sometimes spelled Naime, is a pleasant choice that may have some confusing pronunciation issues in English-speaking countries (where may will say this name as "name"). But don't let that deter you if you're in love with this moniker.

Naim

Neave

Nell, once a nickname for Helen, Ellen, or Eleanor, is a sweet old-fashioned charmer that is fashionably used today in its own right. While Nell is perfectly in tune with contemporary vintage name style, it hasn't taken off the way some of its sisters have and so maintains an air of distinction. Use Nell or Nellie as a short for any name from Eleanor to Penelope or just name her Nell.
 Nell was the pet name FDR called his wife Eleanor (along with Babs), the famous Little Nell in Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop was Elinor, and the infamous mistress of Charles II, Nell Gwynne, was born Eleanor as well.
 Nell was the belle of the ball in the Gay Nineties, but has been off the charts since 1956. It's currently popular in France though, ranking at Number 144.
 Jodie Foster played the title character of the 1994 movie Nell, and Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton named their daughter Nell, keeping the family tradition of names related to Helen.

Nell

Nuray is one of the most popular girls' names in the Middle East though it's largely unknown and unused in the Western World.  The meaning, related to the more familiar Noor, adds appeal.

Nuray

Ombelina

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

Ombeline

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 <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys names</a> in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.

Robin is one of the unisex names that switched predominant genders a couple of times. Initially a boys' name, it hit its high point for both genders in the 1950s, eventually becoming more popular for girls. Now Robin is used near-equally for both sexes, given to 290 baby girls and 256 baby boys in the US in 2021.

Robin is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>.

Robin

Looks modern, but sounds like the dated Ronnie. 

Roni

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.
 Rupert has been more visible in this country of late via Rupert Grint, portrayer of Harry Potter's Ron Weasley and the character Rupert Giles, mentor of Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as actors Rupert Everett and Rupert Graves--not to mention media mogul Rupert Murdoch. 
 Off the US popularity lists since the early fifties, Rupert ranks high on Nameberry--at Number 170.

Rupert

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.

Sachi

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.
 
It's used for a couple of girls each year in the US, where, pronounced sah-RAN, it is associated with the brand of polyethylene food wrap produced by S.C. Johnson.

Saran

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

Seeley

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.

Senna

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

Sherwood

An upbeat Hebrew name with a meaning to match.

Simcha

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

Sparkle

Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile, along with its soundalike Sonny. Sunny Pawar, the five-year-old star of the 2016 smash-hit movie Lion, was cast from among thousands of young hopefuls after auditioning at his school in Mumbai. Sunny is often heard in India as a nickname for Sunil, Sundeep or Sunita, but it’s also bestowed as a standalone with the literal meaning of "sunny; radiant; cheerful".

Sunny

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.

Sunshine

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

Tayo

Tohar

Vivid

Xavia

PlanetPink's list "Joyous Names" of 100 great name ideas: Abby - Xavia!

Joyous Names

Names with joyful meanings, including: joy, happiness, and light. For those looking for names that invoke pleasant feelings.