By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 119 pages
of 119
Norwegian
"divine strength"
This Scandinavian name was made famous in English-speaking countries as the name of the dog in the "Thin Man" series. Danish actress Asta Nielsen was another famous bearer. Asta can be considered as…
Short form of Eleanor
A sweet, breezy short form of Eleanor, that happens to coincide with the name of an ancient Italian town. It is a popular choice in Switzerland, Finland, and France, though the spellings Eléa and…
Sanskrit
"desire"
Esha is a lovely Indian name that would work well outside the Indian sub-continent, perhaps as a substitute to the more unisex Asher.
Evyn is a modern feminine variation of Evan, which derives from the Welsh name Iefan, a form of John meaning 'God is gracious.' Though traditionally a masculine name, Evyn has gained popularity as a…
Diminutive of Alexandra
There were over 1000 baby girls named Lexi -- just Lexi -- in 2015, versus only 72 named Lexy. The reason that Lexi wins: Many parents see the i ending as more feminine for a nickname-name that might…
Hebrew
"my God"
A common girl name in Israel that could travel well to the US.
Roman
"god of war; male; red planet"
Men may be from Mars as the saying goes, and the name may derive from the Latin maris meaning male, but soul singer Erykah Badu and Workaholics star Blake Anderson have given it potential as a unisex…
"light, or furrow, plowed field"
Symbolic name given to girls born on TuB'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
Iranian/Persian
"fairy"
Simple yet meaningful Iranian name that would make an excellent import to the English-speaking world.
English
"first or demure"
As a name, Prim is generally short for Primrose – as in the sweet younger sister of heroine Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games . But a word of warning: it also coincides with the English word…
Saba is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it means 'grandfather' or 'aged one,' though as a female name it takes on different connotations. In Arabic, Saba refers to the…
Hebrew, diminutive of Samantha, or Arabic
"praised"
Sami is cute if overused in its more familiar Sammy form.
Galician
"angel"
A diminutive of Anxela in the Galician language of north-eastern Spain. Also used as a modern invented name in the US, for example as a backwards spelling of Alex.
Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Latvian, Albanian
"God is Gracious; lily; voice, fairy"
An international possibility, heard from England and Israel to Poland, Latvia, and Albania. It is a name with a vast range of possible meanings and origins, including: a Polish variation of Jane,…
Zori is a multicultural feminine name with several possible origins. In Japanese, it refers to traditional sandals, giving the name a cultural connection and distinctive meaning. In Slavic languages,…
Swedish
"early"
While Arla has a literal meaning in Swedish, its roots as a name are probably more closely related to such names as Arlene or Orla. Arla is among the girls' Top 1000 names in the UK.
Cing is a unique feminine name with roots in Burmese culture, particularly among the Chin ethnic group of Myanmar. The name is typically pronounced as 'sing' and may carry cultural significance…
Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe
"bear god; brave boar"
Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of…
Laci is a feminine name with multiple origins. It can be considered a modern variation of Lacey, which derived from a Norman surname referring to a person from Lassy, France. It also has connections…
Hindi
"religious service"
Unlike Pamela and Melanie, Mela feels fresh and unusual.
