By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 35 pages
of 35
Latin
"annunciation"
A religious name, referring to the announcement by the Virgin Mary that she was with child.
"eagle"
This and two other female forms -- AQUILA and AQUILINA -- of the Roman family name Aquilius might live on in modern times.
"announcement from the gods, oracle"
A pleasantly unfamiliar addition to the ella family of names.
"silvery"
More modern and alluring than Silver, Argenta is one of the few mineral/metal-related names.
"golden"
A bird name from the same Latin root as Aurelia, Oriole is extremely rare as a name: No babies were given the name in the US in 2022. But most people are aware of the Oriole bird, which makes this…
Pretty Victorian-feeling cousin of Ariel; also, more prosaically, a kind of bay window.
"the baptized one"
Probably too evangelical for mass importation.
"blessed"
Saintly, and a Mother Superior to boot.
"Britain"
Hail Britannia? We think not.
Latin place-name for Scotland
"hard or rocky land"
Caledonia is a rhythmic and alluring place name used by singer Shawn Colvin for her daughter. It would make an interesting and apt choice for a girl with Scottish ancestry.
Latin, feminine form of Calvin
There are several better Cal- names that don't simply echo a male form.
"white"
Attractive ancient name borne by several saints but sullied by association with yeast infection.
Swedish from Latin
"beloved"
Carita may feel like an endearing nickname but it's a name in its own right, used throughout Scandinavia in this form and as Karita, Caritas, and Karitas as a variation on Charity.
French from Greek
"charm or delight"
Charmaine is an ancient name connected to Charmion, the name of one of Cleopatra's servants, and Charmian, a Shakespearean name. Its meaning is related to the word charm, though some sources tie it…
Spelling variation of Sela
"rock"
This spelling variation of the Biblical place-name Sela is found on early American census roles, but Sela is more usual today. Cella is another early variation.
Roman
"nourishment"
Little known name of the goddess of the harvest — her name literally means nourishment, and is the origin of the word cereal. A possibility for the parent seeking something original, but with the…
Diminutive of Priscilla
"ancient"
Takes the priss out of Priscilla.
Latin literary name
Clorinda is a romantic name invented by a sixteenth-century poet, but has a synthetic sound today.
Literary elaboration of Clara
"bright, clear"
A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns. "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are…
"lame; enclosure"
Yes, we tend to think of Claude as a male name and Claudia and Claudette as the female, but this ancient clan name is used in France for girls as well as boys, and could make a distinctively chic boy…
