Popular Names of Today

Girls' Names

Hannah
1. The name Hannah is an older form of the name Anna. Traditionally, the name originates from the Hebrew, Channah, meaning "favored grace." Woody Allen liked Hannah (and her sisters) so much that he named a movie after her!

Emily
2. The British writer Emily Bronte, author of "Wuthering Heights", and the American poet Emily Dickinson are two famous bearers of this name. What more can we say?

Madison
3. What better than a name that covers a president and a U.S. city? A famous bearer of the surname was James Madison, one of the writers of the American constitution who later served as president. Of course Madison is also the name of the capital city in Wisconsin!

Elizabeth
4. Popular in over five languages, French, Finnish, Scandinavian, Swedish and English, this name originates from the Hebrew name Elisheva, and means "God's Promise." In the New Testament, Elizabeth this was the mother of John the Baptist, and two British queens and a Russian empress were named Elizabeth, too. With almost 70 different nicknames and at least five spellings, Elizabeth certainly is a popular name. Just ask Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Hurley, and Elizabeth Arden.

Alexis
5. Derived from the Greek name Alexios, meaning "helper" or "defender," people bearing this name are sometimes perceived as outgoing, confident, and sophisticated. Alexis Carrington certainly gave us that impression. Martha Stewart must have agreed because that's what she named her daughter.

Sarah
6. Sarah (originally Sarai) was the wife of Abraham in the Old Testament who miraculously gave birth to Issac at age 90. Meaning "lady" or "princess" in Hebrew, Sarah is known as the mother of the Jewish people, and thus as the mother of the nation from which Christ came. Famous Sarahs include Canadian star Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Jessica Parker (whose husband's name also made our list), and Sarah Michelle Gellar.