CELESTE: Latin for "heavenly." A beautfiul name, but some may have endure a few taunts about Babar's wife. Namesakes: Celeste Holm, "Queen Celeste."
DEMETRIUS: Greek for "lover of the earth." Handsome; used regularly among those of Greek ancestry. Relatives: Demitiri, Dimitri, Dimitry, Dimity
EVELYN: Variation of Eve. Generally a girl's name, though in the past it was a common choice for boys. Evelyn Waugh's first wife was named Evelyn, Friends called them he-Evelyn, and she-Evelyn. Relatives: Eveline, Evalyn, Aveline, Avaline, Avelina, Avalina, Evel, Evilio, Evalina, Evelina, Evette. Namesakes: Evelyn Anthony, Evel Knievel
FAITH: From the Latin for "trust." One of the prettiest and most enduring of the virtue names. Relatives: Faithful, Faythe, Fayth, Fido, Fidel, Fidelity. Namesakes: Faith Daniels, Percy Faith, Marianne Faithful.
FELICIA: Feminine of "Felix." Relatives: Felice, Felicity, Felisse, Feliciana, Felyce, Phylice, Philicia, Phylicia. Namesake: Phylicia Rashad.
FIONA: Old English for "white." Perfectly beautiful. This name has always been popular in the British Isles. Relatives: Fione, Fionn. Namesake: Fiona St. Aubyn.
GRACE: From the Latin for "grace." According to Roman mythology, the Graces personified truth, beauty, and charm. The Greeks called them Charities. Their individual names were Thalia (Flowering), Aglaia (Wisdom), and Euphrosyne (Joy). Grace is coming back into favor. Relatives: Gracey, Gracie, Graza, Grazia, Grazina. Namesakes: Grace Kelly, Grace Slick, Grace Paley, Gracie Allen.
GUINEVERE: Celtic for "white wave." King Arthur's lady and a jewel of a name. The French version, Genevieve, is also lovely. Relatives: Guenevere, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn, Gwendaline, Gwendolen, Gwen, Gwenn, Gwenne, Gwenith, Gwenyth, Gwyneth, Gwyn, Guenn, Gwynne, Gwyndolyn, Jennifer. Namesakes: Lady Guinevere, Gwendolyn Brooks, Gwen Verdon, Gwyneth Jones.
HIRAM: Hebrew for "noble one." Relatives: Hyram, Hi, Hy. Namesake: Hiram Walker.
ILANA: Hebrew for "tree." A melodic and increasingly popular choice these days. Relatives: Illana, Ilanna, Alana, Allana, Alanna.
IRIS: Greek goddess of the rainbow. A flower name that is making a modest comeback. Relative: Irys. Namesake: Iris Murdoch.
JOLIE: French for "pretty." The "J" is pronounced as the French do, with the emphasis on the second syllable. Relatives: Jolene, Joline. Namesake: Jolie Gabor.
KYNA: Irish Gaelic for "intelligence" and a feminine version of Conan. You'll never find preprinted balloons or key chains with this one. Dare to be different. Relatives: Kyne, Cyna, Cyne.
LANI: Hawaiian for "sky." An enchanting name for the islands. Check your Hawaiian dictionary for other possibilities. Namesake: Kay Lani Rae.
LEILANI: Hawaiian for "heavenly flower." We include this exquisite name to encourage parents to consult Hawaiian phone books.
LENA: From the Latin for "alluring." Does anyone know where the expression "leaping Lena" comes from? Relatives: Lina, Lenore, Leonore. Namesakes: Lena Horne, Leonore Fleischer, Lina Wermuller.
LYSANDER: Greek for "liberator." A little precious, but it might work for a girl. Relative: Lysandra.
MAISIE: Derived from Margery or Margaret and has always been popular in Scotland as an independent name. Relatives: Maisy, Maysie, Mysie, Mazey, Maizie.
MINERVA: Greek for "power" and Latin for "thinker." The goddess Minerva was born in a full set of armor from the head of Jupiter. Your child's entry into the world will be equally astonishing. Relatives: Minette, Minnie, Minny.
MIRANDA: Latin for "extraordinary" or "to be admired." Miranda offers a twist on the more popular Amanda, and the nickname Mandy may still be invoked. In England Randy is the preferred nickname. Relatives: Myranda, Meranda, Mira, Randy, Mandy. Namesakes: Carmen Miranda, Francisco de Miranda.
NAIDA: Greek for "water nymph." Perfect for the baby who loves bath time. Relatives: Naiad, Naia, Naiia, Nayad, Nyad. Namesake: Diana Nyad.
NISSA: Scandinavian for "elf" or "fairy." For the child who believes in the fantastic. Relatives: Nisse, Nissi, Nisi (Hebrew for "emblem"), Nissan, Nissim.
ODESSA: Greek for "odyssey." For the born traveler. Namesake: Odessa (Tex.)
OPHELIA: Greek for "useful" or "wise." Relative: Ofelia, Ofilia, Ophelie, Phelia. Namesake: "Ophelia" in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
PAGE: French for "young attendant." Page is finding a place for itself, especially as a distinctive middle name. Relatives: Paige, Payge, Padgett. Namesakes: Page Smith, Patti Page, Geraldine Page.
PERSEPHONE: Greek goddess of the underworld. Relatives: Persa, Perse, Percy, Fanny.
PHILANA: Greek for "adoring." Relatives: Philene, Philina, Philida, Philantha, Philander, Philadelphia (Greek for "brotherly love"), Falana. Namesakes: Philander Knox, Lola Falana.
PIERCE: From the Old Anglo-French for "rock." Relatives: Pearce, Piercy, Pears, Piers, Pearson. Namesakes: Pierce Brosnan, Franklin Pierce, Drew Pearson, Piers Paul Read, "Hawkeye Pierce."
RAMSEY: Old English for "ram's land." If astrology amuses you, take a close look at this for an Aries baby. Relatives: Ramsay, Ramsden. Namesakes: Ramsey Clark, Ramsey Lewis, Ramsay MacDonald.
REGAN: Irish Gaelic for "little king." King Lear's second daughter was named Regan. Relatives: Reagan, Rayghun, Reagen, Regen, Regino, Regent. Namesake: Ronald Reagan.
RYLAN: Old English for "dweller in the rye field." The added letter gives Ryan an entirely different spin. Relatives: Ryland, Ryle, Rycroft, Ryman, Ryton. Namesakes: Gilbert Ryle, Ryman Auditorium.
SABINA: Latin for "Sabine woman." Relatives: Sabine, Savina, Saidhbhin, Saba.
SELENA: From Greek for "moon." Selena is an ancient, mythological name for the goddess of the moon. Relatives: Selina, Selene, Selinda, Selly, Sellie, Sela, Selia, Sena, Celena, Celina, Celene, Celie, Celia. Namesake: Selina, Countess of Huntingdon.
SHEA: Irish Gaelic for "ingenious" or "majectic." Relative: Shay. Namesakes: Milo O'Shea, John Shea, Shea Stadium.
TALBOT: From the Old French for "reward." The baby will want suede elbow patches on his tweed stretchie. Relatives: Tally, Tallie. Namesake: Talbot's catalog.
TALIA: From the Hebrew for "dew from heaven," which sounds like the final line of a delicately crafted haiku. Relatives: Talya, Tally, Tai, Talitha. Namesakes: Talia Shire, Tai Babilonia
THALIA: From the Greek for "blooming." Thalia blends nicely with a flower name, making such combinations as Thalia Rose and Thalia Lily. Namesakes: one of the three Graces, the Muse of comedy.
TYSON: From the Old French for "son of a German." Perhaps the boxing champ will inspire a bevy of little Tysons. Namesake: Mike Tyson.
WHOOPI: Popular exclamation for "I'm having a good time now." Relatives: Yahoo, Yippee, Wahoo. Namesake: Whoopi Goldberg [I just had to put this one in]
YOLANDA: Greek for "violet." Relatives: Yolande, Iolanthe, Iolande, Eolande.
