Angela

Angela (AN-juh-luh)

Origin: Feminine form of Angelus (see ANGEL). As an English name, it came into use in the 18th century.

Syllables: 3

Style: Timeless

Popularity: 142 (falling)

Nicknames: Angie, Ange

Variants: Angelia, Angel

Sister: Monica, Sonya, Michelle, Tamara, Teresa

* For years, Angela was the way to name your daughter with a touch of heaven. Today, the options have exploded. Half a dozen different "Angel" names are popular, and Heaven itself is now a popular name. But Angela's still a hit, and it remains the most modest, enduring choice.

Angel

Angel (AYN-jel)

Origin: From the medieval Latin masculine name Angelus which was derived from the name of the heavenly creature (itself derived from the Greek word αγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger"). It has never been very common in the English-speaking world, where it is sometimes used as a feminine name in modern times.

Syllables: 2

Style: Modern Meanings, African-American

Popularity: 176 (falling)

Nicknames: Angie

Variants: Angelle

Sisters: Autumn, Diamond, Alana, Jade, Heaven

Brothers: Chance, Dante, Prince, Justice, Jett

* After centuries of Angela, Angelica, and Angelina, American parents decided to cut to the chase. "My little girl is an angel, and I'm calling her one!" A loving appellation that walks a line between confident and cutesy.

Andrea

Andrea (AN-dree-uh; AHN-dree-uh)

Origin: Portuguese feminine form of ANDREW, Italian form of Andreas (see ANDREW). A notable bearer of this name was Andrea Verrocchio, a Renaissance sculptor who taught Leonardo da Vinci and Perugino, Feminine form of ANDREW. As an English name, it has been used since the 17th century, though it was not common until the 20th century.

Syllables: 3

Style: New Classics, Lacy and Lissome

Popularity: 73 (falling)

Nicknames: Andie, Andy, Andi

Variants: Andra

Sisters: Monica, Amanda, Stephanie, Nicole, Melissa

Brothers: Timothy, Sean, Christopher, Jeremy, Aaron

* Like its male counterpart Andrew, Andrea is a classic that seems to grow stronger with each generation. It's soft and melodic with a serious core. A standard throughout the English-speaking world.

Anastasia

Anastasia (a-na-STAY-zhuh; ah-nah-STAH-see-uh)

Origin: Feminine form of ANASTASIUS. This was the name of a 4th-century Dalmatian saint who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Due to her, the name has been common in Eastern Orthodox Christianity (in various spellings). As an English name it has been in use since the Middle Ages. A famous bearer was the youngest daughter of the last Russian tsar Nicholas II, who was rumoured to have escaped the execution of her family in 1918.

Syllables: 4

Style: Lacy and Lissome, Slavic, Greek, Saints

Popularity: 324

Nicknames: Nastia, Ana, Annie, Stasia, Stacy, Stasi, Natasa

Sisters: Tatiana, Valentina, Francesca, Liliana, Artemisia

Brothers: Fabian, Dimitri, Maximilian, Dominick, Roman

* This Greek/Russian enchantress radiates mystery and romance. The legend of the lost Romanov princess Anastasia is a big reason, but the gossamer name is simply a natural for shadowy beauties.

Middle Name Pick: Anastasia Roxanne

Anais

Anais (a-niy-EES)

Origin: Provençal and Catalan form of ANNA

Syllables: 3

Style: French, Literary and Artistic

Popularity: 904

Sisters: Colette, Simone, Esme, Bijou, Fleur

Brothers: Valentin, Joaquim, Roc, Regis, Loic

* This name is associated with Anais Nin, the writer famed for her diaries and erotic stories. For those familiar with Nin, the name projects a sensual feminism. It is currently a hot name in France.

Middle Name Pick: Anais Noelle

Amy

Amy (AY-mee)

Origin: English form of the Old French name Amée meaning "beloved" (modern French aimée), a vernacular form of the Latin Amata. As an English name, it was in use in the Middle Ages (though not common) and was revived in the 19th century.

Syllables: 2

Style: Surfer 60s, 70s-80s, Nickname-Proof

Popularity: 130 (falling)

Variants: Aimee, Aime

Sisters: April, Laura, Emily, Robin, Holly

Brothers: Brian, Timothy, Eric, Jeremy, Mark

* Amy is bright, simple, and cheerily unpretentious. It was a monster hit in the 70s, but doesn't sound dated. Think of the name's recent decline as merely a "stock market correction" back to its natural place as a modest, beloved classic. The French Aimee is equally traditional but showier.

Middle Name Pick: Aime Christina

Amity

Amity (AM-i-tee)

Origin: From the English word meaning "friendship", ultimately deriving from Latin amicitia.

Syllables: 3

Style: Charms and Graces, Why Not?

Popularity: Rare

Nicknames: Ami

Sisters: Verity, Calla, Melody, Lavender, Dahlia

Brothers: Stone, Tobias, Micah, Justus, Aric

* Amity is rarely used as a name, but it's attractive in both sound and meaning--a pretty expression of goodwill. The one potential negative, the Amityville Horror, is blessedly fading from memory.

Middle Name Pick: Amity Sapphira

Amira

Amira (ah-MEER-uh)

Origin: Means "commander" or "princess" in Arabic. This was originally a title, which has come into English as the Arabic loanword emir.

Syllables: 3

Style: Lacy and Lissome, Jewish, Muslim

Popularity: 480 (rising)

Sisters: Layla, Mahala, Tamia, Aviva, Dalia

Brothers: Jaron, Samir, Ari,Tariq, Elan

* This gentle name is a good global choice, easy to spell and pronounce in many languages. The name in fact has twin origins in Arabic and Hebrew, a peaceful coexistence that is a positive association in its own right.

America

America (ah-MEHR-i-kuh)

Origin: In the English-speaking world, this name is usually given in reference to the United States of America (see AMERIGO). It came into use as an American name in the 19th century

Syllables: 4

Style: Modern Meanings, Place Names

Popularity: 559 (falling)

Nicknames: Meri, Amy, Ricki

Sisters: Liberty, Journey, Montana, Haven, Sierra

Brothers: Phoenix, Maverick, Washington, Justice, Dakota

* A combination of the craze for place names and a surge of patriotism sent this name into the mainstream in 2001. But the same power that attracts parents to the name makes it problematic. The word "America" carries such a strong image that it takes a strong girl to make it her own. Ugly Betty star America Ferrera is one who has pulled it off.

Amelia

Amelia (ah-MEEL-ee-uh)

Origin: Variant of AMALIA, though it is sometimes confused with EMILIA, which has a different origin. The name became popular in England after the German House of Hanover came to the British throne in the 18th century - it was borne by daughters of George II and George III. Another famous bearer was Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), the first woman to make a solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean.

Syllables: 4

Style: Antique Charm, English, Shakespearean

Popularity: 55 (rising)

Nicknames: Amy, Mia, Mel, Lia, Millie

Variants: Aemilia, Amelie, Amalia, Emilia

Sisters: Cecilia, Sophie, Annabel, Miriam, Lydia

Brothers: Simon, Max, Edgar, Owen, Pierce

* Amelia was a shrinking violet for years, but now she is ready for her closeup. Parents are attracted to this gentle charmer as a twist on Emily or kindred spirit to Olivia. The up-and-coming nickname choice is Mia, as in the heroine of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries books.

Middle Name Pick: Amelia Claire

Amber

Amber (AM-ber)

Origin: From the English word amber that denotes either the gemstone, which is formed from fossil resin, or the orange-yellow colour. The word ultimately derives from Arabic عنبر ('anbar). It began to be used as a given name in the late 19th century, but it only became popular after the release of Kathleen Winsor's novel 'Forever Amber' (1944).

Syllables: 2

Style: 70s-80s, Charms and Graces, Nickname-Proof

Sisters: Heather, Erica, Danielle, Ashley, April

Brothers: Dustin, Adam, Cory, Ryan, Jared

* Amber was occasionally heard a century ago when jewel names were in vogue. It really took off decades later, thanks to the romantic novel Forever Amber, a mid-century sensation. As a result, the name's image is satin-and-lace sensual.

Middle Name Pick: Amber Roxanne

Amaya

Amaya (ah-MIY-uh)

Origin: Means "night rain" in Japanese.

Syllables: 3

Style: Lacy and Lissome, Latino/Latina

Popularity: 202

Variants: Amaia, Amya

Sisters: Eliana, Dasia, Arely, Tamia, Anahi

Brothers: Mateo, Adan, Yahir, Emiliano, Jairo

* Amaya is a Spanish surname with a honey-rich sound that's a natural for a girl's name. It comes from a Basque word meaning "end". If you don't care for that origin, it's also a Japanese name meaning "night rain". That's a good hint that this name crosses borders as well. An MTV Real World cast member helped popularize the name in the U.S.

Middle Name Pick: Amaya Isabel

Amani

Amani (ah-MAH-nee)

Origin: Means "wishes" in Arabic.

Syllables: 3

Style: African-American, African, Muslim, Androgynous

Popularity: 579 (rising)

Sisters: Kenia, Naima, Kamaria, Shani, Aliyah

Brothers: Omari, Khalid, Kwame, Jelani, Tariq

*Amani is taken from the Swahili word for "peace". It first arrived in the U.S. as a boy's name during the Afrocentric names in the 1970s. The name's delicate sound moved it to the girl's side, where it has kept it's momentum.

Middle Name Pick: Amani Jewel

Amanda

Amanda (ah-MAN-duh)

Origin: In part this is a feminine form of AMANDUS. However, it was not used during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century it was recreated by authors and poets who based it directly on Latinamanda "lovable, worthy of love". Notably, it was used by the playwright Colley Cibber for a character in his play 'Love's Last Shift' (1696). It came into regular use during the 19th century.

Syllables: 3

Style: 70s-80s, Lacy and Lissome, New Classics

Popularity: 166 (falling)

Nicknames: Mandy

Sisters: Stephanie, Andrea, Jessica, Vanessa, Nicole

Brothers: Jeremy, Derek, Brandon, Joshua, Adam

* Amanda is one of the picturesque Latinate names that English writers used to dream up for their heroines. (It's formed from the Latin amare, "to love".) These old literary romantics have a double appeal today. They're still ravishing, but by surviving the centuries they've also developed an air of authority. Amanda was a top hit in the 1980's, but its style is still holding strong.

Middle Name Pick: Amanda Kathleen

Alyssa

Alyssa (ah-LIS-uh)

Origin: Variant of ALICIA. The spelling has probably been influenced by that of the alyssum flower, the name of which is derived from Greek α "against" combined with λυσσα (lyssa) "madness, rabies", since it was believed to cure madness.

Syllables: 3

Style: Lacy and Lissome

Popularity: 19 (falling)

Nicknames: Aly, Lissa

Variants: Alissa, Allyssa, Alysa, Elissa

Sisters: Brianna, Alexis, Ariana, Kayla, Marissa

Brothers: Jordan, Dylan, Austin, Hunter, Chase

* Alyssa and its many variants are generally described as variants of Alicia. They're better understood as a phenomenon in their own right--an attempt to create the very essence of lacy femininity in a name. The less traditional the spelling, the lacier.

Middle Name Pick: Alyssa Nicole