We’ve seen it happen again and again.  A name–say Emily–becomes mega-popular.  Parents like the sound of it, but fear there are too many Emilys, so pick something similar but a little different: Emma.  When Emma gets to #1, they turn to Ella–and then perhaps to Ellie, Elle, Emme, Emery, Embry or Emerson.

　　In the recent past we’ve seen a number of examples of this phenomenon–some rhyming names, some similar in sound or feel–for instance Cody leading to Brody, Brian to Ryan, Kevin to Evan, Jason to Mason to Greyson, Madison to Addison, Brandon to Landon, Kayla to Layla, Kaylee to Bailey, Kylee to Riley, and of course Aidan to its 999 offshoots.

　　What’s next?

　　Here are some possible successors to current names, including some unstylish vintage ones (as Ava and Ada were not so long ago) that might be coaxed back, plus a few that are already showing signs of success:

　　GIRLS

　　Will ADELAIDE follow ADELINE?

　　Will ALMA follow ALYSSA?

　　Will ISADORA follow ISABELLA?

　　Will AVIS follow AVA?

　　Will CHARLIE follow CARLY?

　　Will CLEO follow CHLOE?

　　Will DORA follow CORA and LAURA?

　　Will DELLA follow ELLA, BELLA and STELLA?

　　Will EDITH follow EDEN?

　　Will ELSA follow ELLA?

　　Will IDA follow ADA?

　　Will ISMAY follow ESMÉ?

　　Will IVY follow ISLA?

　　Will KAY follow KAYLA?

　　Will LEATRICE follow BEATRICE?

　　Will LENORE follow ELEANOR?

　　Will LEONA follow FIONA?

　　Will LUCILLE follow LUCY?

　　Will MAIRE follow CLAIRE?

　　Will MAISIE follow DAISY?

　　Will MILLY follow LILY?

　　Will MYRA follow TYRA or MYA?

　　Will OLIVE follow OLIVIA?

　　Will PIPPA follow PIPER?

　　Will POLLY follow MOLLY?

　　Will VIOLA follow VIOLET?

　　Will WILMA follow WILLA?

　　BOYS

　　Will ANGUS follow FERGUS?

　　Will AUGUSTINE follow AUGUST?

　　Will BECCAN follow BECKETT?

　　Will BEVAN follow EVAN (which followed KEVIN)

　　Will BENEDICT follow BENJAMIN?

　　Will BOSTON follow AUSTIN?

　　Will CASPER follow JASPER?

　　Will CULLEN follow COLIN?

　　Will DASH follow CASH?

　　Will EDMOND follow EDWARD?

　　Will ELISHA follow ELIJAH?

　　Will EVANDER follow ALEXANDER?

　　Will FINIAN follow FINN?

　　Will GORDON follow JORDAN?

　　Will HARVEY follow HARLEY?

　　Will HORACE follow HOMER?

　　Will JOSIAH follow ISAIAH?

　　Will JULIUS follow JULIAN?

　　Will JUDSON follow HUDSON?

　　Will JUSTICE follow JUSTIN?

　　Will LEMUEL follow SAMUEL?

　　Will LEON follow LEO?

　　Will LEONARD follow LEONARDO?

　　Will LESTER follow CHESTER?

　　Will LUCIUS follow LUCAS?

　　Will LUTHER follow LUCA?

　　Will MYRON or PHILO follow MILO?

　　Will OTIS follow OWEN?

　　Will OTTO follow OSCAR?

　　Will WALTER follow WALKER?

　　And will HARRIET and HENRIETTA follow their cousins HARRY and HENRY?

　　Tell us your ideas!