Parents-to-be often fall in love with a name only to see it land in the Top 10 most popular baby names. Some take that as a sign that they have good taste and choose the name without looking back. Others decide to scrap the name and choose something more unique.
For those of you who like some of the Top 10 names, but want something that’s not already at the top of the charts, I’ve put together a list of alternatives — names that are similar, but not similarly popular.
GIRLS’ BABY NAMES
EMMA — EMBER, ESMÉ, AMABEL
ISABELLA — ISLA, ISIDORA, IRIS, INGRID
EMILY — EMERSON, EMERALD, AMELIA
MADISON — MACY, MADELINE, MARLEY
AVA — AIDA, AVERY, ASTRA, IVY
OLIVIA — OLIVE, OLYMPIA, OPAL
SOPHIA — STELLA, SIMONE, SIENA
ABIGAIL — ABILENE, AUDREY, ANNABELLE
ELIZABETH — ELIZA, ELINOR, BETHANY
CHLOE — CALLIOPE, CAMILLA, CORA
BOYS’ BABY NAMES
JACOB — JASPER, JERICHO, JAMESON
MICHAEL — MICAH, MILLER, MITCHELL
ETHAN — ELLIOT, EASTON, ELIAS
JOSHUA — JOSIAH, JOSS, JULIAN
DANIEL — DANE, DALTON, DASHIELL
ALEXANDER — XAVIER, ARCHER, ARCHIBALD
ANTHONY — ANDERSON, ARTHUR, AUGUSTUS
WILLIAM — WILSON, WALLACE, WALKER
CHRISTOPHER — CHANDLER, CHARLETON, CRISPIN
MATTHEW — MADDEN, MALCOLM, MARLOW
What do you think? Do you have a good suggestion for a Top 10 alternative? Leave a comment and let us all know!
Also, a big thank you for the comments and emails — I love to hear from readers! J
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♥ Amanda
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For more information on baby names and their meanings check out
BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES
A lot of good alternatives here, but I’d like to add some to Olivia: Lydia has a lot of the same sounds, and the super rare Ovidia is very similar as well… Ovidia is originally the feminine form of Ovid, but for some reason I’ve only heard it used in Scandinavia where it’s really rare as well… It’s a beautiful name so I’d love to see it make a more international debut!
Great suggestions - I love Ovidia. Very pretty and unique. I’d say that even though it is a name most probably haven’t heard, it’s a little more accesible than Ovid.
Lydia is also a good choice.