Parents seeking a distinctive New Testament name might consider this one. Adopted by some Puritans in the seventeenth century, Persis was used in the William Dean Howells novel The Rise of Silas Lapham for the wife of the protagonist.

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).

An unusual possibility; Zea would fit right in with schoolmates named Tea and Leya.

No one will ever forget it. But Remember as a name came over on the Mayflower, so it has deep history as well as modern potential.

Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.

Gracious African choice.

The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical November nicknames include Nova, Novi, or Ember, making this a natural (if adventurous) choice for a baby girl. November is also, obviously, one of the perfect names for November babies.

Une amie for Gwyneth's little girl.

Israeli-born singer Keren Ann introduced this traditional Hebrew name to the US, where it could well be mistaken for Karen. Nevertheless, 100 girls were given the name in a recent year.

In addition to being the appellation of an ancient grain goddess, this name was also borne by two mythic Irish figures, one of whom was betrothed to legendary chieftain Finn MacCool, the other the brave sixteenth century pirate Grainne Ni Mhaille— known in English as Grace O'Malley-- whose name passed into poetry as a symbol of Ireland.

Thomasine is the feminine form of Thomas, a name of Aramaic origin meaning "twin." This elegant variation emerged during medieval times when feminizing male names by adding suffixes like "-ine" or "-ina" was common practice. While never achieving widespread popularity, Thomasine saw occasional use in England from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. The name carries a distinctive vintage charm with its classical derivation and melodious three-syllable structure. Thomasine offers a more elaborate alternative to the simpler Thomasa or Tomasa variants. Today, it remains quite rare, appealing to parents drawn to historical names with feminine elegance. The name combines traditional roots with an uncommon status, making it both familiar and distinctive.

This is an English surname dating back to 1086, but we don't see it having much of a first name future in the twenty-first century.

Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.

A common name for orange-colored cats. Fun fact: the word pumpkin is derived from the Greek pepōn, translating to "large melon."

Eaton's similarity to Eton gives it an upscale Old School feel, though in the U.S. a name that sound like eatin' could have teasin' potential. Eaton could also sound like the much-more-familiar Ethan with a tough-guy accent.

In the Plymouth Colony of the seventeenth century, Thankful was the third most popular of the abstract word names. It disappeared after 1700 and has virtually no chance of returning.

This Puritan virtue name may be unstylish, but it is also sympathetic and appealing in these largely uncomfortable times.

Pom is a shortened word name that's not much used in France, but cute and familiar here as one of Babar (the Elephant's) triplets. Pom, pommy and pommie are (non-derogatory) terms sometimes used by Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans to denote a person of English heritage. 

Blessing is among the Top 1000 girls' names in the UK and recently joined the ranks in the US as well. With modern spiritual names like Shiloh, Chosen, and Halo trending upwards, Blessing is likely to continue to rise in popularity.

A warm and positive English word name, used by the Puritans for both sexes but now given to only around a dozen baby girls each year.