Modern But Not (boys)

I've dedicated quite a few posts to names that stand out. But what if you want a name that's modern, but not too weird or derivative--that is, blends in?
Modern American names tend to follow certain phonetic trends--the biggest trend for boys is the Aidens (I'll be bypassing this one; pretty much any iteration is probably already in use!). In general, modern boys' names tend to start with 'Br', J, K, T, Z; contain A, J, K, Q, X, Z; and end in 'en', 'on', or 'er'.

• Aeson (EE-son, Greek)
• Ariston (AH-ris-ton, Greek)--"the best"
• Andon (AHN-don, Bulgarian)--form of Anthony
• Anson (AN-son, English)
• Azhar (AZ-har, Arabic)--"shining"
• Berker (BEHR-kehr, Turkish)
• Bhaskar (BHAS-kahr, Hindi)--"shining"
• Brynjar (BRIN-yar, Scandinavian)--"armoured warrior"
• Brynmor (BRIN-mohr, Welsh)
• Cebrian (seb-ree-AHN, Spanish)
• Dathan (DAY-tahn, DAH-than, English)--from Hebrew, "fountain"
• Davorin (DAH-vor-in, Croatian)
• Dražen (DRAH-zen, Croatian)--"precious"
• Demir (deh-MEER, Turkish)--"iron"
• Eifion (AYV-yon, EYE-vyon, Welsh)
• Elystan (eh-LIS-tan, Welsh)
• Evren (ev-REHN, Turkish)--"the universe"
• Fintan (FIN-tan, Irish)--"white fire"
• Imran (im-RAHN, Arabic)
• Karsten (KAR-sten, German)--form of Christian
• Kayetan (KYE-eh-tahn, German)
• Kenyon (KEN-yon, English)
• Kynaston (KIN-ah-ston, English)
• Macsen (MAK-sen, Welsh)--form of Maximus
• Nayden (NYE-den, Bulgarian)
• Nevan (NEV-an, Irish)--anglicized from Naomhán, "little saint"
• Rayner (RAY-ner, English)
• Saxon ( SAKS-on, English)
• Torsten (TOR-sten, German, Scandinavian)
• Tychon (TYE-kon, Greek)
• Zaman (zah-MAN, Arabic)--"time, era"
• Zorion (soh-ree-ohn, Basque)--"happiness"

U-La-La!

Well, I've done I-names and O-names, so now it time for me to continue the trend of underused letters, this time with U.
Only 4 names starting with U appear in the US top 1000--Urijah, Uriel, Uriah, & Ulises.
Ursula charted in the past, and Unique more recently, but currently there are zero U-names in the girls' Top 1000!


Boys:

• Ualan (ooAH-lan, WAH-lan, Scottish)--form of Valentine
• Uberto (oo-BEHR-toh, Italian)--form of Hubert
• Ùisdean (OOSH-jun, Scottish)
• Ulderico (ool-deh-REE-koh, Italian)
• Ulfilas (ool-FEE-las, Gothic/Germanic)--"little wolf"
• Uljas (OOL-yahs, Finnish)--"noble, valiant"
• Ulric (OOL-rik, English)--from Germanic, "rich heritage"
• Ultan (UL-tan, Irish)
• Ulvi (ool-VEE, Turkish)--"exalted"
• Umar (OO-mar, Arabic)
• Ümit (EU-meet, Turkish)--"hope"
• Unathi (oo-NAH-tee, Xhosa)--"God is with us"
• Untamo (oon-TAH-moh, Finnish)
• Uolevi (OO-oh-leh-vee, Finnish)--form of Olaf/Oliver
• Urard (UR-ard, Irish)--"tall"
• Urban (OOR-bahn, German, Scandinavian, Slovene)--from Latin, "city dweller"
• Usko (OOS-koh, Finnish)--"faith"
• Usman (OOS-mahn, Arabic)
• Uspaig (OOS-pek, Scottish)--from Old Norse, "wild"
• Uxío (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugene
• Uzziel (oo-zee-EL, UZ-ee-el, English)--from Hebrew, "God is my power"

Girls:

• Uaine (oo-AHN-yeh, WAHN-yeh, Irish)--"greenish"
• Udane (oo-dah-neh, Basque)--"summer"
• Uliana (ool-YAH-nah, Russian)--form of Juliana
• Ülkü (eul-KEU, Turkish)--"ideal"
• Ulrika (ool-REE-kah, Scandinavian, German)--feminine of Ulric
• Ulviye (ool-VEE-yeh, Turkish)--feminine of Ulvi
• Umeko (oo-meh-koh, Japanese)
• Una (OON-ah, Irish)
• Undine (oon-DEE-neh, UN-deen, English & German)--from Latin, "wave"
• Unelma (OON-el-mah, Finnish)--"dream"
• Ursa (UR-sah, OOR-sah, Latin)--"bear"
• Usha (OO-shah, Hindi)--"dawn"
• Usoa (oo-soh-ah, Basque)--"dove". Another form is Uxue (oo-shoo-eh). 
• Ustinya (oos-TEEN-yah, Russian)--form of Justine
• Uxía (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugenia

Saint Who?

Thanks to Emily L. for the suggestion, even if it did take me forever to actually take you up on it. :)

Okay, so I went and actually looked at how many saints there are in the Catholic church, and holy crap. Over 2000! Most of us, regardless of religion, could probably name at least a few--Peter, Francis, Theresa. Actually, many names with long history of use in the Western world belong to at least one saint (and in the case of "classics", probably several)!
So, I went perusing for unusual/unexpected names. To make it easier on myself, I limited it to patron saints (which is still hundreds, so I guess it's not that much of a narrow-down).

• Afra (AH-frah, AF-rah)--patroness of penitent women, martyrs, & converts. Feast Day: Aug. 5.
• Arthelais (ar-tel-AH-ees)--patroness of the ill, exiles, and the kidnapped. Also known as Artellaide.  Feast Day: March 3.
• Bibiana (bee-BYAH-nah)--patroness of epileptics and the mentally ill. Also known as Viviana/Vivian. Feast Day: Dec. 2.
• Brieuc (bree-OO)--patron of purse-makers. Also known as Brioc. Feast Day: May 1.
• Cadoc (KAH-dok)--patron of the deaf and famine victims. Feast Day: Sept. 25.
• Cajetan (KAJ-eh-tan)--patron of job-seekers and the unemployed. Also known as Gaetano or Cayetano. Feast Day: Aug. 7.
• Cassian (KAS-see-an; KASH-an)--patron of schoolteachers and clerks. Feast Day: Aug. 13.
• Cloud (CLOWD)--patron of nail-makers. Also known as Clodoald. Feast Day: Sept. 7.
• Colman (COHL-man)--several saints.
• Devota (deh-VOH-tah)--patroness of mariners. Feast Day: Jan 27.
• Dwynwen (DWIN-wen)--patroness of lovers. Also known as Donwen or Donwenna. Feast Day: Jan. 25.
• Dymphna (DIMF-na)--patroness against mental & neurological disorders. Feast Day: May 15.
• Eulalia (yoo-LAHL-yah)--two saints: one patroness of sailors, Feast Day: Feb 12; the other patroness of runaways, Feast Day: Dec. 10. 
• Fabiola (fah-bee-OH-lah)--patroness of divorcees and abuse victims. Feast Day: Dec. 27.
• Foillan (FOYL-lan)--patron of surgeons, pediatric nurses, and dentists. Also known as Faolan or Faelan. Feast Day: Oct. 31; Nov. 5.
• Gemma (JEM-mah)--patroness of students and pharmacists. Feast Day: April 7.
• Gereon (GEHR-ee-on)--patron against headaches/migraines. Feast Day: Oct. 10.
• Hervé (ehr-VAY)--patron of the blind. Also known as Harvey. Feast Day: June 17.
• Ivo (EE-voh)--patron of lawyers and abandoned children. Also known as Yves. Feast Day: May 19.
• Kateri (KAH-teh-ree)--patroness of ecologists. Feast Day: July 14.
• Kentigern (KEN-tih-gehrn)--patron of bullying victims. Also known as Mungo. Feast Day: Jan. 13.
• Kilian (KIL-ee-an)--patron against rheumatism. Also known as Cillian. Feast Day: July 8.
• Lydwina (lid-WEE-nah)--patroness of the chronically ill. Also known as Lidwina or Liduina. Feast day: April 14.
• Macrina (mah-KREE-nah)--patron of widows and the poor. Feast Day: Jan. 14.
• Marciana (mar-CHAH-nah)--patroness of the injured. Feast Day: Jan. 9.
• Osmund (OZ-mund)--patron of the paralyzed and mentally ill. Feast Day: Dec. 4.
• Paraskevi (pah-rah-skeh-VEE)--three different saints, sometimes called Parascheva or Petka.
• Peregrine (PEHR-eh-grin)--patron of cancer victims. Feast Day: May 1. 
• Petronilla (pet-ro-NIL-lah)--patroness of mountain travellers
• Pirmin (PEER-min)--patron against poisoning & snake bites. Feast Day: Nov. 3.
• Solange (soh-LAWNZH)--patroness of rape victims and shepherds. Feast Day: May 10.
• Walstan (WAL-stan)--patron of farms & farmers. Feast Day: May 30.
• Zita (ZEE-tah)--patroness of servants. Also known as Citha or Sitha. Feast Day: April 27.

Quite a few have intriguing surname possibilities as well. Look for a part 2 at some point!

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Carrie/Kari

The usual nickname for the classic Caroline, Carrie also has a timeless feel, although its use as a given name  has tanked over the last three decades. Her cousin Kari ("kah-ree", not "kehr-ee"), originally a nickname for Katarina, had a brief spike in the 70/80s, and I'm honestly surprised she's so rare now.
There're surprisingly few names that lead to Carrie, at least in my accent, and I imagine that can vary greatly by region. So, I'm combining Carrie & Kari into a list for both:

• Caridad (kah-ree-DAHD, Spanish)--"charity"
• Carita (kah-REE-tah, Scandinavian)
• Carlota (kahr-LOH-tah, Portuguese, Spanish)--form of Charlotte. Italian form is Carlotta.
• Carme (KAHR-meh, Catalan)--form of Carmen
• Carola (kah-ROH-lah, Italian, German, Scandinavian). Also spelled Karola.
• Hikari (hee-kah-ree, Japanese)--"light". Unisex form is Hikaru.
• Inkeri (EEN-keh-ree, Finnish)--form of Ingrid.
• Karella (kah-REL-lah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Karel/Karl/Charles
• Karesinda (kah-reh-SEEN-dah, Esperanto)--"worthy of caress"
• Karima (kah-REE-mah, Arabic)--"noble"
• Karishma (kah-RISH-mah, Hindi)--"miracle"
• Karstine (kar-STEE-neh, German)--form of Christine
• Kerensa (keh-REN-zah, Cornish)--"love"
• Kerttuli (KEHR-too-lee, Finnish)--form of Gertrude
• Macaria (mah-KAH-ree-ah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Latin, "blessed"

Unearthly Creatures--Beasts & Hybrids

An odd category for names, you ask? Well, I wouldn't recommend naming your kid 'Cyclops' or 'Cockatrice' or 'Banshee'; but if Griffin & Phoenix can catch on, I imagine others, especially more obscure ones that follow popular phonetic trends, could be usable as well.

• Abaia (ah-BYE-ah)
• Alerion (ah-LEHR-ee-on)
• Alphyn (AL-fin, English, al-FOON, German)
• Bennu (BEN-noo)
• Habrok (HAW-brok)
• Indrik (EEN-dreek)
• Mayura (mah-yoo-rah)
• Piasa (PYE-ah-sah)
• Turul (TOO-rul)
• Wyvern (WYE-vern)

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

Spelled the same, but with slight pronunciation difference (usually):

• Ada--English, AY-dah; Italian, AH-dah
• Adelaide--English, AD-el-ayd; Italian, ah-del-EYE-deh
• Adele--English, ah-DEL; Italian, ah-DEH-leh
• Adriana--English, ay-dree-AH-nah, ay-dree-AN-ah; Italian, ah-dree-AH-nah
• Alberta--English, al-BER-tah; Italian, al-BEHR-tah
• Alice--English, AL-is; Italian, ah-LEE-cheh
• Alina--English & Italian, ah-LEE-nah
• Amanda--English, ah-MAN-dah; Italian, ah-MAHN-dah
• Amelia--English, ah-MEE-lee-ah; Italian, ah-MEHL-yah
• Angela--English, AN-jel-ah; Italian, AHN-jel-ah
• Angelica--English, an-JEL-ih-kah; Italian, ah-JEH-lee-kah
• Angelina--English, an-jel-EE-nah; Italian, ahn-jeh-LEE-nah
• Anna--English, AN-nah, Italian, AH-nah
• Annabella--English, an-nah-BEL-lah; Italian, ah-nah-BEL-lah
• Arianna--English, ah-ree-AN-nah, ah-ree-AH-nah; Italian, ah-ree-AH-nah
• Asia--English, AY-zhah; Italian, AHZ-yah
• Augusta--English, aw-GUS-tah; Italian, ow-GOOS-tah
• Aurora--English, aw-ROHR-ah; Italian, ow-ROH-rah
• Barbara--English & Italian, BAHR-bar-ah
• Beatrice--English, BEE-ah-tris; Italian, beh-ah-TREE-cheh
• Bianca--English & Italian, bee-AHN-kah
• Camilla--English, kah-MIL-lah; Italian, kah-MEE-lah
• Carla--English & Italian, KAHR-lah
• Carmen--English & Italian, KAHR-men
• Carolina--English, kehr-oh-LYE-nah; Italian, kah-roh-LEE-nah
• Cecilia--English, seh-SEEL-yah; Italian, cheh-CHEEL-yah
• Celeste--English, seh-LEST; Italian, cheh-LES-teh
• Celia--English, SEE-lee-ah; Italian, CHEL-yah
• Clara--English, KLEHR-ah; Italian, KLAH-rah
• Clarissa--English, klah-RIS-sah; Italian, klah-REE-sah
• Claudia--English, KLAW-dee-ah; Italian CLOWD-yah
• Cornelia--English, kor-NEE-lee-ah; Italian, kor-NEH-lyah
• Daniela--English, dan-YEL-ah; Italian, dahn-YEH-lah
• Daria--English & Italian, DAHR-ee-ah
• Delia--English, DEEL-yah; Italian, DEH-lyah
• Diana--English, dye-AN-ah; Italian, dee-AH-nah
• Elena--English, eh-LEH-nah, Italian, EH-leh-nah
• Eliana--English & Italian, eh-lee-AH-nah
• Elisa--English, el-EE-sah; Italian, eh-LEE-zah 
• Elsa--English & Italian, EL-sah
• Emilia--English & Italian, eh-MEEL-yah
• Emma--English & Italian, EM-mah
• Eugenia--English, yoo-JEEN-ee-ah; Italian, yoo-JEN-yah
• Eva--English, EE-vah, EV-ah, EH-vah; Italian, EH-vah
• Flora--English & Italian, FLOH-rah
• Francesca--English & Italian, frahn-CHES-kah
• Gabriella--English, gab-ree-EL-lah; Italian, gah-bree-EL-lah
• Gemma--English & Italian, JEM-mah
• Gianna--English, jee-AH-nah, Italian, JAH-nah
• Gina--English & Italian, JEE-nah
• Ida--English, EYE-dah; Italian, EE-dah
• Irene--English, eye-REEN, Italian, ee-REH-neh
• Isabella--English, iz-ah-BEL-lah; Italian, ee-zah-BEL-lah
• Lara--English & Italian, LAH-rah
• Laura--English, LAW-rah, LOR-ah; Italian, LOW-rah
• Lena--English, LEE-nah, LEH-nah; Italian, LEH-nah
• Liliana--English, lil-ee-AN-ah, lil-ee-AH-nah; Italian, leel-YAH-nah
• Lina--English & Italian, LEE-nah
• Linda--English, LIN-dah; Italian, LEEN-dah
• Lisa--English, LEE-sah; Italian, LEE-zah
• Lorena--English, loh-REE-nah, loh-REH-nah; Italian, loh-REH-nah
• Loretta--English & Italian, loh-RET-tah
• Lucia--English, LOO-shah, loo-SEE-ah; Italian, loo-CHEE-ah
• Marcella--English, mar-SEL-lah; Italian, mar-CHEL-lah
• Maria--English & Italian, mah-REE-ah
• Marina--English & Italian, mah-REE-nah
• Martina--English & Italian, mar-TEE-nah
• Monica--English, MON-ih-kah; Italian, MON-ee-kah
• Nadia--English & Italian, NAHD-ee-ah
• Nina--English & Italian, NEE-nah
• Nora--English & Italian, NOR-ah
• Norma--English & Italian, NOR-mah
• Olivia--English, oh-LIV-ee-ah; Italian, oh-LEEV-yah
• Priscilla--English, pris-SIL-lah; Italian, pree-SHEE-lah
• Rebecca--English & Italian, reh-BEK-kah
• Regina--English & Italian, reh-JEE-nah
• Rita--English & Italian, REE-tah
• Roberta--English, rob-ER-tah; Italian, roh-BEHR-tah
• Rosa--English & Italian, ROH-zah
• Rosanna--English, rohz-AN-nah; Italian, roh-ZAHN-nah
• Sabrina--English & Italian, sah-BREE-nah
• Samantha--English, sah-MAN-thah; Italian, sah-MAHN-tah
• Serena--English, seh-REE-nah; Italian, seh-REH-nah
• Sonia--English, SOHN-yah; SAHN-yah; Italian, SOHN-yah
• Susanna--English, soo-ZAN-nah; Italian, soo-ZAHN-nah
• Tamara--English, TAM-ah-rah, tah-MAH-rah; Italian, tah-MAH-rah
• Teresa--English, teh-REE-sah; Italian, teh-REH-zah
• Tina--English & Italian, TEE-nah
• Valentina--English, val-en-TEE-nah; Italian, vah-len-TEE-nah
• Vanessa--English & Italian, vah-NES-sah
• Veronica--English, ver-ON-ih-kah; Italian, veh-RON-ee-kah
• Viola--English, vee-OH-lah, vye-OH-lah; Italian, vee-OH-lah
• Virginia--English, vir-JIN-yah; Italian, veer-JEEN-yah
• Zoe--English, ZOH-ee; Italian, DZOH-eh

One/two-letter difference:

• Agatha--English, AG-ah-thah; Agata--Italian, ah-GAH-tah
• Agnes--English, AG-nes; Agnese--Italian, ahn-YEZ-eh
• Alexandra--English, al-eks-AN-drah; Alessandra--Italian, ahl-es-SAHN-drah
• Amber--English, AM-ber; Ambra--Italian, AHM-brah
• Andrea--English, AN-dree-ah; Andreina--ahn-DREH-ee-nah
• Christina--English, kris-TEE-nah; Cristina--Italian, krees-TEE-nah
• Clementine--English, KLEM-en-tine; Clementina--Italian, klem-en-TEE-nah
• Daphne--English, DAF-nee; Dafne--Italian, DAHF-neh
• Deborah--English, DEB-er-ah; Debora--Italian, DEH-boh-rah
• Eleanor--English, EL-en-or, EL-en-er; Eleonora--Italian, EH-leh-oh-NOH-rah
• Eloise--English, EL-oh-eez; Eloisa--Italian, eh-loh-EE-zah
• Erma--English, ER-mah; Irma--Italian, EER-mah
• Felicity--English, feh-LIS-ih-tee; Felicita--Italian, feh-LEE-chee-tah
• Georgia--English, JOR-jah; Giorgia--Italian, JOR-jah
• Gertrude--English, GER-trood; Geltrude--Italian, jel-TROO-deh
• Giselle--English, jiz-EL; Gisella--Italian, jee-ZEL-lah
• Isadora--English, iz-ah-DOR-ah; Isidora--Italian, ee-zee-DOH-rah
• Julia--English, JOO-lee-ah; Giulia--Italian, JOOL-yah
• Juliana--English, joo-lee-AH-nah; Giuliana--Italian, jool-YAH-nah
• Letitia--English, le-TEE-shah; Letizia--Italian, leh-TEETS-yah
• Louisa--English, loo-EEZ-ah; Luisa--Italian, LWEE-zah
• Lucille--English, loo-SEEL; Lucilla--Italian, loo-CHEE-lah
• Lydia--English, LID-ee-ah; Lidia--Italian, LEED-yah
• Marcia--English, MAR-shah, MAR-see-ah; Marzia--Italian, MARTS-yah
• Marissa--English, mah-RIS-sah; Marisa--Italian, mah-REE-sah
• Martha--English, MAR-thah; Marta--Italian, MAR-tah
• Matilda--English, mah-TIL-dah; Matilde--Italian, mah-TEEL-deh
• Melanie--English, MEL-an-ee; Melania--Italian, meh-LAHN-yah
• Michaela--English, mih-KAY-lah; Micaela--Italian, mih-KYE-lah
• Mirabelle--English, MEER-ah-bel; Mirabella--Italian, meer-ah-BEL-lah
• Naomi--English, nah-OH-nee, nay-OH-mee; Noemi--Italian, noh-EH-mee
• Natalie--English, NAT-ah-lee; Natalia--Italian, nah-TAHL-yah
• Octavia--English, ok-TAY-vee-ah; Ottavia--Italian, oh-TAV-yah
• Ophelia--English, oh-FEEL-yah; Ofelia--Italian, oh-FEH-lyah
• Patricia--English, pah-TRISH-ah; Patrizia--Italian, pah-TREETS-yah
• Paula--English, PAW-lah; Paola--Italian, POW-lah
• Paulina--English, paw-LEE-nah; Paolina--Italian, pow-LEE-nah
• Pearl--English, PERL; Perla--Italian, PEHR-lah
• Philippa--English, FIL-ip-pah; Filippa--Italian, fee-LEE-pah
• Rachel--English, RAY-chel; Rachele--Italian, rah-KEL-eh
• Rosalie--English, ROHZ-ah-lee; Rosalia--Italian, roh-zah-LEE-ah
• Roxana--English, roks-AN-ah; Rossana--Italian, rohs-SAHN-ah
• Sarah--English, SEHR-ah; Sara--Italian, SAH-rah
• Simone--English, sih-MOHN; Simona--Italian, see-MOH-nah
• Sophia--English, soh-FEE-ah; Sofia--Italian, soh-FEE-ah
• Sylvia--English, SIL-vee-ah; Silvia--Italian, SEEL-vyah
• Tanya--English, TAHN-yah; Tania--Italian, TAHN-yah
• Ursula--English, UR-soo-lah; Orsola--Italian, OR-soh-lah
• Valerie--English, VAL-er-ee; Valeria--Italian, vah-LEHR-yah
• Victoria--English, vik-TOR-ee-ah; Vittoria--Italian, veet-TOHR-yah
• Violet--English, VYE-oh-let; Violetta--Italian, vee-oh-LET-tah
• Vivian--English, VIV-ee-an; Viviana--Italian, veev-YAH-nah
• Yolanda--English, yoh-LAHN-dah; Iolanda--Italian, yoh-LAHN-dah

Larger difference, but still recognizable:

• Bridget--English, BRID-jet; Brigida--Italian, BREE-jee-dah
• Dorothy--English, DOR-oh-thee; Dorotea--Italian, doh-roh-TEH-ah
• Elizabeth--English, eh-LIZ-ah-beth; Elisabetta--Italian, eh-lee-zah-BET-tah
• Genevieve--English, JEN-eh-veev; Genoveffa--Italian, jeh-noh-VEF-fah
• Grace--English, GRAYS; Grazia--Italian, GRAHTS-yah
• Hillary--English, HIL-lah-ree; Ilaria--Italian, ee-LAHR-yah
• Joy--English, JOY; Gioia--Italian, JOY-ah
• Judith--English, JOO-dith; Giuditta--Italian, joo-DEET-ah
• Juliette--English, joo-lee-ET; Giuletta--Italian, jool-YET-tah
• Leah--English, LEE-ah; Lia--Italian, LEE-ah
• Madelyn--English, MAD-eh-lin; Maddalena--Italian, mah-dah-LEH-nah
• Margaret--English, MAR-gah-ret; Margherita--Italian, mar-geh-REE-tah
• Stephanie--English, STEF-an-ee; Stefania--Italian, steh-FAHN-yah

Surname First

Hanging out in the baby-names world has changed my outlook quite a bit. If you'd asked me a few years ago what sort of names I liked, my answer would probably have been something along the lines of "unique Irish names, like Aidan & Aisling/Ashlin". My, how my eyes have been opened. (still love both those names, though) :p
Among my most hated names would probably have been surnames as first-names. While most still aren't my style (especially patronymics), I freely admit to being much too judgmental in the past. The realization that many established first names were originally surnames contributed greatly (as well as knowing great guys named Mason, Travis, Carter, etc). The world of names is much more adaptive (and subjective) than I ever could have thought!

So, in the interest of admitting my ignorance, here are all the surnames that have ever appeared in the US top 500 (well, minus the really well-known ones, like Kennedy & Franklin; and obvious ones, like the Mac/-son patronymics, -ton locationals, & -er occupationals):

• Ainsley
• Alden
• Ashley
• Avery
• Bailey
• Barrett
• Bentley
• Beverly
• Blair
• Blake
• Boyd
• Braden
• Bradley
• Brady
• Brandon
• Brock
• Brody
• Brooke
• Bruce
• Bryant
• Cameron
• Carey
• Casey
• Cassidy
• Chadwick
• Chase
• Clark
• Clay
• Clayton
• Clifford
• Cody
• Cohen
• Cole
• Corey
• Cornell
• Courtney
• Craig
• Dane
• Darrell
• Darwin
• Davis
• Dean
• Delaney
• Desmond
• Devin
• Donovan
• Douglas
• Duane
• Dudley
• Dustin
• Dwight
• Elliot
• Ellis
• Elmer
• Emmett
• Evelyn
• Forrest
• Gary
• Glenn
• Gordon
• Graham
• Grant
• Harlan
• Harley
• Hayden
• Hayley
• Heath
• Howard
• Irving
• Jarrett
• Jarvis
• Jewell
• Keegan
• Keith
• Kelly
• Kelsey
• Kendall
• Kendrick
• Kermit
• Kyle
• Lacey
• Landon
• Lane
• Lee/Leigh
• Leslie
• Lindsay
• Logan
• Macy
• Maddox
• Marshall
• Marvin
• Mason
• Maxwell
• Mitchell
• Nolan
• Otis
• Paige
• Peyton
• Pierce
• Quincy
• Randall
• Riley
• Rowan
• Russell
• Ryan
• Scarlett
• Scott
• Seymour
• Shannon
• Shelby
• Sidney/Sydney
• Stacy
• Stewart/Stuart
• Tate
• Teagan
• Todd
• Tracy
• Travis
• Trent
• Trevor
• Vance
• Vaughn
• Vernon
• Warren
• Wesley
• Wyatt
• Xavier

Same Name?!--Bridget

Poor confused Bridget. To some, she's an underused classic; to others, inescapably 70s'; and to many, quintessential Irish. One of the many goddess-names that has made it into common use; she's also the name of two saints, and has thus spread throughout the Western World.

Original Irish form: Brighid (BREED. BREEJ)
English form: Bridget (BRIJ-et)

Other forms:

• Berit (BEHR-it)--Scandinavian
• Birgitta (beer-GEE-tah)--Scandinavian
• Bricia (BREE-see-ah)--Spanish [may also be from Bricius]
• Brighde (BREE-jeh)--Scottish
• Brigida (BREE-hee-dah)--Spanish
• Brígida (BREE-zhee-dah)--Portuguese
• Brigitte (bree-ZHEET)--French
• Brygida (bri-GEE-dah)--Polish
• Ffraid (FRIDE)--Welsh
• Piritta (PEER-eet-tah)--Finnish