Unique Names from History
- Mirabai
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"ocean"Description:
The Hindu princess and poetess Meera, was also known as Mira Bai. Mira Bai was a Rajput princess, the only child of Ratan Singh, younger brother of the ruler of Merta. Her royal education included music and religion as well as instruction in politics and government. In the West we usually think of such traditional names as Charlotte and George as royal baby names, but this adventurous choice breaks the mold. Mirabai combined the Sanskrit "Mira" (meaning ocean) with the suffix -bai (historically added to the names of women as a sign of respect).
- Agrippina
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"born feetfirst"Description:
A name with a rich history in Ancient Greece and Rome, Agrippina was the sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls. The name Agrippina arose in ancient times to further distinguish it as a feminine form of Agrippa.
- Caedmon
- Saladin
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"peace through faith"Description:
A name with considerable history, as the celebrated sultan of Egypt and Syria in the time of the Crusades.
- Haidee
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"modest"Description:
Sounds like a variant of Heidi or Hailey, but Haidee is actually a separate name with a literary history, used in Byron's epic poem Don Juan.
- Ovid
Origin:
Latin, meaning unknownDescription:
Ovid is the English form of the Roman family name Ovidius, which possibly comes from the word for sheep. It is the usual English name for the first-century poet Publius Ovidius Naso.
- Idonea
- Gershom
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"stranger, exodus"Description:
Old Testament name of a son of Moses used by the Puritans, and now by Orthodox Jews.
- Bohemond
Origin:
LatinDescription:
The first bearer of this majestic name was a 12th century prince of Taranto and Antioch, whose father gave him the nickname of Bohemond (after a mythical giant called Buamundus gigas) due to his large size at birth. The name was thereafter used as a given name by his descendants.
- Lozen
Origin:
Apache, Native AmericanMeaning:
"one who steals horses"Description:
Lozen is the name of a female Apache warrior and medicine woman who fought with Geronimo in the 19th century. The sister of the warrior called Victorio, Lozen was the name chosen by soccer star Hope Solo and football player Jerramy Stevens for their daughter, Lozen Orianna Judith, twin of Vittorio Genghis.
- Lalage
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"to chatter"Description:
An interesting name despite the pronunciation challenge. It has literary roots, both in the classical poetry of Horace, and as a character in John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman. Appealing nicknames are Lalla and Lally.
- Azur
Origin:
Variation of Ezra, HebrewMeaning:
"help"Description:
Azur is a mixed up form of Ezra, a Biblical name attached to a handful of minor characters. This strong, simple name was given to 11 baby boys in the US last year.
- Swithun
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"quick, strong"Description:
Variously spelled Swithun or Swithin, and associated with St. Swithin's day, July 15th, which is famous as a weather predictor a la Groundhog's Day: supposedly, the weather on his feast day will continue for forty days. This would certainly make a unique choice.
- Sanchia
Origin:
Spanish variation of SanciaMeaning:
"sacred"Description:
The forerunner of Cynthia is all but unknown these days, but deserving of import and revival.
- Genghis
Origin:
MongolianMeaning:
"universal ruler"Description:
Everyone has heard of Genghis Khan, 12th century warrior and founder of the Mongol empire. The name was brought into the modern world by soccer star Hope Solo and football player Jerramy Stevens, who chose it as the middle name for their son Vittorio, whose twin sister is named Lozen after a female Apache warrior.
- Pagan
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the country, countryman"Description:
Writer Anne Tyler gave this apt name to the hippie child in her novel Amateur Marriage, but she wasn't the first -- it was also used by the Puritans. Today it would be quite a loaded choice.
- Thurstan
Origin:
Scandinavian, variation of ThurstonMeaning:
"Thor's stone"Description:
Thurston Howell was the snooty millionaire on Gilligan's Island, but these days such surname names don't have the same elitist air.
- Ragna
- Perkin
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"little Peter"Description:
Sounds like a Hobbit.
- Innogen
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"daughter, maiden"Description:
Innogen is the Shakespearean name that never was. Most sources will tell you that Shakespeare intended to use Innogen for a character in Cymbeline, but his printer mistook the twos Ns for an M, thus inventing Imogen. This may or may not be true — Imogen seems to have existed before his time, and Shakespeare may have changed the spelling on purpose — but nevertheless, it makes for a great name story.