Biblical names are expanding (literally) as some parents move from Isaiah and Elijah to more elaborate choices with simple short forms, like Jedidiah and Zebediah.

A minor prophet who has his own Book, Zephaniah is another Old Testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that Noah and Abraham are becoming too trendy.

Bold and strong, Casimira is a feminine form of Casimir, which ultimately derives from the Slavic elements kaziti and mirŭ meaning "to destroy" and "peace, world". A notable bearer is Casimira Rodríguez who was Bolivia's first indigenous Quechua woman to serve as a government minister.

This bold, poetic name appears in Greek mythology as the hero who tamed Pegasus and slayed the Chimera, but displeased the gods by trying to fly to Olympus. The subject of a play by Euripides and an opera Jean-Baptiste Lully, Bellerophon is also the name of an antidote in the film Mission: Impossible 2 and the nickname of a planet outside of our solar system.

Noêmia is the Brazilian Portuguese form of the Biblical Naomi which could get you to nicknames Mia and Noa. Musician Noêmia Lellis "Nono" is a notable bearer.

Playful yet grandiose, Biondina is a rare name of Italian origin, borrowing from the word bionda meaning "blonde". It was notably used as the title for a portrait by 19th century artist Frederic Leighton.

Priscillian is a rare name, both in terms of how little it is used in current times and that it is a masculinization of the Biblical names Prisca and Priscilla. Borne by a 4th century Bishop in Ávila, Spain, notable for creating Priscillianism, a sect of Christianity which was later rejected as heresy by the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.

Borne by a Roman emperor, a Latin poet, and several bishops, Maximian is an English variation of Maximianus or Maximus. A bold and unexpected way to the popular Max or Mack, Maximian might appeal to those who like Octavian, Cassian, Dorian, and Damian.

An elaborate diminutive of Angelo or Ángel, this form may appeal to those who prefer long, intricate names. Pronounced as ang-jeh-LEE-no in Italian and as ang-kheh-LEE-no in Spanish, it is notably borne by Spanish footballer Angeliño (born José Ángel Esmorís Tasende). Sixteen boys were called Angelino in the US in a recent year.

A romantic and elaborate form of the popular Antonio, popular in Italy back in the 90s — and during the Renaissance period too. With playful shortform Nello and grounded Anton too, it has been borne by the 15th-century Italian painter Antonello da Messina, by singer Antonello Venditti, and actor Antonello Fassari.

Journalist Hiawatha Bray is a singular contemporary bearer of this name of a Native-American leader immortalized in a Longfellow poem.

This name of a renowned Apache leader and mystic would be a difficult choice, since it was used as a rallying cry in so many old westerns and by paratroopers jumping out of their planes in World War II.

Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls, who, like many parents, will call the boy the much more manageable Huck. It was also the name of a child on TV's West Wing,

This state name emerged in the eighties along with westerners Dakota and Montana, and it's still used occasionally by high-profile parents such as Summer Phoenix and Casey Affleck. Action man Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) makes Indiana "Indy" forever cool for a boy.

Iolanthe is known primarily through the 1882 Gilbert & Sullivan operetta of that name, in which the title character is a fairy. Iolanthe is a softer version of Yolanda, and is the kind of multi-syllabic classical name once considered too weighty for a modern baby girl, but now within the realm of possibility--this one as a dramatic twist on Violet. The biggest drawback is its variety of legitimate pronunciations in English.

Offbeat flower name, sure to raise some eyebrows. But with Lily, Rose, and even Daisy starting to wilt, more alluring blooms such as Geranium, Magnolia, and Azalea may blossom.

The name of the great Renaissance astronomer and mathematician, Galileo would make a distinctive hero-name for the son of parents involved in those fields. Deriving from Latin and Hebrew, it refers to someone from Galilee, a Biblical place name associated with Jesus's miracles in the New Testament.

Transferred from the geographical name, Jerusalem is a sacred city in many religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is given to around a dozen babies of each sex per year in the US.

The name of a mythically handsome youth – loved by Selene, the moon, who bore him fifty daughters. If you're looking for a mythological name for your son, this might make an excellent choice both rare and appealing.

Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient name was brought into modern usage by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who used it as one of the middle names for his fourth child, a baby girl.