Maci, Juli, Kari – no, no, no.  Macy, Julie, Carrie – yes, yes, yes.

Nicknames – Ceci for Cecilia - get a pass.  And I don’t so much mind Ashlie and Averie, though I think it might be frustrating to introduce yourself as “Ashlie with an ie” for ever and evermore.

Except that I do find myself completely in love with names that conventionally end in i, perhaps because it is rather rare – at least in English.  And so this week’s list is all about girls’ names that end with the letter i, stylishly.

Naomi – Maybe the best example of an enduring appellation that ends in i, the Biblical Naomi has been quietly on the rise for years, reaching #96 in 2010.  Looking for something similar, but less popular?  The French Noemi is an option, but Noemie is the more common spelling.  And now there’s the Scandinavian Noomi, worn by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, known for her roles in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

Eleni – I’m dazzled by Eleni’s, the New York cookie company known for their elaborately decorated sweets.  Eleni Gianopulos is the baker behind the business.  Like many famous bearers of the name, she’s Greek – but then, there was also a sixteenth century Empress of Ethiopia called Eleni, so the name has international cred.  And, of course, Eleni has impeccably classic roots – she’s derived from Helen.  With Elena, Eleanor, and Helena all feeling current at the moment, Eleni is both striking different and appealingly familiar.

Kateri – The Mohawk version of Catherine, popularized by a seventeenth century convert to Christianity, is something of a puzzle.  The pronunciation is debated, and I’m not sure if any one else answered to Kateri until Catherine Tekakwitha came along.  She’s scheduled to be canonized shortly, possibly encouraging more Catholic parents to consider Kateri for their daughters.  Still, I think she could work for parents of other faiths.  First, she’s considered the patron of environmental causes.  Second, Kate names are mainstream.

Iolani – If non-Catholic parents hesitate to embrace Kateri, perhaps those without a connection to Hawaii will pause before considering Iolani.  But I love her meaning – it translates roughly to “heavenly bird” – and the former royal palace in Honolulu is the ‘Iolani Palace.  Iolani also reminds me of Iolanthe - the Violet-variant first used by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Anjali - She’s an Indian import that could wear well circa 2012.  Her sound is close to the evergreen Angela and yet her look is worlds away.  Like Iolani and Kateri, she might be too much of a risk for some parents.  But if you dare, Anjali could be that rare name – attractive, unusual, and cross-cultural without requiring constant explanation.

Do you have any strong feeling about ends-in-i names?  Are any of these daring enough to make an exception?

They’re more interesting than I remember!  Since I’ve been thinking about the letter C lately, I thought it made sense to revisit Alphabet: C is for Girls.

Please go here to read the revised post and comment!

Image via Wikipedia

Even if you’re not even a teensy, eensy bit interested in the royal wedding, it would be pretty tough to avoid the topic today.  William and Kate’s wedding is an all-out media frenzy.

Chatter about royal baby names has been non-stop since the engagement was announced, and I’ve very much enjoyed dreaming up possible names for a future heir to the throne.

But here’s the big baby naming question that I’m wondering about: when commoner Kate becomes regal Catherine, will C become the new K?

In 1909, Catherine was slightly more popular than Katherine, but variant spellings muddy the picture:

• Catherine ranked #23, with Catharine at #324 and Cathryn at #719;
• Katherine was a respectable #53, but variants like Kathryn #74, Katharine #296, Katheryn #684, Kathrine #691, and Kathryne #731, probably gave a slight edge to the K spellings;
• Don’t forget Kathleen, at #135.

By 1959, the Ks had it:

• Kathy ranked #15; Kathleen #23; Kathryn #69; and Katherine #79;
• The only C-spelling in the Top 100 was Catherine, at #40.

And by 1989, a host of other Kate-names were in play:

• K outpaced C, with Katherine at #26, Kathryn #58, and Kathleen #90;
• Catherine remained a Top 100 choice at #67;
• Caitlin, the original spelling, was still most popular at #49, but variants Katelyn #76, Kaitlyn #95, and Kaitlin #100 were gaining fast;
• Katie was popular as a stand-alone name, at #45.

That brings us up to the present, our Kardashian-soaked era of kreative naming.  Looking at the 2009 stats:

• The Top 100 includes a host of vaguely Katherine-related names, all starting with K: Kaylee #29, Kayla #35, Kaitlyn #67, and Katelyn #89;
• Then there’s reality TV’s Khloe at #95, one of fastest gainers of 2009, though she still can’t catch Top Ten Chloe.

K’s grip has been strong.  Intriguing word name Cadence inevitably became Kaydence, and choices like Kassidy, Kinley, and Kenzie were big gainers in ’09, too.  But C shows signs of life:

• Caylee appeared at #263, up 250 paces in 2009;
• Classics Claire, Charlotte, and Caroline were all Top 100 gainers;
• Farther beyond the Top 100, vintage gems like Clara, Cecilia, Camille, and Cora all found favor with more parents.

The influences have been many, ranging from the tragic 2008 death of Caylee Anthony to the success enjoyed by actress Cate Blanchett.  The Office baby answers to Cece, and Cora owes a little something to celeb chef Cat Cora and something to the movie Coraline, too.

Factor in the newest member of the royal family, and I wonder: could we see more names creatively spelled – with a C?

Here’s a recent one – an A-to-Z list of Single Syllable Names for Girls.  I stalled out on a few letters.  Any ideas?

A is for Ann.

B is for Blythe.

C is for Claire.

D is for Dee.

E is for Elle.

F is for Fern.

G is for Greer.

H is for Hope.

I is for …

J is for June.

K is for Kate.

L is for Liv.

M is for Mae.

N is for Nell.

O is for …

P is for Paige.

Q is for Quinn.

R is for Ruth.

S is for Sloane.

T is for True.

U is for …

V is for Vrai.

W is for Wren.

X is for Xan.

Y is for …

Z is for Zelle.

Okay, some of those are a stretch, especially Xan and Zelle.  But I do love the spare simplicity of these names.  On a playground packed with girls called Olivia and Isabella, June or Sloane really stands out.

What do you think of single-syllable names for girls?  Got anything for I, O,  and Y?  And what would make your list?

Let’s start with Deacon, the name bestowed upon their starbaby son by Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe in 2003.  Until then, you might’ve stumbled across a deacon at church on Sunday, but not in the local nursery school.  But Deacon fits well with our love of two-syllable, ends-in-en names for boys, and the year after the famous Deacon debuted, his name appeared at #899 in the US Top 1000.  As of last year, it stood at #631 – still comfortably uncommon, but gaining.

Our next name takes us from Hollywood to Medieval Europe, and right back to the major leagues.  In Latin, the word durans, and the given name Durante, both mean enduring.  When the poet Durante Alighieri opted to use his nickname – Dante – professionally, he launched another D-option for a son’s name.  Italian families have used Dante for generations, but it is also favored among African American parents, with respellings like Donte, Dontae and elaborations like Deonte common.  The original remains the most popular, at #270 in 2007, but you’ll hear all the others, too – especially in professional sports, where Daunte Culpepper is perhaps the best known of the Dantes found in the NBA and NFL.  Check out our Name of the Day post on Dante for more.

It’s tough to imagine the literary Dashiell as a quarterback, but easy to see him as a track star.  In 2004, Pixar released its sixth feature film, a story of a superhero family called The Incredibles.  Son Dashiell had the power to run at super speeds, and hence earned the nickname Dash.  The best known Dashiell was that master of the detective novel, Dashiell Hammett.  In his case, the moniker came from his mother’s maiden name, the French de Cheil.  Today, you’re not likely to trip over a Dashiell.  It has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.

Dexter is the kind of D-name that has always been in use, but until recent years, rarely presented itself as a fashion-forward choice for a son.  With the “x” and “ks” sounds so current in chart-toppers like Alex and Jackson, less common choices are emerging, too.  We’ve raved about Felix; on today’s list, we add Dexter to that group.  While the small screen has given us a temperamental boy genius (the animated hero of Cartoon Network’s Dexter’s Lab) and a frighteningly clever vigilante serial killer (Dexter Morgan on Showtime’s Dexter, based on the Jeffrey Lindsay novels), reach a bit farther back in history and Dexter is the name of a suave and handsome character played by none other than Cary Grant.  In The Philadelphia Story, Grant’s C.K. Dexter Haven makes amends with his ex-wife Tracey (played by Katharine Hepburn) on the eve of her wedding to another.  Tracey calls her ex Dex – we like it quite a bit in the short or the full form.   Dexter ranked #824 in 2007.

Worn by early saints and ancient kings, the name Demetrius is quite the appellation for a small child.  It’s actually a masculine version of the Greek goddess name Demeter, and might be more familiar as the Russian Dmitri or the Greek Dimitrios.  But we think the full Latin version of the name has quite a bit of style – provided your surname is simple.  It ranked #489 in 2007.

What is it about the name James?  In Italian it becomes Giacomo and in Spanish, Diego.  While assimilation once pushed towards calling both men Jim, today Diego makes for a perfectly reasonable choice for a son’s name.  While it’s clearly Latino in origin, with the cartoon Diego saving animals daily on Nick Jr., it’s not impossible to imagine this name on a boy with a last name like Hanson or McClure.  But know that your Diego could be one of many – this has been a Top 100 name since 2002, and today stands at #58.

From the Latino to the Celtic, Donovan is another name that is not borne exclusively by sons with ties to the mother country.  While a child baptized Donovan a few decades back would’ve been plagued by classmates singing, “They call me Mellow Yellow,” after the folk singer’s 1966 hit, today Donovan is simply another of the Celtic charmers.  At #198, it’s far less common than Aiden or Connor, but still comfortably familiar.

A trio of Celtic, two-syllable, ends-in-en names also make the list: Declan, Duncan and Devlin.  Don’t use these for your triplets, but all three have plenty of style without being members of the overused-Aiden club.  Declan is the most common, at #349.  He was a 5th century Irish saint, and while the meaning of his name his name is debated, books commonly list it as “full of goodness.”  We know an Irish-born toddler with the original spelling of the name – Deaglán – but far prefer the Anglicized version, especially if you are a generation or more removed from the Motherland.

Duncan is far less common, at #764, but has some serious historical and literary cachet.  It is the name worn by two real life Kings of Scotland.  And in Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth and his wife murder their King Duncan.  We suppose that those of us who grew up in the eastern part of the US might associate Duncan with doughnuts – as in Dunkin’ Donuts, home of the Munchkin – but it has a long history of use.  While it has never been popular, it has also never fallen out of the US Top 1000.

The third of the trio, Devlin, is by far the most obscure.  It has never ranked in the Top 1000 in the US, and is most commonly heard as a surname.  In the 1970s, a short-lived Hanna-Barbera cartoon featured the exploits of Evil Knievel-type motorcycle stuntman Ernie Devlin.  While the meaning is debated – it’s given as both “fierce courage” and an Anglicized version of the name Doibhilin – it will doubtless bring to mind the English word “devil.”  Perhaps this is why Devlin has never taken off in the US.  Despite that association, we can’t help love the nickname Dev, and think that the similarity is not so close to prevent the name’s use.

As with all Alphabet posts, we have one name that we must beg you to avoid.  And for D is for boys, that name is …

Draven

Yes, we acknowledge that it shares the two-syllable, ends-in-en mold with Deacon, Declan, Duncan and Devlin.  But let’s be honest:  this name came into use after the 1994 release of the movie The Crow.  We’ll confess that we still have songs from the soundtrack on our iPod more than a decade later, but the name – actually the surname of the main character, Eric Draven, needs to go.  The movie is based on a comic, in which we know our hero simply as Eric.  The Crow’s writers dreamt up Draven as a mix of the word “driven” and that other black bird, the raven, and gave Eric a few lines of the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem to recite for good measure.

We think that names used in comics and scifi can be fair game if – and only if – there is a literary, mythological or historical precedent for the name.  Or maybe if it is so obscure that the average person can’t look at your dimpled newborn and say, “Oh … did you choose Starbuck from the Battlestar Galactica?” then it might get a pass.  

But Draven first charted in the US a year after The Crow’s release, and has risen steadily since then.  Perhaps some parents are merely attracted to the sound, but we think that naming your baby boy after a risen-from-the-grave hero of a moody, cultish film is just plain ill-advised.

We know that we’ve left many a desirable D name for boys off this list, but for now, we’re clicking “post” and promising to revisit this dashing letter … after we get through the other 22.

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.

In fact, parents searching for a name that stands out are best advised to turn away from the khaotic krowd of K names and redirect their attention to the third letter of the alphabet.

Two-syllable, nickname-free names for boys have been all the rage in recent years.  Think Logan, Aiden and Jordan.  Little wonder, then, that classic boys’ name Christian (#21 in 2006) is now nearly as popular as perennial favorite Christopher (#7 in 2006).  For parents hoping for a similar, but far less popular alternative, Carsten – the German version of Christian – might appeal.  Carsten has never ranked in the Top 1000.  Beyond its long history of use in Germany and Scandinavia, the name has a certain surname-vibe, close to the trendy Carson (#87 in 2006) but far more striking.

Another two-syllable charmer is Crispin, a name familiar because of quirky actor Crispin Glover.  But Crispin is actually a 3rd century saint, as is his twin brother, Crispinian.  Their historical validity is doubtful, but every student of Shakespeare stumbles across a reference to St. Crispin’s Day in Henry V, where the King rallies his troops to win the Battle of Agincourt.  Crispin is a name both historic and exceedingly rare.  It has never ranked in the Top 1000 in the US.

Speaking of saints, Cassian seems like another unused gem.  While the official pronunciation is the three syllable CASS ee ahn, we’d suggest rhyming this one with passion and using the country-cool nickname Cash.  Cassianus was a Roman family name, and so there were actually two saints Cassian, plus a saint John Cassian, all earning their halos between 300 and 500 AD.  Despite the name’s long history and that very appealing nickname option, Cassian has never charted in the Top 1000 in the US.

Following on our Babes in the Woods post on nature names, coolteamblt suggested the spicy Coriander as a candidate for a hippie chic boys’ name.  It’s a daring choice, but one that offers both Cory and Andy as nickname options.  And while it is undeniably a nature name, with four syllables, this one feels more like the imperial Alexander or Maximillian than Rainbow or Sky.  You won’t be surprised to learn that Coriander has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.

Many parents were drawn to Jackson because of innovative American painter Jackson Pollock.  Jackson has surname flair and indie artistic cred, but today it is also wildly popular, ranking #36 and inspiring ill-advised variants like Jaxon.  So what’s a parent to do?  Move from action painting to mobiles, and borrow the last name of artist Alexander Calder.  The name also has a nature vibe:  a caldera is a hollow created by a volcanic explosion; the Yellowstone Caldera is one of the most famous.  Calder has never ranked in the Top 1000 in the US.

For a name worn by saints and a legendary Persian emperor, it is funny that Cyrus has acquired something of a hillbilly aesthetic in recent generations.  Perhaps it is because of Billy Ray “Achey Breaky Heart” Cyrus; maybe it is because one of Canada’s Trailer Park Boys goes by the name.  In any case, Cyrus seems like it is primed for a revival.  It has never been out of use – in 1907, it was the 545th most popular name given to baby boys in the US; a century later, it stands at #515.  Actor Cybill Shepherd has a son named Cyrus Zachariah, after his great-grandfather Cyrus; however he is known as Zack.

Yes, there’s the friendly ghost.  But Casper is much more than an animated children’s spook.  It is also a place name (think Wyoming) with a certain Western flair.  Like Cyrus, it is another Persian name, this time worn by one of the Biblical Magi.  Certainly Casper is a better candidate for your child’s name than Melchior, but perhaps no less outlandish than Balthasar.  The name is in steady use elsewhere on the globe, but has not cracked the Top 1000 in the US since 1933.  However, it’s not unheard in the US.  DJ Casper is responsible for bringing the world the Cha-Cha Slide.  Ahem.

So there you have it – a handful of names that are far more original than calling your son Korey.

Speaking of Korey, we’re calling the following one to avoid:

Cody

While Cody also has an undeniable Western vibe – Buffalo Bill’s full name was William Frederick Cody, and he lent his name to another town in Wyoming – it must be said that Cody is simply past its moment.  It was already in the Top 50 when Kathie Lee Gifford chose it for her son in 1990.  After endless chatter with Regis about her baby boy, the name pushed into the Top 25, holding at #24 for three years, from 1991 to 1994.  It has slowly edged out of the Top 100, hitting #106 in 2006.

While it was always one of the flimsier cowboy choices, it is now not only insubstantial, but dated – and best avoided.

In recent years, C shows signs of life, thanks to classics like Charlotte and fast-rising variants like Caylee alike.  Now that commoner Kate is about to become future queen Catherine, here are a few C names that might bear a second look.

• Callisto – She’s a nymph, she’s a moon and on television, she’s Xena’s arch nemesis. Calista Flockhart brought a variant of this name into the spotlight and into the Top 1000. (Ally McBeal debuted in 1997; in 1998, Calista entered the list at #696 and today stands at #874.) But Callisto, with the -o ending seems the fresher, more daring choice. Either way, she can use the simple nickname Callie. While Callisto occasionally appears in fiction, she has never appeared in the Top 1000.
• Cascata – I must admit that I’ve yet to meet a soul called Cascata. It would be a truly original choice for a child, but perhaps not an outlandish one. If Luna – Latin for moon – can rank #322, then why not the Italian word for waterfall? It’s an undeniably feminine sound, with the appealing nickname option Cassie. If you’re searching for a subtle nature name, this could be the perfect choice.
• Caledonia – It’s the ancient Roman, and now, a poetic name for Scotland. There are traditional ballads by the name of Caledonia; legendary blues bandleader Louis Jordan had a #1 hit in 1945 with Caldonia. It’s lengthy, but perhaps still one of the better ways to honor a parent’s Scottish heritage through a child’s name.
• Clio/Cleo/Clea – If you like the idea of a simple but distinctive given name that suits a child as well as an adult, one of these three might be for you.  Clio was the Greek muse of history and historic poems. Since 1959, she’s also been the equivalent of the Oscar for excellence in advertising and design.  While Cleopatra may be over the top, Cleo has possibilities, though the spells seems more likely to surface on characters like a purple poodle on the PBS animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Clea is a similar possibility, best known as the given name of actress Clea DuVall. There’s a comic book villain and a mollusk called Clea, but both are reasonably obscure. And speaking of obscure, none of these three have ever appeared in the Top 1000 in the US.
• Cordelia – In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Cordelia was King Lear’s youngest – and only loyal – daughter. The name’s origins are uncertain. It was once a reasonably common given name, ranking #204 in 1880. While other names from that era – like Emma, Isabella and Sarah – are as popular as ever today, Cordelia has not appeared in the Top 1000 since 1950. The name is rare, but familiar – an appealing combination. Nicknames include Cora, Cory, Cordy and Delia or Della.  Want to go even clunkier?  Try Ancient Rome’s Cornelia.
• Coraline – Neil Gaiman’s heroine was originally named Caroline, but the author typed it wrong – and liked his typo.  It could also relate to nature name Coral.  Coralie is another option.
• Consuelo – A Spanish name meaning solace, it is sometimes bestowed upon fictional Latina maids and nannies. But Consuelo has blue blood roots. Railroad heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt, named for her half-Cuban godmother, went on to marry the Duke of Marlborough. This name would be a dramatic choice for a daughter, but since the logical nickname – Connie – feels a bit dated.  There’s also virtue name Constance, which offers the option of nature nickname Tansy.
• Cassia – It’s an Eastern version of cinnamon, a 7th century saint’s name and an ancient Roman family.  There’s even a Roman road called the Via Cassia. The same-sounding Kasia is a Polish nickname for Katherine, but Cassia is the stand-out choice. She has never appeared in the Top 1000 in the US.
• Cecily/Cicely – These frilly, feminine variants of Cecilia sound surprisingly current. After legendary African American actress Cicely Tyson appeared in the 1972 movie Sounder, Cicely spent two years in the Top 1000, peaking at #608 in 1974. It has since retreated to obscurity, though comedian Sandra Bernhardt chose Cicely for her daughter’s name.  Northern Exposure fans will remember the show was set in Cecily, Alaska; however, the place name has not helped the popularity of this pretty version of the moniker, since Cecily has not been in the Top 1000 since 1991 – a year after the show debuted. For even bolder parents, there’s also the place name Sicily to consider – but that’s another letter entirely.
• Carys – The Welsh name meaning love has attracted more attention since Hollywood power couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones gave the name to their daughter.  While she’s yet to appear in the US T0p 1000, she’d fit right in with vintage gems like Alice and more modern names, too.
• Colette – She’s literary, saintly, and has a subtle Disney tie, too.  With Vivienne and other French names for girls in vogue, the spare, tailored Colette could make a comeback.  For an equally frills-free name, consider Corinne.

Note:  C is for Girls was originally posted on February 20, 2008 and was revised and reposted on April 29, 2011.  My daughter Clio arrived on October 2, 2008 – I suspect I first got the idea for the name after writing this post!

But we’re not just spelling it out here on ApMtn. Or maybe we are.

We’re talking about a few underused, less considered names for baby boys that all happen to begin with the letter B.

Here goes …

• Bay – Nature names often seem to be reserved for girls – Daisy, Willow, Ruby. But there are a select few that work nicely for boys, and the simple, direct Bay is among them. It’s a body of water, a leaf and a color of horse. It’s also a surname, so that makes Bay fair game. (Bay has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Beckett – The nickname Beck appeals to many parents, and the super-stardom of David Beckham might lead some to consider the formal name Beckham. But we at ApMtn suggest that Beckett is a far more appealing choice. It has literary overtones, thanks to the Tony-award winning play about the life of Saint Thomas Becket. But it is the two-T version – Beckett – that broke in the Top 1000 at #758 in 2006.
• Beau – We’ve noted that Beau is an appealing option for girls, and it remains equally charming for boys. If you’re looking for a name for your little cowpoke, this is a good pick – and a strong alternative to the worn-out Cody. (Beau was #438 in 2006.)
• Becan – Celtic names are cool, whether you’re Irish or just like to toast with Guinness. But many are woefully overexposed – Aiden, Connor and Ryan spring to mind. Saint Becan was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland (though at my last count there are about 15 of them) and his name remains obscure. It has never been in the Top 1000 in the US. With the short form Beck and the two-syllable sound of Becan, this offers an interesting choice to parents looking for a lesser-known Irish charmer.
• Bodhi, Bode – The first time I spotted Bodhi, I’ll admit I thought it was an outlandish choice. Then I Googled it. Turns out that Bodhi is Sanskrit for enlightened – the Buddha achieved enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree. The name might’ve caught parents’ attention back in 1991, when Patrick Swayze played a bad guy surfer called Bodhi in Point Break. The spelling Bode, worn by the famous American alpine skier Bode Miller, offers an alternative spelling that might seem more masculine. (Bodhi has never been in the Top 1000, but Bode entered at #848 in 2006.)
• Bram – Traditionally a nickname for Abraham – which made our A is for Boys post – Bram could stand on its own. The most famous Bram is doubtless the author of Dracula, Bram Stoker. (Bram has never been in the Top 1000.)
• Barney – This old-fashioned name would be a daring choice for parents, indeed. Not only is there the purple dinosaur, there’s sidekick Barney Rubble on The Flinstones, Homer’s drinking buddy Barney on The Simpsons and the hapless Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. And yet, if Henry is hot, Barney might just make a comeback. Today the most famous Barney on TV may be the character played by Neil Patrick Harris on How I Met Your Mother – the womanizing Barney Stinson – a far-cry from the saccharine children’s show. (Barney has not been in the the Top 1000 since 1976.)
• Bryson – It must be said that I don’t care for the name Bryce, and find Brycen absolutely dreadful. But the surname alternative Bryson has real appeal. Travel writer Bill Bryson lends the name some cachet. In fact, this name is almost too popular to rate a nod from ApMtn – it came in at #176 in 2006.

B is a tricky letter. Many of the best known B names for girls are nicknames – think Becky and Betsy – or nouveau names like Britney. But there are a few gems to be found.

Here are a few bright and brilliant options starting with the letter B:

• Belén – The Spanish form of Bethlehem, Belen (pronounced bay LEN) is a graceful, tailored choice for a girl, with international and place name flair, too. While some parents might fret that the name will be said more like Helen with a B, given the popularity of all the Bell- and – bell names in recent years, that might be something of a bonus. The name is a top choice in Chile, and may gain some attention on our shores thanks to Spanish horror flick El Orfanato, starring Belen Rueda. (Belen has been in the Top 1000 in the US since 2000, charting at #914 in 2006.)
• Bryony – Just as Belen is a subtle place name, Bryony offers a botanical option that isn’t over-flower-powering. Since the plant is most familiar in Scotland, there’s also a certain British style to this name, and indeed, it is more common on the opposite side of the Atlantic. For parents worried that Violet is too trendy, Bryony may well be a great choice. For families trying to honor a Brian or Bryan, it’s also a far more sophisticated moniker than Brianna. The variant spelling Briony is also used, and was the given name of the misguided younger sister in the novel and film Atonement. (Bryony has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.)
• Beatrice and Beatrix will appeal to parents searching for a name that is instantly familiar, but rarely used, at least in the US. The name has been worn by princesses and saints, and, presumably by the Park Slope protagonist of Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Knuffle Bunny, Too, though she is known as Trixie in the books. Speaking of literature, Beatrice is one of the main characters in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, and Beatrix Potter created the enduring Peter Rabbit. Perhaps best of all, the meaning of Beatrice is lovely – Baby Names World lists it as “voyager through life.” This gentle throwback name has a granny-chic vibe that fits right in with Hannah and Hazel, but still manages to stand out. (Beatrice ranked #996 in 2006; Beatrix was unranked.)
• Bethan - This Welsh pet name for Elizabeth might stand on its own, and seems much more interesting than the simple Beth, and stronger than the popular place name Bethany. She’s likely to be called Bethanne, of course, but this name actually sounds more like Bevan or Devon.  (Bethan has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.)
• Bess, Betsy – While there’s a hint of the bovine about Bess, it is quite close to Tess – a nickname that has surpassed its formal version, Teresa, in terms of popularity. (Tessa ranked #252 and Tess #734 in 2006; Teresa came in at a mere #535 and Theresa at a downright obscure #717.) While Betsy may still bring to mind the famous Little Miss Betsy Wetsy doll for many, the nickname does have a spunky, old school vibe that may appeal to modern parents.
• Beau – Beau would be quite the boyish choice – not only it is the French word for handsome, it is sometimes used to refer to a boyfriend. Plus Gary Cooper played Beau Geste, an adventurer off to recover a stolen jewel in the 1939 movie.  Despite – or perhaps because of its boyish charm, Beau seems like a sweet middle name choice for a girl. But the real appeal is as a nickname for Isabeau, a French alternative for parents finding Isabella too, too popular. (Beau charted at #438 for boys in 2006; Isabeau is unranked.)

So there you have it – a bevy of beautiful B names.

NOTE: Post updated April 26, 2010.  Links added, but names unchanged.