Meadowbrook Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster New York

Common Nicknames: None
Common Variations: April
Consider This: Most people will know
this French form of April thanks
to Avril Lavigne, but it’s still not
a Top 1000 name.
Baba H
(African) born on Thursday.
First Impression: Folks believe Baba
may be the “black sheep” of her
family—a heavyset simpleton
who’s immature and shy.
Gender Association: Used for girls
Popularity and Trend: Never been
ranked in Top 1000
Risk of Misspelling: Average
Risk of Mispronunciation: Average
Famous Namesakes: Character Ali
Baba (The Book of One Thousand
and One Nights)
Common Nicknames: None
Common Variations: None
Consider This: Too many people
associate this African name with
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” for it to
be a smart choice.
Babette HHH
(French, German) a form of Barbara.
First Impression: People think Babette is
charismatic, confident, and stylish.
Gender Association: Used for girls
Popularity and Trend: Last ranked in
the Top 1000 in the 1960s
Risk of Misspelling: Low
Risk of Mispronunciation: Low
Famous Namesakes: Character Babette
(Babette’s Feast)
Common Nicknames: Babs, Bette
Common Variations: None
Consider This: Once a nickname for
Barbara, Babette makes a decent
given name by itself.
Bailey HHH
(English) bailiff.
First Impression: Most people picture
Bailey as playful, happy, and
charming. Others see her as
cranky and stubborn.
Gender Association: Used mostly
for girls
Popularity and Trend: #112
(#68 in 2000)
Risk of Misspelling: Fairly low
Risk of Mispronunciation: Low
Famous Namesakes: Character Miranda
Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy); singer
Corinne Bailey Rae
Common Nicknames: None
Common Variations: Baylee, Bayley,
Bailee
Consider This: This unisex name is
used more often for girls than
boys, but it has a young feel
either way.
Baka HHH
(Hindi) crane.
First Impression: Baka is thought to be
a sweet, kind foreigner who’s
pudgy but strong.
Gender Association: Used for girls
Popularity and Trend: Never been
ranked in Top 1000
Risk of Misspelling: Average
Risk of Mispronunciation: Average
Famous Namesakes: Deity Baka
Brahma
Common Nicknames: None
Common Variations: None
Consider This: Baka is a Hindi name
that may sound unusual with
some surnames.
Bambi HH
(Italian) child.
First Impression: Disney’s Bambi was
an innocent fawn, but people
think a woman with this name
is probably far from innocent.
Gender Association: Used for girls
Popularity and Trend: Last ranked in
the Top 1000 in the 1980s
Risk of Misspelling: Low
Risk of Mispronunciation: Low
Famous Namesakes: Film character
Bambi
Common Nicknames: None
Common Variations: None
Consider This: If your daughter’s name
is Bambi, people will think she’s
a deer or a stripper.
Barbara HHH
(Latin) stranger, foreigner.
First Impression: Barbara is pictured as
witty, but she may also be
grouchy or gullible.
Gender Association: Used for girls
GIRLS • PAGE 27