The London Times Birth Announcements

  1. Sophie
    • Origin:

      French variation of Sophia
    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"
    • Description:

      Sophie is the French form of the Greek Sophia, for which it is also commonly used as a nickname. Given Sophia's long standing among the Top 10 girl names in the US, Sophie may feel more popular than it actually is.
  2. Sorrell
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "reddish brown"
    • Description:

      Soft, amber-hued herbal and autumnal name that's used most often to describe the color of a horse. The proper spelling: Sorrel.
  3. Stanley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "near the stony clearing"
    • Description:

      Although Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire personified brute force, most Stanleys have been portrayed as meek milquetoasts. It could be a Sydney-like girls' choice.-Bette Davis once played a character named Stanley, and it was the name of President Obama's mother (named for her father)--or possibly could be revived down the line a la Walter and Arthur.
  4. Stella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      Stella is a name with star quality and sparkle, that manages to sound both ethereal and earthy. Celestial but not otherworldly, it lands somewhere between the popular Ella and bold Seraphina.
  5. Stephen
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"
    • Description:

      Stephen, also spelled Steven, is a strong and likable classic, with the he's-a-great-guy short form Steve. Though not as well-used or fashionable as it was in its heyday -- it was a Top 25 name from 1946 to 1957 -- it's still a widely used name. It remains an even more popular in Ireland.
  6. Stuart
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "steward"
    • Description:

      This ancient royal Scottish name had a brief vogue in midcentury America, but it would be far from a fresh choice for a baby boy now.
  7. Susie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own.
  8. Sydney
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Sidney, French
    • Meaning:

      "Saint Denis"
    • Description:

      The Sydney spelling most popular for girls: it's in the Top 50 on the female side. Cool for a girl, still nerdy for a guy.
  9. Sarah-Jane
    • Sherard
      • Talitha
        • Origin:

          Aramaic
        • Meaning:

          "little girl"
        • Description:

          Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times. Talitha is also the name of two stars in Ursa Major, where it's related to the Arabic word for "third." Talitha definitely makes a fresh spin on Tabitha or Talisa.
      • Tamara
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "date palm tree"
        • Description:

          Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
      • Tansy
        • Origin:

          Flower name, from Greek
        • Meaning:

          "immortality"
        • Description:

          Tansy is a flower name rarer than Rose, livelier than Lily and a lot less teasable than Pansy.
      • Tessa
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Theresa
        • Meaning:

          "to reap, to gather"
        • Description:

          Tessa is one of those golden names that's been popular but not TOO popular for several decades now. Tessa has ranked in the Top 500 in the US since 1981 but has risen only once above Number 200.
      • Theo
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Theodore
        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"
        • Description:

          See the popularity graph below for the name Theo? It's been heading straight uphill since 2010, when it hopped back onto the Top 1000 after a 60+ year absence.
      • Theodora
        • Origin:

          Feminine variation of Theodore, Greek
        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"
        • Description:

          Theodora is one of the most revival-worthy of the charmingly old-fashioned Victorian valentine names, softly evocative but still substantial, as is the reversed-syllable Dorothea.
      • Theodore
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"
        • Description:

          As unlikely as it may seem, Theodore is a hot new hit name, vaulting into the Top 10 in 2021 for the first time ever and rising three more points last year to rank at Number 7.
      • Thomas
        • Origin:

          Aramaic
        • Meaning:

          "twin"
        • Description:

          A solid classic with plenty of history, Thomas strikes the balance between strength and gentleness. A favorite in the UK, a staple in France, and Australia, and never absent from the US Top 100, Thomas feels like a safe bet and a name that fits into any era.
      • Timothy
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "honoring God"
        • Description:

          A second-tier classic, the New Testament Timothy moves in and out of fashion more than John and James. But though it peaked in the 1960s, many modern parents still appreciate its familiarity and lively rhythm. And the short form Tim feels eternally boyish.
      • Tod