Ever since we started exploring and writing about baby names, Pam and I have been intrigued by the concept of sweet-spot names, those that fall in that perfect position of not being epidemically popular—so common that their distinctive images to be diluted—yet not extreme enough to raise eyebrows or cause any confusion.

　　Of course, the individual names in this category morph over time, and some of those that were once considered to be in the sweet spot would now be found on what we then called our So Far In They’re Out list. For example, on the Fitting In, Standing Out list in our first book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, we find such current Top 25 appellations as Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Mia, Abigail and Chloe, and among the uncommon boy choices Noah, Oliver, Lucas, Henry and Sebastian.

　　So where are we now?  What names do we think fall into that golden triangle of not-overused names that still have meaning and history and appeal but will never be seen as over the top? Many that fit that description can be found in the lower half of the popularity list, between Numbers 500 and 1000.  Here are our sweet spot choices of today—40 for girls and 40 for boys. You’ll find some underused classics, a few international imports, a couple of  hero names, and lots of girl names that end with A.

　　We’d love to hear if you agree or not—are there some you think primed to climb out of that sweet spot?– and what names you would add.

Girl Names

　　Anya

　　Astrid

　　Aurelia

　　Azalea

　　Celia

　　Celine

　　Clarissa

　　Colette

　　Coraline

　　Elsa

　　Emmeline

　　Esme

　　Frankie

　　Frida

　　Greta

　　Helena

　　Holland

　　Ingrid

　　Louisa

　　Mae

　　Maisie

　　Matilda

　　Mercy

　　Octavia

　　Opal

　　Paloma

　　Pearl

　　Poppy

　　Rory

　　Rosa

　　Sasha

　　Simone

　　Stevie

　　Sutton

　　Sylvie

　　Thalia

　　Vienna

　　Virginia

　　Zelda

Boy Names

　　Aldo

　　Alonzo

　　Amos

　　Anders

　　Bo

　　Briggs

　　Bruno

　　Callum

　　Caspian

　　Cassius

　　Crosby

　　Darwin

　　Duke

　　Duncan

　　Edison

　　Fletcher

　　Flynn

　　Ford

　　Fox

　　Grey

　　Harry

　　Jacoby

　　Jefferson

　　Justice

　　Lewis

　　Lionel

　　Lucian

　　Magnus

　　Orlando

　　Otis

　　Quentin

　　Quincy

　　Raphael

　　Rex

　　Samson

　　Soren

　　Thaddeus

　　Thatcher

　　Wilder