Ada

Ada (Ay-duh)

Origin: German--"Noble, Happy" or "Adornment"

Style: Ladies and Gentlemen, Short and Sweet, Saints, Why Not?

Popularity: 573 (rising)

Variants: Adah

Sisters: Flora, Rhea, Leora, Iva, Alma

Brothers: Sam, Ezra, Jules, Edgar, Guy

*A century ago, three-letter girl's names were the hottest thing going. Most of these names--Oda, Una, Osa--are best left in the past, but Ada is definitely worth a second look. It is one of the simplest, cleanest names for girls. The variant Adah is biblical, a wife of Esau.

Ada is:

a 7th century French abbess, St. Ada;

a 1961 film by Daniel Mann;

a character in "Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness";

...and a computer virus.

Middle Name Pick: Ada Belle

Urbandictionary (just for fun): Word used to describe a sexy vixen who is usually bitingly witty and hard to catch. (can also be used as a noun)

Abigail

Abigail (A-bi-gayl)

Origin: Hebrew--"Joy of the Father"

Style: Antique Charm, Biblical

Popularity: 8

Nicknames: Abby, Gail

Variants: Abigayle, Avigail

Sisters: Hannah, Sophie, Isabel, Caroline, Sadie

Brothers: Gabriel, Owen, Jonas, Nathan, Noah

*Abigail was once considered a Puritan name and later became the stereotypical name for a servant or secretary. Today, this biblical classic is getting a well-deserved makeover. It still has its colonial aura of simple purity, but has shed its dowdy starch. Now, Abby is cute, Gail is sophisticated, and the full Abigail is the mainstream of fashion.

Abigail is:

a female Biblical character;

a 1987 King Diamond album;

...and a Venezuelan telenovela.

Middle Name Pick: Abigail Elisabeth

Urbandictionary (just for fun): A super-sweet girl. Extremely gorgeous and tons of fun. When you meet one you will want to be a huge part of her life but you would have to be very lucky for it to happen. An Abigail will stay on your mind forever so you will know when you meet one.

Abby

Abby (a-bee)

Origin: English--"Joy of the Father"

Style: Nicknames, New Classics

Popularity: 257 (falling)

Variants: Abbie, Abi

Sisters: Carly, Tess, Molly, Ellie, Sadie

Brothers: Andy, Alex, Cole, Drew, Jake

*The name Abigail went through a long trek in the fashion desert, but its nickname never went away. In the 19th century, Abbie breezed along happily with names like Tillie and Mattie. Today, Abby is the most common spelling, popular as both a nickname and a given name. It's cute but not cutesy.

Abby is:

A syndicated personal advice column, Dear Abby;

A 2003 television show starring Sydney Tamiia Poitier;

...and a former interbank network.

Middle Name Pick: Abby Grace

Aaliyah

Aaliyah (ah-lee-uh)

Origin: Arabic--"Rising, Ascending"

Syllables: 3

Style: African-American, Lacy and Lissome, African

Popularity: 63

Variants: Aliyah, Aliyah, Aleah, Alia

Nicknames: Ally

Sisters: Ashanti, Taniya, Rihanna, Amani, Iyanna

Brothers: Omari, Jabari, Josiah, Mekhi, Elijah

*The late R&B artist Aaliyah made this name a household word, and her image remains tied to it. Aaliyah is pure silken smoothness, practically a liquid name. It can be derived from a Swahili word meaning "most exalted" or the Hebrew term for "ascent".

Middle Name Pick: Aaliyah Sophia

Business Math II--Calculus

A: Agatha, Adrienne, Anastasia, Antonia, Arabella, Arista, Aurora, Aurelia, Amelia, Avalon, Amalie, Analie, Arden, Austin

A: Anthony, Arthur, Abel, Asher, Alistair, Alick, Ambrose, Asa, Archer

B: Bennett, Belle, Barrett, Bliss

B: Barrett, Bennett, Beckett, Benjamin

C: Caraway, Caroline, Cara, Cleo, Clementine, Christabel, Corinne, Coralie

C: Connor, Corran, Colten, Cornelius

D: Daisy, Delilah

D: Darwin, Dexter

E: Eleora, Emerson, Eirlys, Eleni, Eve

E: Ezra, Emerson, Edison

F: Felicity

F: Felix

G: Greer, Genevieve, Genova, Gemma

G: Gregory, George, Gavin, Galen

H: Hadley

H: Hogun, Hawthorne

I: Inara, Irish

I: None

J: Josephine, Josie, Jasmine, Joy

J: Jasper

K: Kelda, Kaia, Kiren

K: Keiran

L: Liana, Lucille, Lyric, Linden, Liviana, Luna

L: Leander, Leo

M: Maple, Madeleine, Marley, Marlowe, Matilda, Meredith

M: Milo, Miles

N: Norah, Nova

N: Nicodemus, Napolean

O: Olympia, Ophelia

O: Oliver, Oscar

P: Parker, Pippa, Poppy, Persephone

P: Peregrine

Q: None

Q: None

R: Rose, Rosalind, Rosabella, Rhiannon, Rowena

R: Rowan, Ronan, Ramsay

S: Sailor, Sapphire, Scarlett, Shiloh, Silvia, Sylvie, Saffron, Sable

S: Samson, Sylvester, Scout, Sterling, Sullivan

T: Tamsin

T: Trevor, Tristan

U: None

U: Urban

V: Vivien, Viviana, Valentina, Virginia, Violet

V: Viggo

W: Winifred, Winter

W: Wilson, Wade, Warren Wesley, Wilbur

Y: Yasmin

Y: None

Z: Zelda, Zahara

Z: None

The List

Amelia Claire--To Strive to Excel; Illustrious (Leah, Danny) ACW, 7s. Mel, Lia, Mia, Amy

Aurora Roxanne--Goddess of the Dawn; Dawn (Amber, gg-gm) ARW, 7s. Rory.

Aurelia Anne--Golden, Gracious (Pat) AAW, 7s. Lia.

Amalie Violet--Hard Worker; Blue-purple flower (Amber), 7s. Li.

Analie Madeleine--Graced with God's Bounty; Woman of Magdala (Pat) AMW, 8s. Li, Ana.

Agatha Barbara--Virtuous and Good; Stranger, Foreigner (G-Gma) ABW, 7s. Aggie.

Belle Roxanne--Beautiful Dawn (Amber, Roxanne) BRW, 5s. Bella.

Caroline Sophia--Beautiful Woman, Wise (Rhonda) CSW, 8s. Caro, Lina, Line.

Clementine Iris--Gentle; Rainbow () CIW, 7s. Clem, Clemmie, Tina, Tia

Caraway Blysse--Spice; Perfect Happiness (None), CBW, 6s

Cleo Kenzie--To Praise, Acclaim; Descendant of the Handsome One (Danny, Ken) CKW, 6s.

Cleo Rafaella--To Praise, Acclaim; God Has Healed (Danny) CRW, 8s

Delilah Ann-- One Who Weakened; Gracious and Merciful (Pat) DAW, 60s. Lilah.

Eleora Clementine--The Lord is My Light; Full of Mercy () ECW, 8s. Elle, Ellie, Lora, Ora

Felicia Amber--Happiness, Precious (Amber) FAW, 7s.

Gwendolyn Erika--Blessed White Ring; Always Ruler (Erika, Wendy) GEW, 8s. Gwen, Wendy

Hadley Cassandra--From Hadda's Field, She Who Entangles (Andie) HCW, 7s

Iris Madeleine--Colorful Rainbow, Woman of Magdala () IMW, 7s

Joy Anastasia--Happiness, Resurrection (Joyce, Pat) JAW, 7s

Josie Scarlett: God Will Add; Fiery () JSW, 6s

Josephine Gwen: God Will Increase; Blessed White Ring () JGW; 6s

Kelda Christine--Fountain, Bears Christ (Jarrod, Chris) KCW, 6s

Lana Allison--Light, Son of the Noble One (Alice) LAW, 7s

Liana Ember: My God Has Answered; Spark (Amber, Leah) LEW, 7s

Matilda Kathleen--Battle Strength, Pure () MKW, 7s

Maple Coralie--of the Maple Tree; Coral () MCW, 7s

Marley Callan--From the boundary field; War-line (Danny, Ken) MCW, 6s

Marlowe Harper--Lake Remains; Harpist () MHW, 4s

Norah Elaine--Honor, Light (Marian) NEW, 6s

Ophelia Sara--Helper, Princess (Sara) OSW, 8s

Parker Elisabeth--Park Keeper, God is My Oath (Betty, Betty, Beth) PEW, 8s

Rafaella Fern--God Has Healed, Verdant (Tula) RFW, 7s

Sylvie Charlotte--Forest, Free (Sharlotte) SCW, 6s

Sapphire Elaine--Precious jewel; light (Granny, Sara) SEW, 7s

Scarlett Maxine--Fiery, Greatest () SMW, 6s

Tamsin Genevieve--Twin, Woman of the People () TGW, 7s

Vivien Barbara--Alive, Stranger (Barbara) VBW, 7s

Xavin Agatha--Alien, Virtuous and Good () XAW, 7s

Yasmin Lucia--Jasmine Flower, Light (Yasmin, Lucia) YLW, 7s

Zelda Blisse--Woman Warrior, Perfect Happiness () ZBW, 5s

Hebrew Boy's Names

Aaron: Exalted, Strong (54, steady)

Abel: A Breath (328, steady)

Abraham: Father of Nations (183, rising)

Adam: Earth (74, falling)

Asher: Blessed, Happy (165, rising quickly)

Benjamin: Son of My Right Hand (20, steady and rising)

Cain: Craftsman (987, no movement)

Caleb: Rage Like a Dog (31, Steady)

Chaim: Life (884, falling)

Coby: Supplanter (841, falling)

Cohen: Priest (323, rising)

Daniel: God Is My Judge (7, steady)

David: Beloved (14, steady)

Eden: Paradise

Eli: Height (90, rising fast)

Elias: People of God (158, rising)

Elijah: The Lord is My God (21, rising)

Enoch: Dedicated

Esau: Hairy

Ethan: Firm, Strong (2, rose fast)

Ezra: Help (259, rising)

Gideon: Great Warrior (549, rising fast)

Hezekiah: God Strengthens (878, rising)

Hiram: Exalted Brother

Immanuel: God is With Us (910, steady)

Ira: Watchful

Isaac: He Will Laugh (40, steady)

Isaiah: God Is Salvation (41, steady)

Ishmael: God Will Hear

Israel: Wrestled With God (211, rising)

Jacob: Supplanter (1, steady)

James: Supplanter (18, steady)

Japheth: Handsome; Enlarges

Jared: Descendant (213, falling)

Jedidiah: Friend of God

Jeremiah: God Will Uplift (65, rising quickly)

Jericho: Moon City

Jerusalem: Heritage of Peace

Joachim: Raised By Yahweh

Joel: God Will Be Willing (115, rising)

John: God Is Gracious (26, falling)

Jonah: A Dove (148, rising)

Jonas: A Dove (379, rising quickly)

Jordan: To Flow Down (45, falling)

Joseph: God Will Increase (16, falling)

Joshua: God Is Salvation (6, steady)

Josiah: God Will Save (87, rising)

Judah: Praised (326, rising quickly)

Kenan: To Take Possession

Koren: Shining, Beaming

Lazarus: God Has Helped

Lemuel: Devoted to God

Levi: Joined in Harmony (88, rising)

Malachi: My Messenger (167, rising fast)

Mattias: Gift of God

Micah: Who is Like God? (118, rising)

Nathan: He Gave (24, steady)

Nathaniel: Gift of God (76, falling)

Noah: Rest, Peace (9, rising)

Noam: Pleasantness

Oren: Jerusalem Pine

Phineas: Nubian

Raphael: God Has Healed (623, steady)

Reuben: Behold, A Son (895, steady)

Samson: Brightest Sun, Service (882, steady)

Samuel: His Name is God (27, steady)

Seth: Appointed (140, falling)

Shiloh: His Gift

Simon: To Be Heard (263, steady)

Solomon: Peace (458, steady)

Zachary: God Has Remembered (53, falling)