Emma
Popularity rank in the US: #1
Meaning: Complete, Universal, Risk-taker
Emma is a perennially popular girl's name that trails the glory of medieval European dynasties and the marquee status of several famous actresses. The name is equally popular in Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Norway, France and Finland. The historical Emma was Queen of England, the mother of two kings, a savvy and fearless adventurer – just the role model for your strong-willed new princess.
Noah
Popularity rank in the US: #1
Meaning: Rest, Comfort, Peacemaker
Noah is a strong name with deep biblical roots and widespread popularity. Your little one also won't have embarrassing nicknames to contend with. It's currently in the top 10 in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Germany and Northern Ireland. Noah also ranks high in Britain, France and Sweden.
Olivia
Popularity rank in the US: #2
Meaning: Olive Tree, Emblem of Peace
The Bard himself made up the name Olivia for his play "Twelfth Night" in Elizabethan England. Shakespeare's Olivia symbolizes the olive branch of peace. The name was moderately visible throughout the 20th century in the U.S. and, in about 2000, exploded into the top 10, where it has remained. Olivia is also trendy in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Liam
Popularity rank in the US: #2
Meaning: Valiant Protector
Irish favorite Liam, a nickname that now stands on its own, has edged the original William out of the way in Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, Belgium and Norway. Liam is popular in England, although the traditional William carries a bit more weight there. Liam harks back to centuries of kings and conquerors and carries the romance and royalty of rich history in its melodic Gaelic syllables.
Sophia
Popularity rank in the US: #3
Meaning: Wisdom
Sophia, goddess and symbol of feminine energy, comes from the ancient Greek sophos. Sometimes spelled Sofia, or the more familiar Sophie, Sophia is No. 1 in Denmark, Brazil, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Italy. The Hagia Sophia, once a Greek Orthodox basilica, then a mosque and now a great domed museum in Istanbul, is one of the architectural wonders of the Byzantine world.
Jacob
Popularity rank in the US: #4
Meaning: The Supplanter
Jake – world's best nickname – is enough reason to love the name, but Jacob is beloved in many countries in many forms. The Latin version of an Old Testament Hebrew name, Jacob gave us the English James, the Irish Seamus, the French Jacques, the Italian Giacobbe, the Spanish Jaime, the Scottish Hamish and the Portuguese Yago. The name is big in Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Scandinavia.
Isabella
Popularity rank in the US: #4
Meaning: Sworn to God
Isabella is a name for powerful historical women, seductive charmers and game changers. The name is the Latin form of the French Isabel for Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Nicknames Isa, Bella, Ellie and Izzy stand in for Isabel, Isabelle and Isabella, all top 10 choices in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden.
Ethan
Popularity rank in the US: #6
Meaning: Strong, Enduring
Ethan, another Old Testament name, rates high in Monte Carlo and Montana – the biblical Ethan was a wise man who wrote Psalms and patriot Ethan Allen led the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolution. The name has old-fashioned charm and contemporary heft – one of its meanings is long-lived, which describes Ethan's place on the "most popular" lists in Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Ireland, Belgium and the Principality of Monaco.
Ava
Popularity rank in the US: #5
Meanings: Lively, Birdlike
Short, sweet girls' names that end in "A" are trending upward worldwide and Ava is a three letter name with sizable appeal. Ava has language links with birds, heart's desire and beginnings; it might be related to the first Eve. Ava Gardner owned that name until a lot of little girls claimed it, too, in Ireland, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Lucas
Popularity rank in the US: #19
Meaning: Light-giving
Lucas conquers more hearts and baby name charts by the day. Luke, an English version of the Latin Lucas, is the name of a New Testament evangelist, and a high-ranking name in Ireland, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Both Luca and Lucas top charts in France, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Argentina.
