Nameberry Favorites · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Nameberry's Favorite Unique Names
Across 6 pages
of 6
Wishmay
Word name
A whimsical word name, Wishmay could reflect the phrase "Wish I may" or alternativel, "May all your wishes come true" . It could then be connected with dreams, hopes, and fancies, adding to that…
Elva
Feminine form of Alf or anglicized form of Ailbhe, Danish, Icelandic, Irish
"elf; bright, light, white"
Elva is a multicultural choice, being both an anglicization of the Irish Ailbhe and an feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf". Popular in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, it…
Isolde
Welsh, German
"ice ruler"
Sleek, sharp, and soulful, Isolde is the German form of Iseult, the fabled lover of Tristan in the Arthurian romances. First appearing in the 12th-century, the name was fairly popular in the form of…
Ferelith
Scottish
"true sovereignty"
Ferelith is an unusual yet deeply-rooted Scottish girl's name, also found in ancient Ireland and drawn from the Gaelic Forbhlaith or Forbflaith. While it went through a period of dormancy after the…
Endellion
Cornish place and saint's name
"fire soul"
Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient…
Kelso
Scottish place and surname
"chalk ridge, lime mountain"
This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey. Distinctive in sound with a cool -o ending and a stylish K initial,…
Nimue
Celtic Mythology (one of the names of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legends)
Nimue (Lady of the Lake) is the ruler of Avalon in the Arthurian legend. Nimue plays a pivotal role in many stories, including giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising…
Orpheus
Greek mythology name
"the darkness of the night"
Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.
Zihna
Hopi, Arabic
"she spins; perceptive, intellectual"
A name with multicultural origins, Zihna is a Hopi name with the lively and vibrant meaning of "she spins". Rare yet familiar, it may appeal to parents with Hopi heritage and an energetic baby. Zihna…
Balian
Frenchified form of Barisan, Historical
The protagonist of the 2005 Ridley Scott movie, Kingdom of Heaven Balian was a real-life historical figure, also known as Balian of Ibelin, a 12th century crusader of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, who…
Eider
Animal name or Basque
"beautiful"
An eider is a sea duck whose feathers make ultra-soft eiderdown. Eider is also one of the fastest-rising boys' names that's still under the radar, increasing more than a thousand places in popularity…
Aravah
Hebrew
"willow"
Also spelled as Arava, this pretty yet rugged name has two possible nature meanings. On one hand, it may come from aravot , the word for willow branch, a significant part of the Jewish holiday of…
Stjärna
Swedish
"star"
Ultimately derived from the Old Norse word for star, Stjärna is the Swedish form. Pronounced as SHA-na or KHA-na (kh like the sound in loch) depending on where you are in Sweden, it is a rare word…
Jenilyn
Compound of Jenifer and Lyn
"pretty white wave, pretty white shadow; white wave in the lake"
A retro smoosh name, blending popular Jennifer, the Cornish form of Guinevere, with favorite suffix -lyn. As such, it may mean "pretty white wave" or "white wave in the lake" depending on which…
Eviana
Elaboration of Eva
"life"
A fresh feeling elaboration of Eva or Eve, in the style of Liliana or Eliana. It could be considered a compound name too, blending Eve and Ana, giving it the meaning "life and grace" or "graceful…
Nairne
Scottish
"river with alder trees"
A name with a pleasing nature meaning, a surname style, and pleasant Scottish burr. Reminiscent of Mare, Raine, and Blair, it is as yet undiscovered as a first name.
Faine
English
"joyful"
A cool one syllable choice with a cheerful meaning.
Rohana
Sanskrit
"sandalwood"
A multicultural choice with a variety of meanings, Rohana could make an interesting alternative to Johanna, Rosanna, Rowan, Rowena, or Roshan. It may be considered a variation of the Hindi Rohan,…
Nava
Hebrew, Spanish
"beautiful; from Navarre or Nava"
Short, sweet, and sparky, Nava has been slowly climbing up the US popularity charts in recent years, owing perhaps to its similarity to Nova, Ava, Navy, and Nevaeh. Used quietly but consistently from…
Grenadier
Word name
" assault-specialist soldier; grenade"
A bold word name, a grenadier refers to a soldier who throws grenades during battles. Originally, when it started being used as a term in the 18th century, it referred to those who threw hand…