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.

baby boy

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)

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