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

by its old-fashioned formality, Frederica has some vintage charm and verve lurking inside its stuffiness. Farica, Farika, Federica, Fred, Freda, Fredalena, Fredda, Freddee, Freddi, Freddie, Freddey, Fredericha, Fredericka, Frederickina, Frederine, Fredi, Fredia, Fredie, Fredricia, Fredrika, Frerika, Frida, Frieda, Friedegard, Friederike, Frika, Frikka, Fritzi, Fritzie, Fryda, Rica, Ricki, Rickie, Ricky, Rikki, Rikky. International: Frédérique (French), Federica (Italian), Friederika, Frerika (German), Frederika, Frideborg (Swedish), Frydryka (Polish), Frici (Hungarian).

      FREE. Word name. The 1960s are back! Freedom.

      FREESIA. Flower name. A really exotic flower name for the parent who wants to move beyond Rose and Daisy. Freezia, Fresia.

      FREYA. (FRAY-a) Norse, ’a noble woman’. The name of the Norse goddess of love and fertility is very popular, making a recent appearance in the Top 25. International: Freja (Swedish), Freyde (Yiddish).

      FRIDA. German, ’peaceful’. The dynamic personality and paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo have inspired growing numbers of parents to resurrect this form of the name.

      FRIEDA. German, ’peaceful ruler’. The traditional Germanic Frieda holds little appeal for the modern baby namer. Frayda, Freda, Fredia, Freeda, Freeha, Freia, Freida, Frida.

      FRITZI. German, diminutive of

      FREDERICA. Like Mitzi, the bubbly Fritzi shows signs of rising again.

      FUCHSIA. Plant and colour name. A plausible colour name, it was chosen by the singer Sting as a middle name for his daughter, after a character in the Gormenghast fantasy trilogy.

      FULVIA. Latin, ’blond one’. This name of the wife of Mark Antony in ancient Rome sounds a tad too anatomical for a modern girl.

      

FUTURE. Word name. Gives the message that you want your daughter to keep her eye on the prize.

       G girls

      

GABRIELA, GABRIELLA. Italian and Spanish, feminine variation of GABRIEL. This strong yet graceful feminine form of Gabriel is on the rise, given to many baby girls each year, with the double L spelling more popular. Gabbe, Gabbey, Gabbi, Gabbie, Gabbriel,

      Stylish Girly-Girl Names

       Angelina

       Arabella

       Carolina

       Cassandra

       Cecily

       Clarissa

       Gabriella

       Georgiana

       Isabella

       Juliana

       Larissa

       Mirabelle

       Savannah

       Scarlett

       Tatiana

       Valentina

      Gabbrielle, Gabbryel, Gabby, Gabey, Gabie, Gabielle, Gabreal, Gabreale, Gabrealle, Gabreil, Gabrial, Gabriala, Gabrialla, Gabriana, Gabrielia, Gabriell, Gabriellen, Gabriellia, Gabrila, Gabrilla, Gabrille, Gabrina, Gabriyelle, Gabryel, Gabryell, Gabryella, Gabryelle. International: Gabriel, Gabrielle, Gaby, Gigi (French), Gabriela, Gabriella (Italian), Gabella, Gabrela, Gabriela, Gebriela, Graviella (Spanish), Gába, Gabi, Gabina, Gabinka, Gabra (Czech), Gavi, Gavriela, Gavriella, Gavrielle, Gavrilla (Hebrew).

      GABRIELLE. French, feminine variation of GABRIEL. Just beginning its descent after years on the rise, the quintessentially elegant and worldly Gabrielle – designer Coco Chanel’s real name—has recently fallen from the Top 100. For variations, see above.

      GAETANA. (gy-TAH-nah) Italian place name. Gaeta is a southern Italian region; this makes a sunny first name. Gaetan, Gaetanne. International: Gaetane (French).

      GAIA, GAEA. (GAY-ah or GUY-ah) Greek, ’earth mother’. The name of the Greek mythological earth goddess and universal mother; actress Emma Thompson stated that she was attracted by its ecological element. Gaea, Gaiea, Gaya, Kaia.

      GAIL. Hebrew, ’my father rejoices’. Mid-twentieth century favourite, now far surpassed by its original form, Abigail. Gael, Gaela, Gahl, Gaila, Gaile, Gaill, Gal, Gale, Gayel, Gayelle, Gayla, Gayle, Gayleen, Gaylene, Gayline, Gayll, Gaylla. International: Gaelle (French).

      GALA. Russian, diminutive of GALINA; English word name. Festive name of the wife of Salvador Dalí. Gaila, Galla.

      GALATEA. (gal-ah-TEH-ah) Greek, ’white as milk’. Mythical statue sculpted by Pygmalion and brought to life by Aphrodite, the inspiration for My Fair Lady. Galatee, Galathea.

      GALAXY. Word name. Otherworldly. Galaxia.

      GALE. See GAIL.

      

GALEN. Greek, ’healer, calm’. The final n makes this choice infinitely more modern than Gail. Gaelen, Gaelin, Gaellen, Gailen, Gailin, Gailyn, Galin, Galyn, Gaylaine, Gayleen, Gaylen, Gaylene, Gaylyn.

      GALI. Hebrew, ’wave, billow’. Sprightly. Gal, Galice, Galie, Galila, Galiya, Galya.

      GALILA. Hebrew, ’rolling hills’. Interesting alternative to Dalila, relates to the Biblical Galilee. Galilah, Galilea, Galilee, Galya, Gelila, Gelilah, Gelifia, Getilya, Glila, Glilah.

      GALINA. Latin, ’hen’; Russian variation of HELEN. Commonly used in Russia, has an old-fashioned Slavic feel. Gailya, Gala, Galayna, Galena, Galenka, Galia, Galiana, Galiena, Galinka, Gallina, Galochka, Galya, Galyna, Lina.

      

GALWAY. place name. The familiar Irish city and bay is one place name that seems distinctly masculine.

      GALYA. Hebrew, ’God has redeemed, hill of God’. Well used in Israel and in Russia, either on its own or as an endearment for Galila or Galina. Galenka, Galia, Galina, Gallia, Gallya, Galochka.

      GANESHA. (gay-NAY-sha) Hindi, ’fortunate’. The