"New" Names

I'm quite intrigued by the up-and-coming girls' name Nova. I can definitely see the appeal--short & sweet, easy to spell & pronounce, astronomical connections. And, of course, the meaning is quite appropriate for a newborn--"new". Makes me wonder what other 'new' possibilities are out there--surprisingly, only a few established names have 'new' somewhere in their meaning. But, since Nova is simply 'new' in Latin, perhaps we can just use 'new' in other languages? A bit cheesy perhaps, but fun for the new year.

Established names:
Boys:

• Arata (ah-rah-tah, Japanese)--"new"
• Athol (ATH-ol, Scottish)--"new Ireland"
• Navin (nah-VEEN, Hindi)--"new". Also spelled Naveen.
• Neville (NEV-il, English)--from French, "new town"
• Xavier (eks-AYV-yer, ZAYV-yer, English)--from Basque, "new house"

Girls:

• Dagny (DAHG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new day"
• Signy (SIG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new victory"

Unisex:

• İlkay (eel-KYE, Turkish)--"new moon"

"new" in other languages:

• Baru (bah-roo)--Indonesian, Malay
• Berri (behr-ree)--Basque
• Jauns (YOWNS)--Latvian
• Kipya (KEEP-yah)--Swahili
• Nayā (nuh-YAH)--Hindi [नया], Urdu [نیا]
• Newydd (NEH-with [th like in 'the'])--Welsh
• Nový (noh-VEE)--Czech, Slovak
• Nua (NOO-ah)--Irish
• Xin (SHEEN)--Chinese [新,dozens of other meanings, depending on the characters]
• Uusi (OO-see)--Finnish
• Yeni (YEN-ee)--Turkish

Bi-cultural Names--Italian/English (boys)

Spelled the same:

• Aldo--English & Italian, AHL-doh
• Alonzo--English & Italian, ah-LON-zoh
• Walter--English, WAHL-ter; Italian, VAHL-tehr

One/two-letter difference:

• Abel--English, AY-bel; Abele--Italian, ah-BEL-eh
• Adam--English, AD-am; Adamo--Italian, ah-DAHM-oh
• Adrian--English, AY-dree-an; Adriano--Italian, ah-dree-AH-noh
• Albert--English, AL-bert; Alberto--Italian, ahl-BEHR-toh
• Andrew--English, AN-droo; Andrea--Italian, ahn-DREH-ah
• Ansel--English, AN-sel: Anselmo--Italian, ahn-SEL-moh
• Antony--English, AN-toh-nee; Antonio--Italian, ahn-TOH-nyoh
• Arthur--English, AR-thur; Arturo--Italian, ahr-TOO-roh
• August--English, AW-gust; Augusto--Italian, ow-GOOS-toh
• Bartholomew--English, bar-THOL-oh-myoo; Bartolomeo--Italian, BAR-toh-loh-MEH-oh
• Basil--English, BAZ-il; Basilio--Italian, bah-SEEL-yoh
• Benjamin--English, BEN-jah-min; Beniamino--Italian, ben-yah-MEE-noh
• Bernard--English, ber-NARD, BER-nard; Bernardo--Italian, behr-NAR-do
• Carl--English, KAHRL; Carlo--Italian, KAHR-loh
• Cecil--English, SES-il; Cecilio--Italian, cheh-CHEEL-yoh
• Christian--English, KRIS-tyen, KRIS-chen; Cristiano--Italian, krees-TYAH-noh
• Claude--English, KLAWD; Claudio--Italian, CLOWD-yoh
• Clement--English, KLEM-ent; Clemente--Italian, kleh-MEN-teh
• Damian--English, DAY-mee-an; Damiano--Italian, dah-mee-AH-noh
• Daniel--English, DAN-yel; Daniele--Italian, dah-NYEL-eh
• David--English, DAY-vid; Davide--Italian, DAH-vee-deh
• Dominic--English, DOM-in-ik; Domenico--Italian, doh-MEN-ee-koh
• Edmund--English, ED-mund; Edmondo--Italian, ed-MON-doh
• Edward--English, ED-ward; Edoardo--Italian, ed-WAHR-doh
• Ernest--English, UR-nest; Ernesto--Italian, ehr-NES-toh
• Eugene--English, YOO-jeen; yoo-JEEN; Eugenio--Italian, eh-oo-JEN-yoh
• Frederick--English, FRED-er-ik; Federico--Italian, feh-deh-REE-koh
• Ferdinand--English, FER-dih-nand; Ferdinando--Italian, fehr-dee-NAN-doh
• Gabriel--English, GAY-bree-el; Gabriele--Italian, gah-BRYEL-eh
• Gerard--English, jer-ARD; Gerardo--Italian, jeh-RAR-doh
• Gilbert--English, GIL-bert; Gilberto--Italian, jeel-BEHR-toh
• Gregory--English, GREG-oh-ree; Gregorio--Italian, greg-OR-yoh
• Harold--English, HEHR-ohld; Aroldo--Italian, ah-ROHL-doh
• Hubert--English, HYOO-bert; Uberto--Italian, oo-BEHR-toh
• Hugo--English, HYOO-goh; Ugo--Italian, OO-goh
• Isaiah--English, eye-ZAY-ah; Isaia--Italian, ee-SYE-ah
• Jacob--English, JAY-kob; Jacopo--Italian, YAH-koh-poh
• Leander--English, lee-AN-der; Leandro--Italian, leh-AN-droh
• Leonard--English, LEN-ard; Leonardo--Italian, leh-oh-NAR-doh
• Luke--English, LUEK; Luca--Italian, LOO-ka
• Mark--English, MARK; Marco--Italian, MAR-koh
• Martin--English, MAR-tin; Martino--Italian, mar-TEE-noh
• Oliver--English, OL-iv-er; Oliviero--Italian, oh-leev-YEHR-oh
• Orson--English, OR-son; Orsino--Italian, or-SEE-noh
• Oswald--English, OZ-wald; Osvaldo--Italian, oz-VAHL-doh
• Otto--English, OT-toh; Ottone--Italian, ot-TOH-neh
• Paul--English, PAWL; Paolo--Italian, POW-loh
• Raymond--English, RAY-mond; Raimondo--Italian, rye-MON-doh
• Robert--English, ROB-ert; Roberto--Italian, roh-BEHR-toh
• Roman--English, ROH-man; Romano--Italian, roh-MAHN-oh
• Samuel--English, SAM-yul; Samuele--Italian, sahm-WEL-eh
• Sebastian--English, seh-BAS-tyen; Sebastiano--Italian, seh-bahs-TYAHN-oh
• Simon--English, SYE-mon; Simone--Italian, see-MOH-neh
• Sylvester--English, sil-VES-ter; Silvestro--Italian, seel-VES-troh
• Theodore--English, THEE-oh-dor; Teodoro--Italian, teh-oh-DOH-roh
• Vincent--English, VIN-sent; Vincente--Italian, veen-CHEN-teh

Larger difference, but still recognizable:

• Alexander--English, al-eks-AN-der; Alessandro--Italian, ah-les-SAHN-droh
• Ambrose--English, AM-brohz; Ambrogio--Italian, ahm-BROH-joh
• Benedict--English, BEN-eh-dikt; Benedetto--Italian, behn-eh-DET-toh
• Bennett--English, BEN-net; Benito--Italian, ben-EE-toh
• Christopher--English, KRIS-toh-fer; Cristoforo--Italian, krees-TOF-oh-roh
• Cyril--English, SEER-il; Cirillo--Italian, chee-REEL-loh
• Francis--English, FRAN-sis; Francesco--Italian, fran-CHES-koh
• George--English, JORJ; Giorgio--Italian, JOR-joh
• Hector--English, HEK-tor; Ettore--Italian, ET-toh-reh
• Henry--English, HEN-ree; Enrico--Italian, en-REE-koh
• Jasper--English, JAS-per; Gaspare--Italian, GAS-pah-reh
• Jonathan--English, JON-ah-than; Gionata--Italian, JON-ah-tah
• Jordan--English, JOR-dan; Giordano--Italian, jor-DAH-noh
• Joshua--English, JOSH-yoo-ah; Giosuè--Italian, joz-WEH
• Julian--English, JOO-lee-an; Giuliano--Italian, jool-YAH-noh
• Justin--English, JUS-tin; Giustino--Italian, joos-TEE-noh
• Laurence--English, LOR-ents; LAW-rents; Lorenzo--Italian, loh-REN-tsoh
• Matthew--English, MATH-yoo; Matteo--Italian, mat-TEH-oh
• Maximilian--English, maks-ih-MIL-yan; Massimiliano--Italian, mahs-see-meel-YAH-noh
• Michael--English, MYE-kel; Michele--Italian, mee-KEL-eh
• Nicholas--English, NIK-oh-las; Nicolò--Italian, nee-koh-LOH
• Philip--English, FIL-ip; Filippo--Italian, fee-LEEP-poh
• Roland--English, ROH-land; Orlando--Italian, or-LAHN-doh
• Patrick--English, PAT-rick; Patrizio--Italian, pah-TREE-tsyoh
• Peter--English, PEE-ter; Pietro--Italian, PYEH-troh
• Raphael--English, RAF-ay-el; Raffaele--Italian, raf-ah-EL-leh
• Richard--English, RICH-ard; Riccardo--Italian, reek-KAR-doh
• Roger--English, ROJ-er; Ruggero--Italian, roo-JEHR-oh
• Steven--English, STEE-ven; Stefano--Italian, stef-AH-noh
• Terrence--English, TEHR-rents; Terenzio--Italian, teh-REN-tsyoh
• Thaddeus--English, THAD-dee-us; Taddeo--Italian, tahd-DEH-oh
• Thomas--English, TOM-as; Tommaso--Italian, toh-MAH-zoh
• Timothy--English, TIM-oh-thee; Timoteo--Italian; tee-moh-TEH-oh
• Ulysses--English, yoo-LIS-seez; Ulisse--Italian, oo-LEES-seh
• Victor--English, VIK-tor; Vittore--Italian, veet-TOH-reh
• Xavier--English, eks-AY-vyer; ZAY-vyer; Saverio--Italian, sah-VEHR-yoh

"Known but Not Common"

Some people like 'unique' names; some prefer solid classics. In my experience, though, most parents are searching for that elusive name that everyone recognizes but no one is using. This can lead two ways--a famous name that few use because it's inextricably linked to one figure; or, even more difficult, a name that is consistently underused. Never super-popular, but never out of style; it's the hardest sort of name to pin down.
But, of course, I have to try anyway, so here are names that have continuously been in the US top 1000 for the past 80 years, but have never broken the top 100 (yet! Asterisks indicate names that are more popular now than they've ever been).

This list has gone through many changes since its publication in 2012; see notes!

Boys:

• Abel*
• Abraham
• Alfredo
• Alonzo
• August
• Avery*
• Blaine
• Brooks*
• Bryant
• Byron
• Calvin
• Clark
• Clay
• Clayton
• Clinton [as of 2015, Clinton is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Conrad
• Cyrus
• Dallas
• Damon
• Davis
• Dexter
• Donovan
• Duncan [as of 2019, Duncan is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Edgar
• Eduardo
• Elias* [as of 2015, Elias is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Elliot*
• Ellis
• Emmett*
• Enrique
• Ernesto
• Everett* [as of 2018, Everett is in the SSA Top 100]
• Felipe
• Felix
• Francisco
• Grady*
• Graham*
• Grant
• Guillermo
• Harley
• Harrison*
• Hector
• Hugh (okay, I cheated here; it did fall from the Top 1000 for one year--2008)
• Israel
• Jasper*
• Jean [as of 2012, Jean is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Jefferson
• Julio
• Julius
• Kendall [as of 2019, Kendall is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Lane*
• Lincoln* [as of 2014, Lincoln is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Malcolm
• Manuel
• Marcel
• Mario
• Marshall
• Maurice
• Miles* [as of 2018, Miles is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Morgan
• Moses
• Nelson
• Noel
• Orlando
• Oscar
• Pablo
• Preston
• Quentin
• Rafael
• Ramon
• Raul
• Reginald
• Reid*
• Ricardo
• Roderick [as of 2013, Roderick is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Roland
• Roman* [as of 2016, Roman is in the SSA Top 100]
• Ross [as of 2013, Ross is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Ruben
• Rudy
• Salvador
• Saul
• Sidney [as of 2014, Sidney is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Silas* (fell from the Top 1000 for 1967)
• Simon
• Solomon
• Sterling
• Terrell [as of 2019, Terrell is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Thaddeus (fell from the Top 1000 for 2009)
• Toby
• Vaughn [as of 2018, Vaughn is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Wade 
• Wilson
• Winston
• Zane*

Girls:

• Adrienne [as of 2019, Adrienne is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Alma
• Aurora* [as of 2015, Aurora is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Bridget
• Camille*
• Carmen
• Cecilia
• Celeste
• Celia
• Claudia [as of 2019, Claudia is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Corinne
• Daphne (fell from the Top 1000 for 1938)
• Elisa
• Elise*
• Elsa
• Genevieve
• Georgia
• Gwendolyn
• Helena (fell from the Top 1000 for 1992)
• Hope
• Iris
• Ivy* (fell from the Top 1000 for 1946) [as of 2018, Ivy is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Joy
• Juliana (fell from the Top 1000 for 1936)
• Lena
• Lucia*
• Marina
• Mercedes [as of 2015, Mercedes is out of the SSA Top 1000]
• Meredith
• Miriam
• Nina
• Nora* [as of 2013, Nora is now in the SSA Top 100]
• Priscilla
• Rosa
• Sonia [as of 2015, Sonia is out of the SSA Top 1000]

(I probably should have expected this, but I'm totally shocked by how much longer the boys' list is than the girls. Holy crap!)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Emma/Emmy

Yet another "nickname" that's actually a full name in its own right. Emma is definitely a hot name right now, and not just in the US--it's a top 100 name in more than a dozen countries! So, even though it is a full name, wanting a more uncommon given name is understandable. Quite a few names that lead to Emma/Emmie are already common in the US, or fast on the rise (Emily, Emilia, Emery, Emerson, Emmelyn, Ember).
So, what else can we find...?

• Emanuela (eh-man-WEL-ah, Italian)--from Hebrew, "God is with us". French form is Emmanuelle. 
• Embla (EM-blah, Scandinavian)
• Emerald (EM-er-ald, English)
• Emerentia (em-ehr-ENTZ-ee-ah, German)--from Latin, "praiseworthy"
• Emerita (em-eh-REE-tah, German)--from Latin, "respected"
• Emese (EM-eh-sheh, Hungarian)
• Emika (eh-mee-kah, Japanese)
• Emina (eh-MEE-nah)--Bosnian, from Arabic, "truthful"; Scandinavian, form of Emma.
• Emira (eh-MEER-ah, Bosnian)--from Arabic, "commander"
• Emperatriz (em-peh-rah-TREEZ, Spanish)--"empress"

Happy Hanukkah!

Okay, I don't celebrate Hanukkah, but for my friends who do--a list of Hebrew names. Actually, many names used in English are ultimately Hebrew in origin, so I'll be avoiding the usual Biblical names that we're all familiar with.
Chag sameach!

Boys:

• Adir (ah-DEER)--"mighty". Feminine is Adira.
• Adiv (ah-DEEV)--"gentle, courteous". Feminine is Adiva.
• Ari (ah-REE)--"lion"
• Aviv (ah-VEEV)--"spring" [the season]. Feminine is Aviva.
• Ayal (ah-YAHL)--"stag". Feminine is Ayala or Ayelet.
• Chaim (khah-EEM)--"life". Also spelled Chayim. Feminine is Chaya.
• Dekel (deh-KEL)--"palm tree"
• Erez (eh-REZ)--"cedar"
• Eyal (eh-YAHL)--"strength"
• Harel (hah-REL)--"mountain of God"
• Idan (ee-DAN)--"era"
• Ilan (ee-LAHN)--"tree". Feminine is Ilanit or Ilana.
• Lev (LEV)--"heart"
• Oren (oh-REN)--"pine tree"
• Ravid (rah-VEED)--"ornament"
• Ronen (roh-NEN)--"song"
• Shalev (shah-LEV)--"calm"
• Tamir (tah-MEER)--"tall"
• Tomer (toh-MEHR)--"palm tree"
• Yaniv (yah-NEEV)--"prospering"
• Zev (ZEV)--"wolf"
• Ziv (ZEEV)--"bright, brilliant". Feminine is Ziva.

Girls:

• Adina (ah-dee-NAH)--"gentle, delicate"
• Adva (ahd-VAH)--"ripple, wave"
• Ahava (ah-hah-VAH)--"love"
• Ahuva (ah-hoo-VAH)--"beloved"
• Aliza (ah-lee-ZAH)--"joyful"
• Arava (ah-rah-VAH)--"willow"
• Ateret (ah-TEHR-et)--"crown"
• Bina (bee-NAH)--"wisdom"
• Dalia (dahl-YAH)--"branch". Also spelled Dalya.
• Dorit (doh-REET)--"generation" 
• Emuna (eh-moo-NAH)--"faith". Also spelled Emunah.
• Irit (ee-REET)--"asphodel"
• Kalanit (kah-lah-NEET)--"anemone, buttercup"
• Keren (keh-REN)--"ray of light"
• Keshet (KEH-shet)--"rainbow"
• Kineret (kee-neh-RET)--"Sea of Galilee"
• Kochava (koh-KHAH-vah)--"star"
• Liat (lee-AHT)--"you are mine"
• Malka (mal-KAH)--"queen"
• Margalit (mar-gah-LEET)--"pearl"
• Meital (may-TAHL)--"dew drop". Also spelled Maytal.
• Nava (NAH-vah)--"beautiful"
• Nessa (nes-SAH)--"miracle"
• Nurit (noo-REET)--"buttercup"
• Rona (roh-NAH)--"joy, song"
• Shira (sheer-AH)--"song"
• Sivan (see-VAHN)--"season" [9th month of Jewish calendar, May-June]
• Techiya (teh-khee-YAH)--"rebirth"
• Tova (toh-VAH)--"good"
• Zahava (zah-HAH-vah)--"gold"

Unisex:

• Aviel (ah-vee-EL)--"God is my father"
• Hallel (hahl-EHL)--"praise"
• Lior (lee-OHR)--"my light". Also spelled Leor. Feminine is Liora/Leora or Liorit. 
• Liron (lee-ROHN)--"my joy, song"
• Nitzan (neet-ZAHN)--"bud". Feminine is Nitza or Nitzana.
• Noam (NOH-ahm)--"pleasantness"
• Shai (SHYE)--"gift"
• Yarden (yar-DEN)--"Jordan River"