Updated November 2023
Across 94 pages
of 94
Modern invented name
This name received modest usage throughout the twentieth century, though it was never given to more than a handful of girls in any given year. Its etymology most likely involves the combination of…
Spelling variation of Isabeau, French
"pledged to God"
Ysabeau is a rare Creole or Medieval French variation of Isabeau, itself a French a charming variant of Isabel. It appeared in the TV series A Discovery of Witches and subsequently made its debut in…
Latin, female variation of Cassius
"hollow"
The rarely heard feminine version of the saint's name Cassian, this name is elegant and somewhat frilly, but holds the possibility of more straightforward nicknames like Cass, Cassie or Ana. With the…
Hawaiian variation of Cecilia
This Hawaiian name breathes new (warm) life into the traditional Cecilia and offers the added attraction of the spunky "Kiki" as an obvious nickname option.
Compound name, Sophia + Rose, Greek and Latin
"wisdom and rose"
Sophia Rose combines two classic feminine names to create a beautiful double name that balances traditional elegance with floral grace. Sophia, of Greek origin meaning 'wisdom,' has remained…
Hebrew
"pure, clean"
Beruriah, also spelled Beruryah, is the only woman in Talmudic literature whose ideas were taken seriously by her male contemporaries. Living in the second century, she was noted for her high moral…
English
"rose of May"
A quirky twist on Rosemary or a combo of the popular elements Rose and May, this would make a lovely traditional yet surprising middle name. It also works the other way around: Mayrose.
"street name"
Inspired by the Beatles song "Penny Lane", about the sights and sounds of a typical street in Liverpool, England, this quirky smoosh name has charted regularly in the US since 2008.
"bird name"
The name of a small songbird, similar to a Lark – but far less commonly used as a name. Could give you the adorable nickname Pip.
Variation of Emma
Best known as the title of a song by prog rock group Deep Purple, itself named after Emmaretta Marks, an actress and singer who was in the musical Hair at the time. Now that Emma is the most popular…
Greek
"good deeds"
Think the letter X is always cool in names? Meet Eudoxia. An ancient name with a great meaning, associated with a number of saints and Byzantine royals. You might also like the similar Eudocia or…
Italian
"little flame"
Fiametta is the pseudonym Italian Renaissance writer Bocaccio gave to his muse in his writing; her real name was most likely Maria d'Aquino. It was also the title of a ballet in the 19th century.…
"flower of the dawn"
A lush, romantic flower name for people who think Rose, Violet and Lily are 1000 times too popular.
Greek from Latin
"the readycomer"
A name so old that it may predate the written word. Ilithyia is, immediately, the Latinized version of the name of the Greek goddess of childbirth and midwifery, but its roots stretch back to the…
"mournful grip"
An interesting figure from Greek mythology -- an Amazon queen who fought for Troy in the Trojan War -- but no figure could be interesting enough to make that five-syllable mouthful usable today.…
Punic via Latin
"sheltered by Ba'al"
The original Sophonisba was a Carthaginian noblewoman who was alive at the time of the Second Punic War, who became a legend for drinking lethal poison rather than be humiliated by Carthage's Roman…
Greek place name
According to legend -- and, crucially, the Wonder Woman comics and movies -- Themyscira is the home of the Amazons, a mythical race of powerful female warriors. As depicted in the DC comics,…
Roman family name
Servilia is best known as the name of a Roman patrician woman intimately involved with some of the most famed figures in ancient history: she was Caesar's mistress, Brutus's mother and Cato the…
Urdu
"golden"
Sunehra is an Indian name that is largely unknown in English-speaking countries, except maybe via its friendly short form Sunny.
"the happy one"
variation of Gioconda