Читать книгу The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not - Linda Rosenkrantz - Страница 9

Áine

Aislinn

Aoife

Bidelia

Caoimhe

Ciara

Clodagh

Eimear

Fionnuala

Grainne

Juno

Maeve

Niamh

Orla

Roisin

Saoirse

Sinead

Sorcha

AIMÉE. French, ‘beloved’. Whether you pronounce it like the original Amy or the Frenchified Ay-may, this form adds considerable élan to an old favourite. Aime, Aimey, Aimi, Aimia, Aimie, Aimy, Amey, Amie.

ÁINE. (an-ya) Irish, ‘brilliance, wit’. Name of a fertility goddess said to confer luck on its bearer, though to avoid confusion you may want to use the phonetic spelling Anya or Enya. Anne, Anya, Enya.

AINSLEY. Scottish, ‘one’s own meadow’. While theoretically unisex, this surname name has been edging up the girls’ list, perhaps as an Ashley substitute. Ainslea, Ainslee, Ainsleigh, Ainslie, Ainsly, Ansley, Aynslee, Aynsley, Aynslie.

AIR. Word name. Airy hippy dippy nature name, à la River or Sky. Aer.

AISHA. (eye-EE-sha) Arabic, ‘woman’; Swahili, ‘life’. Aisha was Muhammad’s favourite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations increasingly popular. Aaisha, Aaishah, Aeesha, Aeeshah, Aesha, Aeshah, Aheesha, Aiasha, Aiesha, Aieshah, Aisa, Aischa, Aish, Aishah, Aisheh, Aishia, Aishiah, Aisia, Aisiah, Aixa, Aiyesha, Aiysha, Asha, Ashah, Ashia, Ashiah, Asia, Asiah, Ayeesa, Ayeesah, Ayeesha, Ayeeshah, Ayeisa, Ayeisah, Ayeisha, Ayeishah, Ayesha, Ayisa, Ayisah, Ayisha, Ayishah, Aysa, Ayse, Aytza, Ieasha, Ieashah, Ieashia, Ieashiah, Iesha, Ieshah, Ieesha, Ieeshah, Ieeshia, Ieeshiah, Yiesha, Yieshah.

AISLINN. (ash-lin) Irish, ‘dream’. Old Irish name that’s taken off in its phonetic forms, mainly Ashlyn or Ashlynn. Aishellyn, Aishlinn, Aislee, Aisley, Aislin, Aisling, Aislyn, Aislynne, Ashling, Ashlyn, Ashlynn, Isleen.

AITHNE. (et-na) Irish, ‘fire’. This soundalike for the famous volcano, Mount Etna, is far more unusual and less attractive than its male equivalent, Aidan. Aine, Aithnea, Eithne, Ena, Ethnah, Ethnea, Ethnee.

AJA. Hindi, ‘goat’. Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Ahjah, Aija, Aijah, Aijiah, Ajá, Ajada, Ajah, Ajara, Ajaran, Ajare, Ajaree, Ajhia, Aji, Ajia, Ajjia, Azha.

AKILAH. Arabic, ‘intelligent, logical’. Rhythmic and exotic. Aikiela, Aikilah, Akeela, Akeelah, Akeila, Akeilah, Akeiyla, Akiela, Akielah, Akila, Akilaih, Akili, Akilia, Akilla, Akillah, Akkila, Akyla, Akylah.

AKIVA. Hebrew, ‘to protect, shelter’. Strong name used in Israel. Akeeva, Akiba, Keeva, Keevah, Kiba, Kibah, Kiva, Kivah, Kivi.

ALABAMA. Place name. In the US, hot new southern place name, picking up from Georgia and Savannah.

ALAIA. (al-EYE-a) Arabic, ‘sublime’. Fashion designer surname could make exotic first.

ALAIR. Variation of HILARY. Firmer form of Hilary. Alaira, Ali, Allaire.

ALALA. Greek mythology. Rhythmic ancient name belonging to the mythological sister of Ares.

ALANA. Irish, feminine variation of ALAN. Not a bad way to honour Grandpa Alan…or Grandma Helen or Elaine. Alaana, Alaina, Alaine, Alanaa, Alanae, Alanah, Alane, Alanea, Alani, Alania, Alanis, Alanna, Alannah, Alawna, Alayna, Alayne, Alene, Aleyna, Aleynah, Aleyne, Aileen, Allana, Allanah, Allena, Ailene, Alleynah, Alleyne, Allina, Allinah, Allyn, Allyna, Alonna, Lana, Lanah, Lanna, Lannah.

ALANI. Hawaiian, ‘orange tree’. More appealing than most other Alan equivalents. Alaini, Alainie, Alania, Alanie, Alaney, Alannie.

ALANIS. Variation of ALANA. Singer Alanis Morissette made this twist famous.

ALBA. Latin, ‘white’. Many two-syllable names that start and end in vowels are coming back…but not Alba. Albana, Albane, Albani, Albanie, Albany, Albeni, Albina, Albine, Albinia, Albinka, Alva, Elba. International: Albane (French).

ALBANY. Place name. The Beckhams have put Brooklyn on the map. Albany – also in New York State – not yet.

ALBERTA. English, feminine variation of ALBERT. Jazzy old name that could make a comeback, the way Josephine and Ella have. Alberthine, Albertina, Albertine, Albertyna, Albertyne, Auberta, Aubertha, Auberthe, Aubine, Alverta, Berry, Bert, Berta, Berte, Berti, Bertie, Berty, Elberta, Elbertha, Elberthina, Elberthine, Elbertina, Elbertine. International: Albertine, Auberte (French).

ALBINIA. Latin, ‘white, fair’. The original male name Alban is a lot sleeker and more usable. Alba, Albina, Alva, Alvina, Aubine.

ALCHEMY. Latin word name. One of the most extreme of the new word names, recommended only to the most mystical-minded parents. Metallica hard-rocker Lars Hendrickson spelled his daughter’s name Alchamy.

ALCOTT. English, ‘dweller at the old cottage’. Intriguing alternative that goes beyond Louisa and May, for Little Women fans.

ALDA. German, ‘old, prosperous’. Old, indeed. Aldabella, Aldea, Aldina, Aldine, Aleda, Alida.

ALDEN. English, ‘old, wise friend’. Tired male surname name that sounds fresh and modern for a girl. Aldan, Aldon, Aldyn, Alten, Alton.

ALEAH. Arabic, ‘high, exalted’; Persian, ‘God’s being’. Simple and melodic. Aileah, Ala, Alah, Alea, Aleea, Aleeah, Aleia, Aleiah, Alia, Allea, Alleah, Alleea, Alleeah.

ALEELA. Swahili, ‘she cries’. Lilting African name that translates perfectly into other cultures. Aleelah, Alila, Alile.

ALEESHA. Variation of ALICIA. Beginning to be heard more frequently since the birth of the Eastenders baby.

ALEEZA. Hebrew, ‘joy’. One of the most energetic and exotic of the legion of Alyssa/Alicia/ Eliza names. Aleezah, Aleiza, Alieza, Aliezah, Aliza, Alizah, Alitza, Leeza.

ALEJANDRA. (al-eh-HAHN-dra) Spanish, feminine variation of ALEJANDRO. The Spanish form of this popular and multivaried name is attracting good reviews outside the Latino community. Alandra, Alejandrina, Alexandra.

ALETHEA. Greek, ‘truth’. Alicia, with a lisp. Alathea, Alathia, Aleethia, Aleta, Aletea, Aletha, Aletheia, Alethia, Aletia, Aletta, Alette, Alithea, Alithia, Elethea, Elethia.

ALEX. Diminutive of ALEXANDER, ALEXIS. One of the most evenly divided unisex names these days; strong and energetic, if overused, for both genders. Aleix, Aleks, Alexe, Alexx, Alix, Allex, Allexx, Alyx.

ALEXA. Diminutive of ALEXANDRA. This simple and most feminine form of the Alexi group retains the greatest freshness, although it’s already in with the-in crowd. Aleixa, Alekia, Aleksa, Aleksha, Aleksi, Alexha, Alexsa, Alexssa, Alexxa, Allexa, Alyxa.

ALEXANDRA. Greek, ‘man’s defender’. The feminine form of Alexander has been consistent in the bottom half of the Top 100. Why? It’s strong, tasteful, and elegant, maintaining a chic aura despite its popularity, has a solid historic pedigree and offers an array of softer nicknames. Alaxandra, Alecsandra, Aleczandra, Aleksandra, Alesandra, Alessandra, Alex, Alexanda, Alexande, Alexandera, Alexandere, Alexandrea, Alexandreana, Alexandretta, Alexandria, Alexane, Alexea, Alexene, Alexes, Alexi, Alexus, Alexxandra, Alexys, Alexzandra, Alissandre, Alissandrine, Alix, Alixandra, Allessa, Allessandra, Allex, Allexa, Allexandra, Allexandrina, Allexina, Allexine, Alissandre, Alissandrine, Allix, Ally, Alyx, Alyxandra, Cesya, Etena, Lesy, Lesya, Lexandra, Lexi, Lexie, Lexy, Lissandre, Lissandrine, Sandi, Sandie, Sandra, Sandy, Sandye, Sanndra, Sasha, Sohndra, Sondra, Xandra, Xandy, Zandra, Zandy, Zohndra, Zondra.

ALEXANDRIA. Variation of ALEXANDRA. Turns Alexandra into a more distinctive place name, in both Egypt and Virginia. Alaxandria, Alecsandria, Aleczandria, Alexanderine, Alexandrea, Alexandrena, Alexandrie, Alexandrina, Alexandrine, Alexandrya, Alexanndria, Alexendria, Alexendrine, Alexia, Alixandrea, Alyxandria.

ALEXIA. Diminutive of ALEXANDRIA. A pretty name, but it has a slightly pharmaceutical aura. Aleksia, Aleska, Alexcia, Alexea, Alexsia, Alexsiya, Allexia, Alyxia.

ALEXINA. Feminine variation of ALEX. Trying too hard to stand out from the sea of Alexes.

ALEXIS. English variation of ALEXIOS. This one-time Russian boys’ name has surpassed sister Alexandra in popularity in the US, where it has made the Top 5. Aalexis, Ahlexis, Alaxis, Alecsis, Alecxis, Aleexis, Aleksis, Alessa, Alessi, Alexa, Alexcis, Alexi, Alexia, Alexias, Alexiou, Alexiss, Alexiz, Alexsis, Alexxis, Alexys, Alixis, Allexis, Elexis, Lexi, Lexie, Lexis, Lexy. International: Alessia (Italian).