Blanche. Not ranked, it fell off the list after 1964. It made the boys' list in 1887, 1889, 1891, 1898-99, 1902, 1906, and 1908. It was a medieval French nickname that meant white. A famous fictional bearer is Blanche DuBois, from the Tennessee Williams drama, A Streetcar Named Desire (published 1947). I think it's a pretty name that may come back in a few years.
Bertha. Not ranked, fell off the list after 1985. It ranked as a boy's name in 1881-98, 1900-07, and 1910. It was in the top 10 until 1885. It's a Germanic name that means bright one. The Normans brought it over to England, but it died out after the middle ages, only to be revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer is Bertha Krupp (1886-1957), the head of the Krupp industrial dynasty. The famous German WWI howitzer, Big Bertha, is named for her. This name is dead in the water. Apart from it not being a terribly pretty name, the fact that people still know the Big Bertha gun a century after the Great War means any little girl with the misfortune to be named Bertha will be called Big Bertha, no matter what her size.
Beatrice. #690, it was off the list in 1997, 1999, and 2002-05. It ranked as a boy's name 1899-1900, 1902, 1905-06, and 1908-10. It is the Italian version of Beatrix, which comes from the Late Roman name Viatrix, which means voyager. A famous bearer, and the woman who helped the name spread, is Beatrice Portinari (1265-90), made famous as Dante's guide in Il Paradiso. They only met twice, the first time as children, but Dante apparently always loved her. I predict Beatrice will continue to gain popularity. Full disclosure, if I ever have a little girl, her name will be Dorothy Beatrice. Dorothy for my great aunt Dot, and Beatrice for my maternal grandmother.
Barbara. #900, it has never fallen off the list. It was used as a boy's name from 1929-60, and 1962-63, when it was in or near the top 10 for girls. While it never hit the #1 spot, it was ranked #2 from 1937-44, with about 3% of all girls born those years named Barbara. It comes from the Greek word for stranger. It fell out of favor after the Reformation, but was revived in the 19th century. One famous bearer, out of many, is actress Barbara Stanwyck (1907-90). I like the name, but it feels dated, and I expect it to drop off the list in the next few years. That said, I think it will be back on the list eventually, probably sooner rather than later.
Cecilia. #216, it has never fallen off the list. It comes from the Latin word for blind. The Normans brought it to England. A famous bearer is St Cecilia (2nd century). She is the patron saint of music and musicians because, according to hagiography, while musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord." I think Cecilia is a lovely name, and don't expect its popularity (or that of its many variants) to wane anytime soon.
Cicily. Not ranked, nor has it ever been. Other variants Cecily and Cicely are more common. The only famous bearer I could find is Cicily Isabel Fairfield (1892-1983), better known at the influential British author Dame Rebecca West, a name she borrowed from one of Ibsen's rebellious heroines. She was an exceptional woman, but my favorite anecdote about her is as follows: she poked fun at HG Wells in a review in 1912, calling him an old maid. The review got his attention, and he invited the author over for lunch. They became lovers the next year, and their affair lasted for ten years. They had a son in 1914, and remained close friends until Wells died in 1946. I don't anticipate Cicily catching on as a name.
Caroline. #79, it has never been off the list. It's as popular now as it was in 1884. It ranked as a boy's name in 1891. A feminine form of Charles, it means man, essentially. A famous bearer is Caroline Herschel (1750-1848), a German-British astronomer and the first paid female scientist. I love the name Caroline, but a little girl named such must be prepared to have "Sweet Caroline" sung to her by every single person she meets.
Clara. #136, it has never fallen off the list, and was in the top 10 for several years in the 1880s and '90s. It ranked as a boy's name in 1880-81, 1883-89, 1891-96, and 1899-1910. Clara means clear and bright in Latin. A famous bearer is German composer Clara Schumann (1819-96). I expect Clara will continue to rise in popularity. It's very classic: feminine, strong, and less dated than Claire.
Claudia. #595, it has never fallen off the list. From the Latin word for crippled. A famous bearer is Claudia Octavia (39-62), wife of the Emperor Nero. As Roman names go, it isn't one of my favorites, though I don't dislike it. I predict its popularity will decline in the coming years.
Claudine. Not ranked, it was on the list from 1880-82, 1893, 1896, 1898-99, 1901-52, 1954, 1966-75. A famous bearer is Claudine Francoise Mignot (1624-1711), a French adventuress who made herself a fortune by being pretty and smart, and marrying rich older men. I don't think the name will make a comeback anytime in the near future, but you never really know.
Clementina. Not ranked, made the list in 1908. Comes from the Latin for merciful. A famous bearer is Maria Clementina Sobieski (1702-35), a Polish noblewoman. I don't think this name will ever be revived.
Constance. Not ranked, was on the list until 1999. It means exactly what it says on the tin, and I think it's a lovely name. A famous bearer is actress Constance Bennett (1904-65). I wouldn't be surprised if Constance makes a comeback soon. Parents often opt for virtue names for little girls, and Constance will stand out in a crowd of Hopes, Faiths, Graces, and Joys.
Constantia. Never ranked, it's a Late Roman name. It was the pen name of Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820), an American writer. She believed in the equality of the sexes and carried on lively correspondence with many of America's founding fathers. I think it's a pretty name, but don't expect it to gain any popularity.
Cornelia. Not ranked, fell off the list after 1965. From the Latin word for horn, it has been popular since the 18th century. A famous bearer of the name is Cornelia Africana (190-100 BC), considered the ideal Roman woman. The daughter of a war hero, she married an older man. They truly loved each other and had twelve children (highly unusual at the time), three of whom survived to adulthood. After her husband died she chose not to remarry, and even turned down a king's marriage proposal. She educated her children, and studied Latin and Greek literature for her own benefit. Her two surviving sons, Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus became reform-minded politicians, despite their privileged background. She is one of four Roman women whose writings survive. I love the name Cornelia and wouldn't be surprised if it reappeared on the list within the next generation.
Callista. Never ranked, but variant Calista made the list in 1880-81, and from 1998-2004. It comes from the Greek for most beautiful. A famous bearer is American actress Calista Flockhart (born 1964). I doubt the name will ever gain much ground, but it's not a bad name, and it shares a root with my own name, Callie!
Claribel. Not ranked, it was on the list from 1881-85, 1889, 1891, 1893-94, 1896, 1898-99, 1901-04, 1906-09, 1912-14, and 1916-17. A famous bearer of the name is socialite and art collector Claribel Cone (1864-1929). I think the name is cute, but doubt it will catch on. In the picture, Claribel is on the left, her sister Etta is on the right, and Gertrude Stein is in the middle.
Celeste. #470, it has never fallen off the list. From the Latin for heavenly. A famous bearer is French dancer and actress Madame Celeste (1815-82). The name has maintained its popularity for years and seems to be in no danger.
Celestine. Not ranked, it fell off the list after 1960, but reappeared in 1962-63. A famous bearer is Celestine Galli-Marie (1840-1905), a French mezzo-soprano who created the role of Carmen.
Catharine. Not ranked, it was on the list until 1959, from 1961-64, and 1966. The etymology is debated, but it came from Greek. One famous bearer, out of many, is Catharine of Aragon (1485-1536), first wife of Henry VIII. As with many people of the era, her name was spelled about a dozen different ways, and this is only one of them. I have never seen this spelling of the name before, and I don't think there's any need for it to return. Goodness knows we've got enough spellings without it: Catherine, Cathryn, Katherine, Kathryn, etc.
Cora. #155, it has never fallen off the list. It was on the boys' list in 1880-81, 1884-86, 1888-91, 1894-95, 1900, and 1903. Interestingly, we can trace this name back to a specific year and creator. James Fenimore Cooper made the name up for his novel The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826. I think the name has gotten a boost in recent years from Lady Cora, of Downton Abbey. I think it will stick around, however: it's simple but dignified.
Christina. #284, it has never fallen off the list. It was used as a boy's name in 1978, 1984-86, and in 1989. A famous bearer is Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626-89). I can't even begin to tell you how cool she was or I'll never finish this post, so just go look her up yourself. That said, I like the name and don't think it will fall off the list, but like almost all names that soared in popularity in the last half century, it can feel a bit dated.
Christine. #652, it has never fallen off the list, but may suffer the same fate as Christina, and fall in popularity for a generation, until it feels less dated. One famous bearer is the Italian-French poet Christine de Pizan (1365-1430). One of the most famous writers of her day, she was immensely popular, and is seen by many as a proto-feminist writer.
Dora. Not ranked, it fell off the list after 1992. It ranked as a boy's name in 1880, 1882-84, 1887-90, and 1898-99. It's typically a diminutive of Dorothy, Theodora, Isidora, etc., and it means gift in Greek. One famous bearer is Dora Carrington (1892-1938), a British painter. It's a cute name, but as long as the children's show Dora the Explorer is a cultural phenomenon, a little girl should probably not be given the name.
Dorothea. Not ranked, it fell off the list after 1970. From the Greek meaning gift of God. Women named Dorothea seem to have a propensity to help the unfortunate. One famous bearer is the American photographer Dorothea Lange (1895-1965), best known for her 1936 photograph, Migrant Mother. Another namesake is mental health advocate Dorothea Dix (1802-87). I think this is a really great name, with a wonderful meaning and excellent namesakes. It may very well make a comeback one day.
Deborah. #797, it has never fallen off the list. It was in the top 10 from 1950-62, rising to #2 in 1955. It ranked as a boy's name 1951-60, and in 1964. It means bee in Hebrew. The most famous bearer of the name is the Hebrew prophetess and judge from the Book of Judges, written sometime between the 12th and 7th centuries BC. It's a nice name, but because it was so popular a few decades ago, it feels really dated. It will likely fall in popularity for a time, and may very well drop off the list, but will certainly regain popularity eventually.
Delia. Not ranked, it fell off the list in 1994, 1996, 2001-02, 2006, and since 2008. It means of Delos in Greek, and was an epithet of the goddess Artemis. I think it's a really cute name: sassy and cheerful, and expect it will be back on the list soon.
Dorcas. Not ranked, fell off the list after 1946, and reappeared in 1948 and 1951. It means gazelle in Greek, and is a translation of the Aramaic name Tabitha. The most famous bearer of the name lived during the 1st century and is mentioned in the Book of Acts. An early Christian, when she died, she was deeply mourned by the widows of Joppa, who showed Peter the robes she had made for them. Peter raised her from the dead. Today, a charity called The Dorcas Society provides clothing for people in need. It's a nice sentiment, but this name is dead and will never come back. A child named Dorcas today would be tormented pretty much all her life. If you think this is good name for your daughter, maybe you shouldn't reproduce.
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