Ferris Wheel at Virginia Beach, August 2011

There are names that feel happy – Beau always sounds joyful to my ear.  So do names like Lulu and Zuzu, Bay and Bree.  Can you imagine Winnie having a bad day, or Hugo being a big ol’ grouch?

Or maybe you can.  Maybe Arabella sounds like a happy name to you, while Beau is more of a bandit.

But there are names that do, indeed, mean cheerful or lively or upbeat, and there are a few that I think we should seriously consider for our daughters.

Allegra – Yes, she’s an allergy medication in the US, one with a seemingly bottomless advertising budget.  But she’s also a given name used by the stylish, from Lord Byron to Donatella Versace.  Allegra Kent was a famous ballerina, muse to legendary choreographer George Balanchine.  In music, the term allegro means cheerful, bright, lively, ultimately from the Latin alacer.  If you’ve been watching The Little Einsteins, you know all about allegro.  With nickname options Allie and Aggie, she’s the kind of name that should wipe out any thought of fenofexadine.

Ananda – At first glance, she’s 80s staple Amanda, worn by Mean Girls on Melrose Place and John Hughes flicks alike.  But look again, and she’s from the Sanskrit for bliss.  Even if you’ve no subcontinent heritage to claim, her familiarity, and easy short forms Annie and Andi, should make her wearable.  Masculine form Anand also has some serious cross-cultural appeal.

Blythe – She’s brief, even brisk.  From the same Old English soup that led to our word bliss came the word blithe.  Blithe means happy – though it can also imply carelessness.  Actress Blythe Danner has won Tony and Emmy awards in her own right, but you know her best as mom to Gwyneth Paltrow.  If Brooke and Blair are mainstream options for girls, why not Blythe?

Felicity - The list would be incomplete without this mix of modern television heroine and Colonial girl in calico.  Nicknames like Fliss and even Flick make her a little less Puritan, though they still have a certain retro cool.  She comes from a cluster of related names all derived from the Latin word for fortunate.  Brother Felix is hotter than hot, but I’d call Felicity just lukewarm, and Felicia absolutely chilly.  And yet, Felicia is also the least often heard of the three, and perhaps one to consider.  There’s also medieval variant Felice, which is masculine in Italian.

Gioia, Gioconda – Celebrity chef Giada DeLaurentis reminded us about the many great Italian appellations that start with Gi – Gianna, Giovanna, even Giuliana.  Gioia is literally the Italian word for delight, usually translated joy.  Joy is another one that feels just on the verge of a comeback – earlier this month, Nameberry declared Joy and June the new hot middle names.  As for Gioconda, while she’s a mouthful – too close to anaconda for some to consider – she comes from the Latin Iucunda - pleasant.  Gioconda is an alternate name for Da Vinci’s masterwork, the Mona Lisa.

Noemi, Noemie – The Biblical Naomi comes from a Hebrew name meaning pleasant, but somehow her story feels heavy, and while the name is lovely, I don’t get a light and joyful vibe from her.  Instead, I wonder if the Italian and French versions of the name might sound fresher – and even happier?  The oe sound occurs in chart toppers like Chloe and Zoe, as well as the much-discussed Boheme and word name Poet.

You can go farther, of course.  Songstress Macy Gray named her youngest Cassius but calls him Happy.  Word name Merry falls somewhere between outrageous and expected.  And then there’s a whole category of names with positive associations.  Gretchen doesn’t mean happy, but Gretchen Rubin is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Happiness Project, as well as the associated blog.

Are there other happy names that come to mind?  Or maybe names that just plain feel happy and joyful to you?

For those of you in the US, I hope you’re having a lovely, fireworks-filled Independence Day weekend.

First up: a quick users’ guide note: when I write a post, I try to bold any given name the first time I use it.  If the name is a (blue) hyperlink, then I’ve written about the name before – and one quick click will take you to that post.  I also try to link movies and television shows to the Internet Movie Database.

On to the news:

• Speaking of movies, Nancy mentioned the big Pixar reveal: a female heroine called Merida, star of their 2012 feature Brave.  It’s already getting some attention with expectant parents;
• Nameberry covered Irish Baby Names following the announcement of their official statistics for 2010.  I love Orla for a girl and Lorcan for a boy – oh, and Cathal, though I find it feminine;
• Elea explored popular Welsh Boys’ Names, including choices like Cai and Rhys that would work perfectly in the US, too;
• Bewitching Baby Names profiled Oregon.  It’s an unconventional choice, but fresher than Dakota;
• Waltzing More Than Matilda posted about Australia’s answer to the Duggars: Jeni and Ray Bonnell and their fifteen kids, including newborn son Damian.  No, the older fourteen kids don’t have D names;
• From the wayback machine: the feature name in 2008 was clunky Clarence; in 2009, the antique Ada; and just a year ago, it was the lovely, but perhaps burdensome Jocasta;
• Is it me, or does it get easier to play Elisabeth’s Sibset Game as the posts at You Can’t Call It “It” go farther and farther up the rankings?  Some of my favorites from the 700s are Kim W’s Luka Ellis, Ingrid Frances, Elin Rosemary, Soren Lewis, and Sonia Julianne and Kailee’s Rory Conrad, Lewis Eugene, Julianne Frances, Susan “Susie” Campbell, and Corinne Rosemary.  From the 600s, I’m intrigued by Ashley’s Tomas “Tam” Sullivan Cale, Callen “Cal” Memphis Clark, Dahlia “Dolly” Phoenix Anne, Noemi “Emme” Paloma Adrienne, Isis “Izzy” Raven Amelie, and Lawson “Lars” Nash Channing.

I wrote about the first generation of eclectic Hollywood baby names for Nameberry last week.  In more recent celebrity news:

• Thalia and Tommy Mottola welcomed a second child, son Matthew Alejandro.  He joins big sister Sabrina at home;
• Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict welcomed a son, son Cree Taylor.  Tia and her twin sister Tamera are starring in their own reality show on Style later this summer, so we could hear much more about baby Cree;
• Denise Richards adopted a daughter, Eloise Joni.  Joni honors Denise’s mom, while Eloise was picked by big sisters Sam J, called Sami, and Lola Rose;
• Yes, it’s fake.  But it is funny to see not-Victoria and not-David Beckham ponder baby names like Gucci, Milan, and Benditlike.  (Love Elea’s quote from the Facebook page: “They could go Ancient Greek and pronounce it ben-deet-LEE-kay.”

Tomorrow’s post for Nameberry is the first in another two-parter, and it features one of my favorite names for a boy: Clark.

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

Photo by takomabibelot via Flickr.

She’s vaguely botanical, slightly invented, a little bit hip hop, too.

Thanks to Emily of It’s All In The Name for suggesting Nolia as our Baby Name of the Day.

You might have stumbled across Nolia on Namberry’s Lost Names of 1880 list. Along with Letta and Rella and a long list of others, Nameberry describes them as “lopped-off pieces of longer names.”

Rella stumps me, but in the case of Nolia, Magnolia comes immediately to mind.  Nolia ranked in the US Top 1000 just three times – 1880, 1897, and 1901, but Magnolia was relatively common.

Check the US Census records, and there’s no shortage of women named Nolia.  One of the interesting quirks is that a number of Nolias seem to have made names for themselves in Oklahoma.  One that stands out was Mrs. Nolia Johnson, the wife of Nolia, Oklahoma’s first postmaster – the town was named in her honor.  Not so far away, Durant, Oklahoma hosts the Magnolia Festival every June and calls itself the Magnolia Capital of Oklahoma.

Another notable Nolia was the mother of Alabama-born Dean Jones, the actor who played race car driver Jim Douglas in Disney’s Love Bug movies.

Magnolias do conjure up the American South, with or without moonlight and hoop skirts.  1989′s enduring Steel Magnolias was set in Louisiana.  Nolia, too, conjures up Louisiana, but not necessarily in a positive light.

New Orleans’ CJ Peete Projects were long known as the Magnolia Projects – or just Nolia.  Nolia was notorious for crime and violence, but also for launching a number of hip hop artists.  A trio of rappers known as UTP scored a Top Ten on the Rap and Hip Hop charts with “Nolia Clap.”

It’s catchy, but not much in the way of inspiration for a child’s name.  Neither is Nolia Chapman, an obscure actress with one credit to her name – a bit role in 1962′s Satan in High Heels.  The movie is remembered partially because it was an early role for actress was Grayson Hall.  She had a long career in television and film, even garnering an Oscar-nomination.

And yet it almost doesn’t matter.  Nola has been on an upswing.  Pronounced NO lee ah or no LEE ah, she fits with classic three-syllable names like Julia.  Or pronounce her NOL yah, and she works as well as up-and-coming two-syllable choices like Anya.

According to Nancy’s 2009 list, there were fewer than five Nolias born in the US  in 2009.  The Spanish Noelia – a feminine version of Noel – was given to 200 girls.  With more parents saying yes to No- names, from Noemi to Noa, it seems like the kind of choice that more parents could discover.

Thanks to Sebastiane for suggesting Eponine as Name of the Day.

Maybe it goes without saying that Eponine has never charted in the US Top 1000.  Neither has Cosette, another name made famous by Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Misérables.

Thanks in part to Brangelina starbaby Vivienne, French names for girls are back.  Claire, Gabrielle, Madeline and Madeleine are all common.  Choices like Juliette and Noemi are heard more often, too.  At first glance, Eponine is ideal – she’s French, literary and thanks to the musical, widely known without being at all common.

And yet, Eponine suffers from one deficiency.  She’s not exactly French.

Don’t get me wrong.  Les Mis – novel and musical – are all about the early 1800s in France.  It’s a miserable moment: food shortages, outbreaks of disease and political unrest combined to form the backdrop for Hugo’s tale.  (We tend to link the story with the French Revolution, what with revolutionaries waving red flags and such.  But it’s actually the decades-later June Uprising.)

Eponine is the daughter of the Thénardiers.  They’re the greedy, unscrupulous innkeepers  who agree to keep the infant Cosette while her penniless mama, Fantine, looks for work.  The couple pamper Eponine while giving Cosette the Cinderella treatment.

She’s not a bad character, though there’s debate about her motivations and whether her eventual death is noble or something other.  And when the musical debuted in the 1980s, some French parents chose Eponine – but never many.  Eponine peaked in 2001, with a grand total of 28 baby girls given the name.

Hugo invented the names of Eponine and her sister Azelma.  (The younger sister doesn’t appear in the stage version.)  While plenty of literary names are embraced – think of Shakespeare’s Jessica or Philip Sidney’s Pamela.  But here’s what our author penned about the names he bestowed:

…. the female Thenardier was nothing but a coarse, vicious woman, who had dabbled in stupid romances. Now, one cannot read nonsense with impunity … her eldest daughter was named Eponine; as for the younger, the poor little thing came near being called Gulnare; I know not to what diversion, effected by a romance of Ducray-Dumenil, she owed the fact that she merely bore the name of Azelma.

Translation:  Mom watched too many soaps and decided it would be a good idea to give her girls outlandish names.

That subtle point goes unmentioned in the musical.

If you dig back to guess at Hugo’s inspiration or find an etymologic link, one intriguing possibility surfaces – Epona, a Celtic horse goddess embraced by the Romans – paired with the French feminine ending -ine.

I’m undecided – is she an intriguing literary pick or an outrageous name meant to indicate her poor start in life – sort of like calling your kiddo Qristyl or Jazileyn?  And while Epi is obviously out as a nickname, you could use the appealing Nina.

So while Eponine is literary, the name has flaws – just like the character.  There are probably other French-fried picks for a girl that would wear more comfortably.

Thanks to Sassy for suggesting Naomi as Name of the Day.

Naomi makes most of us think of Ruth’s mother-in-law from the Old Testament.  The name means something like pleasant, joyful or agreeable.  The Biblical character was none of these things.  After the death of her husband and sons, she’s most famous for asking those around her to call her Mara – bitter.

The masculine version of the name is Noam – though philosopher/writer Noam Chomsky is pretty much the only one that comes to mind.

Up until the Protestant Reformation, Naomi was solidly reserved as a Jewish name.  But once parents started leafing through their family Bibles for inspiration, Naomi found favor.  She’s never been a chart topper, but she’s been in steady use in the US, ranging between 118 and 411 since 1880.

The high point of #118 was just reached in 2008.  With Abigail, Hannah, Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel so popular, could Naomi break into the US Top 100 in the next few years?

There are plenty of news-worthy Naomis from recent years, including:

• Early 20th century Scottish poet Naomi Mitchison;
• Activist and best-selling author Naomi Klein;
• Feminist writer Naomi Wolf;
• Supermodel and tabloid darling Naomi Campbell;
• Australian Actress Naomi Watts nabbed an Oscar nomination for her role in 21 Grams;
• County music legend Naomi Judd – though she was born Diana;
• On another musical note, there’s Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer.

Two fictional Naomis can be seen on the small screen.  Lost featured a minor character named Naomi Dorrit – she’s not a good guy.  Then there’s poor little rich girl Naomi Clark, of 90210 fame.

Naomi can also be heard on the other side of the world, in Japan, where the name relates to the word nao – honest – and is used for both genders.  Naomi Uemura was a male bearer of the name.  He took off on spectacular adventures – traveling to the North Pole, rafting the Amazon, peaking Mount McKinely – all on his own.

Speaking of mountains, if you travel to the wilds of Utah and Idaho, you’ll find yourself in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, home to Mount Naomi – the highest peak in the Bear River Mountains.

While she’s not a true rarity – in 2008, over 2,800 girls were given the name, about as many as Molly, Nicole or Rebecca – her sound is distinctive.  With her religious and cross-cultural vibe, she’s tough to pigeonhole, too.  Naomi could be a logical little sister for Rachel or Ophelia, Pomeline or Avery.

If you like Naomi’s sound, but are hoping for something less often heard, there’s always Noemi or Noémie – the Italian and French variants.  Instead of nay OH mee, you’d pronounce these closer to no ay MEE or no EHM ee.  But be forewarned – they might be less common, but Noemi had already climbed to #624 in 2008.

Still, if you’re looking for a classic Biblical choice that is less often heard than Sarah and not likely to be confused for any other popular choice, Naomi is an appealing name for a daughter – just on the right side of fitting in while undeniably standing out, too.

Boys’ names will be longer and shorter, but two-syllable tyranny is coming to an end.  Yes, plenty of parents are still going to call their sons (and daughters) Aiden, Braeden, Caidhen, Haydon and Jayden.  And yes, some parents will attempt to mash together two syllables to create “unique” names for their sons – think Jaylon and Cayson.  

But  a growing number of parents are favoring softer names for their sons, including Biblical choices and ancient names.  Sebastian, Julian, Jeremiah and Oliver are already mainstream.  Others are keeping it short and strong.  Starbabies Knox Jolie-Pitt and Bronx Wentz are part of the trend.  Choices like Cole, Gage, Cash, Beau and Cade gaining, as well as nicknames like Jack, Jake and Max remaining popular.  A few other choices are brief, but not quite so tough guy – Finn, Quinn and Kai all continue to do well.

French names for girls will be on the rise.  Celeb trendsetters Brangelina are responsible for some of the trend.  But this one was already brewing before Vivienne Marcheline’s birth.  A few that could pop?  Noemi/Noemie, Elodie and Esmé.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the names in favor will be popular in Paris, or even authentically French.  In fact, the biggest influence may be the rise of creative, franglais-style names.  Expect to see Scarlette along with Violette and Juliette.

Homespun, even humble names will continue to be popular.  There’s nothing flashy about Emma or Hannah.  In 2009, Olive will sound fresher than Olivia, Frances more appealing than Francesca.  Choices like Nora and Clara could have a good year for girls; for boys, Gus seems unstoppable.  (Though with August, Angus and plenty of other names leading to Gus as a nickname, it will be tough to see in the statistics.)  Biblical boys’ names will continue to gain, following Elijah, Isaac and Isaiah up the charts.  And yes, we think we’ll meet more girls called Honor, as well as plenty of little Graces, Hopes and Charitys.

There could also be an uptick in the number of boys receiving names that once seemed perpetually out of fashion.  Choices like Walter, Raymond and Calvin have all received positive feedback.  It suggests that either they’re turning the corner from clunky to cool … or maybe that in 2009, clunky will be cool. 

Creative spellings will continue.  Some parents will continue to favor extreme spellings like Caidhon and Peightynn.  But variant spellings have taken their place in the mainstream.  Which is correct:  Isobel, Isabel or Isabelle?  In some cases, the most popular version isn’t the most authentic.  Kaitlyn ranks #44; Katelyn comes in at #75 and Caitlin’s parents find themselves defending their “unusual” spelling.  

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, but it seems like fewer parents are tossing in random letters to come up with Brieyannah and more are seeking out lesser used appellations, like Bryony.  (Which, of course, can also be spelled Briony …)

Emily really won’t be the most popular name for girls.  Based on our recalculation of the SSA rankings back in May, we reported that Emily was slipping in favor of Isabella and Sophia.  Parents.com recently put Isabella at the top of their 2008 list, with Ava in second place and Emily demoted to third.  They base their rankings on website traffic.

That said, Em names for girls will remain very popular.  Emily might slip, but Em- names are still hot.  There’s Emma, of course.  And with starbabies Emme (JLo’s daughter) and Emery (Angie Harmon’s daughter) we imagine more parents will opt for an Emily variant in 2009.  Among the contenders:  Emerson (likely to be respelled Emersyn), the anique Emilia, the Welsh masculine Emlyn, the medieval Emmeline and Emmaline, Embeth (as in the actress Embeth Davidtz) and, of course, Emme and Emery.

And the final prediction?

Baby names will continue to obsess some of us.  Pushing a $900 stroller might be out; kitting your kiddo in consignment store finds might be in.  But choosing a thoughtful, meaningful and inventive name for a child is always au courant.

Thanks for being part of the ApMtn family in 2008, and keep reading in 2009!

Our recent Name of the Day post on Etienne suggests that there’s little hope of a revival for most French-flavored boys’ names, at least in the first spot.  But how about the girls?

Read on for a discussion of past French names in favor in the US, and some très chic, très français ideas for a nom de fille today.

Vivienne is, of course, likely to re-enter the Top 1000 in the next year or two.  But parents have been borrowing inspiration from the ever so fashionable French for generations.  These Top 100 monikers al charted between 1880 and 1939:

• Blanche
• Elaine
• Genevieve
• Jacqueline
• Josephine
• Louise
• Lucille
• Marguerite
• Pauline

Most remained in use, and many climbed the charts during the Baby Boom.  They were joined by:

• Diane
• Joanne
• Michelle
• Renee
• Suzanne
• Valerie

Modern mamas might wear one of these names, but other French-inspired favorites from 1970 onwards include:

• Danielle
• Denise
• Nicole
• Stephanie

And current classrooms are filled with girls called:

• Claire
• Gabrielle, the given name of Coco Chanel
• Madeline, and the even more deliciously French Madeleine

So what’s next, besides Vivienne?  Here are a few to watch:

• Solange, a French shepherdess who became a saint back in the 9th century.  Currently unranked in the US.  The name derives from the Latin term for “religious,” and some are tempted to break this down to sol – sun – and ange – angel – though that’s etymologically incorrect.
• Chantal, a place name and saint’s surname that gets some lift from her similarity to chant, the French word for song.  Plus, this choice is far more subtle than naming your daughter Chanel.  While Chantal did not rank in the US Top 1000 last year, Chanel came in at #879.  Don’t go there!
• Severine, pronounced say vuh REEN, this name comes from an old Latin family name, Severinus.  While Severus might be a bit too Harry Potter for your son, this is an interesting feminization of a rarely heard name.  She’s unranked in the US.
• Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris has seen her name rise in popularity in earlier generations.  Today she stands at a familiar, but not terribly common #344.
• Celeste, like Genevieve, she’s quite familiar, but reasonably underused at #354.
• Oceane, yup, the French world is not immune to the lure of nature names.  We love the sound of this one – o say AHN – but fear she’d have to answer to plain old Ocean.  Neither is in the Top 1000 here, but Oceane is big on the other side of the sea, and in Quebec.
• Francoise, the French feminine form of Francis seems like a long shot at first, and indeed she’s not in the US Top 1000.  But with the Italian Francesca at #477 and the throwback Frances at #825, it’s an interesting option with the exotic pronunciation frahn SWAHZ.  Plus, it literally means “from France.”
• Mireille, the heroine of Pierre Capretz’ French in Action series, she’s taught countless American students to parlez français.  While the spelling is tricky, the sound – mee RAY – is appealing and simple.  She was unranked as of 2007.
• Anais, a well known option thanks to writer Anais Nin, this variant of Anna is pronounced ah nah EES, thought we’ve met a modern bearer of the name who pared it down to ah NEES, which seems easier to wear.  She ranked #906 in 2007.
• Josephine, one of the earlier Gallic imports, she’s back in a big way among the fashionable and today stands at #224.  It’s impossible to say her name without thinking of Napoleon.
• Lilou, a white hot French moniker related to Lily and Liliane.  Pronounced LEE loo, she’s unranked in the US.  We think she’s a bit too flimsy to bestow independently, but could be a fabulous nickname alternative for Lillian.
• Maelys, another current favorite in the Francophone world.  It’s a feminization of Mael, a 5th century Breton saint.  The sound – MAH eh liss – is tricky in English, and she’s unranked in the US.  Maelle – MAH el – is also sometimes heard.
• Eulalie, the French version of Eulalia, yet another saint, has an engaging, spirited feel and offers the nickname Lally.  She’s unranked in the US.
• Capucine, actually a botanical choice, referring to the nasturtium.  In the US, she’d inevitably be confused for a cup of strong coffee with frothy milk.  It’s also doubtful that the sound – kah pu SEEN – would be easily embraced.  But it’s an interesting floral-flair option, especially for the middle spot.  Capucine is unranked in the US.
• Elodie, one that works in English!  The mellifluous Elodie is – what else – a saint’s name, more commonly written as Alodia.  She’s unranked in the US, but thanks to the easy nickname option Ellie, wouldn’t be too much for an American girl to wear.
• Sidonie, a name that would almost inevitably be confused with Sidney, is actually based on an old Latin name referring to the city of Sidon, in Phoenicia.  Despite her similarity to the two-syllable gender-spanning choice, we think Sidonie could work.  She’s unranked in the US.
• Noemie, a French twist on Naomi, strikes us as one of the most appealing possibilities on our list.  We’ve also seen Noemi, but the “ie” ending makes this a smidge more distinct than her familiar cousin.  Technically, she’s no ay MEE, but we’d favor a toned-down sound for the States – no eh MEE.  Noemie is unranked in the US, but Noemi charts at #636.
• Salome, a well-known Biblical bad girl, this moniker is redeemed by the presence of a second Salome in the New Testament.  (Salome #2 witnesses the crucifixion.)  Plus, her name derives from the Hebrew word shalom, or peace.  The sound – sah LO may – is distinctive, interesting, and yes, French.  Or at least popular in France.  Salome is unranked in the US.

Throughout our list, you’ll note that we’ve declined to use diacritical marks, though we’ve preserved the pronunciations as intended in French, unless otherwise noted.  Why?  Any maman considering a French appellation for her darling daughter should know that the umlaut, cedilla and other accents are not acknowledged in American English.  They won’t appear on her birth certificate or most other identifying documents.

Some names suffer without them – it’s tough to tell if Oceane is French-fried or simply misspelled.  Others fare just fine.  It’s one more thing to consider when considering these pretty, but perhaps tongue-challenging, appellations.

This list could include such enduring classics as Elizabeth and Mary.  But we’ve chosen instead to focus on names that have a more current feel.  Many were not in use before the 20th century.  Some may not remain viable options by the time your granddaughters arrive.  But bestow one upon your child circa 2008 and odds are that it will wear well throughout her lifetime.

So if you’re searching for the elusive normal name, we’ve compiled 25 perfectly sensible, inoffensive, well-known names for your consideration.

1.  Allison:  While big sister Alice is the saintly, regal and literary classic, Allison has a bit more modern verve.  Thought to be a pet form of Alice dating back to the Middle Ages, it entered the US Top 1000 in 1946.  After Mia Farrow played Allison MacKenzie on TV’s Peyton Place beginning in 1964, the name entered the Top 200 – and has been there ever since.  It was #46 in 2007.  Next to trendy chart-toppers like Madison and Addison, Allison feels positively enduring.  Alison is an equally valid variant.  But steer clear of Allyson, Alyson, Allasin and so on – at least if you’re hoping for a sensible name.

2.  Amanda:  After spending the 80s and part of the 90s solidly in the Top 10, Amanda appears to be on her way out.  Not only was the name popular, but it was inevitably chosen for the name of the Most Popular Girl in school on television and in movies.  And remember Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place?  Meow!  Like Alyssa, this name has the potential to sound dated.  But we think Amanda will remain a viable choice for girls in the near future for a few reasons.  First, it sounds right when paired with Sophia, Olivia and other current names.  But more importantly, unlike Alyssa, Amber or Brittany, it has long history to its credit – playwright Colley Cibber invented the name in the 17th century.  In fact, it’s been in Top 500 since 1880.  In 2007, Amanda ranked #112.

3.  Audrey:  Audrey raced up the popularity charts along with Shirley in the 1930s, but was clearly a runner-up; in the 1980s, it rose again, along with sound-alike Ashley.  But while Ashley is dated and Shirley is a relic, Audrey remains fresh.  Perhaps this is due to the lasting allure of actress, style icon and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn.  Or maybe Audrey is just that rare name that never sounds out of step.  As of 2007, Audrey ranked #51.

4.  Brooke:  In 1953, Brooke Marshall married Vincent Astor.  As head of the Astor Foundation, her philanthropic legacy to New York is unquestioned.  What’s more, her name (she was actually born Roberta Brooke Russell) entered the Top 1000 in 1953.  But it would be another Brooke – Shields – who brought the name into the Top 100 in the late 1970s.  Since then, it’s been used for plenty of fictional characters on the small and silver screens alike.  It makes for a curious combination – while the sound could be gender-neutral and even a bit severe, it’s considered a comfortably feminine, frills-free choice.  And while Taylor and Madison are trendy, Brooke is simply a solid and popular option.  As of 2007, Brooke was #45.

5.  Cassandra:  While the sound calls to mind Anastasia, Lilianna, Arabella and other hyper-feminine names, this is a choice that is just shy of frilly.  It could be because the nickname Cassie shouts “giddy-up, cowgirl!”  Or maybe it’s because of the tragic myth of Cassandra.  Apollo cursed the Trojan princess so while she’d see the future, no one would believe her predictions.  In any case, this is the rare name that is undeniably pretty without being lightweight, and while it has history, doesn’t scream to have the title “princess” put in front.  It’s a solid choice for a daughter.  In 2007, Cassandra ranked #260.

6.  Chloe:  As popular as it has ever been, it’s worth noting that this 21st century chart-topper was also a common choice in the 19th century.  Despite being at the height of popularity, Chloe feels like a name with some staying power.  The smart and interesting actress Chloe Sevigny is a notable bearer of the name.  Chloe even appears in the Bible.  And unlike the rhyming Zoe, Chloe seems to be less vulnerable to creative respellings.  To us, Chloe is another Amanda – while the name will drop out of the Top 100, it will never disappear from use.  In 2007, Chloe ranked #16.

7.  Diana:  Given the adoration of the late Princess of Wales, it’s easy to imagine that her name would be the height of fashion.  Not so – either in the UK or elsewhere.  And yet the name has an impeccable pedigree, dating back to the Roman goddess of the hunt.  It’s a possible alternative to Sophia, with it’s tri-syllable, ends-in-a construction.  Diane was a baby boomer staple, and now sounds hopelessly dated.  But this version of the name is appealing without being overexposed.  At #107 as of last year, it’s even unlikely your daughter will share her name with a classmate.

8. Genevieve:  She’s the patron saint of Paris and her name has been steadily used, in both France and the US.  Like Cassandra, it’s the kind of name that is impeccably feminine but just shy of flowery.  The nickname, Gen, has a simple charm, and the “G” gives it some energy that Jennifer lacks.  In 2007, Genevieve ranked #344.

9. Holly:  If your daughter arrives around the Christmas holidays, Holly is a fittingly seasonal and festive choice.  While Molly and Polly started out as nicknames, and seem a bit insubstantial as given names, Holly’s botanical backstory gives this moniker some extra heft.  And Miss Hepburn strikes again – her portrayal of Truman Capote’s Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is doubtless part of the name’s enduring appeal.  As of 2007, Holly stood at #339.

10. Jenna: While Jennifer is tied to the 1970s, this related name never reached such great heights.  Today, the best known Jenna is probably first daughter Jenna Bush Hager.  The fashionable alternative is Gemma.  But we think that Jenna remains homespun and feminine, and right at home with Hannah.  As of last year, Jenna was #103 in the Top 1000.

11.  Joanna:  While Joan is a medieval maiden and Joanne a baby boomer, the ends-in-a feminine version of John feels current.  When compared to other Jo- names, it’s not as fashionable as the romantic Josephine, but neither is it as dated as Jolene, Joelle, Jodi and the rest of the group.  In the Bible, Joanna was one of the women to discover Jesus’ tomb empty; in history, two Queens of Naples and one Queen Consort of England bore the name.  One of our favorite Joannas is the protagonist of Ira Levin’s 1972 novel, The Stepford Wives - Joanna Eberhart almost discovers the nefarious deeds afoot in idyllic little Stepford.  It’s a name that is nicely everywoman.  Johanna is a possible variant.  As of 2007, Joanna ranked #253 and Johanna #419.

12. Julia:  She’s a patrician in Ancient Rome, a character in the works of Shakespeare, a river in Switzerland, a Catholic saint, a cooking legend and a Hollywood icon.  The name is simply timeless.  But somehow it retains a modern, current feel.  Perhaps that’s because unlike Mary, Elizabeth and Anne, this name has never entered the Top Ten in the US.  Julie is the cute nickname, which actually outranked the formal version for a time in the 1960s and 70s.  Today, Julia stands at #34 and is the preferable version circa 2008.

13. Kimberly:  While her fashion heyday was four decades back, there’s something about this choice that feels current – far more than other 70s hits like Kelly and Kristen.  When compared to current K chart toppers like Kayla and Kaitlyn, Kimberly holds up well.  Kim is a comfortably tomboyish nickname worn by noted actresses Kim Novak and Kim Basinger – though neither were born Kimberlys.  It remains a sensible and safe choice for a daughter.  In 2007, it ranked #53.

14.  Laura: Laura calls to mind the Little House on the Prairie series – pigtails, tin lunch buckets, fields of wild flowers, hard work and simple pleasures.  It’s the quintessential good girl name.  Laura Ashley, the designer of pretty, floral print fashions and home furnishings, adds to this vibe, as does the modest Laura who inspired much of Petrarch’s famous poetry.  Yet it’s not mired in any one historical moment, and we think that Laura also sounds strong, capable and yes, classically current.  As of 2007, it was ranked #183.

15. Lauren: As Laura has fallen somewhat out of favor, Lauren has taken her place.  It’s a more glamorous moniker, bringing to mind legendary actress Lauren Bacall and supermodel Lauren Hutton – who, at the age of 64 is still as gorgeous as ever.  While it’s tempting to lump Lauren and Laura together, they’re simply two related but distinct choices.  As the surname of designer Ralph Lauren (born Lifshitz), the name is synonymous with a privileged, polished American look – think riding boots, rep stripe ties, immaculately tailored jackets and a smattering of plaid.  Lauren ranked #28 in 2007.

16. Leah: The Bible has given us many sensible choices, including Leah, Jacob’s wife and mother of Judah, from whom the Kings of Israel, including David, are descended.  Despite having been in almost constant use throughout the 20th century, it’s hard to pin a persona on Leah.  King of Queens actress Leah Remini is one notable bearer of the name.  Frequently stuffed in the middle spot, Leah is a solid choice for parents seeking a name as honest as Hannah, but not as common.  Standing at #68, Leah is popular – but not wildly so.

17.  Melissa:  Like Amanda, this choice was big in the 1970s.  Also like Amanda, this name endures because it has history.  In Greek myth, she saved her father, Zeus, and eventually ended up transformed into a honeybee for her efforts.  Melissa appears on the map in Greece, Italy, Canada and the US.  Melissa Gilbert played Laura Ingalls on TV’s Little House on the Prairie; Melissa Sue Anderson played big sister Mary.  And the Allman Brothers Band recorded their classic song of the same name in 1972.  More than 35 years later, it remains feminine and pretty, but far less common.  As of 2007, it ranked #137.

18.  Naomi:  Nothing sounds quite like Naomi.  Since 1880, this Old Testament name has never left the Top 500 in the US.  Depending on your perspective, this either makes the name hopelessly out-of-step or a perpetually interesting, familiar and underused choice.  Everyone knows the name, but most of us have to think a minute to call to mind someone with this distinctive moniker.  The French version, Noemi, is an intriguing variant.  But Naomi is the sensible option, especially for parents calling their sons by such Biblical choices as Elijah and Ezekiel.  Last year, Naomi ranked #124.

19. Natalie: Like Holly, Natalie pays homage to the holiday season – the Latin natale domini means Christmas Day.  But somehow this name leaps seasonal boundaries to sound just as right for your summer-born child.  Many modern mothers grew up watching the character Natalie Green on TV’s The Facts of Life; our mothers grew up watching actress Natalie (born Natalia) Wood on the big screen.  In the early 20th century, Natalie was fairly obscure, ranking #598 in 1901.  But it has risen steadily through the years, and as of 2007, stood at #17.

20. Nicole: We’ll admit that we were divided.  While Michelle is clearly dated, both Danielle and Nicole seemed like contenders for the Sensible Names list.  Neither were ever quite as popular as Michelle and all are the feminine version of enduringly classic male names.  Ultimately, we opted to put Nicole on the list because the softer “elle” ending of Danielle seems especially overexposed, with the current crop of Gabrielles and Isabelles on playgrounds everywhere, while the “o” in -cole remains more distinct.  Hollywood powerhouse Nicole Kidman gives this name a very smart and glamorous edge.  In fact, Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan just chose this name for her daughter.  Nicola is a softer, more fashion-forward choice, but as of 2007, Nicole remains a respectable #87.

21. Rachel:  As one of TV’s Friends, her layered haircut inspired thousands of American women; by the time the character called her daughter Emma, both names were quite fashionable.  But Rachel has been a Top 200 choice for over a century, and other notable bearers of the name include environmentalist Rachel Carson and, of course, the Biblical Rachel.  Instead of a fleeting TV-inspired pick, this is one moniker that, like Allison, is bigger than the character.  As of 2007, Rachel ranked #60.

22: Rebecca:  Like Rachel, Rebecca is a Biblical name that brings to mind more recent figures – the children’s novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, for one; yellow-haired puppy love interest Becky Thatcher in the Tom Sawyer series and the Daphne du Maurier novel Rebecca, adapted into an Oscar-winning movie by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940.  It was the 1938 movie adaptation of the children’s book, starring Shirley Temple, that propelled Rebecca into the Top 100.  It remained in the Top 100 until 2006 – quite a run.  Today, Rebecca stands at #105.  Less popular than in years past, but still a well-known and well-regarded name.

23. Sabrina:  Sabrina has been a Top 300 choice since the 1950s, tied to the eponymous movie starring William Holden, Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn – her third link to our list!  A name taken from Welsh legend, in the film – and the play upon which it is based – Sabrina recites the line of John Milton’s poetry that inspired her father to choose the unusual moniker.  Sabrinas have appeared on the small screen as one of Charlie’s Angels and a teenage witch in the years since.  Today, the name is ranked 197.  It’s a feminine choice that sounds sophisticated and just a bit mysterious.

24. Sarah:  One of the most international of names, Sarah appears in Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Serbian and, oh yes, English, with virtually no alteration in spelling or sound.  In fact, it’s currently a Top Ten name in Austria and Belgium and held the top spot in Ireland.  In the US, Sarah was just as popular in 1880 as it is today, almost classing the name with such Biblical staples as Mary and Anne.  Yet Sarah and Sara both feel current in a way that transcends their long histories.  Perhaps it is because the name has never been worn by a monarch or queen consort.  Maybe it is because Sarah sounds so honest and hard-working.  The related nickname Sadie, on the other hand sounds impish and lively – and is sometimes bestowed as an independent name.  As of 2007, Sarah ranked #18 and Sara #81.

25: Veronica: The final, and arguably the quirkiest name to make our 25 Sensible Names list, Veronica has always been in use, but manages to feel a bit off the beaten track at the same time.  Saint Veronica – of veil fame – is the first notable bearer of the name.  Throughout the 20th century, Veronica has remained solidly in the Top 300.  Most recently, Veronica Mars solved crimes on television as a latter-day Nancy Drew.  In the 1989 dark comedy movie Heathers, Winona Ryder played the only non-Heather Mean Girl, Veronica Sawyer; in the Archie comics, Veronica Lodge was the Mean Girl.  But it was Veronica Lake, the 1940s screen siren with her curtain of blonde hair, that keeps the name so fresh.  Like sensible Audrey, chart-topping Ava and starbaby Harlow, this name exudes an old-world Hollywood glamor that gives the name both roots and a great deal of verve.

Schwoo!  It was a tough list to narrow down.  Much thanks to Kayt, Emmy Jo and all the others who contributed their lists.

One final note:  While Emily almost certainly deserves a spot on this list, we’re just not sure it’s sensible to choose a name that has been bestowed upon 20,000 to 25,000 baby girls every year for well over a decade.  Check back in 2018, and she’ll probably be back in the rotation.