Twenty Names to Consider for that New Baby Boy or Girl

Having a new baby? Congratulations! You are about to embark on one of the most exciting, thrilling and precious times of your life. Whether this is your first child, or your fourth, let's take a look at some names for Baby that are different, unusual but not tacky, and some that have withstood the test of time and generations.

A common rule of thumb, supposedly, is that if your last name has three or more syllables, a first name should have one (or two at the maximum) syllables in it to give the two names an 'even flow'. If your last name has one syllable, you are supposedly to consider having a first name that has at least two, if not three, syllables in it. While this rule, like any other, is made to be broken, let's take a look at some names that may not have occurred to you. Some may be signs of the times, some have withstood generations of use, but all were bestowed by loving parents. (Sorry, folks, no 'Apple' or any other fruit-related names here!)

BOYS:

1. Tanner. A good, strong sounding name for a young man. It's easy to prounounce, easy to spell, and gives a sense of a self-confident, sharp young person.

2. Hayden. Again a strong, solid name of British origin!

3. Holden. A friend named her son Holden after one of her favorite vacation spots in the country, Holden Beach, NC. (I would not suggest considering this type of name if you are a huge Disney World fan, though!)

4. Kenneth. This 'American' name was popular in the '50's, and seems to be making a comeback. "Ken", "Kenneth", good strong name for a young man!

5. Josh. Whether it's the Joshua of the Bible or just "Josh:", this is a good short name for a young man. Easy to spell, easy to like, gives the sense of an easygoing, sporty yet bright individual.

6. Jack. Not a variation on the name John, just Jack. Perky, wholesome, a good short first name.

7. Nathan. If you don't mind the possiblity of the nickname 'Nate', this is a great name. My best friend's son is named Nathan, and no one, ever, called him 'Nate' after the first try! His parents set a precedent by always calling him Nathan.

8. Tavis. Of old English derivative, it's an unusual name that sets a kid apart!

9. Hunter. A very strong sounding name for a young man; I don't see any nickname problems here unless it's "Hunt", which can easily - and quickly - be corrected!

10. Andrew. Ever popular through the ages; don't think of Andy Taylor or Andy Griffin! The preferred abbreviated version of this name is now "Drew". We have several friends with sons of varying ages, all of whom call their son(s) "Andrew", no shortening!

11. Marc. Shorted from "Marcus", which you might consider as well. A European version of the Americanized "Mark", Marc is just a little bit different, but no less strong a name!

12. Stephen. A great variation on the Americanized "Steven". Again, you'll have to take care that your Stephen's name is correctly spelled in time, but it's a strong, interesting name. Another variation may be "Stephon", as in Marbury!

13. George. If you want a name that is truly different, try George! I actually have a 15 year old nephew named George, and so far, he is the only one in his school and his peer group with this name; he actually has survived adolescence as George as well. While it may initially conjure up memories of your crotchety old Uncle George, in today's venue it really is an unusual name! (Think George Clooney!)

14. Devin. A name of Irish origin, it may be confused with a girl's first name ("Devon") But it is an unusual name and one that is bound to elicit the nickname of "Dev".

15. Macklin. A boy's name that my friend came up with for her first (and only) son. The nickname "Mack" is also quite nice.

16. Simon. No, not of Simon Cowell fame, but just a simple, pleasant sounding English first name!

17. Benedict/Benjamin. Both names, which will invariably have the nickname of "Ben:", are solid sounding, intelligent first names. While there may be more Benjamins out there, Benedict is also a very classy and classic first name!

18. Grant. Don't think Lou Grant, just Grant. Of English origin, it just may be the perfect one-syllable first name you've been searching for.

19. Aloysius. Thinking of Alfred? Stretch it out to Aloysius, for the Roman Catholic saint, and you'll still have the nickname of "Al".

20. Thaddeus/Tad. A wonderful 'old English' name; you can use Tad as the nickname with the full legal name of Thaddeus sounding very strong, very different and one of a kind!

GIRLS:

1. Aisling (pronounced "Ash-ling"), an example of a family last name used for a first name. (My daughters both have been named for relatives, living and those passed on, as a way of honoring their memory. My daughter's middle name of "Allison" was her grandmother's maiden name. My oldest daughter's first name, Julie, was the name of her maternal grandmother. Aisling is not only a very pretty sounding name, but it is different, unique. Keep that in mind: your girl will probably spend much time spelling out her name to teachers and classmates, but it is a charming name well worth the effort.

2. Lilith. Yes, you may remember the Lilith of "Cheers"; the name is meant to invoke the freespirited fairy maiden of lore. It is different, light of heart, and unusual yet not stupid!

3. Karen. This is my youngest daughter's name; I chose it because it is a short but strong first name for a girl. You might also want to consider spelling variations: Caryn, Caron, Karyn. I stuck with the tried and true; she's one of only two girls named Karen in her entire high school!

4. Kristine. A variation on the popular "Christine", I liked this named because of its Scandanavian sounding background and because the spelling (with the hard K sound) worked beautifully with a last name with the letter K in it as well. Other variations (although not my favorites) include Christine, Khrystyne, and Cristine. Go with the Kristine!

5. Isolde. This lovely name conjurs up images of the great love affair between Tristan and Isolde, and is certainly a different type of name which still holds a lot of historical significance.

6. Holly. A sprightly name, especially for a Christmas time baby! It's light, airy, breezy and freespirited.

7. Lucinda. This charming name doesn't apply to your maiden aunt(s) anymore! "Nicknames", God forbid if you have to hae them, could be Lucy, Cindy, or Cinda. Again, this is a name that carries some weight to it!

8. Danya. If you really want to name your child after a Daniel in your family, forget "Danielle" which is done to death, unfortunately, and has lost some of its charm from overuse. Danya is a sweet yet srong name which honors the Daniel whom you respect.

9. Suzanne. Popular again back in the '50's, this is a very pretty name which does NOT have to remind you of Suzanne Somers! An elegant variation on the equally pretty name of Susan.

10. Winfield. A strong first name for a young lady and a woman! The obvious nickname could/would be "Winnie", but Winfield is a lovely, elegant first name for a child.

11. Zophar. Also a very strong first name for a girl. The obvious nickname would be Zoe, which in and of itself is quite a pretty name but shorter and doesn't pack the 'punch' that Zophar does!

12. Alyssa/Elyssa. Elegent, flowing, pretty, a very sweet sounding 3 syllable name that is not all that common, especially when spelled with an "E".

13. Carroll. Steeped in historical Maryland traditions, this is a more elegant version of the name 'Carol', which seems to be falling out of popularity. It may be more than a bit of a hassle to ensure that your daughter's name is spelled correctly, but it will come with time!

14. Julia. My grandmother's name, making a comeback! Variations, of course, include Julie, Juliette, Guilia (the correct Italian spelling), etc., but Julia is a name that is distinctive and stands on its own!

15. Elspeth. The English version of Elizabeth, which is also a very pretty name, especially if you don't knock it down to a "Beth", "Betty", "Liz" or "Lizzy" nickname. If you truly love the name "Elizabeth" but want something not quite as unusual as Elspeth, try spelling it "Elisabeth".

16. Gwen. A very pretty shortened version of Gwendolyn.

17. Ashlynn. Not my favorite, but obviously much loved by the local neighborhood mom who named her daughter that!

18. Corinne. Pronounced "Koor-een", this pretty two syllable first name is making a comeback after being out of favor for a while. .

19. Katlean. The French version of :"Kathleen" or "Katherine". Unusual in its spelling, it is a strong, attractive and unusual name but one that hits the mark for uniqueness and easy pronunciation (Kat-lean)

20. Barbara. Again a name popular back in the '50's, it is now considered an unusual name, if you can eliminate the nicknames of "Barb", "Babs", etc.

These are just twenty suggestions for both boys and girls; perhaps you'll come up with your own variation after seeing these names in print! Remember, it is always a wonderful, wonderful idea to honor a member of your family, living or deceased, by using their actual name as a first or second name. If you have a unique or cherished last name in the family as well, consider carrying on the heritage by using that name as a first or second name as well. Whatever name you choose for whatever reason, make sure that it is a name that both parents truly love and honor, and one that won't end up with your child in therapy getting over his moniker!