By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Variant of Senuna
When archeologists discovered a shrine to a previously unknown goddess in England, they initially believed her name to have been Senua. Further research pointed to Senuna as a more likely name.
Variant of Florence, “flourishing”
The name of the lead character in Toni Morrison's novella A Mercy , an enslaved woman who is sent in search of medicine for her sick master. Flora and Florence will both be less likely to create…
Cornish
"holy headland"
Penzance is a port town at the very tip of Cornwall. With its associations with operetta and pirates, Penzance packs quite a bit of zip for a name.
Norse
"gentle victory"
In Norse mythology, Sieglinde is often better known as Signy. In Wagner's Ring Cycle, he uses the name Sieglinde to denote the character who is the twin sister of Siegmund and mother of the hero…
Finnish
"pearl"
A punchy alternative to Pearl as it gains popularity, it may also be used as a short form of Vilhelmina or Wilhelmina.
Greek
"bee-eater bird"
This obscure name from Greek mythology (Merope was one of the Pleiades) is better known from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series, as the name of Tom Riddle's ill-fated mother.
Celtic mythology
One of the many variations of the name of the Lady of the Lake, best known as Nimue.
Portuguese type of dance
The Chula is a traditional type of dance.
Mongolian
"light"
Indigenous Australian
"joyful"
In the language of the Ngurelban people, 'Yera-o' is said to mean "joyful". This Anglicization is reminiscent of other feminine names like Eulalia and could work well for those looking for a less…
Breton
"white flower"
Bleuenn is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, while in France, it is a rare choice, given to a handful of girls. Bleuenn's origins are in Brittany, in the north of France, and it's…
Irish
"fire"
A modern Irish creation, created by blending the masculine Aodh with the feminine suffix -la/em>. It likely drew inspiration from the both popularity of Aiden (also derived from Aodh) and from…
This name offers pronunciation challenges outside of Francophone countries. (Note that Autume is not the French word for Autumn - that would be Automne)
French place name; Old English name
"ax-wolf"
Bardou is a holiday destination in France, known for its pictureque village nestled in mountains. It is also a region of Guinea. As a name, it is more commonly known from its English derivation,…
Irish form of Geraldine
"spear ruler"
Gearóidín is familiar to our Irish members, but is probably unseen outside the Emerald Isle. It would provide some steep challengers to people unfamiliar with Irish names, but since that hasn't…
Norse and French flower name
"poppy"
Poppa of Bayeux was a matriarch of the family that became the House of Normandy. Poppa is a fresh and unexpected medieval name that would work today, given the popularity if Pippa and Poppy.
Welsh
"white, flaxen"
While it may look like it to those unfamiliar, Gwenllian is not a blend of Gwendolyn and Lillian! It is in fact a Welsh name, borne by a medieval Welsh princess noted for her bravery and beauty.…
Persian honorific title
Like masculine version Sayyid, Sayyida is a Persian name that is actually a title - sort of analagous to Lady. Sayyida has a wonderful history behind it - most notably in the form of Sayyida al…
Persian
"modesty"
In Persian culture Esmat (also spelled Ismat) can be a masculine or feminine name. In the West, Esmat could be a refreshing and cosmopolitan take on the more familiar Esme.
"morning"
This modern Finnish word name is a fashionable choice in its home country, having entered into wide usage only since the turn of the 21st century.
