What Should I Name Emma's Little Sister?

Emma was at the top of the pack in 2018. We will find out very soon if she's managed to hold on to her tiara, or if, perhaps Olivia, has dethroned her.  Emma has always been a popular name. Well, at least since Ross and Rachel chose it back in 2004. She was destined for greatness though, and has proved it over the past decade.

Even without "Friends," Emma was already climbing the charts. Emma ranked within the Top 100 from 1880 to 1941, decided to take a little break from her popularity before she reentered the Top 100 again in 1993. By 2002, Emma ranked as the 4th most popular name in the country. She snagged #1 in 2008, and again from 2014 to 2018. Girl is popular, but with good reason.

Emma comes from a Germanic element "ermen" which means "whole" or "universal", which helps give this name her appeal.  So much so that Emma isn't only a top name in the US, it has also received plenty of usage in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and The Netherlands.

Is Emma the name for you? Popularity isn't always an issue for new parents. When a name is as beautiful and well-liked as Emma, parents will continue to use it! But the question then arises:

"What do you name a younger sibling for Emma?"

Surely, if you've fallen in love with the name Emma, you will want to find something just as lovely for her future sisters. This is where I come in. Below are 20 name suggestions that take different criteria into account.

1.  Ava

Ava offers the same popularity as Emma, and both names are also palindromes. Both Emma and Ava are old-fashioned names that sprang to fame in the early 2000s.  Similarly, a third sister could be named Hannah (#33), another palindrome name, just in case you find yourself stuck in a pattern.  Ava and Emma are two peas in a pod!

2. Nora

Nora and Emma are both 4-letter names that offer a soft, sweetness. Nora is not as popular as Emma, but she can definitely keep up. Nora also has a strong history of usage behind her, dating back to the 1880s in the US. Today, Nora ranked at #30 and would be a lovely sister for Emma.

3. Stella

Stella + Emma = one sophisticated sister-set. These two names have a great balance together, perhaps it is that they both boast double-letters and an "a" ending, but they vary in sound. Stella is not as popular as Emma, but she does rank at #38 in 2018 and may continue rising in popularity. Stella was a hot choice back around 1920, just like Emma was. These sassy sisters make a great pair!

4. Adele

Adele has that similar sophistication vibe of Stella, these 3 together would make a terrific trio. Even more reason, both Emma and Adele have German, English and Italian usage, making both names have universal appeal in multiple cultures. What's nice about Emma and Adele together, is that they are comprised of differing but trendy sounds.  Both Em- and Ad- names are hot right now. Unlike Emma's popularity, though, Adele is less common, ranking at #898.

5. Everly

For some alliteration, Emma and Everly are a dynamic duo. Pairing these together gives them the similarity of the letter E, but they are different in style. Everly brings a more spunky vibe to Emma's girly sweetness, but both are very trendy and posh in their own right. Right now, Everly is a fast rising star, plucked from obscurity! She entered the Top 1000 as of 2012, and broke in to the Top 100 by 2017. I see her rivaling Emma for the throne in a couple years.

6. Sadie

Sadie brings a variety in sounds, when compared to Emma. Some parents don't want names that are too similar, so the rest of the names on this list differ in sound. Style-wise, Emma and Sadie are both very sweet, old-fashioned names. I could picture them on modern-day sisters, and sisters from the 1920s. They have a charm about them as a sib-set, similar to the reason I chose Nora above. Sadie is not as popular, but still holds her own at #87.

7. Vivian  

To continue with names that differ in sound, Vivian seems like an obvious sister name to Emma. While Emma means "universal", Vivian means "life", so their meanings go hand-in-hand. They have the same old-fashioned vibe, but also could be the names of starlets on the red carpet. Vivian has been on the rise, currently ranking at #96.

8. Sophie 

While sister-name Sophia has been swapping popularity ranks with Emma for years, sweet Sophie has stayed more under the radar in the US, ranking at #98. However, in England, Sophie has been quite popular, ranking at #1 in 1996. I could definitely see Emma and Sophie as sisters walking the streets of London. These posh names deserve to be used together.

9. Paisley

Emma could also go well with more modern names like Paisley (#52) or Kinsley (#63), or Riley (#28) too; similar to what I wrote about Everly, above. If you are leaning more toward this style now for your second daughter, it can definitely work. Emma and Paisley seem very sassy and cool together, especially if you want your girls to have their own style with very different sounding names.

10. Harper

To go even one step further, unisex choices like Harper, Piper, Avery or Quinn can provide a very interesting contrast to Emma. Emma tends to be considered more cute and girly, however, names like Harper can have a feminine charm of their own despite being considered more unisex. Emma and Harper work very well together even though they have very different sounds and styles.


Of course, these are just MY top 10 picks to pair with Emma. It's completely subjective. You may even disagree in your perception of some of these names, but that's the beauty of naming! There are no right or wrong answers. I just wanted to offer my thoughts on these names to give you some inspiration when choosing a name for Emma's little sister.   Which names would YOU pair with Emma?

National Color Day: Best Color Names for Modern Babies

October 22nd is known as National Color Day! Everyone has colors that they enjoy more than others. Do you have a favorite color? Do you love it so much that you would consider using it as a baby name? If so, you're not alone. Below is a list of potential color names. The first list is much more popular than the second, but they're all interesting in their own way.

More Popular:

Ruby (red) is currently ranked as the 79th most popular name in the US for girls, as of 2017.
Violet (purple) is climbing the charts! As of 2017, it ranked at #48 for girls and will probably keep going.
Hazel (brown) popped into the Top 1000 in 1998, and the Top 100 in 2015! Currently at #43.
Rose (pink) is a timeless classic and has always ranked within the Top 400. Ranked #141 in 2017.
Iris (purple) has always been around, but has been slowly climbing, putting it up to #149.
Sienna (brown) wasn't used before the 1960s, and it hit the Top 1000 in 1995.  Currently at #222.
Jade (green) has been in use since the 1940s. It was most popular in 2002 with 86 births. Currently it is at #110.
Raven (black) hit the Top 1000 in 1977 for girls, and now ranks at #446 in 2017.
Amber (orange) ranked in the Top 100 from 1974-2004. It is slowly declining, currently ranking at #401.
Scarlet (red) since the 1930s, both Scarlet and Scarlett have been used. Scarlet is #396 while Scarlett ranks at #18!
Laurel (green) is a color name based on the plant. It has always ranked in the middle ground. Currently at #597.
Jasmine (yellow) was rarely used before the 1950s, and most popular in the early 1990s. It is now at #130 as of 2017.
Veronica (purple) the color is also named for a vivid purple plant. Not as popular as it once was, Veronica sits at #378.
Kelly (green) first hit the Top 1000 in 1948, and Top 100 from 1959-1999. It is now ranked at #595.
Olive (green) is not as popular as Olivia yet, but it is climbing fast! It went from #990 in 2007 or #256 in 2017.
Daisy (white) has always been well-used, but it is currently ranked at #170 in 2017.
Heather (purple) boomed in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, and it lasted through the 90s.  Now it has fallen out of the Top 1000.
Jasper (red) for boys, this name has always been steadily used. It has gained more popularity during this decade, reaching #185 in 2017.
Hunter (green) quickly gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s for boys. It is now at #53.
Juniper (green) has only been around since the 1970s. It entered the Top 1000 in 2011, and ranks #314 today.
Sage (green) is more popular for girls, but is quite unisex. In 2017, it ranked at #309 for girls and #472 for boys.
Gray has been used for boys since the 1910s, and for girls since the 1990s but it isn't currently ranked within the Top 1000 for either gender yet. 

Less Popular:

Blue
Indigo
Onyx (black)
Coral (pink)
Marigold (yellow)
Ginger (orange)
Tawny (brown)
Jet (black)
Basil (green)
Magenta (pink)
Lilac (purple)
Sable (black)
Peach (pink)
Fern (green)
Saffron (yellow)
Emerald (green)
Fawn (tan)
Cerise (red)
Forest (green)
Cedar (brown)
Penny (brown)
Jonquil (yellow)
Mauve (purple)
Henna (brown)
Ivory (white)
Clay (brown)
Lavender (purple)
Navy (blue)
Cyan (blue)
Sky (blue)
Cobalt (blue)
Fushia (pink)
Claret (red)
Umber (brown)
Zaffre (blue)
Sepia (tan)
Lemon (yellow)
Sangria (red)
Apple (red)
Honey (yellow)
Tiger (orange)
Cherry (red)
Taffy (pink)
Merlot (red)
Crimson (red)
Garnet (red)
Orchid (purple)
Amethyst (purple)
Slate (blue)
Ocean (blue)
Aegean (blue)
Azure (blue)
Stone (gray)
Ash (gray)
Flint (gray)

Can you think of any other color names that would also suit a child? Which of these are your favorites?

<--- Previous Article: Color Me Named: 106 Baby Names from Colors

<--- Previous Article: From Amaranth to Violet: A Look at Names of the Rainbow

From Augusto to Augustina: The Many August Names

As we reach the end of the month of August, let's take a moment to look at the related Aug-/Ag- names that could be used on a person today. Generally, these names all come from the Latin augere meaning "to increase", but other meanings came to include "great" and "venerable". Augustus was a title that Octavian, the first Roman emperor, was given. He was the adopted son of Julius Caesar.

There are many options available for both boys and girls. Some are more popular than others, but these are mostly rather uncommon here in the US.  Are there any that you would use?

By Unknown Till Niermann (Own work)
 [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0  or CC BY-SA 2.5],
via Wikimedia Commons

Agostina  (Italian form of Augustinus - feminine - zero births on record for 2015 in US)

Agostino  (Italian form of Augustinus - masculine - 5 births on record for 2015)

Ágúst (Icelandic form of Augustus - masculine - zero births in 2015)

Agust (Swedish form of August - masculine - zero births in 2015)

Agustin (Spanish form of Augustinus - masculine - 223 births in 2015)

Augustina (Ancient Roman form of Augustinus - feminine - 14 births in 2015)

Augie/Auggie (English diminutive of August - unisex - 7 male births for Augie and 6 for Auggie in 2015. Zero female births on record for either name.)

August (German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus - unisex - 2,059 male births in 2015 for a rank of #195. 242 female births for a rank of #1072.)

Augusta (Feminine form of Augustus - 48 births in 2015.)

Auguste (French masculine form of Augustus, and the German feminine form of Augusta - 20 male births in 2015, zero female.)

Augusten (Alternate spelling of Augustin - masculine - 16 births in 2015)

Augustin (French, Czech, Romanian and Croatian form of Augustinus - masculine - 75 births in 2015)

Augustina (Feminine form of Augustinus - 14 births in 2015)

Augustine (Masculine English form of Augustus, and the feminine French form of Augustinus. - 26 female births in 2015, and 273 male births for a rank of #820)

Augusto (Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Augustus - masculine - 29 births in 2015)

Augustus (Ancient Roman / Latin - masculine - 643 births in 2015 for a rank of #467)

Augustijn (Dutch form of Augustinus- masculine - zero births on record in US)

Augustyna (Polish of Augustina- feminine - zero births on record in US)

Avgust  (Russian, Slovene, Ukrainian form of August - masculine - zero births on record in US)

Aukusti (Finnish form of Augustus - masculine - zero births on record in US)

Guus (Dutch diminutive of Augustus - masculine - zero births on record in US)

Gus (Short form of Augustus - masculine - 163 male births in 2015)

Then there's Austin, a Medieval contraction of Augustine. Austin is by far the most popular name on the list. It ranked as high as #9 in 1996 and 1997 for boys. Currently it earned 5,767 births for a rank of #69 in 2015. There were also 151 female births.

Austin has some variants such as:

Austen (unisex - 119 male births and 61 female births in 2015)

Austyn (unisex - had more male use in late 1990s to early 2000s, now has more female use. 103 male births and 242 female births in 2015.

Awstin (Welsh form of Austin - zero births on record in the US for either gender in 2015.)

-

Now that you've browsed through this list, can you think of any that I may have missed? Otherwise, which is your favorite form? Would you use it?

Barely Used Girl Names: Geneva, Coral & Bellamy [Part Four]

This is the fourth installment of our "barely used names for girls" series. I have compiled ten interesting names that do not receive enough births per year to rank within the US Top 1000 chart, as defined by the Social Security Administration. If you are looking for a name that you don't hear every day, this list could offer inspiration. (And don't forget to also check out the other three articles that came before this. There will be more to follow, as well.)

Which name on this list do you like the most? Which do you think could be the first to rank higher?

Winnie (211 births - #1189) -Winnie can easily stand on its own as a name, but it is sometimes considered a diminutive of Winifred. Winnie the Pooh was named after a real bear at the London Zoo named Winnipeg. Winnie was a hot name back in 1919, it's best year yet. It had 541 births for a rank of #275. It hasn't done that well since then, leaving the Top 1000 in the mid-1950s. However, it has done a little better in the past three years. Could it rejoin the top soon?

Geneva (202 births - #1220) Geneva may be a short form of the name Genevieve which comes from Genovefa meaning "tribe woman". Geneva also has a connection to Juniper through the French name genièvre, a name for juniper, and the traditional gin drink jenever.  Geneva is also the name of a city in Switzerland. Geneva was most popular in 1924, but it left the Top 1000 by 1996. Could it make a comeback?

Coral (199 births - #1230) Coral is derived from the Greek word korallion and is also an English word referring to the marine invertebrates found in underwater reefs. As a name, Coral has been around on record since 1881 in the US. It has always almost ranked below the Top 1000, but compared to the past, it has had more births per year in the past 2 decades. Could it finally make a splash soon?

Yara (199 births - #1232) Yara seems to have multiple meanings and origins. Yarah in Arabic means "precious ruby"; in Greek, Yara means "the loved one"; in Brazil, Yara means "forest girl"; and in some Yoruba dialects, it means "intelligent". The male Hebrew name Ya'rah is a variant of Jarah meaning "honeycomb". So Yara's quite diverse. It has been given to girls as a given name since 1969 but it has never reached the Top 1000.

Anneliese (195 births - #1345) Anneliese is, of course, a combination of Anna and Liese. Anna comes from the Hebrew Channah meaning "grace", and Liese is a German and Dutch diminutive of Elizabeth which means "my God is an oath" from the Hebrew Elisheva. Anneliese has been used since 1926 in the US, and it ranked one time in 2005 at #914. Perhaps it could be given a second chance soon.

Eisley (194 births - #1351) Eisley is an interesting name. It seems to be purely inspired by pop culture. There is a town called Mos Eisley on the fictional planet Tatooine in the Star Wars universe. It was this town that inspired the name of an American Indie band called Eisley. The name might even translate to "ice island" in German and other similar languages. So if you're a Star Wars fan, this may be a less-obvious way to honor your fandom than using, say, Luke or Leia. Eisley popped up for girls in 2003 and has gained a lot of usage since then, despite still falling below the Top 1000.

Emerald (193 births - #1357) The emerald is a precious green stone, the birthstone for the month of May. Supposedly, the emerald is meant to impart love to whomever wears it. The word comes from the Greek smaragdos. As a name, Emerald was first used in 1904. It was very rare until it gained a bit of traction in the 1970s. It's best decade so far was the 1990s when it ranked at the bottom of the charts. It dipped back down in 2003 but it has the potential to be better-used in the future since other Em- names have been so hot.

Brisa (192 births - #1361)  Brisa is actually the Spanish word for "breeze" and was originally more of a nickname for the name Briseida. In 1999, Brisa popped up as the name of a character in the Mexican telenovela "Por Tu Amor".  The name Briseida is a Spanish form of Briseis which is a Greek name of unknown meaning, and also a figure in Greek mythology. Brisa has been used in the US since 1974, and it ranked within the Top 1000 from the year 2000 until 2012. Has it peaked or could it return?

Bellamy (183 births - #1398)  As a surname, Bellamy is said to come from the Norman French words bel ami meaning "beautiful friend". There is a French novel published in 1885 called Bel Ami, which has inpsired many film adaptations over the years, including a recent one in 2012. Bellamy hit the popularity chart in 1993 and 1996, but it wasn't regularly used until 2003. It has been climbing upward and could make its debut in the Top 1000 in the coming years.

Yesenia (180 births - #1413) There is a tree from South America that belongs to the genus Jessenia. It is probable that the Spanish name Yesenia was derived from that. It was first used in a telenovela of the same name in 1970. The name was first used in the US in 1966 on record and it ranked in the Top 1000 from 1971 to 2012. It fell off the chart recently. Is it too soon for it to rise again?

The names on this list are all very different from one another. Are there any that caught your eye?

Barely Used Girl Names: Joelle, Taryn & Magdalena [Part Two]

Welcome to part two of this series that features ten barely used names per month. We started this thing by investigating names just outside of the US Top 1000. We'll explore our way down the list and uncover more and more uncommon names as we go.

There are plenty of great names that are not currently popular. The best thing about their "unpopularity" is that it does not denote that there's something wrong with the names, they simply aren't on everyone's radar right now. They may have been used more in the past, or perhaps they are yet to be discovered. Either way, these great, overlooked names would be excellent choices for parents who want something you don't hear everyday.

The ones that I've handpicked from 2015's data are all very usable for a modern girl despite being uncommon at the moment.  In the parenthesis, the number of births for 2015 is listed, followed by the popularity rank as published by the Social Security Administration.

Shannon (248 births - #1059)  The longest river in Ireland is called the River Shannon, or Abha na tSionainn. The name Sionainn comes from Sionna, a goddess in Irish mythology whose name means "possessor of wisdom". As a name, Shannon had male usage first but once it was given to females, the girls took over. It entered the Top 1000 in 1937 and hit the Top 100 in 1968. Shannon's two best years (for girls) was 1970 and 1976 with an all-time high rank of #17. It dropped from the Top 100 in 1998 and the Top 1000 by 2014. Is this a came-and-went name or could it be revived again in the future?

Araceli (247 births - #1060) This beautiful Spanish name means "altar of the sky" from the Latin ara meaning "altar" and coeli meaning "sky". It has been around in the US since the 1940s. It joined the Top 1000 in 1968 but recently dropped out in 2014. The highest it has ever ranked was in 2002 at #487.  This name feels pretty and unexpected. Do you think it could gain usage?

Taryn (247 births - #1062) According to Behind The Name, Taryn may have been created as recently as 1953. Actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian gave this name to their daughter in that year, most likely as a feminine form of Tyrone. The data supports this. The name wasn't on record in the US until 1953. If that's really the case, then Taryn would have the same meaning as Tyrone which is derived from Irish Gaelic Tir Eoghain meaning "land of Eoghan". It's also possible that it is meant to be an alternate spelling to Terran, which refers to the earth or "terra". Taryn's best year to date was 1985. It only fell off the Top 1000 chart in 2015. Does it deserve the drop?

Sonia (243 births - #1071)  Sonia is a variant of Sonya, which is a Russian diminutive of Sophia. Sophia, of course, means "wisdom" in Greek. Sonia was first used in the US in 1895 with Sonya's usage following in 1904 on record. Sonia was in the Top 1000 from 1909-2014. At their peak in the late 1960s, Sonya was more popular than Sonia. Today neither rank in the Top 1000, however Sonia is ranked higher. Which spelling do you prefer?

Etta (242 births - #1075) Etta is usually said to come from the name Henrietta, but it could very well be a nickname for any other -etta name. In this case, Henrietta comes from Henry which is German meaning "home ruler". On its own, Etta was most popular in 1920 and was always in use on record since 1880. It left the Top 1000 in 1967 and fell to record lows such as a mere 7 births in 2001. Now it has climbed up again with 242 births in 2015. Could it stand alone and rise on the charts soon?

Ramona (242 births - #1076) Ramona is the feminine form of Ramón which is the Spanish form of Raymond. Raymond comes from the Germanic name Raginmund which ultimately means "advice" from the element ragin and "protector" from mund. Ramona spiked in popularity in 1928 in the US and continued to rank within the Top 1000 until 1989. Now it is on the outskirts of the charts with 242 births in 2015. Should it be allowed reentry?

Joelle (241 births - #1077) This is the feminine form of the Hebrew name Joel which means "YAHWEH is God". The US popularity record for Joelle shows 5 births in 1918 but it wasn't consistently used until 1933. It joined the Top 1000 in 1966 and dropped back out in 2004. It has lingered just beyond the charts since then. Could it rise in the future?

Gwyneth (236 births - #1091) Gwyneth is either a varient of the Welsh name Gwynedd, or it simply comes from the Welsh element gwyn meaning "white, fair, blessed". It has been well-used in Wales since the 19th century. Here in the US, it has only been used since 1915. Surprisingly, Gwyneth has only ranked with in the Top 1000 in the years 2004, 2011 and 2013. Will it ever be more commonly used here?

Magdalena (233 births - #1104) Magdalena is the Latinate form of Magdalene, which comes from a title meaning "of Magdala". The bible character Mary Magdalene was called this because she was from Magdala, a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name meant "tower" in Hebrew. She was a popular saint in the middle ages, giving the name Magdalene popularity. Magdalene ranked in the US Top 1000 from 1880-1944, but never again after that. Magdalena ranked well from 1880-2010, aside from a couple dips in the 1980s. Why is it that this name is beginning to fade? Could it regain usage?

Maxine (231 births - #1109)  This is one of the only Max names for females. It probably means "greatest" from the Latin Maximilianus which comes from Maximus.  Maxine was first used in 1884, peaking in usage from the 1910s - 1940s. It dropped out of the Top 1000 in the late 1970s and flickered on and off before it stayed off as of 1996. Could it be seen as stylish again in the near future?

Which of these ten names appeals to you the most? Would you ever consider putting it on your list? Do you know any children with these names?

Barely Used Boy Names: Leif, Roderick & Gerard [Part Two]

Welcome to part two of this series! Today we'll investigate ten interesting names that are currently not ranked within the US Top 1000. A couple were popular years ago and are uncommon now, while others have yet to hit their stride. Let's see if any of these could potentially start [re]climbing the charts in the coming years or if they are likely to remain barely-used. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you know any youngsters with these names?

Within the parenthesis, you'll find the number of births the name received in the year 2015, along with the names' corresponding popularity rank.

Denzel (186 births - #1060) Denzel is a form of Denzil which is a surname that indicated a person from the manor of Denzell in Cornwall. The spelling Denzel was made popular by Denzel Washington, an American actor. The name in the US has been around since 1906. It was rare until the early 1990s, peaking in 1993 at #311. It has since fallen off the Top 1000 chart.

Leif (186 births - #1063) This is an Old Norse name that comes from Leifr meaning "descendant, heir". The most famous bearer of this name is Leif Eriksson, a Norse explorer from the 11th century. As a name, Leif has been in use in the US since 1912. It ranked in the Top 1000 from 1959 to 1987. It is very close to rejoining the chart again, do you think it could ever be commonly used?

Octavio (185 births - #1065) Octavio is the Spanish form of the Latin Octavus meaning "eighth". There are not any Oct- names in the Top 1000, Octavio is the highest ranked for boys. It gained usage in the US in 1908. It ranked in the Top 1000 from the 1970s to 2010. It fell recently but isn't too far down. Could Octavio ever be more commonly used? Do you prefer Octavius? Octavian?

Roderick (185 births - #1066)  This name comes from  the Germanic elements hrod meaning "fame" and ric meaning power "power"; so it could mean "famous power". It was the name of a Visigoth King in the 8th century, but the name died out after the Middle Ages. It was revived again by Sir Walter Scott's 1811 poem called "The Vision of Don Roderick". It's always been used in the US and nearly always ranked within the Top 1000 until recently.

Lyle (183 births - #1072) Lyle is an English surname that is actually a bit of a play on words. It comes from the Norman French word l'isle which means "island" and is pronounced the same as Lyle.  The name as always been around in the US, perhaps being most popular in the 1920s. It fell off the Top 1000 chart in 1996, dipped down and is now back up on the outskirts. Could it rejoin soon?

Clarence (180 births - #1080)  Clarence derives from the Latin title Clarensis which may mean "clear, illustrious". This was a title used by the British royal family that comes from the name of the town of Clare in Suffolk. Clarence has always been used in the US, doing its best around 1920 and remaining a Top 100 name through the 1940s. It gradually fell, dropping out of the Top 1000 in 2009. Could it make a come back or will it continue to hover just below the charts?

Gerard (179 births - #1086) Gerard comes from the Germanic element ger meaning "spear" and hard meaning "brave, hardy". This name was often confused with similar-sounding name Gerald but it has never been nearly as popular. Gerard has been in use since 1886 in the US, but was never popular enough to rank higher than the 200s. It dropped out of the Top 1000 in the early 2000s. Could it be fashionable again in a couple decades?

Sidney (179 births - #1088) Sidney is a surname that also comes from place names in England that mean "wide island" based on the Old English sid meaning "wide" and eg meaning "island". Sidney could also be based on a town in Normandy called Saint Denis. Say that quickly with a French accent and there you go, but there isn't much evidence for this. In the US, Sidney has always been in use for both genders. And there's also the spelling, Sydney, which is popular for girls. Sidney ranked well for boys until it dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2014. Is Sydney's female influence too strong for Sidney to hold popularity for boys?

Aston (178 births - #1089) Aston could be derived from an Old English place name that means "east town"; or it could be a form of Æðelstan which is derived from the Old English elements æðel meaning "noble" and stan meaning "stone".  On record, Aston popped up in 7 different years between 1915 and 1930, each with a handful of births. It wasn't until the early 1980s that this name gained regular usage on boys. It is occasionally used on girls as well, but minimally. Aston has never been in the Top 1000 but it is inching awfully close. Could it be there in the next year or five?

Dale (177 births - #1092) Dale is a nature name and a surname that refers to a person who may have lived near a dale or valley. This name has always been in use in the US for both genders, but it's more commonly a male name. It peaked in 1958 at #46 and 8,478 births. It declined after that, falling off the Top 1000 chart in 2010. It's been lingering on the outskirts, could it ever make a comeback or is it still too recently dated to feel fresh?

Which of these names do you like best? Could any rise in popularity soon or are they better off where they are?