UK Baby Names

Today's Veronicas would be called Veronica.

Peel may seem at first like a cool name, until you consider the inevitable teasing. A peel was a tower that sheltered humans and animals against attack, though these days it's better known as the skin of a banana.

So identified with the hero of the Sir Walter Scott novel, it would be almost impossible for any boy to carry.

Dancer feels like a name ready to leap into the charts with its sense of life and joy; and if names like Hunter and Archer can be used, why not Dancer. There will be some danger of other kids relating this one to Santa's reindeer and it might make a good name for a Christmas baby, but that might be a positive connotation for a child.

A city and river in Scotland; this is upbeat and cheery, but doesn't seem that appropriate as a name.

A name only a bully could love.

Obscure surname and Yorkshire and Lincolnshire place-name (where it's spelled Ferriby) makes a jaunty first. Placed in the public eye by Manhattan socialite Ferebee Bishop Taube.

This surname name may offer a pronunciation challenge, to those unfamiliar with Michael Crichton novels, but its fresher than Hunter or Cooper.

Only if he actually is.

Best known from actor-comedian Cleavon Little, Cleavon feels less soap opera than Cliff and quite really on-trend right now.

Hippie name of the Jonathan Livingston Seagull era.

Not manly enough.

Commonly heard in the eighteenth century, but could cause middle-school titters today. Consider Letty or Tessie instead.

If blogger-in-chief Arianna's first name can rise through the name popularity charts, why not her surname? Uffa is an Old English personal name (we don't see that one coming back) and the suffix ton usually designates a town or village.

Affrica has long been a popular name on the Isle of Man, where long ago there was a Princess named Affrica.

One of the best of this fashionable occupational group, strong and particularly well suited to a girl, also with alluring connection to glamour girl Ava Gardner.

Could be a possible and more modern, namesake for Uncle Neal.