Distant Relatives

Albertina is a dainty, antiquated -- dare we say demure? -- pet name for Alberta, the feminine spin on the once-popular Albert. With Albert one of the classic boys' names due for a comeback, we can imagine more little girls named Albertina than the zero who get the name today.

With the first two syllables pronounced Georgie, it has a stylish Masterpiece Theatre air.

Livona is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from Livonia, a historical Baltic region encompassing parts of modern Latvia and Estonia, giving it geographic significance. Alternatively, it could be a variant of Lavona or Levona, names with Hebrew roots meaning 'white' or 'moon-like.' The name has classical overtones similar to names like Livonia or Lavinia from Roman history. Livona remains quite rare in English-speaking countries, making it an uncommon choice with an elegant, melodic quality. Its three syllables flow gracefully with soft consonants. The name carries an air of antiquity and sophistication while remaining accessible in pronunciation, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet not completely unfamiliar in structure.

The biblical Zilpah was a handmaiden of Leah who had two sons with Jacob, Gad and Asher. Zilpah is a one-hit wonder, appearing on the US Top 1000 only one year, 1881. No baby girls were named Zilpah in the US last year.