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

existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Affrica, Affricah, Affrika, Affrikah, Afric, Africah, African, Africaya, Africia, Africiana, Afrika, Afrikah, Aifric, Aifrica, Aphria, Aphfrica, Apirka, Apirkah. International: Aifric (Scottish).

      

AFTERNOON. Word name. An early day name, found on slave rolls, and worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name.

      

AFTON. Place name. Name of a town in Scotland that has a feminine strength. Affton, Aftan, Aften, Aftin, Aftine, Aftinn, Aftonn, Aftonne, Aftyn, Aftynn.

      AGAPI. Greek, ‘love, affection’. Sweet meaning, but clunky name.

      AGATE. French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of AGATHA. The Ag- sound grates on the modern ear. Aggie.

      AGATHA. Greek, ‘good’. Agatha still summons up visions of martyred saints, mauve silk dresses and high lace collars, but some dauntless excavators have begun to resurrect it. Ag, Agace, Agacia, Agata, Agatah, Agathe, Agathi, Agatta, Agetha, Aggi, Aggie, Aggy, Aggye, Agi, Agie, Agueda, Agy, Agye, Atka. International: Agathe (French, German), Agueda (Portuguese), Agata (Scandinavian), Agatá (Slavic), Atka (Polish), Agi, Agota, Agotha (Hungarian), Agafia, Agasha, Ganya, Gasha, Gashka (Russian) Agathe (Greek).

      AGNES. Greek, ‘pure, virginal’. Though it was the third most common English girls’ name for four hundred years, Agnes has long been stuck in the attic. But maybe it’s so far out it’s almost ready to come back in. French pronounciation – ahn-YEZ – helps, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead chose it for his daughter. Ag, Aggi, Aggie, Aggye, Agi, Agie, Agna, Agnesse, Agnessina, Agnis, Agnus, Agy, Agye, Anais, Anees, Aneesha, Aneska, Anessa, Anesse, Anice, Anissa, Anisha, Annais, Anneyce, Annice, Annis, Annisah, Annise, Annisha, Anson, Ina, Inah, Nevsa, Nevesah, Nesa, Nesi, Nessa, Nessi, Nessie, Nessy, Nesta, Neysa, Oona, Oonagh, Oonah, Senga. International: Aignéis (Irish Gaelic), Nesta (Welsh), Ynes, Ynez (French, Spanish), Oanez (Breton), Agne, Agnella, Agnesca, Agnese, Agnesina, Agnola, Anete, Hagne (Italian), Agnese, Inesa (Spanish), Ines, Inez (Spanish, Portuguese), Anneke (Dutch), Agna, Agnethe, Anke, Antje (German), Agnethe, Agne, Agnek, Agneta (Scandinavian), Agnesa, Agneska, Anezka, Anka (Czech), Agnessa, Agnia, Inessa, Nessa (Russian) Neza (Slavic).

      AGRIPPINA. Latin, ‘born feetfirst’. Sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls – but who would want to? Agrafina, Agrippa, Agrippine.

      AIBHILIN. (ev-lin) Irish variation of EVELYN. Makes Evelyn more exotic, but ultimately too difficult.

      AIDA. (eye-EE-da) Arabic, ‘reward, present’. Operatic. Aeeda, Aidah, Aidan, Aide, Aidee, Aiden, Ayeeda, Ieeda, Iyeeda.

      

AIDAN. Irish, ‘little and fiery’. Ancient Irish saint’s name that’s popular for boys and is taking off with girls as well. Adan, Adann, Adanne, Aden, Adin, Adon, Adyn, Adynn, Adynne, Aidana, Aidann, Aidanna, Aidanne, Aiden, Aidin, Aidon, Aidyn, Aidynn, Aidynne, Aydan, Ayden, Aydenn, Aydin, Aydon, Aydyn, Aydynn, Aydynne, Edan.

      AIKO. (ah-ee-ko) Japanese, ‘love child’. Very common Japanese name that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.

      AILANI. Hawaiian, ‘chief’. Lilting and lovely. Aelani, Ailana.

      AILBHE. (al-va) Irish, ‘noble, bright’. While Irish Gaelic spellings add intrigue to a name, they’ll prove endlessly confusing. Alva, Alvy, Elvy.

      AILEEN. Irish variation of HELEN. Never as popular as Eileen, and now both are out. Aila, Ailean, Ailec, Aileena, Ailen, Ailene, Alley, Ailli, Aili, Ailie, Ailina, Ailine, Ailinn, Aillen, Aleen, Alene, Aline, Alline, Eileen, Eleen, Ellene, Ileana, Ileane, Ileanna, Ileen, Ilene, Iliana, Iliane, Ilianna, Illeanne, Illene, Leana, Leanah, Leanna, Leannah, Lena, Lenah, Liana, Lianna, Liannah, Lina, Linah. International: Ailinn (Portuguese), Aili (Finnish).

      AILSA. (AYL-suh) Scottish place name. Traditionally Scottish name – after the island called Ailsa Craig – that might make a good alternative to the overused Ashley or Ella. Ailis, Ailse, Ailsha, Allasa Elsa, Elsha, Elshe.

      Irish Names That Aren’t Overused

       Áine

       Aislinn

       Aoife

       Bidelia

       Caoimhe

       Ciara

       Clodagh

       Eimear

       Fionnuala

       Grainne

       Juno

       Maeve

       Niamh

       Orla

       Roisin

       Saoirse

       Sinead

       Sorcha

      AIMÉE. French, ‘beloved’. Whether you pronounce it like the original Amy or the Frenchified Ay-may, this form adds considerable élan to an old favourite. Aime, Aimey, Aimi, Aimia, Aimie, Aimy, Amey, Amie.

      ÁINE. (an-ya) Irish, ‘brilliance, wit’. Name of a fertility goddess said to confer luck on its bearer, though to avoid confusion you may want to use the phonetic spelling Anya or Enya. Anne, Anya, Enya.

      

AINSLEY. Scottish, ‘one’s own meadow’. While theoretically unisex, this surname name has been edging up the girls’ list, perhaps as an Ashley substitute. Ainslea, Ainslee, Ainsleigh, Ainslie, Ainsly, Ansley, Aynslee, Aynsley, Aynslie.

      

AIR. Word name. Airy hippy dippy nature name, à la River or Sky. Aer.

      AISHA. (eye-EE-sha) Arabic, ‘woman’; Swahili, ‘life’. Aisha was Muhammad’s favourite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations increasingly popular. Aaisha, Aaishah, Aeesha, Aeeshah, Aesha, Aeshah, Aheesha, Aiasha, Aiesha, Aieshah, Aisa, Aischa, Aish, Aishah, Aisheh, Aishia, Aishiah, Aisia, Aisiah, Aixa, Aiyesha, Aiysha, Asha, Ashah, Ashia, Ashiah, Asia, Asiah,