| 100% | HOCHI | 5 | Start of a 1940's-60's world leader's name |
| 53% | QADDAFI | 7 | "Wrong" way to spell a world leader's name in a New York Times crossword, according to a 1999 episode of "The West Wing" |
| 53% | RIN | 3 | Start of a TV dog's name |
| 52% | USS | 3 | Letters at the start of a destroyer's name |
| 51% | NEHRU | 5 | 1940's-60's world leader |
| 50% | UNU | 3 | 1940's-50's leader with a palindromic name |
| 49% | DALAI | 5 | Start of a holy name |
| 48% | OROMEO | 6 | Start of Juliet's "What's in a name?" speech |
| 48% | MAH | 3 | Start of a Chinese game name |
| 48% | REC | 3 | Start of a newsgroup name online |
| 48% | METEOR | 6 | Name of a crater that's 60 miles east of Flagstaff |
| 48% | NEHRU | 5 | World leader with a role in 1961's annexation of Goa |
| 48% | DES | 3 | Start of a Midwestern state capital name |
| 48% | OSH | 3 | Start of a kids' clothing line name |
| 48% | OSH | 3 | Start of a kids clothing line name |
| 47% | WAGONEER | 8 | Jeep vehicle that starts with the name of a kid's vehicle |
| 47% | BOSSA | 5 | Start of the name of a dance that's Portuguese for "new trend" |
| 47% | TWO | 3 | Number of U.S. state names that start with a V |
| 46% | KIM | 3 | Family name of several N. and S. Korean leaders and of a White House national security adviser under Pres. Obama |
| 46% | MACRON | 6 | World leader whose name is also a diacritical mark |
| 46% | SAN | 3 | Start of many a city name |
| 46% | THE | 3 | Start of many a band name |
| 46% | LIL | 3 | Start of many a rap name |
| 46% | ASTRO | 5 | Member of a major-league team with a name that's out of this world? |
| 45% | ERICA | 5 | Woman's name that rhymes with a part of the world |
| 45% | OUR | 3 | Start of many a Catholic church name |
| 45% | MAC | 3 | Start of many a Scottish family name |
| 45% | ASSAD | 5 | Name of father-and-son world leaders |
| 45% | ITHINKHAILTO | 12 | Start of a quote by 53-Across, when asked to name his favorite song |
| 44% | READY | 5 | Start of a marksman's orders |