The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz

turn to as an Amanda alternative; also connected to a network of spiritual communities. Anda.

      

ANASTASIA. Feminine variation of ANASTASIOS. This regal Russian name is now a viable – and increasingly popular – option, elegantly beautiful. An apt choice for an Easter or spring baby. Ana, Anastacia, Anastascia, Anastase, Anastashia, Anastassya, Anastasya, Anastatia, Anastay, Anastaysia, Anastazia, Anastice, Anasztasia, Anestassia, Annastasia, Annastazia, Anstass, Anstice, Asia, Nastassia, Stace, Stacee, Stacey, Staci, Stacia, Stacie, Stacy, Stasia, Stasiya, Taisie, Tasiya. International: Anastasie (French, German), Tasia (Spanish), Anastazja, Anatazja, Nastka, Nastusia (Polish), Anasztaizia (Hungarian), Anastászie, Nast’a, Stasa, Staska (Czech), Anastasiya, Anastassia, Asya, Nastasia, Nastasya, Nastya, Stasya, Taskenka, Tasya (Russian), Anastacia, Anastasha, Natasa, Tasia, Tasoula (Greek).

      ANATOLA. Greek, ‘from the east’. Attractive place name of a beautiful resort region of Turkey. Anatolia, Anatolya. International: Anatalya (Russian).

      ANDI. Diminutive of ANDREA. Nickname name that seemed cool in the Ricki/Terri generation. Ande, Andea, Andee, Andie, Andy.

      ANDORRA. European place name. Pretty name of a pocketsized princedom in the Pyrenees, noted for its skiing. Andora.

      ANDRA. Variation of ANDREA. Arty 1970s name usually pronounced AHN-dra.

      

ANDREA. Feminine variation of ANDREAS. Feminine form of Andrew (and a male name in several European cultures) with a choice of pronunciations, whose popularity, while never huge, has remained surprisingly steady. Aindrea, Andee, Andelis, Andera, Andere, Anderea, Andi, Andis, Andra, Andrae, Andrah, Andraia, Andraya, Andre, Andreah, Andreaka, Andreana, Andreane, Andreanna, Andreas, Andree, Andrée, Andreea, Andreena, Andreia, Andreina, Andreja, Andreka, Andrel, Andrell, Andrelle, Andreo, Andresa, Andressa, Andretta, Andrette, Andrewena, Andrewina, Andreya, Andri, Andria, Andriana, Andrianna, Andricka, Andrieka, Andrietta, Andrina, Andrine, Andris, Andy, Aundrea, Ohndrea, Ohndreea, Ohndria, Ondrea, Ondreea, Ondria, Onndrea, Onndreea, Onndria.

      ANDRÉE. (AHN-dray) French variation of ANDREA. Gilding the lily.

      ANDROMEDA. Greek mythology name. Beautiful daughter of Cassiopeia who, like her mother, became a star.

      ANEKO. Japanese, ‘older sister’. If you’re planning to have a younger one.

      ANEMONE. (ah-NEM-oh-nee) Greek, ‘breath’, flower name. lower name taken from a mythological nymph who was turned into a flower by the wind; an interesting, if challenging, choice. Anemona, Ann-Aymone, Anne-Aymone.

      

ANGEL. Word name. Many more sightings of earthly Angels of both sexes have been reported recently, but be aware that a good proportion of them are Latin males. Angele, Angéle, Angell, Angelle, Angil, Anjel. International: Anela (Hawaiian).

      ANGELA. Italian from Greek, feminine variation of ANGELO. Widely used through most of the twentieth century, but now seems terminally dated. Andzela, Anela, Anelja, Angala, Anganita, Angel, Angelanell, Angelanette, Angele, Angeleigh, Angelene, Angeles, Angeleta, Angeli, Angelic, Angelica, Angelina, Angella, Angelle, Angellina, Angellita, Angi, Angie, Angil, Angiola, Angy, Angyola, Anjali, Anjel, Anjela, Anjele, Anjelica, Anjelina, Anjella, Anji, Anjie, Anjy, Anngela, Anngil, Anngilla, Anngiola, Annjela, Aniujilla, Anyelle, Ohngel, Ohnjella, Onngelle, Onnjelia. International: Ange, Angéle, Angelette, Angeline (French), Angelina (Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Greek), Ange, Angele, Angeles, Angelia, Angelita (Spanish), Anhelina (Russian), Ange, Angele, Angeliki (Greek), Erela, Erelah (Hebrew), Fereshteh (Persian), Anakela (Hawaiian).

      

ANGELICA. Latin, ‘angelic’. Lacy and poetic, this is by far the best choice among the many forms of the angelic names – but other kids might relate it to the nasty nursery-schooler Angelica C. Pickles on Rugrats.

      Angalic, Angelic, Angelici, Angelicia, Angelike, Angeliki, Angelisa, Angelissa, Angellica, Angilica, Angyalka, Anjelica, Anjelika, Anyelika. International: Angélique (French), Angelika (German).

      ANGELINA. Diminutive of ANGELA. Ms Jolie’s star power has changed its image from delicate to intense – unless you think about the ballet-crazy mouse of Angelina Ballerina. Angalena, Angalina, Angeleana, Angeleen, Angelena, Angelene, Angeliana, Angellina, Angelyn, Angelyna, Angelyne, Angelynn, Angelynne, Anhelina, Anjelina.

      ANGÉLIQUE. French variation of ANGELICA. Proof that a name can be too feminine.

      ANGELOU. Literary name. If you want to move beyond Maya.

      ANGIE. Diminutive of ANGELA. In the pizzeria with Guido. Ange, Angee, Angey, Angi, Angy.

      ANI. Hawaiian, ‘beautiful’. Folk singer DiFranco popularised this simple, appealing form. Aany, Aanye.

      ANICE. Modern invented name. Tomorrow’s Denise, trendy but destined to be dated. Anicka, Annice, Annick, Anis, Annis, Annys.

      ANICETA. Spanish from German, ‘unconquerable’. Delicate name with strong roots. St Anicetus was an ancient pope and martyr. Anicetta, Anis, Anisa, Anisha, Anissa, Anniceta, Annicetta, Annis, Annissa.

      ANIKA. (a-NEE-ka) African, Hausa, ‘sweetness of face’. Attractive name with ties to several cultures, both African and Scandinavian.

      ANINA. Aramaic, ‘let my prayer be answered’. Palindrome name rarely heard outside Italy. Anena, Anhma, Annina.

      ANISA. Arabic, ‘good-natured’. Phonetic spelling of the Muslim Aanisah, chosen by singer Macy Gray for one of her daughters. Aanisa, Aanisah, Anisah.

      ANISE. (ANN-iss) Nature name. Name of the liquorice plant whose downside, at least in school science classes, is its similarity to an anatomical word. Aneese, Anis, Anisette.

      ANITA. Spanish variation of ANN. Mid-century favourite, long in fashion limbo. Aneeta, Aneetah, Aneethah, Anetha, Anitha, Anithah, Anitia, Anitra, Anitte, Annita, Annitra, Annitta.

      ANIYA, ANIYAH. Variation of ANN. New hottie, with stylish sound related to the popular Aaliyah.

      ANJA. (AHN-ya) Russian variation of ANYA. A more exotic spelling of a popular ethnic version of Ann.

      ANN, ANNE. Variation of HANNAH. The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both have fallen out of favour in recent years and show no signs of returning.

      Ann’s International