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.

The first option is to simply elaborate on Ava. There is the pitfall of creating an ersatz princess name like Aviella if you go this route, of course. But there are a few choices worth consideration:

• Avery – Borrowed from the boys, this name is familiar to anyone who’s ever ordered office supplies. It’s appealing, frills-free and wears well for a child or an adult. However, it was also the 52nd most popular choice for girls born in 2006 – so while it isn’t quite as hot as Ava, it’s not far behind.
• Avril - While April seems stuck in the 70s with macrame wall hangings, the French version makes for an appealing nature name. Pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne lends the name some familiarity. Toulouse-Lautrec immortalized Moulin Rouge dancer Jane Avril in his paintings, giving the name a certain ooh la la. Avril has never appeared in the Top 1000 names in the US.
• Averil - At first glance, Averil looks like an elaboration of Avril, but its origins are completely distinct. A seventh-century English nun who helped found a religious community, her name is sometimes listed as Everildis, Everilda, Everild or Averil. The latter two versions seem best for the 21st century. Averil has never appeared in the Top 1000 names in the US.
• Avalon – One of our favorites here at ApMtn, Avalon was a paradise in Arthurian legend. The name may translate to island of the apples, making it something of a nature name, as well, and a place name – Avalon, California and New Jersey are both appealing waterfront communities. A choice both unusual and familiar, Avalon has never appeared in the Top 1000 names in the US.

But if it is Ava’s simplicity that draws you, adding an extra few letters might not quite suit. Instead, you might consider other equally simple, two-syllable, ends-in-a choices like:

• Anya - It’s the Russian form of Anna and a Sanskrit name, too. In fact, it’s easy to imagine Anya blending gracefully into almost any language. But its simplicity also makes it a stand out. Perhaps that’s why it is climbing the popularity charts, ranking #405 in 2006. While that’s not obscure, it’s not common, either.
• The -ora family: Cora, Dora, Nora and Zora – While each havs distinct origins, they have a similar appeal. Dora and Nora emerged as nicknames for Dorothea/Theadora and Eleanor, but are comfortably bestowed as independent names. Cora is from the Greek for hill; Zora from the Slovak for sunrise. They’re a nice set of throwback names due for a resurgence in popularity. Circa 1880, Cora was the 15th most popular name for girls in 1880. Along with Nora and Dora, this trio spent the late 19th and early 20th centuries in frequent use – all three charted in the Top 100. Zora might sound like a modern innovation, but in fact, was the 304th most popular name given to girls in 1880. All four have possibilities today, with Dora the most obscure (it has not been in the Top 1000 since 1992), followed by Zora (#960 in 2006) and Cora (#384). Nora is the most common -ora variant, ranking at #245, with the related Norah standing at #513.
• Zara – While this seems like a twist on Sara, Zara is an Arabic name that means shining. It gained worldwide attention in 1981, when Princess Anne chose the name for her daughter. Fashionistas know that Zara is a Spanish clothing chain akin to the Limited, now making inroads in the US. It’s a simple choice, and one that is familiar but still quite rare. In 2006, it was the 858th most popular name in the US.
• Lila/Lilah – Without the final h, this name appears in Sanskrit, Swahili and Persian; with the final h, it is used in Hebrew. The result is an appealingly international name with considerable flair. Lila was #329 and Lilah #867 in 2006.

And if it is Ava’s glamour-girl image that draws you, consider these other choices drawn from Hollywood’s Walk of Fame: Stella, Lauren, Veronica, Tallulah, Natalie or Esther.

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.

It’s tempting to dust off the Scottish variant, Isobel. The spelling looks spare and fresh, and the name is quite rare – it hasn’t been in the Top 1000 in the US since 1921, and while it was occasionally used in the early years of the twentieth century, it was never common. But alas, Isobel sounds exactly like Isabel and Isabelle, making it too close to for comfort.

Here are a few alternatives that might suit:

• Isadora – The most famous Isadora is undoubtedly the dancer, Isadora Duncan. She lends the name a certain artistic flair. But this exotic name has surprisingly humble roots, too – Saint Isidore the Laborer is the patron saint of farmers. Modern children would most likely link your Isadora with Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, or possibly with Dory, the memory-impaired fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Nemo. The nicknames, and their familiarity among the pint-sized, make this unusual choice quite accessible. (Isadora has not appeared in the Top 1000 names since 1900.)
• Isabeau – Like Isabel, Isabeau is derived from Elizabeth. But this version is nicely obscure and has an appealing French vibe, too. Perhaps the masculine -beau ending puts some parents off. Beau is French for handsome; it has also been used to mean boyfriend. But if little girls are named Ryan and Dylan these days, that seems a rather flimsy reason to dismiss such a stunningly attractive name as this. Rest assured that your Beau will share the playground with at least one little girl called Alex. (Isabeau has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Isolde – A princess in Arthurian legend, Isolde has stood by neglected while her true love’s name has become quite the popular choice for boys. (Tristan was #86 in 2006.) Richard Wagner turned their tale into an opera; in 2006, Ridley Scott brought it to the big screen. And yet, the name languishes in obscurity. It is, perhaps, a lot of name for a small child, but it is also a name with history and roots, and certainly no more of a mouthful that Isabella.  (Isolde has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Anastasia – Just as Isabella was bestowed to future monarchs, Anastasia was the name famously given to the youngest daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. If you’re drawn to Isabella for the name’s foreign royalty flair, then this equally exotic choice might suit. But note that this lovely name cannot be considered obscure, simply underused. (Anastasia was #288 in 2006.)
• Mirabel – If you love the “bel” in Isabella, perhaps this alternative will appeal. The name means lovely; wondrous. Bestowed upon both boys and girls in the Middle Ages, this choice seems thoroughly feminine; perhaps even dainty. It’s also an alternative to the heavy-handed Miracle, which stands at #482 in the Top 1000. And if you’ve been to Quebec, you may recognize this as a place name; in fact, you may well have flown into Montreal-Mirabel International. Some may recall that Mirabella was a short-lived women’s magazine in the 1990s. But none of these associations quite stick, and the name has a fresh, interesting sound. (Mirabel has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.)
• Aurora – If it’s the fairytale princess flavor of Isabella that draws you in, then consider Sleeping Beauty’s given name, Aurora. (Some parents report choosing Isabella because of the heroine of Beauty and the Beast, Belle. Indeed, the film’s 1991 release coincides with the jump in Isabella’s use.) Aurora was officially settled on the somnolent one by Disney in 1959; in previous tellings, she was sometimes anonymous or known by another name. Aurora is also, of course, the Roman goddess of the dawn, who also lends her name to the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights. It’s a little bit romantic and a whole lot astronomical. It also boasts the user-friendly nickname Rory. The name has been used infrequently for generations, but today stands at #312 – about as popular as it has ever been.

There’s no telling, of course, if 15 years from now we’ll be seeking out alternatives to the Top 10 trendy Isolde. But for the moment, these all offer reasonable alternatives to the charming but overused Isabella.

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.

On the one hand, Alexandra is a classic.  Years ago, parents didn’t fret about having so many Marys, Janes and Mary Janes on the same block.  In fact, if you look at my mother’s Italian family, there are multiple cousins with variations of the name Maria, all honoring one grandmother of the same name.  It was tradition.

It was also confusing.  So you understand why Mary and Maria and Anna Maria all grew up and tried to find slightly less popular choices for their children.  (Of course, many of them ended up with Linda and Pamela, Amy and Jennifer – but that’s another post.)

Our forebearers had a valid point: sharing a name is just that.  You don’t share anything else, and if the name has meaning, then it feels almost superficial to abandon it simply for fashion.

On the other hand, it is easier to change your hair color than it is to change your name.  So it’s worth sweating what we’re going to call our kids – and worth wondering if you really want your child to be one of many.

Here are a few alternatives to consider:

1. Choose another, similar, but less common Al- name.  The musical Allegra comes to mind.  It has yet to hit the Top 1000, though I suspect it will break through by 2010.
2. Choose a similar name that starts with a different letter.  Cassandra is perhaps the most obvious substitute.  (It was a mere #219 last year.)  Cordelia and Marianna might also appeal.
3. Choose a globe-trotting variant of Alexandra.  Now this is where the fun begins!  If you take a global view of this classic name, there’s Alix, Alejandra and Alessandra, as well as Alessia and Alastrina (related to Alastair), plus the French-fried Alexiane.
4. Choose a modern variant of Alexandra.  The fun never stops!  On our own shores, I’ve heard Alexa, Alexine, Alexane and Alexia.  While Alexia is often dismissed as a) a brain disorder and b) a brand of frozen potatoes, it was also #164 on the Social Security most popular baby names list for 2006.  I’d say that makes it c) a valid choice for your child.
5. Elaborate on Alexandra.  There’s the place name Alexandria, which is both exotic and genteely Southern; the graceful Alexandrine, the mouthful Alexandrina or even something new.  Alixandrie, anyone?
6. Stick with Alexandra, but choose an unexpected nickname.  Lots of little girl Alexandras are known as Lexi, and – surprise – plenty of them go by Alex, too.  But probably just a handful are called by the Russian diminutive Sasha.  And fewer still are Zandra or Zandie, Zara or Sadie.  And while Ali is a popular nickname for plenty of Al- names, it’s a valid choice for Alexandra, too.

The one name I haven’t listed as an alternative to Alexandra is Alexis.  Why?  If Alexandra has been Top 50 in recent years, Alexis has been Top 10 – from 1996 to 2003, in fact, and it remains Top 15.  It has even spawned monstrous variant spellings like the part-baby, part-luxury brand moniker Alexus.

Shiver.

So while Alexandra retains a classic, regal dignity no matter how many times it is repeated, Alexis simply sounds worn out.   The original remains a valid choice for modern parents – though one that requires some reflection.

Incidentally, my own firstborn is Alexander, called Alexei – named after his grandfather.  If I were faced with naming a girl Alexandra?  I’d stick with the original and call her Sasha.

But the choices are nearly infinite.