Throw some weird ones at me!

[ellicrow]

Elke
Minka
Amity
Ivory
Egret
Kestrel
Gypsum

[namespy]

Haven't got a huge list for you, but these are some of my favourites that I've seen used rarely, even on nameberry:

Circe
Odelle
Harbor
Nele (Ne-ley)

[meepallie]

A name I immediately thought of for you:

Sabra

I know, I know, it ends in an -a. But that brings a little femininity to a name that has some otherwise spunky sounds. And it's a word-name, it's a type of fruit! I'm not sure if it's up-in-the-clouds enough for you, though.

Anyway, give me some time and I'll dig up a few more.

[betsy buttercup]

Sabra is nice-sounding but for me I think of the hummus brand, and it's also a term for a Jew born in Israel so maybe a little too religious (and inaccurate) for me.

Do you guys think Opal is too trendy? Pearl was my third favorite but I know that's getting too popular, but I feel like Opal is not as pretty sounding or popular a gem, though it's my favorite (it's my birthstone).

[roseate6]

Allegory
Luma
Sensa
Aphid
Tacit
Calzone
Hazel
Blackberry
Dandelion
Bigwig
Silver
Avens
(I should quote my source... here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watership_Down)

[beka_92]

You might find this site interesting:

www.lunarberry.com

go to Library-->Resources-->Liber a Nomen

there are many different categories including fairy, shadow, mystic, and nature

[elea]

Here are some old Medieval names (10th-13th century) that rarely used now:

Ailith
Ailed
Amelot
Amphelice
Avice
Duva
Ediva
Endellion
Eseld / Esyllt
Galiena
Lecia
Leva
Lewen / Lewena
Loveday
Idony / Idonea
Imayne
Rametta
Roana
Sedaina / Sedany
Selova (this became the surname Sealeaf)
Theda
Tiphaine


Nature names:

Adelpha
Alisma
Aphrissa
Arete
Caldera
Cassinia
Clematis
Elatine
Esker
Erynnis
Eucharis
Eucheira
Fallow
Freesia
Fuchsia
Gemina
Greyia
Halesia
Hebe
Hedera
Hesperis
Idesia
Issoria
Junonia
Kalimeris
Kaliphora
Laurelia
Linaria
Lunaria
Maranta
Moraea / Morea
Morinda
Marram
Moraine
Myrtle
Neillia
Nicandra
Niphaea
Nolana
Nolina
Ocaria
Oleandra
Olearia
Ottelia
Ourisia
Persea
Persica
Reseda
Rhodora
Selika
Solandra
Sollya
Tilia
Tullia
Ursinia
Valley
Vella
Velleia
Vesta
Wisteria
Xanthisma
Ximenia
Xylaria
Xylia
Yvesia
Zataria
Zelica
Zizania

In the unusual nature category, I recently came across a girl born in 1875 in England called Seaflower. Four of her many sisters were called Ocean, Myrtle, Snowdrop and Bluebell. [http://www.britishbabynames.com/blog...s-of-bray.html]

[betsy buttercup]

Wow! I loved that link elea posted about that British family from the 1800s. Seaflower and Snowdrop just went on my list, as did Ocean, if only just temporarily. The names that really get me all have extremely strong imagery that can't/won't eventually be divorced from the basic sounds of the name, ykwim? Didn't I read somewhere on this site that eventually no matter what they mean names just end up being a collection of sounds? That's why I like these word names so much, because it's way less likely to happen with them.

I'm bookmarking that lunarberry site as well, beka_92. And the Watership Down link, roseate6, thanks for that. Any more comments on Opal anyone?

[marinadancel17]

I love Opal and was actually just going to suggest it.
Some old lady names:
Minnie
Dottie
Flossie

[meepallie]

Love Opal. I wouldn't use it but I think if I met a little Opal running around I would just fall in love. Neat that it's your birthstone, too!

I've been mulling over your situation and parameters here at work, and let me tell ya, it's hard! The only really solid choice I could come up with is probably not out-there enough, but meets the other requirements. Florence. Flowery sounding without being overly voweled, doesn't end in -a, hasn't been in the top 1000 since the 80's and is a bit of an old-lady name.