My Favs

  1. Luke
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "man from Lucania"
    • Description:

      Luke is a cool-yet-strong Biblical name with a relaxed cowboy feel, which has been on the rise since the advent of Luke Skywalker.
  2. Lylah
    • Origin:

      Variation of Leila or Lila
    • Description:

      Lylah could be seen as a variation of Delilah, Leila or Lila or (like Lyla) a female variation of Lyle. Either way, we think you're best going with one of those other names to avoid your daughter's name looking like alphabet soup.
  3. Mackenna
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "son of the handsome one"
    • Description:

      Although the Mc or Mac prefix always means "son of", the first names McKenna and MacKenna are used in the US exclusively for girls, with the McKenna spelling outpacing this one 14 to 1. There are no boys recorded with either spelling of the name.
  4. MADDEN
    • Mae
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Mary or Margaret
      • Meaning:

        "bitter or pearl"
      • Description:

        Mae, a sweet and springlike old-fashioned name, hadn't been on the national charts in forty years, but finally made it back in 2010. Mae is derived from May, the month name that was chosen for its connection to Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and motherhood.
    • Mallory
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "unfortunate"
      • Description:

        Early 1980s sitcom (Family Ties) name that has been well used ever since, with an upbeat three-syllable sound and a slightly tomboyish edge.
    • Marley
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "pleasant seaside meadow"
      • Description:

        Reggae master Bob's surname was one of the biggest risers on the popularity charts for girls in 2008, with spellings Marlee and Marely also leaping in favor. Also used for boys, Marley is one of the top unisex names in the US.
    • Mason
      • Origin:

        English occupational name
      • Meaning:

        "worker in stone"
      • Description:

        Mason is an occupational surname that ranked among the Top 10 name for boys throughout the 2010s, after its choice as one of the first Kardashian baby names.
    • Maverick
      • Origin:

        American
      • Meaning:

        "independent, nonconformist"
      • Description:

        It's ironic that the name Maverick is not such a maverick anymore. Heard first in a 1950s James Garner western TV series, and then as the Tom Cruise character in Top Gun, Maverick symbolizes an unfettered, free spirit.
    • Monroe
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "mouth of the Roe river"
      • Description:

        Monroe is a presidential name which, thanks to the immortal beauty of Marilyn Monroe, is catching on fast for baby girls. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon chose it for their twin daughter, honoring Marilyn Monroe. Their use of Monroe as a girls’ name did much to revive this Old Man name, a la Sydney, as a newly fashionable choice for girls.
    • Nate
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
      • Description:

        Very much in style, especially after its starring role in Six Feet Under, Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack.
    • Nikki
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Nicole or Indian, Punjabi, Sikh
      • Meaning:

        "people of victory; little one"
      • Description:

        Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself.
    • Nixon
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "son of Nicholas"
      • Description:

        A fresher spin on Jaxon, with built-in cool nickname Nix, and a great way to honor an ancestral Nick. But the association with disgraced former president Richard Nixon remains strong, which might explain why this otherwise bang-on-trend surname name has remained under the radar, peaking at #482 in 2017.
    • Oliver
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "olive tree or elf army"
      • Description:

        Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts in the US and throughout the English-speaking world, along with a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland.
    • Olivia
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "olive tree"
      • Description:

        Olivia, a lovely Shakespearean name with an admirable balance of strength and femininity, is the Number 1 name for baby girls in the US and one of the top girls' names around the world.
    • Parker
      • Origin:

        English occupational name
      • Meaning:

        "park-keeper"
      • Description:

        One of the first generation of surname names, along with Porter and Morgan, Parker's still one of the most appealing and remains firmly in the Top 100 for boys. About three times as many boys as girls get this occupational name. The association with Charlie Parker gives Parker itself a jazzy edge, and it also has a nature-related meaning. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Parker.
    • Patrick
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "noble, patrician"
      • Description:

        Patrick, long tied to a hyper-Irish image, is enjoying something of a renaissance as a stylish classic, as it has long been considered in England. Along with such choices as Charles and George, Patrick has escaped overuse in recent decades.
    • Penelope
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "weaver"
      • Description:

        Penelope is an unlikely 21st century baby name success story. Off the Top 1000 for 25 years, Penelope jumped back on in 2001 and has been heading uphill ever since, propelled by the trend for mythological names, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, and some high-profile celebrity babies.
    • Piper
      • Origin:

        English occupational name
      • Meaning:

        "pipe or flute player"
      • Description:

        Piper is a bright, musical name that entered the list in 1999, one year after the debut of the TV series Charmed, which featured a Piper, and it's been a consistent riser since. Piper Kerman is the memoirist whose prison experiences provided the basis for the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
    • Prescott
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "priest's cottage"
      • Description:

        Prescott is one of several distinguished, upper-crusty surnames beginning with P.