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

friendship’. Rollicking and rare example of this popular genre that may work even better for girls. Con, Conn, Connally, Connaly, Connelli, Connely, Connolly, Connoly.

      CONNEMARA. (kahn-ah-MAHR-ah) place name. Wild, lovely place in western Ireland makes wild, lovely name.

      

CONNOR. Irish, ‘lover of hounds’. Popular boys’ name that might – but that’s a big might – work for girls. Con, Conn, Connar, Conner, Connery, Conor.

      CONSTANCE. Latin, ‘steadfastness’. With its icy and forbidding image, this is the kind of name given to the strong matriarch in American TV dynasties, while nickname Connie brings it downscale – all of which gives it little appeal for modern parents. Con, Conetta, Connee, Conney, Conni, Connie, Conny, Constancy, Constanta, Constantine, Constantya, Constanze, Constynse, Konnie, Konny, Konstance. International: Concettina, Constantia, Constanza (Italian), Constancia, Constanza (Spanish), Constanz, Konstanze (German), Konstancji, Konstanty (Polish), Konstantin, Kostenka, Kostya, Kostyusha, Kotik (Russian), Dina, Kosta, Kostantina, Tina (Greek), Kani (Hawaiian).

      CONSUELO. Spanish, ‘consolation, comfort’. Sophisticated Spanish name works well with Anglo surnames. Chela, Chelo, Consolata, Consuela, Consuella, Consula, Conzuelo.

      

CORA. Greek, ‘maiden’. A lovely, old-fashioned name – she was a daughter of Zeus and the heroine of The Last of the Mohicans – recently rejuvenated and strengthened by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. Corabel, Corabella, Corabelle, Corabellia, Corah, Coralee, Coree, Corella, Corena, Corene, Coresa, Coressa, Coretta, Corey, Cori, Corie, Corilla, Corine, Corinna, Corinne, Corisa, Corissa, Corita, Corra, Correen, Corrella, Correlle, Correna, Correnda, Correne, Correy, Correye, Corri, Corrie, Cortina, Corrine, Corrissa, Corry, Corynna, Corynne, Coryssa, Kora, Korabell, Kore, Koreen, Korella, Koretta, Korey, Korilla, Korina, Korinne, Korissa, Korry, Koryne, Korynna, Koryssa.

      CORAL. Nature name. First used during the Victorian craze for jewel names; it could rise again, along with Ruby and Pearl, although it doesn’t have as much lustre. Coraal, Coralee, Coralena, Coralie, Coralina, Coraline, Corallina, Coraly, Coralyn, Coralyne, Corral, Koral, Korall, Koralig, Koralline.

      CORALIE. French extension of CORA or CORAL. Unusual name, afforded some appeal by Neil Gaiman’s spooky and lovely children’s book. Coralea, Cora-Lee, Coralee, Coralena, Coralene, Coraley, Corali, Coralia, Coralina, Coraline, Coraly, Coralyn, Coralynn, Coralynne, Corella, Corilee, Koralee, Koraley, Korali, Koralie, Koraly.

      CORAZÒN. Spanish, ‘heart’. Well-used Spanish name expressing heart-filled emotion, with religious relevance to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

      

CORBIN. Latin, ‘raven’. Rising boys’ name could cross the gender line. Corban, Corbe, Corben, Corbi, Corbinne, Corby, Corbyn, Corbynn, Corbynne, Korban, Korben, Korbin, Korbinn, Korbyn, Korbynn.

      

CORDELIA. Latin, ‘heart’; Celtic, ‘daughter of the sea’. The name of King Lear’s one sympathetic daughter has style and substance, and is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name that many parents are seeking today.

      Cordae, Cordelie, Cordelle, Cordett, Cordette, Cordey, Cordia, Cordie, Cordilia, Cordilla, Cordula, Cordy, Delia, Delie, Kordella, Kordella, Kordelie, Kordelia, Kordula. International: Cordi (Welsh).

      

CORDIS. Latin, ‘of the heart’. Unusual and substantial unisex choice. Cordiss.

      CORETTA. English, elaborated form of CORA. Famous in the US as the name of the widow of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

      

COREY. Irish, ‘from the hollow’. Cool a few decades ago, along with Lori and Tori – but no more. Coree, Cori,

      Antiques Ready for Restoration

       Adeline

       Amabel

       Amity

       Beatrice

       Celia/Cecilia

       Cecily

       Clarissa

       Clementine

       Cora

       Cordelia

       Edith

       Eliza

       Emmeline

       Evangeline

       Flora

       Genevieve

       Lavinia

       Letitia

       Matilda

       Maude

       May, Mae

       Millicent

       Mirabel

       Nell

       Violet

       Corie, Correy, Correye, Corrie, Corry, Cory, Korie, Korrey, Korri, Korry.

      CORINNA. Greek, ‘maiden’. Delicate and gentle old-fashioned name, the kind found in early English poetry.

      CORINNE. French variation of CORINNA. 1930s era name, much prettier when the second syllable is pronounced in, rather than een. Carinna, Carinne, Carine, Carynna, Carynne, Coreen, Coreena, Coren, Corenne, Coriana, Corianna, Corin, Corina, Corinda, Corine, Corinee, Corinn, Correen, Corren, Correna, Corrianne, Corrienne, Corrin, Corrina, Corrinda, Corrine, Corrinn, Corrinna, Corrinne, Corryn, Coryn, Coryna, Corynn, Corynne, Karinne, Karynna, Koreen, Korina, Korinne.

      CORISANDE. Greek, ‘chorussinger’. Very unusual choice, musical in every way. Corissanda, Corissande, Corrisande.

      CORLISS. English, ‘carefree person’. Eccentric yet well-established, has an independent and artistic air. Corlee, Corless, Corley, Corlie, Corlisa, Corlise, Corlissa, Corly, Korliss.

      

CORNELIA. Latin, feminine variation of CORNELIUS. In ancient Rome,