Girls names

Term for a native-born Israeli, first brought to notice in Edna Ferber's 1929 novel Cimarron. Prickly pear has been interpreted to mean tough on the outside, soft and sweet within.

Now a mostly-male name, in its earliest incarnation Douglas was used equally for girls and boys and could certainly make a comeback as one of the new boy names for girls".

Sanne is hugely popular in the Netherlands, but almost unknown here; which makes it an interesting prospect for the parent in search of an unusual name. Pronounced sah-na, Sanne is in keeping with the Dutch taste for nicknames plucked from the middle or end of a name vs. the beginning, such as Bas for Sebastien or Bram for Abram.

Parents searching for a simple, peaceful name may be attracted to this one.

Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.

An attractive North Carolina unisex place name, Raleigh's soft sound is particularly appropriate for a girl.

One of the best-known African names in the Western World because of the Somali-born model and wife of the late David Bowie.

A common Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean unisex name, and the name of a culturally rich Chinese Dynastic period. Yao Ming is the seven and a half foot Shanghai-born basketball star. Trivia tidbit: His parents were the tallest couple in China at the time of his birth.

In keeping with other short names like Poe and Bo, Coe is a surname that could easily move into first place. It has a sports hero factor as well, in Olympic runner Sebastian Coe — who later became a Member of Parliament.

As a name, Topaz is a quietly used option, with a distinctive ending and a sleek but sassy feel. As a golden gemstone, it is said to have energizing properties and bring good luck to those who wear it. It is also the the birthstone for November, making it an ideal choice for a spirited November baby.

Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.

Alika is a multicultural choice that's far off the beaten track.

Merrill, once fairly common for males, is rarely used for girls (or boys either, for that matter) with this spelling. Chef Emeril Lagasse dropped the initial E from his name and called his daughter Meril.

Name introduced here via Chinese cinema, has middle-place potential.

Teal is one of the prettiest and most straightforward of the new color names -- an ideal middle name choice.

Short form of Adebayo

Marine was trending for a long time in France, but the far right politician Marine (born Marion) LePen has dampened the mood.

Simple, Zen-like name of a mythological forest elf.

Pele is a female name in Hawaiian culture that could make a provocative choice for a modern girls. Others might think you named your daughter after the all-time great soccer player, but the simple, rare, and lovely name Pele has mythological roots.