The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz

The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not

Daria Werbowy. Dariah, Darie, Darina, Darinka, Darissa, Dariya, Darria, Darriah, Darrya, Darryah, Darya, Daryah, Daryia. International: Darušska (Czech), Dariya, Darya, Dasha (Russian).

DARIAN. Variation of DARIUS. A rarely heard member of the Darren-Darius clan. Darien, Daryan, Daryen.

DARLA. English, ‘darling’. Dimpled Our Gang comedy name. Darlah, Darlie, Darly.

DARLENE. English, ‘darling’. Attending crochet classes for the seniors at the community centre with her friends Arlene and Marlene. Darleen, Darleena, Darleene, Darlina, Darline, Darlonna, Darlyn, Darlyne.

DARREN. Irish, ‘little great one’. Once-popular boys’ name works better now for girls, as a kind of Dara/Karen blend. Daran, Daren, Darin, Daron, Darran, Darrin, Darron, Darryn, Daryn.

DARSHA. Hindi, ‘to see, to perceive, to have vision’. This is an Indian name similar in feeling to some of the increasingly popular Russian names. Darshika, Darshina, Darshini, Darshna.

DARU. Hindi, ‘pine or cedar’. Exotic, aromatic Indian name.

DARVA. Slavic, ‘honeybee’. Reality TV show-type name.

DARYA. Russian variation of DARIA. See DARIA. Dariya, Dasha.

DARYL. Variation of DARRELL. Actress Daryl Hannah made this a girls’ name. Darel, Darelle, Daril, Darille, Darrel, Darrell, Darrellem, Darrill, Darryl, Darryll, Daryll, Derel.

DASHA. Russian, diminutive of DARIYA or DARYA. Nice, energetic – dare we say dashing? – quality. Dasia.

DASHAWNA. American variation of SHAWNA. One of many now-downscale names that begin with Da-or De-, a prefix that originally indicated patrimony. Daseana, Dashauna, Dashona, Deseana, Deshauna, Deshawna, Deshona, Seshawna.

DATYAH. (dah-TI-ah) Hebrew, ‘belief in God’. Heard more in Israel than the UK. Datia, Datiah, Datiya, Datya.

DAVIDA. Feminine variation of DAVID. As passé as Bernarda and Benjamina. Daveeda, Daveen, Daveisha, Davene, Davesia, Daveta. International: Daibhidha (Scottish Gaelic), Taffy (Welsh), Dabida (Basque), Daven (Scandinavian), Davita (Israeli).

DAVINA. Hebrew, ‘beloved’; Scottish, ‘little deer’. A Scottish favourite occasionally heard in the UK. Dava, Davannah, Daveen, Daveena, Davene, Davenia, Davi, Davia, Davida, Davinah, Davita, Devina, Devinah, Devinia, Divina, Divinah.

DAWN. Word name. There are more substantial names with the same golden meaning: Aurora (Latin), Zora (Arabic), and Roxana (Persian). Daun, Daune, Dawna, Dawne, Dawnelle, Duwad, Dwan.

DAY. Word name. This is a bright and optimistic middle name choice.

DAYA. Hebrew, ‘bird of prey’. Possible alternative to the trendy Maya. Dayah.

DAYAA. (dah-YAH) Hindi, ‘compassion’. The double vowel changes this name’s pronunciation and gives it a novel twist.

DAYANA. Latin variation of DIANA. This creative spelling of Diana has taken on a life of its own. Dayani, Dayanita, Dayanna.

DAYANARA. Modern invented name. Too close to ’sayanara’. Dayanarah.

DAYO. Nigerian, ’joy arrives’. This has an evocative African beat.

DAYTON. English variation of DEIGHTON, ’place with a dike’. A city name in the US that is more successful as a girl’s name than some others due to similarity in sound to Peyton et al. Deyton.

DEAN. English, ’valley,’ or ’church official’. Like many passé boys’ names, this one sounds fresh again for girls. Deani, Deanie, Deen, Deeni, Deenie, Deeny, Dene, Deni, Denie, Deny.

DEANA. Variation of DIANA or feminine variation of DEAN. Depending on how you say it, either a streamlined version of Deanna, or the namesake of a male Dean. But today, why not name her Dean? Deanah, Deanna, Deeana, Deeanna, Dena.

DEANNA. English spelling variation of DIANA. Though still being used, Deanna hit its peak in the 1940s. Deana, Deandra, Deanne, Dee, Deeana, Deona, Deonna.

DEBORAH. Hebrew, ’bee’. In the mid-twentieth century, there were so many Debbies on the block that the beauty and meaning of the original name got lost. Now this lovely name of an Old Testament prophetess and the only female judge of Israel suddenly sounds fresher than overused Sarah, Rachel and Rebecca. Deb, Debara, Debbi, Debbie, Debbora, Debborah, Debbra, Debbrah, Debby, Debera, Deberah, Debi, Debora, Deboreh, Deborrah, Debra, Debrah, Debs, Devora, Devorah.

DEBRA. Spelling variation of DEBORAH. When Deborah seemed too formal in the laid-back 1960s, Debra stepped in as a pared-down alternative, but the pendulum is about to swing back. Deb, Debbie, Debbra, Debbrah, Debrah, Debry.

DECEMBER. Word name. Cooler than April, May or June, but also a tad icy. Decembra. International: Dicembre (Italian).

DECIMA. Latin, ’tenth’. In the days of huge families, this Roman goddess of childbirth’s name would be saved for bambina number ten. Now might be used for a girl born in October, the tenth month. Decia.

DECLA. Irish, feminine variation of DECLAN. Has an incomplete feeling…

DEIRDRE. Irish, ’sorrowful’. Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has ’of the sorrows’ attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports. Dedre, Deedra, Deedrah, Deedre, Deerdra, Deerdre, Deidre, Deirdra, Deirdrah, Deirdre, Dierdra, Dierdre, Dierdree, Dierdrie.

DÉJA. French, ’already’. Déja was a name sensation of the 1990s in the US, reaching the Top 15 in African-Caribbean popularity lists, but it has déja fallen far from those lofty heights. D’Ja, Daeja, Daija, Déjah, Dejai, DeJana, Dejana.

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