Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool

Made famous by Gossip Girl character Epperly Lawrence, Dan and Blair's boss at W Magazine.

This evocative term for a stone or shell carved in relief could make a striking first name for a girl, though she would have a starring role in her story, rather than a cameo.

An underused place name with a sunny, stylish air, the capital city of Spain could provide a totally unexpected route to favorite nickname Maddie. While the exact origins of the name are unknown, possibilities include that it comes from the Arabic majrā meaning "watercourse, water stream", the Latin matrix meaning "source of a river" or the Celtic magetoritum meaning "ford". Whichever root you choose to follow then, the name has a watery connection.

A name that's on the rise for boys but rarely used -- though possible -- for girls.

A medieval and early English variant of the Ismenia, which feels surprisingly on trend today.

This name of Aztec origin has the lovely possible meaning of "dewdrop". Both the Jatziri and Jatziry spellings were given to a few dozen baby girls in 2022.

An unusual botanical name, Astilbe could make an intriguing floral choice and work as an alternative to the likes of Aster, Thisbe, and Phoebe. It is the name of a hardy perennial plant with fluffy flowers that bloom in shades of pink, red, and white.

A sweet and springy name, likely related to the more familiar Una, Uainín is an Irish name made up of uan meaning "lamb" and a diminutive suffix.

A rare unisex alternative to Isla.

A vibrant name with an uplifting meaning, Veselina is a feminine form of Veselin, predominantly used in Bulgaria. It comes from the South Slavic element, vesel, meaning "cheerful".

A rare nature name and an interesting way to familiar nicknames like Libby, Lula, Lulu, and Bel, Libelula (or Libélula) comes from the Spanish word for "dragonfly". The name itself comes from the Latin word for "level" and "balanced" (libella and liberatum), in reference to the horizontal wings of the insect.

Evana is an intriguing feminization, but will often be mistaken for the better-known Ivana, thanks to the first Mrs. Trump.

Girasol is a Spanish nature name, meaning "sunflower." As sun-related names — such as Soleil, Sol, and Sunny — heat up, we may see more of Girasol.

An English surname-sounding choice with an appealing nature-inspired meaning, Farley could work as an alternative to Harley, Marley, or Charlie.

Inspired by Taylor Swift's 2020 album Evermore, seven sets of parents chose this name for their daughters in 2022. With a poetic meaning of "forever" or "always", this is one that we could see gaining traction outside of the Swiftiverse. Accessible nicknames Ever and Evie are always an option if Evermore feels too bold for everyday use.

Yulisa is a spelling variation of the Latin American Julissa or Julisa. Yulisa clarifies the pronunciation of the name for English speakers.

Larry Hernandez is at it again — the reality TV star known for his show Larrymania has successfully popularized each of his three daughters' names. He and Kenia Ontiveros created totally new names for their girls — Daleyza, Dalary, and Dalett, who was born in May 2020.

Means "pure" in the Tagalog language of the Philippines.

This English surname was originally a nickname for someone with a pock-marked face. It's a less-than-ideal meaning, but Greeley's upbeat sound and modern unisex style keep it on our lists.

A rare Finnish name for Christmas babies.