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

Anniki, Annikka, Annikki, Anninka, Anouk.

      ANNORA. Latin, ‘honour’. Noble name but still best in its most essential form: Honor. Anora, Anorah, Honour, Honora, Onora, Nora, Norah.

      ANNUNCIATA. Latin, ‘annunciation’. Religious name, referring to the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she was with child. Anunciada, Annunziata, Annunziate, Anunciacíon, Anunciata, Anunziata.

      ANONA. Latin, ‘of the harvest’. Name of the Roman goddess of harvest, appropriate for an Autumn baby. Annona, Anonna, Nona.

      ANOUK. Dutch and French variation of ANNA. Made famous by French actress Anouk Aimée, this singular name is newly popular in the Netherlands.

      ANOUSHKA. Russian, diminutive of ANN. Old-fashioned diminutive wearing a baboushka and embroidered blouse. Annouska, Annuskha, Anoush, Anushka, Anuska, Anyoushka.

      ANSLEY. English, ‘clearing with a hermitage’. Ashley alternative climbing up the charts, probably due to the trendy ley/leigh ending. Annesleigh, Annslea, Annslee, Annsleigh, Annsley, Annsli, Annsly, Anslea, Anslee, Ansleigh, Ansli, Anslie, Ansly.

      ANSONIA. Feminine variation of ANSON. Sounds like a hotel. Annesonia, Annsonia, Annsonya, Ansonya.

      ANSWER. Word name. Implied spiritual meaning makes this a possible new name.

      ANTHEA. Greek, ‘flower-like’. British upper-class choice used as poetic symbol of spring. Annthea, Antha, Anthe, Antheemia, Antheia, Anthemia, Anthemya, Antheya, Anthia, Anthymia, Antia, Thia.

      ANTIGONE. (an-TIG-o-nee) Greek mythology name. Mythological daughter of Oedipus, never popular in mortal world.

      ANTIQUITY. Word name. Your daughter will like this better at twenty than she will at fifty.

      ANTOINETTE. French feminine form of ANTOINE. Feminisation of Anthony as out of style as other early French forms, such as Babette and Nanette. Anta, Antanette, Antoinella, Antoinet, Antonetta, Antonette, Antonia, Antonice, Antonie, Antonieta, Antonietta, Antonine, Antonique, Antwahnette, Antwanetta, Antwinett, Antwohnette, Netta, Netti, Nettie, Netty, Toinette, Toni, Tonia, Tonie, Tony, Tonye. International: Antonella (Italian), Antoniná (Slavic).

      

ANTONIA. Latin, ‘beyond price, invaluable’. Distinguished female form of Anthony makes a strong, elegant choice, stronger than most feminised boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather’s My Antonia. Ansonia, Ansonya, Antania, Antinia, Antona, Antonetta, Antoñía, Antonice, Antonija, Antonine, Antoniya, Antonnea, Antonnia, Antonya, Netta, Netti, Nettie, Nety, Toinetta, Tloinette, Tonechka, Tonette, Toney, Toni, Tonia, Tonie, Tony, Tonya. International: Antoinette, Antonie, Toinette, Toinon (French), Antonieta, Antonina, Antuca, Tona (Spanish) Antonetta (Swedish), Tonia (Polish), Antoniná (Slavic).

      ANWEN. Welsh, ‘very fair’. One of the simplest and best of the classic Welsh girls’ names, more unusual than Bronwen but with the same serene feel. Anwyn, Anwynne.

      ANYA. Russian variation of ANNA. Succeeds in making Ann dynamic. Aaniyah, Aniya, Aniyah, Anja.

      AOBH, AOIBH. (eev) Irish Gaelic, ‘beauty, radiance’. Irish mythological equivalent of Eve, but prohibitively hard to pronounce. Aoife.

      AOIFE. (EE-fa) Irish Gaelic, ‘beauty, radiance’. Very popular in Ireland, but elsewhere in the easier-to-comprehend Anglo forms. Aife, Ava, Eva.

      APHRA. Hebrew, ‘dust’. While the Puritans used Dust as a name, Aphra is preferable in the modern world – especially since it’s the name of the first published female writer in English, the seventeenth century’s Aphra Behn. Affera, Affery, Afra.

      APHRODITE. Greek mythology name. Has never descended to mortal use, though Venus, thanks to tennis star Williams, seems newly possible. Afrodita, Afrodite.

      APOLLONIA. Feminine variation of APOLLO. Name of early Christian martyr with exotic, appealing feel in the modern world. Abbeline, Abbetina, Apollinia, Apollonia, Apollyne, Appolonia. International: Appoline, Appolinia, Apolline (French), Apolonia (Spanish), Abelone (Danish).

      APPLE. Nature name. Gwyneth Paltrow made international headlines when she chose this wholesome fruit name for her daughter.

      APRIL. Latin, ‘to open’. Still the most popular month name, but we think old-fashioned May is prettier. Aipril, Aprele, Aprelle, Apriell, Aprielle, Aprila, Aprile, Aprilete, Aprilette, Aprili, Aprill, Aprille, Apryl, Averel, Averell, Averil, Averill, Averyl, Averyll, Averylle, Avrill. International: Avril (French), Abril (Spanish).

      AQUA. Colour name. One of the new colour names that is catching on, invoking a calm, blue-green-sea feeling .

      AQUILIA. Latin, ‘eagle’. This and two other female forms – AQUILA and AQUILINA – of the Roman family name Aquilius might live on in modern times.

      AQUINNAH. Place name. The Native American name for Martha’s Vineyard in New England, this was used by Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan for one of their twin daughters.

      

ARA. Arabic, ‘rain-maker’; Armenian, ‘handsome’. Simple and distinctive, also used for boys in the Armenian culture. Ahraya, Aira, Arae, Arah, Araya, Arayah, Ari, Aria, Arra, Arria.

      

ARABELLA. Latin, ‘beautiful altar’. Well-used in Britain, we think it’s as lovely and classy as Isabella, and far more original. Sure to be hotter in the future. Ara, Arabel, Arabela, Arabele, Arbela, Arbell, Arbella, Arbelle, Bel, Bella, Belle, Orabel, Orabella, Orabelle, Orbel, Orbella, Orbelle. International: Arabelle (French).

      ARABESQUE. Word name, ‘ballet position’ or ‘ornate design’. Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.

      Names with No Nicknames

       Ara

       Ava

       Blair

       Bree

       Claire

       Drew

       Faith

       Ivy

       Jade

       Maeve

       Nora

       Paige

       Piper