It’s been some time since we tripped through our Naming Dictionaries searching for material for an alphabet post – too long!  And that’s too bad, because D is a promising letter for daughters.  Names range from the dear and dainty to the downright daring.

Without further delay, here are a few names to consider.

We’ve written about Daphne elsewhere on ApMtn.  With roots in Greek myth and steady use throughout history, it’s the definitive D-name: spirited, straightforward and yet with roots.  While Daphne is an instantly familiar name, it’s one that your daughter won’t share with many others.  As of 2006, it ranked a mere #606 on the Social Security Administration charts.

Honoring a loved one named Daniel or Danielle?  Consider the Slavonic name, Danica.  While some Eastern European tongues will read her name DAH nee tza, the pronunciation favored in the US is DAN ee kah.  The name’s meaning – morning star – is lovely.  And the rhythm of this seldom-heard name feels quite modern and current.  So much so, that Danica has gone from obscurity – it did not appear in the Top 1000 from 1996 to 2004, but as of 2006, had rocketed to #352.

Among my personal favorites on the D-list, Davina has a certain English rose appeal – in fact, Lady Davina Lewis is 22nd in line to the British throne.  But the spritely and boyish nickname Davy saves Davina from a too-feminissa fate.  Unlike David, which has long been a chart-topper for boys, the female version of the name is nearly unknown in the US.  It left the Top 1000 in 1987 and is today unranked.  The result is a pleasing compromise between the familiar and the rare – and it’s a lovely way to remember Grandpa David, too.

Speaking of English roses, flower power name Dahlia might appeal to parents who feel that too many Violets are growing in their local kindergartens.  For PG Wodehouse fans, Dahlia is Bertie Wooster’s good-natured aunt.  To horticulture devotees, the dahlia is the vibrant, exuberant national flower of Mexico, though it bears the name of Swedish botanist Anders Dahl.  The result is a name that is dainty without being at all flimsy.  And it could be either a simple, nickname-proof choice, or the springboard for getting to retro pet name Dolly.  Thanks to coolteamblt for suggesting this one for the D-list.  As of 2006, Dahlia had just peeked into the Top 1000, ranking at #988.

A subtly seafaring choice, Delphine is the adjectival form of dolphin.  (Like bovine for cows, or canine for dogs – but this one actually works for a given name.)  It’s traditionally interpreted as “woman from Delphi” and yes, that’s etymologically correct.  But we think the oceanic associations hold more appeal for modern parents.  Or, perhaps consider this literary use of the name: in 1802, Madame de Stael published her debut novel, Delphine, questioning the limitations placed on women in aristocratic society.  Napoleon exiled her from France for her pains.  More popular in France than the US, this name has not ranked in the Top 1000 since 1962.  (Girls’ names with a French flair – think Suzanne – were big in the 50s.)

She’s a plant, she’s a painting, but once upon a time, Danae was a Greek princess, locked in a chest and tossed into the sea with her infant son Perseus in order to thwart a prophecy.  (As with all things mythological, it failed utterly – Danae and Perseus survived and things unfolded as foretold.)  Danae had two valid pronunciations – the incredibly pretty dah NAH ee, and the far more manageable dah NAY.  The latter is favored by the only modern Danae that we’ve ever met.  Rembrandt, Titian and Klimt have each painted Danae, so it’s a name with history even if it is rather obscure.  It spent three years in the Top 1000 (1990 – 1992), but today remains almost completely unused.  If you can overlook the potential pronunciation drama – there really oughta be an umlaut in this name – it’s an interesting choice.

The surname Delaney is not nearly as popular as Madison, Taylor or Riley – yet.  For the moment, this three-syllable choice has an attractive rhythm and offers the nickname options of Della or Laney.  And while many of the last-names-first choices are worn by both boys and girls, this one seems solidly of the feminine.  But before you fall in love with this one, note that as of 2006, it was #193.  So while it’s far from common, it may yet spring into the familiar territory of the Top 100.  An alternative might be the surname Delancey.  With just one extra letter, Delancey is transformed from a Celtic charmer to an urbanista.  Venture to New York City’s Lower East Side, and Delancey Street is a major thoroughfare, celebrated in music, film and even comic strips.  It’s not fashionable, but it’s vibrant.  And unlike Delaney, Delancey does not appear in the Top 1000.

Ever since Drew Barrymore appeared onscreen in the blockbuster ET, her name has been a viable choice for girls, though it is still not as popular as Brooke, Paige, Blair or other simple single-syllable options for girls.  (In fact, while it ranked #205 for boys in 2006, it actually fell out of the Top 1000 for girls in that year.)  In Ms. Barrymore’s case, the name honors great-great-grandfather John Drew.  If you like the idea of Drew, but balk at using a gender-neutral name, you might consider reviving the ancient Roman moniker Drusilla.  While her history is often told as a tragic one – the best-known Drusilla was sister to mad Roman Emperor Caligula – it’s hard to ignore the appeal of this name.  With throwback names like Aurelia gaining in favor, this name is nicely wearable.  It does not appear in the Top 1000.

As with all Alphabet posts, there’s a name that we can’t help but scream: DON’T!  In this case, we suggest that you avoid:

Destiny

We defend noun names here on ApMtn.  Journey and Maxim, Wren and Ocean all pass muster.  But Destiny?  It seems like a moment where the parents haven’t fully grappled with the meaning of the word.  The idea of predetermination, of a fate that cannot be challenged is actually a poor concept for a child’s name.  Destined for what?  For greatness?  For infamy?  It’s a huge philosophical concept that sounds completely out of place on the playground.  What’s more, the spelling variations – Destinee, Destiney and Destini all rank in the Top 1000 – are truly horrorshow.  With a galaxy of meaningful, interesting names, why cling to this Top 50 choice?

You can do better for your daughter.

And so that’s the definitive list … for now.