It's Big Overseas.

How names catch on is fascinating. Why Connor and not Conall? Aubrey but not Audley? While I'm sure part of it has to do with namesakes, as well as phonetic trends, there are some name families that aren't really used in the US at all. Their variants can be found in many other languages, but are practically unheard of in English (sometimes just American English).
Weird.

Boys:

• Albin (AHL-bin, German; AHL-been, Scandinavian, Polish, Slovene)
• French form is Aubin
• Ambrose (AM-brohz, English)
• other forms include: Ambroos (Dutch), Ambroise (French), Ambrus (Hungarian), Ambrogio (Italian), Ambrosio (Spanish), Emrys (Welsh)
• Aurélien (oh-rayl-YAWn, French)
• other forms include: Auréle (French), Aurel (German, Romanian, Slovak), Aurél (Hungarian), Aurelio (Spanish, Italian), Aureliusz (Polish)
• Constantine (KON-stan-teen, English)
• other forms include: Constantijn (Dutch), Constantin (French, Romanian), Costache/Costin (Romanian), Costanzo/Costantino (Italian), Konstantinos (Greek), Konstantin (German, Hungarian, Russian, Serbian), Konstanty/Konstantyn (Polish)
• Cyril (SEER-il, SIH-ril, English)
• other forms include: Ciril (Catalan, Slovenian), Cirillo (Italian), Cyrille (French), Kiril (Bulgarian, Macedonian), Kirill (Russian)
• Emil (eh-MEEL, English, EH-meel, German)
• other forms include: Émile/Emilien (French), Emilian (Romanian), Emiliano/Emilio (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Emilis (Lithuanian)
• Gaëtan (gah-eh-TAHN, French)
• other forms include: Caetano (Portuguese), Cayetano (Spanish), Gaetano (Italian), Kajetan (Czech, German, Polish, Slovene)
• Gustav (GOOS-tahf, Czech, German, Scandinavian)
• other forms include: Gustave (French), Gustavo (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Gustavs (Latvian), Gustaw (Polish), Kustaa (Finnish)
• Ishmael (ISH-mayl, English)
• other forms include: Esmail (Persian), Ismael (French, Scandinavian, Spanish), Ismail (Arabic, Bosnian, Turkish), Ismo (Finnish)
• Joachim (JOH-ah-kim, English; zhoh-ah-KEEM, French; yoh-AH-keem, German, Scandinavian, Polish)
• other forms include: Gioacchino/Gioachino (Italian), Jaakkima (Finnish), Jáchym (Czech), Joakim (Scandinavian, Serbian), Joaquim (Catalan, Portuguese), Joaquín (Spanish), Jochem (Dutch, German), Yakim (Russian)
• Marius (MAHR-ee-us, MEHR-ee-us, English; MAH-ree-oos, French, German, Romanian, Scandinavian)
• other forms include: Marijo (Croatian), Mario (Italian, Spanish), Mário (Portuguese), Marios (Greek), Mariusz (Polish)
• Rayner (RAY-ner, English)
• other forms include: Ragnar (Scandinavian), Rainer/Reiner (German, Scandinavian), Rainerio (Italian, Spanish), Rainier (French), Raniero (Italian), Reinier (Dutch)
• Urban (UR-ban, English; OOR-bahn, German, Polish, Scandinavian, Slovene)
• other forms include: Urbain (French), Orbán (Hungarian), Urbano (Italian, Spanish)
• Valentine (VAL-en-tine, English)
• other forms include: Balendin (Basque, Spanish), Balint (Hungarian), Valentijn (Dutch), Valentin (Bulgarian, Czech, French, German, Romanian, Russian, Scandinavian), Valentino (Italian), Walenty (Polish)

Girls:

• Apollonia (ah-poh-loh-NEE-ah, Greek)
• other forms include: Abelone (Danish), Apolena (Czech, Slovak), Apoliena (Slovak), Apolline (French), Apolonia (Polish), Apolónia (Portuguese)
• Beata (beh-AH-tah, Czech, Danish, German, Italian, Polish, Scandinavian, Slovak, Spanish)
• Daria (DEHR-ee-ah, English; DAR-ee-ah, Croatian, English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish)
• other forms include: Darija (Croatian, Serbian, Slovene), Darya (Russian), Tarja (Finnish)
• Inga (INg-ah, Swedish; ING-gah, Croatian, Danish, German)
• Czech, Finnish, & Frisian form is Inka. 
• Isadora (iz-ah-DOHR-ah, English; eez-ah-DOHR-ah, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish)
• other forms include: Isidora (Greek, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish), Izidora (Hungarian)
• Mireille (mee-RAY, French)
• other forms include: Mireia/Mireya (Catalan, Spanish), Mirèio (Occitan), Mirela (Croatian, Romanian), Mirella (Italian, Scandinavian)
• Olga (OHL-gah, Bulgarian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish)
• other forms include: Áile (Sami), Helga (German, Scandinavian), Hella (Scandinavian), Olgica (Croatian, Serbian), Laila (Finnish, Scandinavian)
• Ottoline (AH-toh-leen, English)
• other forms include: Oda (German, Scandinavian), Odalis/Odalys (Spanish), Odette/Odile (French), Otilia (Romanian), Ottilia (Swedish), Ottilie/Ute (German), Otylia (Polish)
• Petra (PEH-trah, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Czech, German, Greek, Hungarian, Russian, Serbian, Scandinavian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish)
• other forms include: Perrine (French), Petroula (Greek), Piera/Pietra (Italian)
• Romana (roh-MAH-nah, Czech, Croatian, German, Italian, Polish, Slovak, Slovene)
• other forms include: Romaine (French), Romána (Hungarian), Romina (Italian, Scandinavian), Romola (Italian)
• Sabina (sah-BEE-nah, Czech, Croatian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish)
• other forms include: Sabien (Dutch), Sabine (French, German, Scandinavian), Savina (Italian), Szabina (Hungarian)
• Tecla (TEH-klah, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)
• other forms include: Thecla (Dutch), Thekla (German, Greek), Tekla (Polish, Russian,, Scandinavian)
• Zita (ZEE-tah, Czech, French, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Portuguese, Slovak; TSEE-tah, German)
• Polish form is Zyta. 

I've Got a Bad Feelyn' about This (2013)

Time for all the -lyns of 2013!

Only the most common spelling is listed, but all the alternate spellings were combined (as best as I could guess, anyway), and then ranked most --> least common. Enjoy!

• Madelyn
• Adalynn
• Brooklyn
• Evelyn
• Kaitlyn
• Jocelyn
• Kaelyn
• Jaelyn
• Ashlyn
• Jacqueline
• Raelynn
• Emmalyn
• Jazlyn
• Braelyn
• Gracelyn
• Aylin
• Roselyn
• Evangeline
• Marilyn
• Ellen
• Rilynn
• Helen
• Taylin
• Gwendolyn
• Avalyn
• Maylin
• Carolyn
• Sherlyn
• Aaralyn
• Shaelyn
• Yoselin
• Angeline
• Aislynn
• Skylynn
• Daylin
• Jacelyn
• Breelyn
• Annalynn
• Kylin
• Jesslyn
• Brilynn
• Jadelyn
• Haylen
• Jessalyn
• Marlen
• Irelynn
• Kimberlyn
• Fallyn
• Zaelynn
• Emberlynn
• Azlynn
• Katlyn
• Krislyn
• Keylin
• Amberlyn
• Berlin
• Carlyn
• Coralyn
• Lakelyn
• Arlyn
• Lynn
• Makailyn
• Scotlyn
• Jolynn
• Baelyn
• Kendalyn
• Locklyn
• Courtlyn
• Kellyn
• Kashlyn
• Harlyn
• Andelyn
• Blakelyn
• Natalyn
• Hollyn
• Faithlynn
• Faylinn
• Brecklyn
• Jerilyn
• Rosslyn
• Yailin
• Yazlin
• Darlyn
• Deklynn
• Dilynn
• Danilynn
• Magdalen
• Joshlynn
• Kristalyn
• Lailynn
• Pailynn
• Anberlin
• Oaklynn
• Naydelin
• Caselyn
• Edelyn
• Joycelyn
• Breslyn
• Selin
• Hartlyn
• Milynn
• Jamielynn
• Quinlyn
• Starlynn
• Kathlyn
• Vaelyn
• Callyn
• Flynn
• Saralynn
• Ayslin
• Devlynn
• Graelyn
• Nadalyn
• Tylynn
• Allyn
• Everlynn
• Jennalynn
• Sharlyn
• Deslyn
• Emlyn
• Graclyn
• Joplin
• Leelynn
• Maryellen
• Preslyn
• Collyn
• Lauralynn
• Yakelin
• Brycelynn
• Katielynn
• Mayalen
• Naylin
• Brenlyn
• Ilyn
• Kenlyn
• Adlyn
• Paislyn
• Yanilen
• Chaselynn
• Veralyn
• Gracielynn
• Hazelyn
• Jezlyn
• Macelyn
• Macklyn
• Novalynn
• Anyelin
• Kallyn
• Macilyn
• Talin
• Zoelyn
• Blen
• Hadlyn
• Joylynn
• Rocklyn
• Summerlynn
• Aubreelynn
• Brandalyn
• Brinlyn
• Kaithlyn
• Keslyn
• Mialynn
• Timberlyn
• Yarelin
• Mandalyn
• Maydelyn
• Merlin
• Paitlyn
• Yeslin
• Cherlyn
• Kaalyn
• Kaslyn
• Chaslyn
• Lovelyn
• Tatelyn
• Teslyn
• Daralyn
• Sophialynn
• Yilin
• Avlynn
• Cullen
• Icelynn
• Ivylynn
• Weslynn
• Dallyn
• Kiralyn
• Nolyn
• Noralynn
• Sadielynn
• Sherilyn
• Ceylin
• Dublin
• Emerlynn
• Gemmalynn
• Joclynn
• Joeylynn
• Kamlyn
• Mabelyn
• Maryhelen
• Mazlyn
• Reeselynn
• Waylynn
• Yerlin
• Yexalen
• Zilin
• Abilyn
• Amylynn
• Averylynn
• Bilen
• Brendalynn
• Caoilinn
• Chloelynn
• Copelyn
• Crosslyn
• Drelynn
• Ettalyn
• Gatlynn
• Hopelyn
• Islynn
• Jerlyn
• Jialin
• Josielynn
• Kierslyn
• Kinlyn
• Kirklyn
• Kreelynn
• Lacelyn
• Lexilynn
• Lillyn
• Maybeline
• Nevaehlynn
• Portlyn
• Riverlyn
• Teralyn
• Yeicelyn
• Zeppelin

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Remy

Remy/Remi is another in a long line of traditionally-masculine-but-sounds-feminine-to-modern-ears names that seems to be on the rise for both genders (see also: Avery, Reese/Reece/Rhys, Emery, etc). Although it is (again) a full name in its own right, having a gender-specific full name for a (now) unisex nickname isn't a bad idea.

Boys:

• Jeremy (JEHR-eh-mee, English)--form of Hebrew Jeremiah "God has uplifted". Another form is Jeremias (German, Portuguese, Spanish).
• Raymond (RAY-mond, English; ray-MAWn, French)
• Remaliah (rem-ah-LYE-ah, English)--from [Biblical] Hebrew, "exaltation of God"
• Rembert (REM-bert, Dutch, German)--from Germanic "bright advisor"
• Rembrandt (REM-brahnt, Dutch; REM-brant, English)--from Germanic "sword advisor"
• Remiel (REM-ee-el, English)--from [Biblical] Hebrew, "mercy of God"
• Remigio (rem-EE-jyoh, Italian, Spanish)--form of Remy/Remi. 

Girls:

• Mirembe (mee-rem-beh, Luganda)--"peace"
• Raymonde (ray-MAWND, French)
• Remedios (reh-MEH-dyohs, Spanish)--"remedies". Catalan form is Remei (reh-MAY)
• Remigia (reh-MEE-jyah, Latin)--feminine of Remigius/Remigio/Remy
• Remina (reh-MEE-nah, Frisian)--short form of Ragn-names (Germanic, "advise")

Dead Names.

Okay, yes, I know--there have been thousands, possibly millions of names that were once in use which, for whatever reason, just...stopped. Today, I'm going to have fun looking for now-obsolete names used in England within the last 5-700 years or so. A few survive today in surname form, but otherwise, they're gone--feminine or masculine, in pretty much any language I could find (apologies if I missed something).
(nowhere near a comprehensive list, obviously!)

Boys:

• Adelard--Old English or Germanic "noble" + "brave"
• Beneger--prob. from Germanic bern "bear" + gar "spear"
• Botolph--Old English "help", "messenger", or "battle" + wulf "wolf"
• Cuthbert--Old English cuæ "famous" + beorht "bright"
• Degory/Digory--prob. from French egare "lost", or possibly Anglo-Norman desgarry "dispossessed"
• Edulf--Old English ead "rich" + wulf "wolf"
• Gerlick--from Germanic gar "spear" + laic "contest"
• Hereward--Old English here "army" + weard "guard"
• Osgood--Old English os "god" + Germanic god "god"
• Osmer--Old English os "god" + mære "famous"
• Rocelin--from Germanic hrod "fame", via French & Germanic diminutives
• Turbert--Old Norse Thor + Germanic bert "bright"
• Warin--from Germanic war "guard"
• Wicard/Wychard--from Germanic wig  "war" + hard "brave"
• Wolfstan--Old English wulf + stan "stone"
• Wymark--from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous", via Old Breton
• Wymer--from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous"
• Wymond--from Germanic wig "war" + mund "protector"

Girls:

• Agenilda/Einilda--from Germanic agi "sharp" or haga "enclosure" + hild "battle"
• Ailith--Old English æðel "noble" + gifu "gift"
• Ailova--Old English æðel "noble" + lufu "love"
• Amice/Amicia--from Latin amicus "friend"
• Aldiva--Old English eald "old" + gifu "gift"
• Alviva--Old English ælf "elf" + gifu "gift"
• Belsant/Belsante/Belisencia--poss. from Germanic bili (?) "sword" + sinþ "journey"
• Brithwen--Old English beorht "bright" + wynn "joy"
• Claremonde/Claremunda--from Latin clarus "bright" + Germanic mund "protector"
• Estrild/Estrilda/Estrelda--Old English Eastre "Easter" [Germanic goddess] + hild "battle"
• Hawis/Hawisia--from Germanic hadu "battle" + widis "wide"
• Idemay--poss. Germanic id "work" + mæg "power"
• Idony/Idonea--from Old Norse Iðunn [Norse goddess]
• Kinborow--Old English cyne "king" + burg "fortress"
• Leva--Old English léofe "beloved"
• Levith--Old English léofe "beloved" + gýð "battle" 
• Leviva/Lyveva--Old English léofe "beloved" + gifu "gift"
• Maysant/Maisenta--from Germanic matha "council"(?)+ suent "strength", or magan "strength" + sinþ "journey"; via French
• Merewen--Old English mære "famous" + wynn "joy"
• Quenell/Quenilda--Old English cwen "woman, queen" + hild "battle"
• Queniva--Old English cwen "woman, queen" + gifu "gift"
• Rametta/Ramett--from Latin ramus "branch" or Germanic ragn "advice"
• Seilda/Seild--Old English sæ "sea" + hild "battle"
• Selova--Old English sæ "sea" + lufu "love"
• Welthian--unknown, poss. "Wealthy Anne"; or a corruption of "Welsh woman" or of a Welsh name (like Gwenllian)
• Wymark--poss. from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous", via Old Breton

And yet again, I come up with more feminine names than masculine. I'm amazed at how many boys' names, even from over half a millennium ago, are still in use today. Girls' names really do have more turnover!

Happy Fireworks Day (again)!

Well, apparently I missed last 4th. Not sure how that happened....
2 years ago, I did a Declaration of Independence-themed list; this year I'll do something a bit more generic. I'm sure you'll be able to find tons of lists of Independence Day names, but now, there'll be one more. ;)

Boys:

• Eleuterio (el-yoo-TEHR-ee-oh, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Greek, "free". Feminine is Eleuteria. French form is Eleuthère (eh-loo-TEHR). 
• Erkin (EHR-kin, Turkish)--"free"
• Flamur (flam-OOR, Albanian)--"flag"
• Krešimir (KRESH-ih-meer, Croatian)--"to spark peace"
• Nicholas (NIK-oh-las, English)--from Greek, "victory of the people". Other forms include Miklós (Hungarian), Niccolo (Italian), Nichol (Scottish), Nikolai (Russian), & Nioclás (Irish)
• Sindri (SIN-dree, Old Norse, Icelandic)--"spark". Modern Norwegian form is Sindre (SIN-dreh).

Girls:

• Aditi (ah-DIT-ee, Hindi)--"freedom"
• Aki (ah-kee, Japanese)--"sparkle" or "bright" [other meanings possible depending on Kanji]
• Amaryllis (am-ah-RIL-lis, English)--from Greek, "sparkle". Spanish & Portuguese form is Amarilis (ah-mah-REE-lees).
• Fiammetta (fee-ah-MET-tah, Italian)--"little fire"
• Iskra (EES-krah, Slavic)--"spark"
• Nicole (nih-KOHL, English, French)--feminine of Nicholas. Other forms include Nicola (German, English), Nicolasa (Spanish), Nicolette (French), & Nicolina (Italian).
• Saoirse (SEER-shah, SAYR-shah, Irish)--"freedom"
• Seirian (SAY-ree-an, Welsh)--"sparkling"
• Svava (SVAH-vah, Scandinavian)--from Germanic, prob. "independent" or "our people" [from the term Swabian]

Unisex:

• Noa (no-ah, Hawaiian)--"free, freedom"