Calvin
Coco
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked.
Meaning: Flirt, siren
Coco Chanel was one singular sensation. So your little Coco won't run into herself coming and going, but that's fine. She's her own person, just like the legendary French designer who liberated post-World War I women from stays, corsets and crinolines, adapted menswear for women, and designed iconic, chic clothes that have never really gone out of style. Coco is a made-up name that may have come from a popular song Chanel sang in her cabaret days. She suggested it linked back to the French word "coquette," which today might mean "flirt."
Donna or Donatella
Popularity rank of Donna in the U.S.: #985
Meanings: Lady (Donna); given (Donatella)
Donna Karan and Donatella Versace own a certain splashy segment of fashion that can be sophisticated and understated or flat-out spectacular and Swarovski-studded. The two big talents have unmistakable names. Donna is Italian for "lady." Donatella is adiminutive of Italian Donata from Latin for "given." The names have been shared by sculptors and saints — and a couple of visionary women who live as large as they dream.
Giorgio
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked.
Meaning: Farmer, earth worker
Giorgio has that melodic, soft quality that English George just can't pull off. Giorgio Armani makes clean, tailored menswear with sinuous, silky lines — all neutral hues and perfect fit. The same meticulous detail characterizes his women's evening wear, ski clothes, matador costumes, rock star concert gear and Zen minimalist luxury housewares. Armani was the first major designer to ban unhealthy, ultra-skinny models from his runways. Giorgio is Italian and comes from the Greek words for"earth" and "worker."
Lauren
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #94
Meaning: Laurel bush, honor, achievement
Ralph Lauren, a kid from the Bronx, made his name with classic, preppy looks, rich in history and fabrics. His ready-to-wear pieces are not-quite-costumes that evoke the British gentry — and Wild West cowboys, Russian czars and safari adventurers. There's nothing ordinary about the clothes and home goods — and that tiny polo player embroidered on the shirt — and nothing ordinary about the name either. Lauren, a girl's given name, refers to the laurel shrub, used to crown victors in the ancient Greek games. Name her Lauren and buy her a pony — you know where to find the clothes to go with it.
Sarah
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #50
Meaning: Lady, princess, noblewoman
Sarah Burton is the creative director of the Alexander McQueen fashion brand who designed Kate and Pippa Middleton's dresses for the latest royal wedding. Burton, who has an OBE (for Order of the British Empire) after her name, has been on Time Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People. Her showstopper dresses, worn by personalities as diverse as Cate Blanchett, Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga, are woven of fantasy and moonlight. Sarah comes from the biblical Hebrew for "lady, princess" and "noblewoman," a name as magical as fairy tale couture.
Stella
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #66
Meaning: Star
Stella McCartney may be Beatle legend Paul McCartney's kid, but her design business is pure Stella, and she runs it to her own tune. Her youthful, popular clothes are made sustainably with mostly organic products and no leather or fur. But her dresses show up on Hollywood's red carpets, and her uniform designs won loyal fans at the London Olympics. In every collection, she refuses to be pigeonholed, designing eclectic styles for modern multitasking women. Stella means "star" in Latin, and that quality might rub off on any lucky girl who wears the name.
