Nameberry's Favorite Unique Names

  1. Elva
    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Alf or anglicized form of Ailbhe, Danish, Icelandic, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "elf; bright, light, white"
    • Description:

      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 remained in the charts until the 1970s before falling out of favor.
  2. Odelia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, German
    • Meaning:

      "I will praise the Lord or wealth"
    • Description:

      Pretty Hebrew name that would create a strong but feminine impression, as well as a variant of the Germanic name Odilia or Ottilie.
  3. Mercer
    • Origin:

      French occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "a merchant"
    • Description:

      Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic namesakes.
  4. Wishmay
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      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 whimsy feel.
  5. Oslo
    • Origin:

      Norwegian place name, Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "meadow at the foot of a hill"
    • Description:

      Oslo, the capital city of Norway, makes for an intriguing new place name, especially with its bookended O's, as in Otto and leads to cool nickname Ozzie. One Berry has already used it and we predict others will follow; in fact, stats suggest it is used eight times more often than it was a decade ago.
  6. Fern
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "plant name"
    • Description:

      A fresh, green, rising nature name for girls that would make a cool possibility for a baby boy as well. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 for boys a handful of times since naming records began.
  7. Latham
    • Origin:

      English, Norse
    • Meaning:

      "the barn"
    • Description:

      An outdoorsy but smart feeling choice, Latham could be perfect for those looking for undiscovered last names as first names. Similar in style to Graham, Layton, and Linden, it has its origins in the Old Norse word hlaða meaning "barn", which could make it an interesting choice for those honoring family who've been in farming or who like the idea of having a smallhold of their own.
  8. Annabeth
    • Origin:

      Combination of Anna and Beth
    • Description:

      This is a long-recognized smoosh name merging Anna with the short form of Elizabeth, and is one of the prettiest combo names, a possible alternative to Annabel.
  9. Fenella
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "white-shouldered one"
    • Description:

      More unusual than Fiona and more user-friendly than Fionnuala, the engaging Scottish Fenella, has been scarcely heard in this country.
  10. Endellion
    • Origin:

      Cornish place and saint's name
    • Meaning:

      "fire soul"
    • Description:

      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 name was brought into modern usage by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who used it as one of the middle names for his fourth child, a baby girl.
  11. Solas
    • Origin:

      Invented name, or Norwegian or Spanish surname
    • Meaning:

      "pride; light, bright"
    • Description:

      Solas is a surname name in both Norwegian (as Solås) and Spanish (as Solás), but it was introduced as a first name via the video game franchise Dragon Age. In the series, Solas is an Elven mage whose name is derived from the Elven word for "pride".
  12. Sholto
    • Origin:

      Scottish from the Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "sower"
    • Description:

      Rugged but gentle, Sholto is a traditional Scottish first name, especially within the Douglas clan, with Sholto Douglas being its mythical ancestor. It is an Anglicized form of Sìoltach, meaning "sower".
  13. Balian
    • Origin:

      Frenchified form of Barisan, Historical
    • Description:

      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 acted as the leader of the defence during the siege of the city. His actual name was Barisan, like his father before him, but Balian is believed to be the Old French adaptation.
  14. Jago
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Cornish variation of Jacob
    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"
    • Description:

      Jago is a dashing alternative to overused favorite Jacob.
  15. Somerled
    • Origin:

      Norse, Scottish Gaelic, “summer traveler”
    • Description:

      A rare and evocative name which calls to mind warm, endless summer days. This is an Anglicized form of the Old Norse name Sumarliði, also found in Scottish Gaelic as Somhairle (pronounced SO-ar-lee). The Sorley spelling is now more popular in Scotland.
  16. Tevel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Yiddish
    • Meaning:

      "world, universe"
    • Description:

      Derived from the Hebrew word for "universe, macrocosm, world", this modern choice may appeal to those who like Evren for its meaning.
  17. Kitsu
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "orange, tangerine; good luck"
    • Description:

      Sweet and colorful, Kitsu is Japanese name with a sleek and stylish sound. Meaning "good luck" or "tangerine, manadarin, orange tree" depending on which kanji are used, the name may also bring to mind Kitsune, a fox spirit from Japanese folklore with powers to shapeshift and bewitch.
  18. Tanith
    • Origin:

      Phoenician
    • Meaning:

      "serpent lady"
    • Description:

      Name of the Phoenician deity who was the patron of Carthage, goddess of the moon, and a fertility figure. Variations include Tanit, Tanis, and Tanitha. The name is frequently misinterpreted to be an Irish name meaning "estate." Despite this august heritage, the original form of the name is a bit lispy for use in modern English-speaking lands.
  19. Taliesin
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "shining brow"
    • Description:

      Poetic and handsome with a hint of mystique and magic around it, this rugged Welsh name may appeal as an alternative to Tristan or Taran.
  20. Ebba
    • Origin:

      Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe
    • Meaning:

      "bear god; brave boar"
    • Description:

      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 Emma, Ella, Ada, and similar simple-yet-traditional names, Ebba may enjoy more widespread popularity.

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