Danielle

While not as popular in America as Daniela (thanks, in part, to the rising Hispanic population), Danielle has been around on the American charts for a lot longer. Danielle debuted on the U.S. Top 1000 list in 1938 (Daniela did not show up until 1973). Although the name languished in usage for the first 20+ years, Danielle began making big strides up the popularity charts in the 1960s (advancing almost 600 positions in that decade alone). The name became a Top 100 favorite by 1971 but she didn’t just stop there. The high point of Danielle’s success was from 1984 to 1994 during which time the name maintained a Top 20 position on the list of most commonly used girl names. Heavily used, Danielle was at the top of her game in the 1980s and 1990s. The year 2005 marked the first time in 34 straight years that Danielle was not a Top 100 favorite. It appears as if her fashionable days may be behind her.  Despite her come-and-go popularity on the U.S. charts, Danielle remains a lovely, elegant, and sophisticated sounding name. It’s hard to argue with the French when it comes to taste and style. Just consider some of the other lovely French female names with the “elle” suffix: Michelle, Estelle, Gabrielle Isabelle and Noëlle to name a few. They are deceivingly simple and supremely graceful. “God is [Danielle’s] judge” and he gives this name a perfect 10!