By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 35 pages
of 35
Latin
"lost"
A Shakespearean invention for an abandoned baby in The Winter's Tale , Perdita's sense of loss has always been off-putting to parents. But her image was somewhat resuscitated by its association with…
Roman and Italian feminine variation of Petronius
"yokel, woodpecker, stone"
Petronilla is an ancient saint's name that relates to the Roman family name Petronius, thought to mean yokel or woodpecker, though some connect it with Petra or Peter, meaning stone. With the…
"apple"
This name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees is also associated with a suburban town in Southern California.
"first"
Will assure your daughter she's numero uno.
"first rose"
Primula is related to Primrose, the name and the flower, and would make a quirky yet charming (or is it charming yet quirky?) botanical name for a first daughter.
"small plum"
Most ella names are hot, but this is one that won't catch fire because of the disagreeable connotations of prunes.
"fourth"
Octavia has the numerical meaning doubled (eighth) and is much more user-friendly.
"the fifth"
Like Quentin, Quintin and Quintana, Quintia was once reserved for the fifth child in a family, but now would make an interesting choice for a child coming anywhere in the birth order.
"fifth"
The daintiest and most accessible of the many Q names for a fifth child, now used for girls situated anywhere in the birth order.
"essence"
Sounds like a fictional rank of royalty.
Feminine variation of Quirinus, Roman mythology name
Quirina is the feminine form of Quirinus, the name of the Sabine god of war. This is one mythological name that has not traveled to the modern world -- we've found no babies ever name Quirina or…
"to be born again"
Common French and German alternative to Renata.
"the fragrant mignonette blossom"
A town in the San Fernando Valley: slightly better than Encino or Tarzana.
Variation of Rosanna or Latin
"sweet"
Most modern parents would probably prefer the cooler Rowan.
Latin, Italian variation of Romulus, one of he founders of Rome
Romola is a literary name most notably used by George Eliot for her eponymous 1862 novel set in fifteenth-century Florence. It just may appeal to the parent looking for a name that embodies the ideal…
"whole, healthy"
Another name for the herb sage -- which sounds younger and more modern than this version.
"time of sowing"
Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases.
French female form of Sebastian, Latin from Greek
"man of Sebastia"
Sebastiane is not a common feminization but may become more so as Sebastian achieves international popularity.
"seventh"
Name for a seventh child, back when people had them.
Latin, feminine variation of Tacitus
"silence"
This Roman mythology name for the goddess of silence has the ancient Roman feel now coming into fashion, as boys begin to have names like Atticus and Aurelius.
