If you love the name Ava, you’re not alone. Nearly than 50,000 parents have chosen Ava for their daughters since 2005.
And what’s not to love? It’s simple, it’s glamorous, it’s feminine without being frilly. Ava pairs well with a variety of last names, too.
But now that it is well installed in the Top Ten, plenty of parents are looking for an alternative to naming their daughter Ava, too. Read on for a few ideas.
Let’s say you’ve always loved the name Isabella. You’re not alone. Back in 1992, when Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman chose it for their daughter, the name was a comfortably obscure choice – #487 in the US. In fact, from 1949 to 1989, it was not even in the Top 1000. But it gained steadily throughout the 90s, and by 2006, it was the fourth most popular name given to baby girls born in the US.
And let’s not forget Isabelle (#85), Isabel (#87), Izabella (#290), Isabela (#470) and Isabell (#724). And with Bella (#181) and Ella (#21) hot choices themselves, using a nickname won’t help your daughter stand out from the hordes of same-named girls.
The only alternative is to find one.
You named your first doll Alexandra. When you wrote short stories, the heroine was always called Alexandra. Back in college, when you and your girlfriends imagined you future kids, yours was always called – you guessed it! – Alexandra.
Now you’re expecting and it’s a girl. Only it feels like every other parent has stolen your top pick, including your old roommate AND your sister-in-law.
It’s true. While the name has always been in use, since 1988, it has been in the Top 50 – that’s two solid decades where more than 6,000 newborns were dubbed Alexandra every single year. Some quick back-of-the-envelope math shows that more than 90,000 Alexandras joined our ranks in that time frame.
Should you barrel forward and call your daughter Alexandra anyway? It’s a tough call.
