Читать книгу The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not - Linda Rosenkrantz - Страница 11

Alana

Amara

Anahi

Arabella

Belinda

Bella

Belle

Bonita

Bonnie

Calla

Callista

Hermosa

Ilona

Jamilla

Jolie

Linda

Mei

Mirabella

Naava

Ramana

Rosalind

Shaina

Shakila

Vashti

Venus

Zaina

AMBROSIA. Greek and Roman mythology name, ‘food of the gods’. Heavenly, if you like your names over the top.

AMELIA. Variation of EMILY. Lovely Victorian name, with heroic connection to aviatrix Amelia Earhart, that’s on the rise as an alternative to the overused Emily and Amanda. It has made it to the Top 20 in recent years. Warning: we think it could climb even closer to the top. Aemilia, Aimilia, Amaleeda, Amali, Amalia, Amalida, Amalie, Amaliya, Ameila, Ameilia, Amelida, Amelie, Amelina, Ameline, Amelisa, Amelita, Amella, Ami, Amie, Amilia, Amilie, Amilina, Amilisa, Amilita, Amilyn, Amylia, Emelie, Emelina, Emeline, Emelita, Emilia, Emilie, Emily, Emilya, Melia. International: Amilia (Scottish), Amalie, Amelie, Emilie (French), Ama, Amelcia, Melcia (Polish), Amalia, Emilia, Ilma, Malcsi, Mali, Malika (Hungarian), Amalia, Milica (Czech).

AMÉLIE. French variation of AMELIA or EMILY. French favourite that recently entered the Top 10, perhaps thanks to the film of that name. Amalie.

AMENA. Celtic, ‘honest, utterly pure’. Possible Born Again name – Amen! – in the same class as the rising Neveah (that’s Heaven spelled backwards) and Trinity. Amina, Amine.

AMERICA. Place name. Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage and might be easier to handle as a middle name. Americana, Americanna, Amerika. International: Amérique (French).

AMETHYST. Gem name. This purple birthstone for February could make a comeback, as Ruby and Diamond have.

AMICA. Latin, ‘friend’. An ancient name with a likeable meaning and well suited to modern style.

AMINA. Arabic, ‘trustworthy, faithful’. The name of the mother of the prophet Muhammad is well used among Muslims everywhere. Aamena, Aamina, Aaminah, Ameena, Ameenah, Aminah, Aminata, Aminda, Amindah.

AMINTA. Greek, ‘defender’. One of the romantic names favoured by British pastoral poets, more appealing in its longer form, Araminta. Amintah, Amynta.

AMIRA. Hebrew, Arabic, feminine variation of AMIR. This shimmery name, often given to girls born on the harvest feast of Shavuot, and also used in the Arab community, is increasing in popularity. Ameera, Ameerah, Amirah.

AMITA. Sanskrit, ‘infinite’. Feminine form of Amit that’s simple and lyrical and close in spirit to a familiar term for friendship. Amitah, Amyta, Amytah.

AMITY. Latin, ‘friendship’. What nicer gift to give your little girl than a name that signifies friendship and harmony? This virtue name is also more rhythmic and feminine than the single-syllable Hope, Faith, and Grace. Amitee, Amiti, Amitie.

AMORY. German, ‘industrious leader’. A prime candidate for feminisation, best known for the hero of Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise; could rise as a stand-in for Emily or Avery. Amery, Amoree, Amorey, Amori, Amorie.

AMY. Latin, ‘beloved’; French, ‘friend’. One of the Top 25 for the last few years, Amy remains a short, sweet Little Women–style classic. Aami, Aime, Amatia, Amecia, Amee, Amey, Amia, Amiah, Amice, Amie, Amiee, Amii, Amiiee, Amio, Amiya, Ammee, Ammie, Ammiee, Ammy, Amye, Amylyn. International: Aimeé, Amelie (French), Amalia, Amadea (Italian), Amada, Amata (Spanish), Amata (Swedish), Ema (Romanian), Amaliya (Russian).

ANA. Variation of HANNAH. Pared-down form loses none of the name’s grace or power. Anai, Anaia, Anita, Anna.

ANAHÍ. Spanish, ‘beautiful like the flower’. Popular Mexican actress is making this unusual choice better known. Anahi.

ANAHITA. Persian, ‘a river and water goddess’. Stylish choice. Anahai, Anahi, Anahit, Anahy.

ANAÏS. (an-EYE-is or an-AY-is) Hebrew, ‘gracious’; also French Provençal version of ANNE. An unusual, exotic name forever attached to daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anaïs Nin – and later used for a popular perfume – that would make an attractive, creative choice.

ANALA. Hindi, ‘fire’. Indian choice in step with American and British styles.

ANALISA. Combination of ANNA and LISA. Unlike most combination names, this elegant blend – related to the German Anneliese – is more than the sum of its parts. Analice, Analicia, Analis, Analise, Analisha, Analisia, Analissa, Annalisa.

ANAMARIA. Combination of ANA and MARIA. More feminine and stylish than Anne-Marie. Anamarie, Anamary, Annamaria.

ANANDA. Hindi, ‘bliss’. Genuine Indian name some parents turn to as an Amanda alternative; also connected to a network of spiritual communities. Anda.

ANASTASIA. Feminine variation of ANASTASIOS. This regal Russian name is now a viable – and increasingly popular – option, elegantly beautiful. An apt choice for an Easter or spring baby. Ana, Anastacia, Anastascia, Anastase, Anastashia, Anastassya, Anastasya, Anastatia, Anastay, Anastaysia, Anastazia, Anastice, Anasztasia, Anestassia, Annastasia, Annastazia, Anstass, Anstice, Asia, Nastassia, Stace, Stacee, Stacey, Staci, Stacia, Stacie, Stacy, Stasia, Stasiya, Taisie, Tasiya. International: Anastasie (French, German), Tasia (Spanish), Anastazja, Anatazja, Nastka, Nastusia (Polish), Anasztaizia (Hungarian), Anastászie, Nast’a, Stasa, Staska (Czech), Anastasiya, Anastassia, Asya, Nastasia, Nastasya, Nastya, Stasya, Taskenka, Tasya (Russian), Anastacia, Anastasha, Natasa, Tasia, Tasoula (Greek).

ANATOLA. Greek, ‘from the east’. Attractive place name of a beautiful resort region of Turkey. Anatolia, Anatolya. International: Anatalya (Russian).

ANDI. Diminutive of ANDREA. Nickname name that seemed cool in the Ricki/Terri generation. Ande, Andea, Andee, Andie, Andy.

ANDORRA. European place name. Pretty name of a pocketsized princedom in the Pyrenees, noted for its skiing. Andora.

ANDRA. Variation of ANDREA. Arty 1970s name usually pronounced AHN-dra.

ANDREA. Feminine variation of ANDREAS. Feminine form of Andrew (and a male name in several European cultures) with a choice of pronunciations, whose popularity, while never huge, has remained surprisingly steady. Aindrea, Andee, Andelis, Andera, Andere, Anderea, Andi, Andis, Andra, Andrae, Andrah, Andraia, Andraya, Andre, Andreah, Andreaka, Andreana, Andreane, Andreanna, Andreas, Andree, Andrée, Andreea, Andreena, Andreia, Andreina, Andreja, Andreka, Andrel, Andrell, Andrelle, Andreo, Andresa, Andressa, Andretta, Andrette, Andrewena, Andrewina, Andreya, Andri, Andria, Andriana, Andrianna, Andricka, Andrieka, Andrietta, Andrina, Andrine, Andris, Andy, Aundrea, Ohndrea, Ohndreea, Ohndria, Ondrea, Ondreea, Ondria, Onndrea, Onndreea, Onndria.

ANDRÉE. (AHN-dray) French variation of ANDREA. Gilding the lily.

ANDROMEDA. Greek mythology name. Beautiful daughter of Cassiopeia who, like her mother, became a star.

ANEKO. Japanese, ‘older sister’. If you’re planning to have a younger one.

ANEMONE. (ah-NEM-oh-nee) Greek, ‘breath’, flower name. lower name taken from a mythological nymph who was turned into a flower by the wind; an interesting, if challenging, choice. Anemona, Ann-Aymone, Anne-Aymone.

ANGEL. Word name. Many more sightings of earthly Angels of both sexes have been reported recently, but be aware that a good proportion of them are Latin males. Angele, Angéle, Angell, Angelle, Angil, Anjel. International: Anela (Hawaiian).

ANGELA. Italian from Greek, feminine variation of ANGELO. Widely used through most of the twentieth century, but now seems terminally dated. Andzela, Anela, Anelja, Angala, Anganita, Angel, Angelanell, Angelanette, Angele, Angeleigh, Angelene, Angeles, Angeleta, Angeli, Angelic, Angelica, Angelina, Angella, Angelle, Angellina, Angellita, Angi, Angie, Angil, Angiola, Angy, Angyola, Anjali, Anjel, Anjela, Anjele, Anjelica, Anjelina, Anjella, Anji, Anjie, Anjy, Anngela, Anngil, Anngilla, Anngiola, Annjela, Aniujilla, Anyelle, Ohngel, Ohnjella, Onngelle, Onnjelia. International: Ange, Angéle, Angelette, Angeline (French), Angelina (Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Greek), Ange, Angele, Angeles, Angelia, Angelita (Spanish), Anhelina (Russian), Ange, Angele, Angeliki (Greek), Erela, Erelah (Hebrew), Fereshteh (Persian), Anakela (Hawaiian).

ANGELICA. Latin, ‘angelic’. Lacy and poetic, this is by far the best choice among the many forms of the angelic names – but other kids might relate it to the nasty nursery-schooler Angelica C. Pickles on Rugrats.

Angalic, Angelic, Angelici, Angelicia, Angelike, Angeliki, Angelisa, Angelissa, Angellica, Angilica, Angyalka, Anjelica, Anjelika, Anyelika. International: Angélique (French), Angelika (German).

ANGELINA. Diminutive of ANGELA. Ms Jolie’s star power has changed its image from delicate to intense – unless you think about the ballet-crazy mouse of Angelina Ballerina. Angalena, Angalina, Angeleana, Angeleen, Angelena, Angelene, Angeliana, Angellina, Angelyn, Angelyna, Angelyne, Angelynn, Angelynne, Anhelina, Anjelina.

ANGÉLIQUE. French variation of ANGELICA. Proof that a name can be too feminine.

ANGELOU. Literary name. If you want to move beyond Maya.

ANGIE. Diminutive of ANGELA. In the pizzeria with Guido. Ange, Angee, Angey, Angi, Angy.

ANI. Hawaiian, ‘beautiful’. Folk singer DiFranco popularised this simple, appealing form. Aany, Aanye.

ANICE. Modern invented name. Tomorrow’s Denise, trendy but destined to be dated. Anicka, Annice, Annick, Anis, Annis, Annys.

ANICETA. Spanish from German, ‘unconquerable’. Delicate name with strong roots. St Anicetus was an ancient pope and martyr. Anicetta, Anis, Anisa, Anisha, Anissa, Anniceta, Annicetta, Annis, Annissa.

ANIKA. (a-NEE-ka) African, Hausa, ‘sweetness of face’. Attractive name with ties to several cultures, both African and Scandinavian.

ANINA. Aramaic, ‘let my prayer be answered’. Palindrome name rarely heard outside Italy. Anena, Anhma, Annina.

ANISA. Arabic, ‘good-natured’. Phonetic spelling of the Muslim Aanisah, chosen by singer Macy Gray for one of her daughters. Aanisa, Aanisah, Anisah.

ANISE. (ANN-iss) Nature name. Name of the liquorice plant whose downside, at least in school science classes, is its similarity to an anatomical word. Aneese, Anis, Anisette.

ANITA. Spanish variation of ANN. Mid-century favourite, long in fashion limbo. Aneeta, Aneetah, Aneethah, Anetha, Anitha, Anithah, Anitia, Anitra, Anitte, Annita, Annitra, Annitta.

ANIYA, ANIYAH. Variation of ANN. New hottie, with stylish sound related to the popular Aaliyah.

ANJA. (AHN-ya) Russian variation of ANYA. A more exotic spelling of a popular ethnic version of Ann.

ANN, ANNE. Variation of HANNAH. The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both have fallen out of favour in recent years and show no signs of returning.