Sweet Spot Baby Names: Fitting in and standing out

Nov 15, 2024 10:39 PM

　　Obviously, everyone has their own definition of what a perfect name is, but for Pam and me, as expressed in our books, it has always been distilled into the phrase fitting in/standing out.

　　Located in the sweet spot between the hundreds of names that are epidemically popular–common enough for their distinctive images to be diluted–and those that are too unusual, too extreme– is a kind of golden triangle of lightly used names that have meaning, history, depth, and appeal, yet won’t provoke any raised eyebrows, names that will allow your child to both fit in with her peers and stand out among them.

　　Many such names are to be found in the lower half of the popularity list; the examples below, drawn from the names that rank between 500 and 1000, are our selection of names which we think fit into that special sweet spot. We’d love to hear if you agree or disagree–and what names you would add.

　　GIRLS

　　Adele

　　Adrienne

　　Annabel

　　Beatrice

　　Blake

　　Bree

　　Bryn

　　Catalina

　　Celia

　　Clarissa

　　Claudia

　　Dahlia

　　Dixie

　　Edith

　　Elsa

　　Esme

　　Eve

　　Felicity

　　Frances

　　Francesca

　　Geraldine

　　Gloria

　　Greta

　　Gwyneth

　　Harlow

　　Hattie

　　Helena

　　Ingrid

　　Irene

　　Juniper

　　Laurel

　　Libby

　　Lilith

　　Liv

　　Livia

　　Maeve

　　Maia

　　Mara

　　Marina

　　Martha

　　Matilda

　　Mercedes

　　Meredith

　　Natalya

　　Nova

　　Paloma

　　Patience

　　Pearl

　　Renata

　　Rory

　　Rosa

　　Rosemary

　　Samara

　　Simone

　　Sloane

　　Sylvia

　　Tabitha

　　Tess

　　Vera

　　Virginia

　　Willa

　　BOYS

　　Amos

　　Arlo

　　Asa

　　Bowen

　　Bruno

　　Byron

　　Callum

　　Cassius

　　Clay

　　Clinton

　　Conrad

　　Crosby

　　Cyrus

　　Darwin

　　Duncan

　　Edison

　　Finley

　　Fletcher

　　Flynn

　　Frederick

　　Gibson

　　Harry

　　Hayes

　　Hugh

　　Jefferson

　　Jensen

　　Keenan

　　Lennon

　　Lennox

　　Lewis

　　Lionel

　　Lucian

　　Miller

　　Moses

　　Nash

　　Quincy

　　Raphael

　　Ray

　　Rex

　　Roland

　　Rory

　　Ross

　　Samson

　　Soren

　　Sullivan

　　Thaddeus

　　Theo

　　Tobias

　　Turner

　　Van

　　Wilson

　　Winston

　　So what names would you add?

Previous Article：Nameberry’s Most Popular Features of 2012 Next Article：This Week’s Newsiest Names: From John to Kash to Kroy

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