Updated May 2023
Across 15 pages
of 15
Latin
"time of sowing"
Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases.
Feminine form of Sebastian, Latin from Greek
"person from the city of Sebastia"
Some names rise in tandem in their male and female forms, but Sebastia is very rare while the male Sebastian is quite popular. But it certainly might be an attractive choice.
English word name
"kept from knowledge or view"
Mysterious. In 2016, 13 baby girls in the United States were given this unusual word name -- at least according to the Social Security Administration. We can't help but suspect that some of those…
French; river name
River is rising as a new favorite name, and names of rivers are also increasingly used for our child. The Seine winds through the city of Paris, with dozens of bridges crossing the river at different…
Amharic
"peace"
A unisex name with a lovely serene meaning in the Ambaric language of Ethiopia.
English
"from the willow farm"
Selby, a rarely heard British surname, feels sleeker and more distinctive than Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.
Egyptian
"(she who) tightens the throat, (she who) causes the throat to breathe"
Also spelled Selqet, Serket and Serqet, Selket was the Ancient Egyptian goddess of the scorpions and of magic. She was a helpful goddess and protected souls on their journey to the afterlife. She is…
Scottish
"seal folk"
A mystical name with a watery feel to it, selkies are mythical creatures that resemble seals in the water but assume human form on land. Appearing in Scottish folklore, their name comes from the word…
Video game name
Selphie Tilmitt is a character in the popular video game Final Fantasy VIII. An orphan like the other main characters, she's described as upbeat, friendly, and energetic....though she wields a mean…
Japanese mythology name
Simple, Zen-like name of a mythological forest elf.
Spanish
"a sign"
Nearly unknown here, with good reason.
Variation of Azenor, Breton
"light"
The origins of Senara, the name of a Cornish saint who is patron of the village of Zennor, are not so straightforward. Some say she was the same person as Azenor, a legendary Breton princess whose…
Spanish variation of Serafina, Hebrew
Would certainly be misconstrued as SERAFINA, adding a lot of confusion to a little girl's life.
Hebrew
"the burning one"
In Abrahamic religions, a seraph is an angelic being that originated in Ancient Judaism. As a girl name, Seraph may be used as a short form of Seraphina or similar names.
"unexpected good fortune"
A unique virtue name with a sound as happy and lively as its meaning.
Italian, elaboration of Serena
"serene"
Both rhythmic and serene, Serenella is one of the Italian names for girls virtually unknown in the US but definitely usable. An unusual route to Ella as a short form?
Inuit, Native American
"snow"
One of the many Inuit words for snow.
Egyptian mythological name or variation of Seth, Hebrew
"appointed, placed"
Author Toni Morrison is an acknowledged master of naming, and Sethe, the name of one of the main characters of Beloved , which can be pronounced as Seth or Seth-eh, relates to the male biblical name…
French, feminine variation of Severus; Latin
"stern"
This long-popular name in France sounds fresh, elegant and unusual here. Severine is the name of the most recent gorgeous James Bond Girl in the film Skyfall . Students of film history will associate…
Turkish
"love"
The Turkish word for "love" is a Gen X name in its country of origin, but is a fresh option in the US. It debuted on the charts in 2021 thanks to the Turkish soap opera Adı Sevgi ( Its Name's Love ),…