Invented Girl Names

Cardi B is the stage name of the rapper born Belcalis Almanzar. The name Cardi originated as a short form of Bacardi, a nickname the musician got because her sister is named Hennessy, after the cognac. The B, she says, stands for a range of things, depending on the day, including Belcalis and Bacardi. Cardi is one invented name that's found instant fame and could go much further. For now, it's definitely one of the most talked-about girl names starting with C.

Invented in the early 20th century, along with similar names Sanelma and Anelma. Ihanelma was derived from the Finnish word ihana, meaning "lovely" or "sweet."

Dynamo is a newly-invented word name that's on trend in several different ways. It's got an o ending, an uplifting meaning, and it's gender-neutral. And what kid wouldn't want Dynamo as a middle name?

A name inspired by such popular choices as Hailey, Halsey, and Hallie.

An intriguing, plausible name--kind of a Nell-Hillary combo--created by L. Frank Baum for a character in his book The Lost Princess of Oz.

See JALEN.

Mistelle is a modern invention combining Misty with the evergreen feminine suffix 'elle'. This name is occasionally seen in Australia.

Illusia was created in 1944 by the Finnish author Yrjö Kokko for his fairy tale Pessi and Illusia. In the story, Illusia is a rainbow-dwelling fairy who falls in love with an initially-pessimistic troll, appropriately named Pessi. The fairy tale was adapted into a movie in 1984 and is also a ballet in Finland.

Ungainly hybrid of Randi and Danielle.

Actress Gabrielle Union and basketball great Dwyane Wade brought this one into the lexicon when they chose in for their daughter, Kaavia James.

Amalisa is a smoosh of the prefix of Amabel and Amanda, which means lovable, and Lisa, a diminutive of Elizabeth that's long been used on its own. In some ways, it's an improvement on all of its root names -- fresher and more distinctive than Amanda or Lisa and easier to understand than Amabel, which is often confused with Annabel. Though Amalisa can be similarly confused with Annalisa which will inevitably become annoying.

A famous bearer is Valaida Snow (1904-1956), an American jazz musician who achieved international renown.

She looked like a model but she was really an evil many-tentacled monster in Men in Black: your child will never forgive you if you choose this name. And neither will we.

Unfortunate name that's become a caricature, like Muffy, say, or Bruce.

Harleth is a name which probably stems from combining the oh-so-trendy Harlow with the evergreen Elizabeth. However, literary parents may also remember the beautiful but difficult character Gwendolen Harleth from George Eliot's Daniel Deronda. Harleth has a fashionable edge to it, being associated with rising supermodel Harleth Kuusik.