10 U Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

Here's where it gets difficult. The back end of the alphabet. U was particularly challenging, but I'm glad I put together this list. I found a lot of new names I hadn't heard of before. Check it out.

Ulani- Ulani is such a pretty name. I love the -lani suffix. She would be great if you love Leilani, but not her popularity.

Uli- Uli is simple and sweet. I first fell in love with the name while watching Project Runway in 2006. Designer Uli Herzner is from Germany.

Ulla- She doesn't quite rival Ella, but Ulla (OO-lah) could make a very good alternative. She has Norse roots and means "determination."

Uma- Uma Thurman hasn't inspired anyone to use her name, and that's a shame. Uma is classy and feminine--a perfect combination.

Umaya- Maya is still very popular at #72, but that level of trendiness might turn some parents away. Umaya is an alternate spelling of Amaya (#235), and has never been in the top 1000.

Umbria- Umbria is my favorite of the list. She's a gorgeous region of Italy, and has some of the most delicious food. Umbria has that stylish -bria ending, which makes her perfect for a baby born in 2015.

Umbrielle- Umbria not enough for you? Try Umbrielle. She may look like a made-up variation of Gabrielle, but she has old Latin roots. Umbrielle is a little long though, so you might want to consider nicknames like Uma, Bri, or Ella.

Umeko- Umeko is one of my favorite Japanese names. She means "plum-blossom child," which is the most darling meaning I've ever heard. Plus, it gives you an excuse to call her Plum.

Umina- Umina is a variation of Amina, which ranks at #620. I happen to prefer the Umina spelling, which has never been in the top 1000.

Una- People are more familiar with the Irish spelling Oona, but the slimmer, more phonetic Una might appeal to more parents. She means "one" in Latin, making her perfect for a first born daughter.

Full Names for Bree and Bri

Image Credit

What do you guys think of the name Bri? It was one of those names that I really despised until recently. I think it may have something to do with the lovely Bri from DesignLoveFest. More proof that certain people can really change the way you think about names. So now I think Bri (or Bree)'s a pretty cute nickname. I've listed some options for a full name. Let me know what you think!

Expected:
Brianna- Probably the most obvious choice for a full name for Bri. She seems a little dated to me, but still usable.
Briella- A spin off of Gabriella. I prefer the original.
Brielle- She's a little more common than Briella, and more appealing. Former Atlanta Housewife Kim Zolciak has a seventeen-year-old daughter named Brielle.
Gabriella- Gabriella is a beautiful name, but most parents today would prefer using Gabby, Bella, or Ella as the nickname.
Gabrielle- Very chic and French. Gabrielle is the real name of Coco Chanel, so Coco could also be a cute nickname.

Unique:
Bridget- The sound isn't exactly there, but there aren't many other nicknames available for Bridget.
Brigitta- Brigitta lends herself to Bri better than Bridget, but she might sound a bit too German for many American parents.
Briony- She's normally pronounced BRY-oh-nie, but there's no reason you can't go against the grain.
Sabrina- She peaked a while ago, but she's still a nice option.

Unheard of:
Breeze- Does Breeze qualify as a nature name? I'm going to say yes. She works nicely with Bree, but with only one syllable, she doesn't need a nickname.
Briallen- She may sound like a smoosh, but Briallen is actually a Welsh name meaning Primrose.
Brietta- A very uncommon name that your daughter would share with a Barbie princess.
Cambria- The first nickname that comes to mind is Cammie, but Bri is more grown-up.

Nicknames for Gabriella

Gabriella is a sweet, sugary name for a little girl, but sometimes she's a little too much name. If you love Gabriella but want simpler version, here are some choices.

Abriella
Abrielle
Bella
Belle
Bree
Bria
Briella
Brielle
Ella
Elle
Ellie
Gabby
Riella
Rielle

Belle's Full Names

Belle and Bella seem to be the nicknames of the year. It's no surprise either, with Isabella ranking number two last year, and one the year before. She's more popular than ever, and so are the nicknames that come with her. Needless to say, if you love Belle or Bella, there's no reason to skip straight to Isabella. They have some much more unexpected full names.

Annabella: With all the rage of Annabelle, you'd think Annabella would not be far behind. Think again, because she ranks at a modest 328. She's a bit of a mouthful, but if you're planning on using Belle or Bella, she would make a nice choice for the birth certificate.

Annabelle: She's the quintessential American girl. Annabelle conjures up images of apple pie and pure sweetness. It's no wonder parents love her. She comes in at 111, with her alternate spellings (Annabel, Annabell, Anabelle, Anabell, and Anabel) all making the list as well.

Belia: Meaning beautiful, Belia is the Spanish version of Bella. Perfect for honoring your family's history, though she's so pretty that she might not need a nickname.

Bellamy: Quite possibly my favorite of this list. She doesn't rank in the top 1000, but she's been getting some attention lately. Bellamy just made Nameberry's list of Unusual Girls' Names Destined for Stardom. The name of a Novogratz daughter (twin to Tallulah by the way), Bellamy is appealing to many parents for obvious reasons. She's may be tomboy, but she has America's sweetest nicknames.

Bellatrix: Honestly, I don't suggest you use Bellatrix. Unless you're a celebrity or a major Harry Potter fan, she seems a little- over the top. She has very strong ties with the literary franchise, but if you're planning on calling your little one Bella or Belle, she would make for an interesting choice. Especially if she was born on Halloween (is it just me, or does she seem a bit spooky?).

Gabriella: She's more popular than you think, with a ranking of 34. Gabriella is princessy, elegant, and very regal sounding, and Bella or Belle seems like fitting nicknames.

Gabrielle: Not quite as long, or as popular as Gabriella, she ranks at 119. Simpler, but by no means simple. You don't need four syllables to sound like a princess.

Isabelle: She comes in at 114, with sister Isabel not far behind at 128. She's a beautiful choice, but far from uncommon. My favorite spelling however, is the far from trendy Isobel.