Word Names, All of Them (boys, 2016)

Finally got the boys' list finished! Same caveats as the girls: foreign names removed (apologies for any I missed), as well as archaic terms and jargon, unless particularly amusing or interesting. ;)

• Mason (SSA #4, 15192 babies born)
• Benjamin
• Henry
• Carter
• Hunter
• Jordan
• Angel
• Cooper
• Chase
• Parker
• Sawyer
• Roman (SSA #98, 4187 babies born)
• Miles
• Cole
• Axel
• Max
• Maverick
• King
• Timothy
• Victor
• Grant
• Tucker
• Graham
• Rowan
• Beau
• August
• Mark
• Colin
• Dean
• Peter
• Jasper
• River
• Messiah
• Griffin
• Brooks
• Tanner
• Gunner
• Cash
• Martin
• Zander
• Archer
• Spencer
• Chance
• Gage
• Kyrie
• Phoenix
• Lane
• Conner
• Legend
• Hector
• Walker
• Ace
• Colt
• Prince
• Marshall
• Major
• Reed
• Frank
• Romeo
• Pedro
• Noel
• Warren
• Jay
• Drew
• Atlas
• Wade
• Cade
• Derrick
• Porter
• Franklin
• Dexter
• Drake
• Brock
• Sterling
• Royal
• Chandler
• Deacon
• Pierce
• Hank
• Alec
• Justice (SSA #500, 595 babies born)
• Lewis
• Tony
• Cannon
• Sage
• Case
• Jimmy
• Duke
• Apollo
• Trey
• Bo
• Carl
• Jagger
• Lance
• Nelson
• Rex
• Randy
• Boston
• Sincere
• Titan
• Talon
• Fletcher
• Rowen
• Terry
• Lee
• Madden
• Harry
• Marc
• Joey
• Ben
• Ford
• Emery
• Wilder
• Clay
• Crew
• Fox
• Ray
• Cory
• Grey
• Toby
• Fisher
• Dash
• Harper
• Chad
• Trace
• Junior
• Will
• Thatcher
• Sonny
• Miller
• Blaze
• Shepherd
• Billy
• Heath
• Ridge
• Turner
• Van
• Marquis
• Rocky
• Lyric
• Foster
• Gauge
• Creed
• Ralph
• Bode
• Kaiser (SSA #998, 202 babies born)
• Briar
• Chevy
• Decker
• Mike
• Bishop
• Bear
• Jean
• Stone
• Forest
• Nick
• Onyx
• Dale
• Garrison
• German
• Robin
• Beck
• Smith
• Ledger
• Reign
• Baker
• Nova
• Jet
• Link
• Veer
• Coy
• Carver
• Gray
• Noble
• Ash
• Eddy
• Guy
• Pharaoh
• Brogan
• Corban
• Diesel
• Baron
• Ever
• Palmer
• Axle
• Cedar
• Colter
• Canyon
• Carmine
• Rowdy
• Banks
• Haven
• Zephyr
• Elan
• Wells
• Perry
• Arrow
• Beaux
• Denim
• Saint
• Knowledge
• Jones
• Granger
• Marquise
• Bailey
• Earl
• Josh
• Ransom
• Don
• Morris
• Ocean
• Journey
• Kale
• Huck
• Linden
• Shea
• Sire
• Sultan
• Genesis
• Gentry
• Aspen
• Chancellor
• Seven
• Valor
• Henley
• Avian
• Canon
• Storm
• Wren
• Flint
• Sky
• Glen
• Roan
• Teddy
• Triton
• Scout
• Warner
• Brant
• Paris
• Caesar
• Cru
• Rivers
• Gene
• Legacy
• Cadence
• Shalom
• Branch
• Kip
• Alder
• Pax
• Amen
• Bane
• West
• Sunny (SSA #2001, 71 babies born) [tie]
• Zeppelin (SSA #2001, 71 babies born)
• Honor
• Marlin
• Tom
• Ranger
• Holt
• Riot
• Rush
• Wolf
• Bennet
• Cypress
• Eros
• Mace
• Lake
• Alpha
• Basil
• Sol
• Stiles
• Booker
• Kit
• Atom
• Kris
• Loyal
• Lucky
• Mars
• Reef
• Holland
• Marshal
• Slater
• Thane
• Jade
• Clement
• Hawk
• Marques
• Price
• Steel
• Timber
• Truth
• Brad
• Knight
• Reeve
• Sir
• Hero
• Haze
• Sailor
• Ward
• Collier
• Hardy
• Tory
• Collins
• Jarred
• Rider
• Rye
• Winter
• Banner
• Crimson
• Indigo
• Majesty
• Rebel
• True
• Bowman
• Garret
• Mercer
• Slate
• Wisdom
• Cove
• Divine
• Sylvan
• Becket
• Dutch
• Summit
• Elder
• Oak
• Rusty
• Valentine
• Carlin
• Champ
• Parks
• Raven
• Rhythm
• Royalty
• Unknown
• Usher
• Able
• Bill
• Cage
• Coda
• Daemon
• Merlin
• Buck
• Cutler
• Dusty
• Pace
• Doc
• Quest
• Trapper
• Urban
• Cutter
• Hatcher
• Diamond
• Jaeger
• Lux
• Redding
• Shaw
• Tuff
• Carmen
• Macon
• Brewer
• Captain
• Chosen
• Cloud
• Freeman
• Mina
• Omega
• Rain
• Aero
• Blade
• Brier
• Copper
• Jacky
• Judge
• Rock
• Rook
• Alias
• Brave
• Cashmere
• Chapman
• Navy
• Seneca
• Whit
• Barret
• Buddy
• Creek
• Cross
• Kingdom
• Raider
• Canton
• Champion
• Christen
• Harbor
• Huckleberry
• Ivory
• Kohl
• Leviathan
• Manning
• Nana
• Scottie
• Tiger
• Caliber
• Calix
• Koi
• Styles
• Willy
• Avant
• Cache
• Gryphon
• Halo
• Reeves
• Cord
• Dirk
• Dodge
• Earnest
• Exodus
• Hutch
• Maven
• Sora
• Blessing
• Blue
• Chaise
• Judas
• Quill
• Rocket
• Sanders
• Banyan
• Garland
• Garner
• Helios
• Jager
• Louden
• Mills
• Tuck
• Blain
• Bray
• Ember
• Falcon
• Future
• Rand
• Sully
• Cyan
• Hale
• Marvel
• Pacey
• Peace
• Praise
• Roper
• Tyre
• Wheeler
• Boy
• Britt
• Cliff
• Gram
• Legion
• Lord
• Loyalty
• Race
• Strider
• Supreme
• Tabor
• Trigger
• Winner
• Bastion (SSA #5089, 18 babies born) [13-way tie, Bastion - Trust]
• Bravery
• Carder
• Cotton
• Freedom
• Lion
• Mega
• Mister
• Prosper
• Stark
• Tad
• Trinity
• Trust (SSA #5089, 18 babies born)
• Anchor
• Art
• Bless
• Chief
• Cinch
• Davit
• Even
• Fin
• Gates
• Golden
• Hays
• Hazel
• Heaven
• Lander
• Million
• Nation
• Parish
• Rich
• Rogue
• Tesla
• Wake
• Willow
• Woods
• Wrangler
• Aeon
• Apollos
• Aria
• Cane
• Chip
• Epic
• Helix
• Peregrine
• Victory
• Azure
• Bracken
• Castle
• Courage
• Echo
• Grace
• Khan
• Majestic
• Merit
• Savior
• Boss
• Cartel
• Coal
• Destiny
• Jazz
• Jewel
• Merle
• Revere
• Sayer
• Shade
• Stoney
• Wright
• Zed
• Bob
• Brick
• Buster
• Chasten
• Curry
• Dace
• Davy
• Draper
• Emerald
• Fielding
• General
• Hart
• Karma
• Long
• Nori
• Parley
• Sequoia
• Teller
• Zenith
• Bond
• Boomer
• Bow
• Brandy
• Brook
• Chuck
• Cruise
• Garth
• Indie
• Ivy
• Lain
• Laird
• Lynx
• Mays
• Mel
• Mercy
• Mica
• Morgen
• Newt
• Piper
• Rance
• Revel
• Saber
• Safari
• Shine
• Silver
• Trig
• Trip
• Worth
• Arbor
• Birch
• Blessed
• Breaker
• Czar
• Dominion
• Eon
• Fields
• Gable
• Gamble
• Granite
• Grayer
• Griffon
• Havoc
• Honour
• Law
• Leaf
• Master
• Maze
• North
• Oaken
• Pate
• Polo
• Prophet
• Righteous
• Rod
• Shooter
• Tray
• Arson
• Brighten
• Bud
• Camp
• Cire
• Cope
• Cyprus
• Daimon
• Dodger
• Godson
• Honest
• Jersey
• Joy
• Keen
• Mana
• Marvelous
• Mayan
• Moss
• Prentice
• Promise
• Quint
• Rally
• Redd
• Rees
• Solace
• Soul
• Sun
• Taiga
• Tam
• Thunder
• Unique
• Arias
• Chamberlain
• Coyote
• Crews
• Curt
• Danger
• Desire
• Dream
• Glory
• Great
• Juvenal
• Olive
• Park
• Pepper
• Pike
• Poet
• Red
• Rein
• Skip
• Snow
• Sovereign
• Sparrow
• Spence
• Stormy
• Thorn
• Victorious
• Zeal
• Anthem
• Artist
• Awesome
• Bates
• Bay
• Brazen
• Breeze
• Brink
• Camber
• Catcher
• Chord
• Covey
• Dray
• Emit
• Field
• Fielder
• Finch
• Flash
• Gale
• Garron
• Gorge
• Griff
• Handsome
• Hatch
• Heron
• Holder
• Icker
• Jewels
• Ketch
• Lean
• Magic
• Marking
• Marque
• Priest
• Primo
• Psalm
• Quintan
• Regal
• Riven
• Roe
• Savage
• Scot
• Sherlock
• Silvan
• Striker
• Theory
• Tramel
• Warrior
• Axis (SSA #9602, 7 babies born) [44-way tie, Axis - Win]
• Barney
• Barren
• Blase
• Brae
• Bright
• Cameo
• Chipper
• Craven
• Denarius
• Deuce
• Eland
• Ether
• Fowler
• Fuller
• Grizzly
• Harvest
• Hope
• Hunt
• Infant
• Jacks
• Jo
• Lark
• Lay
• Lotus
• Maria
• Nature
• Nix
• Parson
• Patriot
• Pilot
• Premier
• Pride
• Ruby
• Sandy
• Sari
• Shadow
• Success
• Tracer
• Trillion
• Triumph
• Trooper
• Wills
• Win (SSA #9602, 7 babies born)
• Adore
• Albino
• Amour
• Auburn
• Browning
• Burns
• Calvary
• Charming
• Church
• Clever
• Coyer
• Credence
• Crown
• Cruse
• Cypher
• Dune
• Early
• Elver
• Fender
• Furious
• Garnet
• Happy
• Harbour
• Hooper
• Jasmine
• Juniper
• Kauri
• Langley
• Luna
• Maxi
• Mayor
• Oaks
• Precious
• Racer
• Rage
• Range
• Riser
• Savoy
• Sly
• Smokey
• Summer
• Sway
• Talion
• Tank
• Teak
• Texas
• Trek
• Tres
• Truce
• Tyke
• Vale
• Valiant
• Warden
• Abbot (here and below, 5 babies born)
• Adagio
• Alee
• Armor
• Aster
• Auric
• Autumn
• Axon
• Baby
• Bailor
• Bale
• Berk
• Berlin
• Bliss
• Brace
• Brand
• Bravo
• Bronc
• Burley
• Butch
• Caiman
• Calyx
• Camper
• Candler
• Carbon
• Chanson
• Choice
• Coast
• Corny
• Coven
• Denari
• Destined
• Divan
• Dock
• Donzel
• Ebon
• Emperor
• Fain
• Faith
• Fennec
• Fortune
• Frost
• Galaxy
• Goliath
• Gradin
• Hall
• Handy
• Hap
• Harden
• Hasten
• Hill
• Hopper
• Infinity
• Jester
• Kay
• Keno
• Knightly
• Laden
• Ledge
• Light
• Loden
• Logic
• Love
• Luv
• Maize
• Mayhem
• Mercury
• Nexus
• Paisley
• Pippin
• Potter
• Power
• Prime
• Psalms
• Quetzal
• Quince
• Redden
• Rob
• Rose
• Ruddy
• Satchel
• Savant
• Serenity
• Shady
• Shaker
• Solo
• Star
• Tag
• Tailor
• Temple
• Tiller
• Tod
• Tracker
• Tramell
• Trance
• Treasure
• Trice
• Weber
• Young

In case you're wondering, the final count came to 824 girls' word-names, and 911 boys' word-names.

Vintage Lyns & Lines

-lyns and -lines are having a boom right now (well, if you want to get statistical, -lyns actually peaked about 2010, while -lines are zipping right up to surpass them), but this isn't the first time it's happened! -lines previously peaked in the 1910s, -lyns & -lenes in the 1930s, and -leens in the 1940s.
Of course, there are many historically-established names with each ending, but our generation certainly wasn't the first to invent names to fit in with a trend! So, I thought it'd be fun to search the SSA lists of the 1910s-1940s to see what new -lyn/lynn/line/lyne/lene/leen names our great-grandparents came up with.
Just for interest's sake, here are the top 5 of each for 1910-1949 overall:

	lyn/lynn	line	leen/lene
1.	Evelyn	Pauline	Kathleen
2.	Carolyn	Jacqueline	Eileen
3.	Marilyn	Madeline	Arlene
4.	Gwendolyn	Caroline	Darlene
5.	Lynn	Adeline	Marlene

Differentiating actual invented names from alternate spellings of existing names proved rather tricky, so I'm afraid I ended up just falling back to my usual method of comparing statistics. Here are the 25 most common lyn/line/leens from the previous boom that don't appear at all on 2016's SSA list:

• Earline
• Ethelyn
• Darline
• Alline
• Lurline
• Jacquline
• Erline
• Jacqulyn
• Marolyn
• Jerline
• Helyn
• Verline
• Jacquelyne
• Merline
• Adline
• Carline
• Jacqualine
• Charlyne
• Marline
• Ethlyn
• Geraline
• Merrilyn
• Jerrilyn
• Michaeline
• Sharilyn

Obviously this route didn't catch all the vintage invented/trendy names (Marilyn and Jolene, for instance, still remain so familiar that most people probably don't realize they didn't really exist prior to the 20th century), but it worked a lot better than making myself dizzy by checking every name by hand. :p

The full list of no-longer-existent lyn/line/leens contains almost 300 names, so I'm not going to list them here (I will put them up on Sheets, though), but the bottom of that list is pretty interesting, too. Here are the names given to at most 5 babies in any year, 1910-1949:

• Ailine
• Athlyn
• Atline
• Bonalyn
• Carmaline
• Cathaline
• Charilyn
• Charolyn
• Cherelyn
• Corlyn
• Darrellyn
• Doraline
• Earlynn
• Ereline
• Esteline
• Faline
• Fredlyn
• Garlyn
• Geline
• Gereline
• Geroline
• Gwindolyn
• Harline
• Harrilyn
• Irline
• Janilyn
• Jerralyn
• Karline
• Lorilyn
• Lurlyne
• Majorlynn
• Marvaline
• Matline
• Mearline
• Merlyne
• Merrlyn
• Olyne
• Roline
• Saline
• Sharilynn
• Sharolynn
• Sherralyn
• Sterline
• Terilyn
• Urline
• Ursaline
• Verlynn
• Wavelyn
• Wendellyn
• Zelline

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Kelly

Kelly is, of course, a surname-turned-given-name, but since it's been surpassed by Kellan & Kellen for nearly two decades now (and by Kelvin for even longer, although it's been on the decline since the 60s), it's more likely that any male Kellys you meet today are using it as a nickname.

I personally think that Kelly for boys is perfect for a comeback (it's stayed steady for boys for the last several years while dropping for girls, and as of last year was 'only' more popular on new baby girls by a 5:1 ratio--about the same as Taylor, Skyler/Skylar, or Emery), but I bet there are even more options for parents who want a boy Kelly, but want to play it a bit safe.

• Kelados (KEL-ah-dos, [ancient] Greek)--"roar, shout"
• Kelaiah (kel-AY-ah, kel-EYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Kelemen (KEL-eh-men, Hungarian)--form of Clement
• Keld (KELD, Danish)
• Kelian (kel-YAWN, French)--from Irish Cillian, poss. "church"
• Kellen (KEL-len, English)--prob. a shortening of the Scottish surname McKellen ("son of Alan"), or an unusual Anglicization of Irish Caolán, "slender". Also spelled Kellan. 
• Keller (KEL-ler, English [surname])--from German, "cellar", or poss. a shortening of Scottish surname MacKeller ("son of Hilary")
• Kellett (KEL-let, English [surname]--prob. from Old Norse kelda, "spring, well". Also spelled Kellitt. 
• Kellner (KEL-ner, English [surname])--prob. occupational surname for a potter (or anyone else who used a kiln). Also spelled Kelner. 
• Kelson (KEL-son, English [surname])--prob. Anglicized from Nordic surname Kjellson/Kjeldsen, "son of Kjell/Keld"
• Kelston (KEL-ston, English [surname])--prob. "calf-farm" or Cealf's farm"
• Kelvin (KEL-vin, English)--from Scottish river-name, poss. "narrow river"

Word-Names, All of Them (2016, girls)

You know what we need more of? Word names! I decided to go back to just listing them all again this year, but in order of most-->least common instead of alphabetically.
Also, although I removed imported names that just happened to be spelled like English words, as well as some jargon & archaic words, I left in some more obscure terms--mostly botanical, zoological, or musical--because I found them interesting (did you know kora is a musical instrument or that zander is a fish? I didn't!).

• Harper (SSA #10, 10733 girls born)
• Grace
• Aria
• Lily
• Savannah
• Stella
• Paisley
• Violet
• Hazel
• Genesis
• Autumn
• Aurora
• Piper
• Ruby
• Serenity
• Luna
• Willow
• Faith (SSA #100, 3035 girls born)
• Ivy
• Bailey
• Jade
• Jasmine
• Emery
• Nova
• Trinity
• Ariel
• Melody
• Rose
• Molly
• Iris
• Daisy
• Harmony
• Summer
• Destiny
• Parker
• Sienna
• Rowan
• Hope
• Sawyer
• Journey
• Olive
• Lyric
• River
• Jordan
• Haven
• Ruth
• Phoebe
• Ember
• Angel
• Heaven
• Joy
• Juniper
• Sage
• Felicity
• Aspen
• Alexia
• Amber
• Cadence
• Scarlet
• Miracle
• Dahlia
• Carmen
• Daphne
• Veronica
• Rosemary
• Phoenix
• Carter
• Eve
• Liana
• Samara
• Justice
• Lacey
• Raven
• Celeste (SSA #495, 625 girls born)
• Winter
• Angelica
• Magnolia
• Henley
• Wren
• Holly
• Royalty
• Liberty
• Savanna
• Gloria
• Pearl
• Crystal
• Azalea
• Bailee
• Royal
• Ivory
• Laurel
• Collins
• Kora
• Marina
• Mara
• Meadow
• Penny
• Poppy
• Princess
• Sky
• Mavis
• Mercy
• Briar
• Erica
• Reign
• Heavenly
• Hunter
• Bonnie
• Jewel
• Belle
• Calliope
• Rhea
• Cherish
• Ally
• Heather
• Chandler
• Treasure (SSA #1001, 262 girls born)
• Mollie
• Opal
• Legacy
• Carina
• Spencer
• Sailor
• Palmer
• Robin
• Jenny
• Shea
• Temperance
• Scout
• Diamond
• Jubilee
• August
• Viola
• Emerald
• Drew
• Honesty
• Promise
• Sally
• Sunny
• Indie
• Patience
• Karma
• Noel
• Coral
• Queen
• Charity
• Kyrie
• Flora
• Blessing
• Halo
• Rowen
• Clover
• Nori
• Sapphire
• Calla
• Tesla
• Amethyst
• Joey
• Navy
• Abbey
• Loyalty
• Majesty
• Pepper
• Essence
• Symphony
• Margarita
• Jersey
• Sterling
• May
• Carol
• Dream
• Althea
• Stormy
• Alba
• Cooper
• Cattleya
• Indigo
• Donna
• Lacy
• Zinnia
• Unique
• Maple
• Ester
• Glory
• Gentry
• Tiara
• Precious
• Desire
• Colleen
• Honor
• Rebel
• Echo
• Love
• Aura (SSA #1987, 99 girls born) [tie]
• Lux (SSA #1987, 99 girls born)
• Rain
• Empress
• Terra
• Marigold
• Ani
• Sol
• Star
• Lotus
• Mason
• Perry
• Divine
• Fern
• Sandy
• Acacia
• Lane
• Storm
• Ever
• Nirvana
• Brook
• Dawn
• Mahogany
• Venus
• Lavender
• Ocean
• Birdie
• Brandy
• Eternity
• Prudence
• Toby
• Camellia
• Miller
• Serene
• Hosanna
• Marguerite
• Brie
• Jean
• Verity
• Arrow
• Legend
• Crimson
• Maven
• Timber
• Story
• Chase
• Ebony
• Harbor
• Linden
• Andromeda
• Grey
• Sparrow
• Cassia
• Denim
• Lovely
• Sequoia
• Amie
• Charisma
• Primrose
• Ginger
• Lindy
• Nada
• Onyx
• Porter
• Beautiful
• Gala
• Snow
• Tanner
• Vesper
• Dynasty
• Max
• Xenia
• Alaska
• Madden
• Rosy
• Sherry
• Amen
• Honey
• Silver
• Sunshine
• Boston
• Candy
• Vale
• Lady
• Sora
• Valkyrie
• Amaryllis
• Moxie
• Vail
• Victory
• Fay
• Marly
• Rogue
• Chevy
• Divinity
• Galilee
• Gray
• Truly
• Arbor
• Cypress
• Lake
• Misty
• Pandora
• Passion
• Pilar
• Praise
• Wisdom
• Adore
• Amity
• Shalom
• Beau
• Dolly
• Jasper
• Seven
• Zori
• Bliss
• Blossom
• Cedar
• Cherry
• Christen
• Eugenia
• Lark
• Delta
• Jewels
• Novella
• Remedy
• Sincere
• Goddess
• Reed
• Wilder
• Camelia
• Valentine
• Clarity
• Favour
• Gabby
• Lumen
• Shelly
• Envy
• Lamia
• Messiah
• Paradise
• Rue
• Auburn
• Bertha
• Era
• Heiress
• Jo
• Salina
• Archer
• Bay
• Vanity
• Amour
• Chance
• Island
• Merry
• Unknown
• Celestine
• Kit
• Lee
• True
• Brooks
• Lira
• Saffron
• Unity
• Mesa
• Savvy
• Fanny
• Loyal
• Rhythm
• Aster (SSA #4954, 27 girls born) [7-way tie, Aster - Roman]
• Atlas
• Bo
• Charm
• Henna
• Infinity
• Roman (SSA #4954, 27 girls born)
• Angelic
• Azure
• Cyan
• Darling
• Griffin
• Lemon
• Lively
• Paw
• Senna
• Camber
• Chastity
• Freedom
• Julienne
• Maverick
• Breeze
• Brogan
• Forever
• Georgette
• Tempest
• Turner
• Vita
• Zowie
• Aide
• Alley
• Carlin
• Ginny
• Harvest
• Lexis
• Rainy
• Truth
• Basil
• Belladonna
• Callee
• Damiana
• Favor
• Honour
• Sari
• Allee
• Arietta
• Beretta
• Gypsy
• Lyrical
• Nana
• Pacey
• Ray
• Rivers
• Sable
• Dove
• Fawn
• Hero
• Mora
• Page
• Prim
• Van
• Zephyr
• Zeppelin
• Baker
• Beaux
• Kindle
• Koi
• Marvel
• Mica
• Odyssey
• Peace
• Shariah
• Sibyl
• Spirit
• Aerial
• Ailed
• Calypso
• Chapel
• Cole
• Galaxy
• Holiday
• Jazz
• Sonny
• Allure
• Ambrosia
• Cannon
• Caprice
• Elan
• Lilac
• Mercer
• Nixie
• Purity
• Reverie
• Teal
• Bless
• Blue
• Cicely
• Contessa
• Golden
• Kris
• Man
• Mana
• Marlin
• Memory
• Patsy
• Prairie
• Roux
• Sham
• Torah
• Abri
• Diva
• Garnet
• Levy
• Linsey
• Modesty
• Noble
• Rainbow
• Safari
• Spring
• Tucker
• Valley
• Breezy
• Cory
• Duchess
• Dusty
• Gem
• Jagger
• Mariposa
• Pierce
• Reata
• Teddy
• Valor
• Walker
• Zamia
• Analyse
• Anise
• Bailie
• Beauty
• Blaze
• Blessed
• Brier
• Czarina
• Dash
• Epiphany
• Evergreen
• Fable
• Gorgeous
• Mar
• Maxima
• Mazy
• Melena
• Nyala
• Riven
• Secret
• Artemisia
• Benjamin
• Blessings
• Cash
• Conner
• Dally
• Davy
• Decker
• Fox
• Graham
• Henry
• Providence
• Reeve
• Roselle
• Seraphim
• Smith
• Starlet
• Wells
• Apple
• Bijou
• Chrysanthemum
• Clary
• Copper
• Cricket
• Destine
• Fortune
• Foster
• Girl
• Jessamine
• Maranatha
• Merlin
• Miles
• Nature
• Pax
• Rand
• Roe
• Shanty
• Shine
• Summit
• Tam
• Temple
• Terry
• Thatcher
• Axel (SSA #10040, 10 girls born) [20-way tie, Axel - Zeta]
• Dharma
• Fairy
• Kamala
• Kindred
• Luxe
• Merit
• Missy
• Olivine
• Poetry
• Posy
• Price
• Rejoice
• Riot
• Roan
• Sultana
• Tailor
• Talon
• Tawny
• Zeta (SSA #10040, 10 girls born)
• Ash
• Avian
• Baby
• Believe
• Beryl
• Bray
• Carver
• Cashmere
• Celestial
• Coda
• Crista
• Gardenia
• Greenly
• Happiness
• Haze
• Holy
• Honest
• Innocence
• Morgen
• Oasis
• Omega
• Parish
• Pixie
• Poet
• Revel
• Sonnet
• Soul
• Storey
• Aerie
• Alpha
• Amazing
• Ambry
• Canyon
• Cayenne
• Chaise
• Collier
• Dean
• Domino
• Eyra
• Fancy
• Gage
• Harbour
• Hart
• Kestrel
• Knowledge
• Lumina
• Manna
• Marvelous
• Medley
• Meridian
• Milia
• Nebula
• Orchid
• Rarity
• Rosary
• Rye
• Sacred
• Shadow
• Shiny
• Solace
• Steely
• Stone
• Sunset
• Theory
• Tulip
• Velvet
• Admire
• Agape
• Alee
• Alyssum
• Aqua
• Arena
• Bennet
• Carman
• Channel
• Cove
• Dale
• Day
• Eider
• Exodus
• Faithful
• Falcon
• Fantasia
• Fate
• Fauna
• Feather
• Galena
• Gracious
• Horizon
• Jazzy
• Jet
• Jovial
• Kauri
• Kitty
• Knightly
• Lis
• Lolly
• Louie
• Lucky
• Madonna
• Marry
• Moon
• Patty
• Peony
• Pippin
• Pretty
• Reminisce
• Sailer
• Shy
• Siren
• Sovereign
• Success
• Sundae
• Sunflower
• Tansy
• Testimony
• Trust
• Winner
• Ace
• Alec
• Angle
• Bijoux
• Billy
• Bravery
• Brilliance
• Brindle
• Briony
• Bryony
• Cade
• Calvary
• Celesta
• Chosen
• Comfort
• Daily
• Dory
• Edelweiss
• Epic
• Finely
• Forest
• Geisha
• Hallelujah
• Harlequin
• Hyacinth
• Independence
• Jay
• Lyrics
• Maize
• Majestic
• Manning
• Mars
• Mayan
• Mercury
• Million
• Mystery
• Nemesis
• Peregrine
• Prosperity
• Radiance
• Rhapsody
• Seraph
• Serine
• Sojourner
• Southern
• Sparkle
• Stellar
• Sway
• Texas
• Tomorrow
• Victorious
• Ward
• Windy
• Adorable (here and below, 5 girls born)
• Aero
• Alchemy
• Alder
• Aloe
• Amaranth
• Artist
• Aviary
• Bailor
• Banner
• Brightly
• Caliber
• Calyx
• Cameo
• Canna
• Cerise
• Cire
• Dearie
• Earth
• Excel
• Fisher
• Flourish
• Flower
• Garland
• Garner
• Gift
• Glorious
• Jacky
• Jinx
• Jones
• Joyful
• Julep
• Kaiser
• Lay
• Lazuli
• Lehua
• Lei
• Magenta
• Marshall
• Mays
• Melanin
• Melodia
• Merely
• Mini
• Myna
• Myrtle
• Mystic
• Nation
• Pace
• Petal
• Pristine
• Psalm
• Reality
• Redding
• Riata
• Rowdy
• Rumor
• Serin
• Sincerity
• Ski
• Snowy
• Solstice
• Starling
• Stoney
• Tequila
• Timothy
• Trillium
• Victor
• Whisper
• Zander
• Zenith
• Zing

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name: Bess/Beth/Betty

I originally started this post looking for new full forms for Beth, but it struck me that most could also work for Bess and/or Betty as well! All three are, of course, traditionally nicknames for Elizabeth, and generally considered "outdated", but Beth did have a bit of a revival in the 80s/90s thanks to Bethany.

Chances are, a lot of new babies today have a Bess, Betty, or Beth somewhere in their family line, and there are plenty of other names one could use to get those nicknames. :)

• Bestla (BEST-lah, Icelandic, Norse mythology)--from Old Norse, poss. "wife" or "tree bark"
• Bethan (BETH-an, Welsh)--diminutive of Elizabeth.
  Other forms include Besseta (BESS-et-ah, [archaic] Scottish), Betha (BETH-ah, [archaic] English), Betheline (BETH-eh-lyn, [archaic] English), Betsan (BET-san, Welsh), Bettan (BET-tan, Swedish), Bettina (bet-TEE-nah, German), Bettis (BET-tis, Swedish), Bettline (bet-LEE-neh, [archaic] German), Lisbet (LIS-bet, Scandinavian), and Lisbeth (LEEZ-bet, German).
• Bethania (beth-AHN-yah, [Biblical] Latin & Greek; bet-AHN-yah, Spanish)--form of Biblical Hebrew Bethany, poss. "house of dates".
  Other forms include Betania (bet-AHN-yah, Italian, Swedish, Spanish), Betânia (bet-AHN-yah, Portuguese), and Béthanie (bay-tah-NEE, French).
• Bethel (BETH-el, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"house of God"
• Bethia (BETH-ee-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"daughter of God"
  [more commonly transliterated as Bithiah; sometimes used as an 'Anglicization' of Scottish Beathag, "life"]
• Bethsabée (bet-sah-BAY, French)--from Biblical Hebrew Bathsheba, prob. "daughter of oath".
  Other forms include Betsabá (bet-sab-AH, Portuguese), Betsabé (bet-sah-BAY, Spanish), Betsabea (bet-sah-BEH-ah, Italian), & Betsabeia (bet-sab-AY-ah, Portuguese). 
• Bethuela (bet-oo-EL-ah, Spanish; beth-WEL-ah, beth-yoo-EL-ah, [archaic] English)--from Biblical Hebrew, prob. "man of God".
  Another (very rare) form is Bethuelle (bet-oo-EL, French).
• Betlinde (bet-LEEN-deh, Germanic)--prob. "bright & soft" [possible source of the name Belinda]
• Betony (BET-ah-nee, English)
• Betrys (BET-ris, Welsh)--form of Beatrice
• Betsaida (bet-SYE-dah, Spanish)--from Biblical Hebrew Bethsaida, prob. "house of fishing"
• Bettina (bet-TEE-nah, Italian)--diminutive of Elisabetta or Benedetta.

Of course, many international forms & contractions of Elizabeth also work, especially for Betty:

• Arisbeth / Elibeth / Elisabet / Isabet (Spanish)
• Elisabet /Elsebeth / Elsebet (Scandinavian)
• Elisabete (Portuguese)
• Elisabetta (Italian)
• Elizabeta (Croatian, Slovenian)
• Elsabeth / Lilibeth (English)
• Erzsébet (Hungarian)
• Ilsebet / Ilsebeth (German, Danish)

And even more! Elizabeth has been used to form new combination names all over the western world (many overlapping between multiple languages), quite a few of which could also lead to Beth or Betty. Here's a small sampling:

• Annabeth / Annebet 
• Elínbet
• Embeth
• Evabeth
• Ingebeth
• Kajsabet
• Lillibeth / Lilibet / Lilybeth
• Marybeth / Maribeth / Maribet
• Rosabeth / Rosbet
• Sarabeth
• Ullabeth

Letters and Patterns (2016)

Yeah, analyzing the SSA lists by letter is nothing new (I've done it more than a few times myself already), but I figured out how to process large lists of names in an array, so you're all in for another boring numbers post. :p

It probably comes as no surprise that the most common ending letters are A for girls and N for boys, with about 34% of girls and 32% of boys last year (and if you add in the -ah names for girls, that jumps to nearly 40%).

Starting letter	Ending letter
Girls
A, 16.6%	A, 33.6%
M, 8.2%	E, 16.7%
E, 7.7%	N, 11.4%
S, 6.7%	Y, 10.5%
L, 6.1%	H, 6.4%
Boys
J, 12.6%	N, 32%
A, 9.5%	R, 8.8%
C, 7.4%	S, 6.6%
M, 6.8%	L, 6.2%
L, 6.2%	E, 6.2%

Now, you'd probably think that the distributions are proportional--that is, if you look at both starting and ending letters, the most common patterns for girls would be A____a, followed by A____e, then M_____a, then A___n, and so on, but that isn't quite how it works out. In fact, the 10 most common patterns for each gender are:

Girls	Boys
A___a	J___n
M___a	A___n
S___a	C___n
E___a	B___n
C___e	K___n
L___a	D___n
A___n	C___r
A___e	L___n
A___y	E___n
M___e	J___h

These 10 constructions account for about 30% of all girls born in 2016, and 25% of boys. 

C___e at the girls #5 seems a bit random (C is the 7th most common starting letter for girls), but quite a few of our most common __e names start with C (Charlotte, Chloe, Claire, Caroline). Similarly, J___h ranking at boys' #10 (H is the 6th most common ending letter for boys) is due nearly exclusively to Biblical boys' names like Joseph, Josiah, Jeremiah, & Jonah. 

The absence of M___n names is odd--but after Mason at #4 on the charts, you have to go all the way down to #256 to find Martin, and then Maximilian at #432. 

Also, while E is the 5th most common ending letter for boys, most of those are one-syllable names, which leads to them being much more varied bunch. J___e was the 11th most common boys' name pattern, due largely to the variant spellings of Jace, as well as Spanish names like Jose & Jorge.

Now let's shift a bit to first/second letter combinations. The Top 10 patterns last year were:

Girls	Boys	Combined
Ma___	Ja___	Ma___
Al___	Ma___	Ja___
El___	Jo___	Ca___
Ka___	Ca___	Jo___
Em___	Br___	Al___
Ha___	Da___	El___
An___	Ka___	Ka___
Sa___	Co___	Br___
Ca___	An___	An___
Ad___	Ch___	Ch___
=27% of girls	=30% of boys	=54% of all babies

I'm surprised Ad___ only barely makes the Top 10, but aside from Addison and the dozens of spellings of Adeline, there really aren't that many other Ad-names (Adriana is the next most common, and it's not even in the Top 200). Sa___ also surprised me, but while they aren't "exciting", Sarah, Savannah, and Samantha are still fairly common. 

The profusion of these top patterns seems to be due to them being a mixture of modern & classic names. For Ja___ we have Jayden & Jace, but we also have James and Jacob. Mason and Maddox, as well as Matthew and Max. Carly and Cadence; Caroline and Catherine. 

And if you wish to see the entire, and probably confusing, charts of name patterns, you can find them here.

I did also try to combine the two above datasets, and sadly, the results were not nearly as interesting, IMO. Here are the top 10 patterns of first/second/last letters:

Girls	Boys
Al___a	Ja___n
Mi___a	Br___n
So___a	Ca___n
El___a	Jo___n
Ma___a	Ka___n
Em___a	Ma___n
Ar___a	Jo___h
Ma___n	No___h
Am___a	Mi___l
Ma___e	Lu___s

In total, those patterns account for about 13% each of girls and boys born last year. Some of the patterns are more diverse: Ja___n is easily the most common (about 3% of boys) with all the various spellings of Jackson, Jayden, Jason, Jaxton, etc; while Al___a (about 2% of girls) is thanks to Alexa, Alana, Alina, Alexandra and so on. 

However, many are the result of only one or two names--So___a is mostly Sophia; No___h almost entirely Noah. Mi___l is literally only Michael and its international variants. 

I am curious how data from a couple generations ago would stack up, though. We're using a much wider variety of names from wider variety of cultures than we used to. :)