It’s become a truism that once a name gets too popular, no one wants to use it anymore.  (Which reminds me of the famous Yogi Berra saying: Nobody goes to that place anymore.  It’s too crowded.)

　　So what do they use instead?  Often, a name that’s the same but different.

　　Consider Emma, 2008’s Number One girls’ name.  Part of Emma’s success, I’m sure, is that it resembles Emily, long the girls’ top name, but has an individual pedigree and style all its own.

　　An older spin on this theme was Jessica, which took over the top spot from big sister Jennifer.  It works on the boys’ side too, with Jacob and Justin picking up where Jason left off.

　　More interesting, though, are the names that are just now appearing on the horizon as similar-but-different substitutes for names that are becoming overly popular.  The appeal of these names is obvious: They seem to offer fresh spins on favorites that are feeling a bit tired.

　　The down side is that so many people tend to flock to them, they’re often in danger of becoming – like Emma – overexposed themselves.

　　Here, some current favorites and the daughters (and sons) they’ve spawned.  Interestingly, some popular names inspire new choices that may cross gender lines.

　　Girls

　　ABIGAIL

　　Abel, Abraham, Abram, Abelia

　　ADDISON

　　Adelaide, Adeline, Adriel, Adele

　　ALEXANDRA

　　Alexa, Alexis, Alexia, Alec, Alexei

　　ASHLEY

　　Ashlyn, Asher, Ashira, Ashton, Ashby, Ash, Cash, Nash

　　AUDREY

　　Aubrey, Auberon, Auburn, Audra, Audria, Audrina, Audriana, Aurora, Auria, Aurelia, Autry

　　AVA

　　Avery, Aveline, Avis, Avalon, Averill, Avi, Aviva

　　CAMERON

　　Camden, Camilla, Camille, Campbell, Cambria, Cameo

　　EMMA and EMILY

　　Emilia (and Amelia), Emmeline, Emmalyn, Emme, Emmett, Emerson, Emory

　　EVA

　　Evelyn, Eveline, Evaleen, Eve, Evie, Everett, Evangeline, Ever, Everly

　　GRACE

　　Gracie, Grayson, Gray, Gracia, Grania

　　ISABELLA

　　Bella, Belle, Arabella, Annabelle, Bellamy

　　JULIA

　　Juliana, Juliet, Julissa, Julius, Jules

　　LILY

　　Lillian, Liliana, Lilia, Lila, Layla, Leila, Lola, Leilani, Lorelei, Delilah, Tallulah

　　LUCY, LUKE and LUCAS

　　Lucia, Luca, Luna, Lucan, Lucian, Lucius

　　OLIVIA

　　Alivia, Olive, Liv, Livia

　　REAGAN

　　Ronan, Rowan, Roman, Keagan, Teagan

　　Boys

　　BRAYDON et al

　　Brayan, Braylon, Braxton, Brady, Brayson, Brannon

　　CADEN/KADEN

　　Cadence, Cadman, Cadigan, Cady, Kai, Kailin

　　FINN

　　Finley, Finnegan, Finnian

　　JACK

　　Jackson, Jaxon, Jax

　　JAYDEN

　　Jada, Jaylen, Jay, Jayce

　　MAX

　　Maximilian, Maximus, Maxwell, Maxine, Maxen

　　SEAN

　　Shane, Shaw, Sawyer, Sayer