Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

He’s a literary Russian option, nearly unknown in the US.

Thanks to Jennifer for suggesting Arkady as our Baby Name of the Day.

Ask someone to name an ancient appellation with ties to Greece and Russia, an enduring classic that starts with A, and the most likely answer is Alexander.

Arkady fits that bill, too, and has the added bonus of being far less common, at least in English.

There are a few possible pronunciations: ahr KAH dee seems the most common, but I’ve heard ahr KAY dee, too.

Arcadia has existed for centuries – it is mentioned in The Iliad.  Mountainous and remote, it was said that the part-goat god Pan, the most famous flutist until the advent of the Pied Piper and Jethro Tull – made his home in Arcadia.  During the Renaissance Arcadia was a poetic stand-in for an unspoiled pastoral refuge, a reference along the lines of Eden or Avalon.

As if that wasn’t enough of a tale, Arcadia takes its name from Arcas, the son of Zeus and Callisto. Hera, ever the jealous wife, turned Callisto into a bear – nevermind that Zeus had tricked Callisto into their liaison in the first place.  Years later, Callisto recognized her grown son and rushed towards him, but since she was still trapped in a bear suit their reunion was doomed.  Arcas is derived from the Greek arktos – bear, but you know him as Ursa Minor.  Zeus plucked mother and son from the earth before their embrace ended badly and placed them in the sky as Ursa Major and her cub.

But back to Arkady.  Arcadius of Mauretania was a third-century Christian.  During a persecution in 302, he was martyred in what would be modern day Algeria.  A sixth-century bishop of Bourges also answered to Arcadius and earned sainthood.

The name persisted in Byzantium and the east; later, it became reasonably common in Russian.  Artists, writers, athletes, scientists, and politicians have worn the name throughout recent centuries.

Some of the 20th century Arkadys might’ve been inspired by the novelist Ivan Turgenev’s 1862 Fathers and Sons.  Arkady was one of the sons, part of the younger generation.  Unlike his friend Yevgeny, Arkady ends happily.

The title and the concept have been popular, but unlike many a successful novel, film and television adaptations have been few.

Isaac Asimov gave the name to a girl.  In his Foundation series, Arcadia Darell answers to the nickname Arkady.  She also stows away on a spaceship and has a whole raft of adventures.

There was one other fictional Arkady – the hero of Martin Cruz Smith’s 1981 novel, Gorky Park, and several follow-up adventures.  William Hurt played Arkady in the 1983 film adaptation.  In an interview, Smith pronounced his character’s name more like AHR kay dee.

In some ways, it must have been a missed opportunity for Arkady.  The 1980s were not a good moment for Russian names.  We were curious about the Soviet Union, and it was the era of Perestroika.  But actually using a Russian name probably would’ve felt extreme.

And so Arkady remains obscure, even though there’s far less baggage attached circa 2011.

If you can decide on a pronunciation, he makes for a pleasing masculine moniker that is both exotic and wearable.  He’s tough, but good – as are the most popular characters to answer to Arkady.  With ties to mythology, the ancient world, and all things Russian, there are many reasons to consider Arkady.

Door Number 15 by cogdogblog via Flickr

Since I’ve starting writing AppMtn, I’ve learned that I can usually tell you why a name rose – hindsight is 20/20 – but I cannot tell you, with any certainty, which names will make the US Top 1000 in the year 2020.

I can say, with some confidence, that the majority of the names in the Top 100 will likely still be there in another decade.  It takes years for popular names to wane: Jennifer reached #1 in 1970, but didn’t leave the Top 100 until 2009.  Jason reached #2 in 1972, and he still came in at #69 last year.

The Freakonomics 2015 predictions at Baby Name Garden reflect the power of momentum.  It is easy to imagine that Avery and Jackson would rise, but nearly impossible to guess which names would enter the Top 1000.  They identified stylish choices like McGregor and Eleanora – not bad for baby naming rookies – but it takes more than that to make a popular name.  There’s also this Business Insider article, suggesting that Griffin and Adele are among the ones to watch.

So I’m always in awe of the annual po0l winners at Baby Name Wizard.  They seem to have a crystal ball, or maybe just a really sharp sense of how trends impact statistics.

Elsewhere online:

• Still I try – could Meridian be the next big thing?  Spotted her at You Can’t Call It “It” and For Real Baby Names this week;
• British Baby Names sourced some sibsets from the 1900 and 1911 census data.  Lottie Lily Louisa, Kenrick, Rufus Theodore … proof that inventive baby naming is nothing new;
• You’d expect indie musicians to pick cool names for their kids, and Elisabeth’s list at You Can’t Call It “It” does not disappoint.  Panda, anyone?
• I loved Waltzing More Than Matilda’s list of Sydney suburbs that could double as baby names.  Avalon is a long-time favorite of mine.
• Is this post at Swistle a good example of why so many parents are drawn to surname names?  She describes Landon and Brady as “English gentlemen” and “strong” sounding.  I don’t agree with her descriptions, but I am curious if that makes me the odd one out.

In starbaby news:

• Alicia Silverstone almost managed to take the focus off Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s twins by issuing a birth announcement of her own.  Alicia’s cub was named Bear Blu;
• Except not really, because Nick Cannon gave an interview explaining the names and insisting “I think we did a good job on the names. They ain’t gonna be mad at us when they grow up.”  Okay.  I hope so, too;
• Kings of Leon’s Matthew Followill is a new dad to son Knox Cameron Patrick;
• How did I miss this?  David Boreanaz and wife Jamie had everyone talking when they named their daughter Bardot Vita.  Only they never called her Bardot.  They call her Bella, and apparently have made the change legally, too.  (Though it looks like they added Bella, so she’s Bella Vita Bardot.)  Hat tip to M for mentioning it on the Nameberry post about Modern Hero Names.

Last week at Nameberry was all about names borrowed from the labels of kids’ designers.  This week I’m off in a different direction.   Think fjords + comic books + popcorn + the ancient world.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!

The Number 30 by Herman Turnip via Flickr

It strikes me that I’m now into my fourth year of writing at AppMtn.  My first post was Ava and Harlow, back on January 23, 2008.  I’d learned the mechanics of blogging for work a few years earlier; I now manage yet another blog in Real Life, and it looks like it is about to be joined by another.  Nothing I’ve written professionally has given me anywhere near the joy I’ve gotten out of writing here, and I credit that to you.  (Yup, even you lurkers.  I can’t hear you, but I can see you – and it’s nice to know that you’re here, too.)

On to the news:

• Carlton F.W. Larson of UC Davis School of Law dips a toe into our world with “Naming Baby: The Constitutional Dimensions of Parental Naming Rights.” Nancy read up on the section about numbers in given names and has a summary here. Larson himself wrote on prawfsblog about a subject that fascinates me: diacritical marks.  His take?  Many laws passed by the states to restrict naming rights are okey-dokey, but prohibiting diacritical marks might not be;
• Here’s another hot-button issue I enjoy:  I thought I invented that name, posted at BabyNameWizard. In this case, the name in question is Baylen, recently in the press as the name of Drew Brees’ firstborn, big brother to Bowen.  Wattenberg suggests that names aren’t invented – they’re discovered.  I like that concept.  Wattenberg also wrote about the phenomenon of parents choosing a name, then searching for a meaning:  “I made up this name, can you tell me what it means?”  That one always stumps me;
• Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” came up with a list of twenty possible options for Nicole at Making It Lovely to consider.  So far Frederick is in front, but Hugo got my vote;
• Here’s something spotted by ForReal: Avalon is one of my favorites, but to me it is all girl.  Interesting to see it in the middle for a boy, paired with the powerful Gage;
• I’d love to know what this reader does.  Loyal Granddaughter asked the Name Lady what she thought of using all four grandmothers’ names for her daughter: Sue Mae Rose Marie.  The advice was sound – why not combine so your daughter receives all of the names in some form?  I love the idea of Susan Rosemary Mae or Rosamae Susan Marie;
• Do you read The Meanest Mom?  I must be the last person on Earth to discover Jana’s blog.  She’s not really mean, but she is wickedly funny.  And I’m crazy about her eldest child’s name, a daughter called Camber;
• I don’t read Portuguese, but I’ve just started following Nomes e mais nomes anyhow;
• From the wayback machine: in 2009, I wrote about Lunette and Arlo.  Last year, it was Clover and Jacoby;
• And here’s a look forward: in the queue for next week are Piers, Frank, Lucinda, Ulysses, and Amory.

Stop by Nameberry tomorrow where I’ll be talking about names I found while culling through the list of Oscar nominees.  (C in DC, thanks for the inspiration!)

Speaking of The Glamorous Life, please welcome the following sure-to-be-paparazzi-stalked tots to the universe:

• Mike Tyson welcomed a son called Morocco Elijah.  He and wife Lakiha also have a daughter, Milan.  Tyson’s six older children are D’Amato, Mikey, Miguel, Rayna, Amir, and his daughter Exodus, who passed away in 2009;
• No Doubt’s Tony Kanal is a new dad. He and girlfriend Erin Lokitz welcomed daughter Coco Reese Lakshmi.  The rest of the musical crew’s moppets are Kingston, Zuma, Ace, Rio, and Mason.

Which reminds me, Clio is obsessed with Gwen Stefani and Akon’s single “The Sweet Escape.”  How do you say no to a toddler who asks for “more Woo-hoo song, peeeeez?”

Speaking of requests, I’ll be doing another rerun week in April.  Should you stumble across a post that you think needs some freshening up, feel free to suggest it via email to appmtn (at) gmail (dot) com.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thank you for reading!

From 1954's The Barefoot Contessa; Image via Wikipedia

She’s Biblical, saintly, international, Hollywood-glam, and nature-themed, too.  Is it any wonder she has become one of the most popular names of our time?

Thanks to Meredith for suggesting Ava as Baby Name of the Day.

That’s the legendary Ava Gardner in the picture to the right, and along with Audrey, Natalie, Harlow, and Bardot,  Tinsel Town often gets credit for encouraging parents to choose Ava for their daughters.  While the Carolina farm girl who shed her drawl to become an Oscar-nominated star quickly comes to mind, that’s not quite the way the story really goes.

Ava’s possible origins are many:

• She’s often listed as a variant of Eve.  If you remember our discussion of Eva, you’ll recall that Eva Gabor pronounced her name like Ava – and she’s not alone;
• Plenty of Germanic names start with the element av.  There’s much debate about that bit’s meaning, but gems like Aveza, Avia, Avacyn, and Avekin can be dredged from various historical documents;
• Speaking of history, there’s a ninth-century Saint Ava, usually listed as a daughter of Pepin, King of the Franks, and thus a descendant of Charlemagne;
• I’m sure this is a fluke, but I couldn’t help but notice that the Franks often found themselves up against the nomadic Avars, eventually absorbed by Hungarians – couldn’t confirm origin of their name;
• Some sources list her as a Persian name meaning voice;
• It is impossible to overlook her similarity to the Latin avis - bird.

When Gardner’s parents chose the name, Ava was unusual but not obscure.  She’d ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880.  Gardner initially bolstered a falling name, leading Ava to #376 in 1954.  But though Gardner’s career was long, her name’s popularity didn’t last.  Perhaps it was her reputation as a homewrecker after Frank Sinatra famously left wife Nancy to wed Ava.

Ava did appear as a popular television character in the late 1960s – only we knew her as Buffy.  Family Affair’s tale of three cute orphans moving in with their man-about-town uncle usually referred to the moppets as Cissy, Jody, and Buffy, but their formal names were Catherine, Jonathan, and Ava Elizabeth.

As Family Affair left the small screen, Ava fell completely out of favor and wasn’t seen in the rankings through the 1980s.

If Hollywood didn’t invent Ava in the first place, it should get credit for her resurgence.  Starbabies called Ava include:

• Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora’s 1997-born daughter when the name ranked #618;
• Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s 1999-born daughter, Ava Elizabeth arrived when her name charted at #259;
• By the time Hugh Jackman’s daughter, Ava Eliot, made her appearance in 2005, Ava charted at #9;
• More recently, Caroline Rhea, James Otto, Kevin Dillon, and Andrea Roth all welcomed girls called Ava.

Smashing Pumpkins’ 1998 single “Ava Adore” and masterfully creepy video lent the name some edge.

Today parents eager to find something just a little different from Ava and her surname cousin Avery are experimenting with everything from elaborations like Aveline and Avaleigh to similar-but-unrelated choices from Aven to Avalon.

Despite her popularity, Ava still retains much of her Hollywood sheen.  She’s as appropriate on a child as an adult.  But with ever so many little girls answering to Ava, some parents are certainly seeking less popular options.

But never fear!  There’s news aplenty to occupy your quiet hours:

• This post at Swistle raises one of my favorite questions: how close is too close? Can you name your daughter Dorothy and your son Theodore?  It seems awfully close to me, and it would be nearly impossible to name a third child.  But both names are great;
• Speaking of my favorite questions, The Stir raised the question of misspelled baby names. Comments ran the gamut from those who hate, hate, hate them to the mother of four kids named Corynne, Caleb, Caidy and Cayleigh.  They raised the question thanks to a rant at CafeMom prompted by a birth announcement spotted for a Madicyn.  I think there’s a lot going unsaid in these conversations, but mostly, I find myself leaning more and more towards defending variant spellings;
• Which reminds me – I didn’t realize Cyndi Lauper had kids, much less a tween son called Declyn;
• For Real spotted a birth announcement for Sweden Piper.  It’s a far more inventive place name than Brooklyn or Savannah and I guess they can call her Swedie – Sweetie – for short.  Whether that makes the name extra fabulous or seriously problematic, I cannot say;
• I stumbled across this post from a mom of ten (soon to be eleven!) who listed all of her kids’ first and middle names.  It’s an interesting assortment:  Morganne Natalia, Brennan Geoffrey, Lliam Donal, Bonny Dianne, Gavin Xavier, Dierdre Marie, Ronan Wainwright, MacKenna Elyse, Grayse Dawn and Avalon Noelle.  I’m particularly impressed by Wainwright – it’s a reboot of the family name Wayne;
• Which reminds me – this is one of my favorite lists of all time is Linda’s Rubes, Hayseed and Bumpkins at Nameberry.  The range from nearly mainstream choices like Gus and Jasper to up-next picks like Chester, Rufus and Silas to wow, out there options.  I can’t quite picture a baby named Floyd;
• I’m not suggesting you give your child an Inuit name inspired by the beluga whales at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.  But it is an interesting list, and if Maya is so popular, maybe Naya could catch on.  Just don’t tell your daughter about the connection until she grows up to be a marine biologist;
• I lived in Western Pennsylvania for years, not so very far from the West Virginia border. Laura Wattenberg’s post on the name Dreama struck a chord – I did, indeed, know a Dreama and she was from WV and named after her mother.  No idea why, though … I once asked Dreama and she wasn’t sure how her grandmother settled on the name, either;
• ABC Family’s latest show about the secret life of American teenagers is Pretty Little Liars, based on a series of young adult novels.  The characters’ names?  Hanna, Emily, Aria and Spencer.  Spencer is played by an actress called Troian.  If the show is successful, it could have an impact on baby names in 2010;
• I’m a huge fan of the name Rebecca L of Girl’s Gone Child chose for her daughter, Fable.  Sebastiane gives us the intriguing Estonian equivalent, Valme;
• Sebastiane also rounded up some of the most intriguing names for saints from across the globe.  If truly unusual but not invented is your wish, this is the list for you.  I can just hear it now: meet my sons Fragan, Malo, Ot and Lot, and their sister Elined;
• In the wake of the rankings announcements, CNN attempts to put a fresh spin on the name conversation by asking Does Your Name Shape Your Destiny? They trotted out some reliable experts and some solid facts, but the important point they missed, I think, is that our perceptions of specific names are not fixed.  Barbara and Linda were once the height of fashion, today’s Olivia and Ava.  Now they’re your aunt’s names.  Someday, they may be back in style right in time for you to do a double-take when your daughter announces her name for a daughter.

In starbaby news:

• The big noise was about Claudia Schiffer’s Cosima Violet, a name that seems to be getting mostly good reviews;
• There’s also Monica Bellucci’s new daughter, Léonie, a little sister for Deva;
• ABC correspondent Andrea Canning also welcomed daughter #2: Charlotte Brewster, a little sister for Anna Katherine;
• And a very, very special thanks to British American for posting the link and excerpt from the Kerri Walsh interview explaining her choice of Sundance’s name – and SarahinJune’s video clip that shows us why we might meet more baby Sundances!

Next Saturday we kick off our Reader Baby Name Stories.  I’m SO excited to share what you’ve shared!

Have a great weekend, and see you on Tuesday.  Thanks for reading!

And one reason that’s trivial for him, dead serious for me: we could never agree on a name.

We do have a few candidates, scraps from the cutting room floor.  I’ve mentioned them in comments from time to time, but I thought a round-up was in order.  

Our girls’ list is first; I’ll post the boys’ list later.

1.  The frontrunner: Rosemary, nicknamed Romy

My grandmother was born Maria Rosa and known as Rose Marie.  I adored my grandmother and miss her constantly.  Rosemary/Romy works with the kids’ names, too – Alexander, Claire Caroline and Rosemary.  Alexei, Clio and Romy.  Aly, Clio and Romy.  Alex, Clio and Romy.

The only trouble?  We’d have named two daughters after my female relatives, while Arthur’s side of the family is out in the cold.

2.  Grace Genevieve, nicknamed Gigi

This was our long-time second name for a daughter.  It mirrors the pattern of Clio’s formal name and honors Arthur’s mother, Grazyna.  (It’s a Polish name that sounds something like this – grah JZIN ah.  My mother still can’t say it.  I’m not sure that I can, either.)

Trouble is?  I don’t much care for Grace.  Neither does my mother-in-law.  When she first came to the US she actively resisted others’ attempts to Anglicize her name as Grace.  I love Gigi, and instantly think of the musical with Maurice Chevalier singing “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.”  But I can see it is the kind of diminutive that you’d want to shed before, say, clerking for a circuit court judge.

I’ve also toyed with Hanae or Hannelore on the theory that they mean grace, but that’s a stretch.

3.  Helena, nicknamed Laney

This is another name plucked from Arthur’s family tree, but this time far enough back that we weren’t even aware of it until Arthur’s mother mentioned the name.  It works nearly just as well as Romy with the other kids’ names – Aly, Clio and Laney.  Alex, Clio and Laney.  Alexander, Claire Caroline and Helena.

4.  Penelope, nicknamed Polly

It’s a name I’ve long loved, and a way to connect to another family name – Paulina, Arthur’s cousin and Aly’s godmother.  But somehow Clio and Polly don’t sound like sisters to me.  There are also two little Pollys in our ‘hood already.

5.  Georgia, Olwen

George is a family name on my dad’s side, as is Olwen.  I’d probably reserve Olwen for the middle spot, and I don’t think Georgia pairs well with Clio.

6.  Margaret, nicknamed Daisy or Marguerite, nicknamed Daisy

Arthur’s aunt is Małgorzata, the Polish form of Margaret.  I like Marguerite much better than Margaret, partially because I had a Great Aunt Griet.  (I assume she, too, was baptized Margaret.)  So yes, I’m using a Polish formal name and a Dutch nickname (that I can’t explain, because no one in my family is Dutch, at all, though there was a pair of wooden shoes in my grandmother’s house) to arrive at a French name.  Which we’d put aside in favor of a botanical nickname anyhow.

8.  Diana, nicknamed Daisy or Anya

My eye-poppingly strange maiden name was Niadna, which can be anagramed to spell Dianna.  Arthur wouldn’t go for a variant spelling, but he likes Diana.  Neither nickname follows naturally, but I think both work well.  Anya also reminds me of my great-grandmother Anna.

9.  Cordelia, nicknamed Delia, Adelaide or Avalon

My nickname for Arthur is Del, and so I’ve long looked for feminine names that incorporate the element.  Adelaide was an early front-runner, but could we really have an Abby and an Addie in the same house?  Plus I’m convinced that Addie is going to supernova by 2012.

Cordelia is another option, one I like quite a bit, especially with the nickname Delia.  Alexander, Claire Caroline and Cordelia.  Aly, Clio and Delia.  Alex, Clio and Delia -  hmmm … it does raise the question of whatever happened to Baby B.

In Arthurian legend, Avalon is paradise.  It’s a subtle connection to Dad’s given name, but one that I quite like, especially in the middle spot.

10.  Isabeau

I’ve long loved this medieval variant of Elizabeth.  My little sister answers to the nickname Bo, so Isabeau seems like a fitting choice.

Once upon a time, I toyed with incorporating Boadicea, the first century warrior queen of the Iceni, in a child’s name for the same reasons.  But the more accurate spelling is probably Boudica, and there’s debate about whether the pronunciation begins with a boo rather than a bo.

11.  Iris

For my grandmother Irene, though it doesn’t sound great with our last name.  Too bad, because Clio and Iris sound like sisters, and I think she works with Aly and Clio nearly as well as Romy.

12.  Ellery

For my stepgrandfather, Irene’s husband, a thoroughly good egg.  I’ve considered it in the middle spot for a daughter or a son.

13.  Noor/Nora/Elinor and Lucy/Lucia/Luca/Lucienne

Claire means light, so names that share a similar meaning have always appealed.

14.  Veronica or Frederica

Do all name aficionados worry about naming twins, up until the ultrasound confirms that there’s only one baby on the way?

Had Alexander had a twin sister, two possible names were Veronica or Frederica, both to honor my dad, Eric, without poaching the name from my brother, Eric Jr.  Erica was also a contender, but seemed a little too close – even though my brother answers to Rohn.

15.  Sofia/Zofia/Sophie

My mother-in-law’s first middle name is Zofia.  In Polish, it gets a two-syllable pronunciation – ZAWF yeh – but I’ve heard Polish-Americans say it more like Sophia with a Z.  Zofia nicknamed Zoe was a contender for a while.

16.  Josephine, Catharine

Both choices from my mother’s family tree – Joseph was her grandfather, Catharine her aunt.  I don’t remember Joseph, but Great Aunt Catharine was one of my favorites.  Because her Manhattan apartment overlooked the Hudson, her grandson nicknamed her Grandma Boat.  Years later, Aly misunderstood Aunt Bo as Aunt Boat, so there’s a story there.

I’m fairly certain Catharine’s spelling is a nod to the Italian Catarina.  In any case, it is my favorite spelling and the only one I would consider.

Both names offer nicknames aplenty, but none of them sing to me.  That’s probably why they’re down here at #16.

17.  Anna/Anya, Anneliese nicknamed Anya

For the great-grandmother mentioned in #8.  But any of the Anna choices would make Clio the only family member without an A- name.  Too bad, because Anneliese Olwen would honor three of my dad’s relatives in one swoop.

18.  Linden and Sarai

For my aunts, Linda and Sarita.  (Sarita was named after her maternal grandmother, my great-grandmother Sara.)  I love both names, but again, there’s something awkward about skipping my husband’s family entirely.

Rosemary Linden Beau was long a favorite combination.  But I’m not wild about Beau on a girl, and two nature names is far too botanical for a family that ventures no closer to camping than shopping REI.

19.  Amalia, Kester

Amalia is from my husband’s family.  It’s a great name, but again, we can’t settle on a nickname and she’d be the fourth A, leaving Clio out in the cold.

Kester is also – in a very roundabout fashion – from my husband.  His mother’s maiden name translates to Christopherson.  My husband’s middle name is Christopher.  I don’t care for any of the feminine variants, though Christabeau is one that I’ve considered.  Kester is a medieval diminutive for Christopher, and reminiscent of my beloved Hester.  Of course, Kester also brings to mind Jester.  So never in the first spot.  But maybe in the middle.

20.  Hermione nicknamed Minna, Octavia nicknamed Tavy, Harriet nicknamed Hattie

Three names we just plain like.

1300 words later, you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking: yes, we could name a daughter, possibly three. 

But there’s an equal chance we’d have a boy, that’s where we are truly at sea.

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.

If that’s too out there for you, consider these slightly less exotic choices, all featuring the letter A:

• Avalon – This paradise from Arthurian legend might have been an unthinkable baby name choice just a decade back. But with Ava in the Top 10, and Avery rocketing up the Top 100, Avalon starts to look like an interesting alternative. It’s feminine but not frilly, geographic but not specific and familiar without being common.  Avalon is not currently in the US Top 1000;
• Anya – Anya is a bit more interesting than the classic Anna, and yet still a simple choice. The name has a certain European flair and pairs well with even the most tongue-twisting surname. (Ranked #405 in 2006.)  There’ also Anja;
• Audrey - This name has been steadily, gently popular throughout the 20th century and into the 2000s. Traditionally masculine Aubrey has become nearly as common in the past decade, but enduring style icon Audrey Hepburn keeps this one current.  (Ranked #68 in 2006 and #44 in 2008.)
• Adelaide - Maddie is epidemic, thanks to Madison, Madeline and variations thereof.  Little wonder that Addison and Adeline are making a beeline up the popularity charts. But the graceful Granny-chic and regal at once, place name Adelaide is the most distinctive of the bunch.  (Ranked #921 in 2006 and #551 in 2008 – whoa!)
• Amaya – Many families are looking for a name that spans multiple heritages.  If your kids are going to be, say, half-Greek and half-Jamaican, you may want a name that works in both cultures – or maybe sidesteps them entirely.  Amaya is one that works.  While it sounds like an “A” grafted on to the popular Maya, she has Japanese and Spanish roots.  Amaya makes for an interesting, sophisticated choice, and a pretty one, too. (Ranked #215 in 2006 and #198 in 2008.)
• Alice – In recent years, variants like Alicia and Alyssa were all the rage, while Alice remained current only in the children’s section of the library.  Today, the tide is turning, and quiet Alice feels fresh again.  Starbaby Alice Zenobia is Tina Fey’s daughter and one of Twilight’s good vampires is called Alice, too.

Arrivederci from the letter A.

NOTE:  Originally published January 31, 2008.  Post revised on December 21, 2009.

Check out more Alphabet Posts Here:

A is for Boys

B is for Girls