25 Baby Names That Push The Character Count

Shutterstock

Naming your child is a hugely important task that can impact how your child is perceived for the rest of his life. A great deal of stock goes into a name, which is why choosing one that sounds impressively long and distinguished might be your aim.

Many popular names consist of three syllables or more, allowing your child to stand out from the crowd. Why settle for a short name containing just a few mere letters when you can choose something so much more striking? Short and sweet names are great for young kids, but hard to take seriously on full-grown adults.

There are many advantages to giving your child a long and illustrious name. They’ll have impressive pronunciation skills, learn to write more letters at young age, the ability to grow into it as they get older and multiple nickname options. Genealogy site MooseRoots used data from the Social Security Administration to find the most popular long names (nine letters or more) in the U.S. for boys and girls born in 2014. Names were included based on letter count and are sorted from least to most popular.

#25. Magdalena

Magdalena is the Latin form of Madeline and has Bulgarian, Czech, German, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Scandinavian, Serbian, Slovak and Swiss origins. The name was most popular in the U.S. during the 1880s, but is currently trending down. It made the top 200 list in the Czech Republic in 2011.

#24. Broderick

Broderick is a transferred use of the surname, which is derived from the Welsh personal name Rhydderch. It has been trending up over the last decade in the U.S., earning the rank of 973 in 2014.

#23. Clementine

Clementine is the feminine form of Clement. It dates back to the 19th century and is currently trending way up. Make your daughter a trendsetter by giving her this beautiful, timeless name.

#22. Cristopher

Cristopher is a spelling variation of Christopher, serving as a clever way to give your son his own identity, despite having a very popular name. This respelling was most popular in the 2000s, when it had an average rank of 564, but has since dropped to the 934th spot.

#21. Johnathon

Johnathon is a variation of the more traditional spelling of the name Jonathan. It reached peak popularity in 1990 as the 250th most popular name for baby boys, but has trended way down to the 2014 rank of 917. This is another savvy way to give your son a traditional name, with a unique spin!

#20. Temperance

Temperance is a baby girls’ name that is currently trending way up in the U.S. Give your daughter this beautiful, long and flowing name before a friend or family member stakes claim to on it!

#19. Alexzander

Alexzander is a fun and unique twist on the popular boys’ name Alexander. It has been more popular than ever over the last few years in the U.S., but has seen a slow overall decline in the last decade.

#18. Demetrius

Demetrius is the Greek form of Dēmētrios, meaning follower of Demeter, the classical goddess of fertility. The name is hugely popular in Eastern Europe, but has been trending way down in the U.S.

#17. Alessandro

Alessandro is a boys’ name of Italian origin. It has been more popular than ever in the U.S. over the last few years, currently holding the rank of 623.

This beautifully long name also has internationally acclaim, as it has made the top 200 lists in Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy.

#16. Elisabeth

Elisabeth means Sabbath and is etymologically defined as “God is my oath.” It is the spelling of Elizabeth that’s used in the Authorized Version of the New Testament and in most modern European languages. The name was also held by many biblical characters.

Elisabeth has also made the top 200 lists in Belgium and Norway.

#15. Kristopher

Kristopher is another respelling of Christopher, allowing you to give your baby boy a common name that’s still a little bit different. This variation was most popular in the 1980s, when it held an average rank of 139, but has trended way down to the 591st position.

#14. Montserrat

Montserrat is a Marian name from a Catalan title of the Virgin Mary — Nuestra Señora del Montserrat — referencing the Benedictine monastery on Mt. Montserrat near Barcelona. You don’t have to be religious to give your daughter this beautiful name, as it is trending up in the U.S.

#13. Guadalupe

Guadalupe has Spanish origins and is the Marian name for a place in the town of Cáceres, which is the site of a convent that has a famous image of the Virgin Mary. It reached peak U.S. popularity in the 1990s, but has been trending down in the last decade.

#12. Zachariah

In 2014, a total of 652 baby boys in the U.S. were named Zachariah. It reached peak popularity at a rank of 338 in the 1990s and has maintained steady popularity over the last decade. This is another name that offers plenty of options, as you can nickname your son Zach or keep things more formal.

#11. Maximilian

Maximilian is derived from the Latin name Maximilianus, which was the name of a 3rd-century saint who was noted as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The name is very popular in the U.S. and has also made the top 200 lists in England and Wales, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden.

#10. Gwendolyn

The name Gwendolyn is of English and Welsh origin. It was most popular in the 1950s, when it had an average rank of 126, but has been trending up during the last decade. This is yet another name that offers an easy nickname, if you decide to take that route.

#9. Maximiliano

The name Maximiliano has Portuguese and Spanish origin, but has become very popular as a boy’s name in the U.S. You son is sure to make an impression everywhere he goes with this distinguished name.

#8. Remington

In 2014, a total of 1,101 baby boys in the U.S. were named Remington, earning it a ranking of 313. This distinguished, noble name has become more popular than ever over the last few years.

#7. Alessandra

Alessandra is a beautiful name of Swiss origin. In 2014, it ranked No. 299 for all baby girls born in the U.S., with 1,078 given the name. It is currently trending up in the U.S. and made Italy’s top 200 list in 2007.

#6. Evangeline

Evangeline is a fanciful name derived from the Latin word for Gospel “evangelium.” It means “good tidings” and is also the title of a narrative poem by the famed American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. There’s nothing sweeter than giving your baby girl a poetic name!

#5. Jacqueline

This French name originated as the female form of Jacques, but became very popular in the 1960s due to the glamourous Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Give your baby girl this elegant name that simply exudes class.

#4. Francisco

Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of Francis. It is occasionally used in reference to the U.S. city of San Francisco, similar to a host of other city names, including Brooklyn, Chelsea, and Rio.

#3. Alexandria

Alexandria is a form of Alexandra, which was originally based on the Egyptian city that was founded by Alexander the Great in 322 BC and named in his honor. Beautiful, elegant and historical.

#2. Katherine

Katherine is a name of English origin that means “pure.” Several saints and members of the royal family have held this distinguished name that is currently ranked No. 83 for baby girls in the U.S. Give your daughter a name that’s fit for a queen!

It has also made the top 200 lists in Scotland, New Zealand and Northern Ireland.

#1. Christopher

Christopher is derived from the Greek name Khristophoros and was commonly used by early Christians, as it means to bear Christ in your heart. It is the 30th most popular name for baby boys in the U.S.

Read more: 25 Baby Names That Spell Career Success