If the 2017 parent was limited to only 100 possible baby names, what should they be? Which names strike that perfect balance of being supremely stylish but not trendy, distinctive yet not weird, creative yet down-to-earth?
We’ve whittled the thousands of possibilities down to the elite 100 best baby names that are most emblematic of our times, while also being timeless and forward-facing. The names here are perfect for a 2017 baby, yet will serve him or her well into the turn of the next century (now there’s an amazing thought).
Of course, there are hundreds of other awesome baby names that potentially fit these criteria. But these are our picks for the very best of the best right now and why.
1. Alden: May unseat the popular Aiden, thanks to actor Ehrenreich, the new young Han in Star Wars
2. Amity: Friendly update for Hope and Faith
3. Amos: A Biblical boy that could follow the newly successful Abel
4. Araminta: British classic fresher than Arabella
5. Arcadia: Heavenly name for the optimistic
6. Archer: Fresher than Hunter, cooler than Arthur
7. Arrow: Its aim is true
8. Ash: Cool short form of Ashton or Asher, or full name on its own
9. Astrid: Scandi import with lots of style
10. Auden: Poetic surname chosen by Kelsey Grammer for baby #7
11. Aviva: Vivacious palindromic choice
12. Baxter: Could Bax be the new Max?
13. Bea: Beatrice or Beatrix short form that stands alone
14. Benno: Ancient saint’s name makes Ben special
15. Birdie: Nature name taking flight
16. Booker: African-American hero name with literary and musical association
17. Bowie: The late idol inspiring baby namers
18. Briar: New unisex nature name in the Top 1000
19. Calliope: Love child of Cadence and Penelope
20. Cassius: Ancient Roman name that couldn’t be cooler
21. Celeste: Ladylike name with heavenly associations
22. Clara: Clearly the most stylish Claire-related name today
23. Clark: Old-time heartthrob and superhero returns
24. Corin: The Bard gave us this distinctive yet straightforward boys’ name
25. Cressida: Posh British possibility with a Shakespearean pedigree
26. Cyrus: Celeb choice with historic Eastern roots
27. Daisy: Perennially fresh and charming flower name
28. Dashiell: Literary name with lots of dash
29. Delphine: Chic French twist on floral name
30. Dylan: Rebel poet name turned modern classic
31. Echo: Three trends — mythological, o-ending word name — in one modern choice
32. Eliza: Classic revival keeps gathering steam
33. Ember: Emma meets Amber
34. Emilia: Khaleesi gone classic
35. Esme: With love and… more love
36. Esther: Biblical heroine name weds ancient and feminist appeal
37. Felicity: Rogue One star Felicity Jones adds strength to this frilly name
38. Felix: Ancient saint turned cartoon cat turned happy modern baby name
39. Fiona: Romantic Scottish favorite moving on from Shrek
40. Forrest: Nature name with buttoned-down appeal
41. Frank: Frank Ocean updates this name from the Sinatra era
42. Frankie: Boyish nickname hot for girls
43. Geneva: Swiss place name destination
44. Gideon: Biblical boy name on the rise
45. Goldie: One name that’s both rich and fun
46. Greer: Tailored Hollywood name, fresher than Harlow or Sloane
47. Gus: Friendly, informal Gus is the new Max
48. Indigo: Bright blue unisex baby name
49. Ines/Inez: Spanish-inflected variation of Agnes with starry new gloss
50. Iris: Elegant floral that’s also the name of the goddess of the rainbow
51. Isadora: The new Isa girls’ name in town
52. Keziah: Biblical name that feels sleek and modern
53. Lachlan: Scottish choice finding wider favor
54. Lark: Bird name that sings sweetly in the middle
55. Lionel: Jazzy name with stylish leonine associations
56. Louise: This year’s nominee for how can it NOT be in the Top 1000?
57. Loxley: Popping on Pinterest
58. Loyal: Virtue name that works for boys and girls
59. Lucian: Attractive male spin on the popular Lucy and Lucia
60. Lula: Vintage girls’ name on the upswing, and Liv Tyler’s new daughter
61. Lux: As simple as it is luxurious
62. Marguerite: Cooler than Margaret, more classic than Margo
63. McCoy: The new Miles
64. Mirabelle: The new Isabelle
65. Monty: British favorite still fresh here
66. Osiris: Name from Egyptian mythology that feels powerful today
67. Otis: Bluesy choice that’s the epitome of cool
68. Otto: Newest old O name for boys
69. Ozzie: Adorable O nickname for Ozias, Oswald, etc.; Oz works too
70. Pearl: The most stylish middle name of the moment
71. Persephone: Now that Penelope is a Top 100 hottie, Persephone is rising
72. Posey: Sweet update on Poppy and Rosie
73. Quincy: Unusual Presidential choice that works for boys and girls
74. Ray: Sleek, simple name right for both genders
75. Reeve: A successor to celebrity surname name Reese
76. Remy: French, simple, delicious for either gender
77. Reuben: Hot Biblical boy name
78. Roman: Celebrity favorite with noble pedigree
79. Rosamund: Elegant rose family member
80. Ruth: Rich Biblical name finding new fans
81. Sadie: The fastest-rising girl name on Nameberry
82. Sage: A unisex name marrying wisdom and the natural world
83. Sasha: Unisex name re-embraced for boys
84. Saskia: Dutch treat with artistic vibe
85. Sayer: More eloquent than Sawyer
86. Simone: Gold medalist times two
87. Snow: Fresh, winter white choice
88. Soleil: Sunny French name shining here
89. Sybil: A not-done Downton Abbey name
90. Sylvie: Sweet French-accented choice
91. Tallulah: Dramatic name favored by celebrities but still distinctive in the real world
92. Thea: Newcomer to the Top 1000 that feels both classic and modern
93. Thor: Powerful superhero choice
94. Vera: Fresher than Cora or Ava
95. Wilder: Prepster name with an outdoorsy vibe
96. Winnie: Winning nickname-name finding new fans, including Jimmy Fallon
97. Winston: Churchill makes it a hero name, but Winston feels wearable for a child too
98. Yara: Spanish favorite slowly being discovered by the wider world
99. Zelda: New series based on the life of Zelda Fitzgerald debuts on Amazon early this year
100. Zinnia: Exotic floral choice
This post was previously published on Nameberry.
(Photos via Getty)