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Unusual Girl Names

  1. Yesenia

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "palm tree; flower"

    • Description:

      Yesenia is a Latinx favorite popularized by a character on a Spanish-language soap opera. Jessenia is another variation. The name is drawn from the name of a palm tree in South America, but Yesenia is also an Arabic name meaning flower, making it an excellent cross-cultural choice.
  2. Velvet

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a fabric characterized by a short soft dense warp pile"

    • Description:

      Velvet is a name that couldn't possibly be softer or more luxuriant. Many people have fond memories of it via the character of Velvet Brown, played by the young Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, an intrepid young woman willing to masquerade as a boy to race her horse in a dangerous steeplechase.
  3. Altalune

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "over the moon"

    • Description:

      Altalune is an invention used by Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson as one of several middle names for their daughter. It's evocative Latin meaning roughly translates to "over the moon." Celebrity baby Altalune will be called the more familiar Luna for short.
  4. Sidonie

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Sidon "

    • Description:

      Sidonie is an appealing and chic French favorite that is starting to attract some American fans as a fresher alternative to Sydney. Also spelled Sidony, Sidonie was the birth name of the French novelist Colette.
  5. Kamaria

    • Origin:

      Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"

    • Description:

      Lush and unusual.
  6. Ever

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "always, eternally, constantly"

    • Description:

      A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends when he named his now grown-up actress daughter Ever back in the 70s, while more recently, it was used by both Milla Jovovich and Owain Yeoman.
  7. Catriona

    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      This Katherine variation, used through Ireland and Scotland, is pronounced like Katrina. The name became popular after the Crusaders brought home stories about the colorful fourth century martyr, Catherine of Alexandria. Its later popularity increased following the success of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1893 Catriona, the sequel to Kidnapped.
  8. Tempest

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "turbulent, stormy"

    • Description:

      Tempest is one of those names that could go either way. Cool, evocative modern word name? Or asking for trouble? Your call, but if you decide the former image is dominant, be warned that some people will see it as the latter.
  9. Patience

    • Origin:

      Latin virtue name

    • Meaning:

      "ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"

    • Description:

      Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's and 2000s, having been absent for a century.
  10. Evangelina

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of good news"

    • Description:

      Why is Evangeline so popular -- close to Number 200 in the US -- while Evangelina hasn't charted in the Top 1000 since the early 1950s? The stardom of Evangeline Lilly has something to do with the relative popularity of that form, but Evangelina is just as pretty and romantic but given to only 10% as many baby girls.
  11. Evaine

    • Description:

      Evaine is a feminine name with medieval and Celtic undertones. It may be a variant of Yvaine, which appears in Arthurian legends, or related to names like Evan or Eve. The name carries an ethereal, mystical quality that evokes images of ancient forests and medieval tales. With its soft sounds and unusual letter combination, Evaine strikes a balance between being recognizable and distinctive. Though rare in modern usage, the name appeals to parents drawn to names with literary or mythological connections. Its elegant sound and spelling make it feel both timeless and fresh. The name may also appeal to those seeking Celtic-inspired names that aren't as common as Erin or Siobhan.

  12. Ren

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "water lily, lotus"

    • Description:

      In Japan the lotus is the Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. In the US, Ren can also be short for Lauren or Renee, but it could be misspelt as the more popular Wren.
  13. Embry

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "flat-topped hill"

    • Description:

      Though Embry became famous as the name of a boy werewolf in Twilight, we think its Em- beginning and -y ending make it perfectly appropriate for a girl. You might consider it as an alternative to Emma, Emily, or Aubrey. Embry or Embury is an established English surname.
  14. Beretta

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      A Beretta is a gun, so named because of the Italian firearms manufacturer that makes it. And now Beretta is also a badass baby name, used in the middle for daughter Breeze by Bristol Palin baby daddy Levi Johnston. What a Tripp.
  15. Viviette

    • Origin:

      French variation of Vivian

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      Embroidered lace hankie of a name, used in a Thomas Hardy novel. That literary cred lends some gravitas.
  16. Venus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "love, desire"

    • Description:

      The name of a heavenly planet and the Roman goddess of beauty and love was an intimidating no-no until tennis champ Venus Williams put an athletic, modern spin on it.
  17. Tala

    • Origin:

      Persian, Arabic, Tagalog, Samoan, Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "gold; turmeric; star; story; noble"

    • Description:

      Tala is a super multicultural name with roots in many diverse languages and cultures. In Northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia, it is a diminutive derived from Adelheid "noble", long used as a standalone name.
  18. Calantha

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lovely flower"

    • Description:

      Another of the new Greek-accented Cal- names.
  19. Lake

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would make a particularly cool and refreshing middle name, as Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady did for daughter Vivian.
  20. Remember

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      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.