Rare but Recognizable Names
Across 9 pages
of 9
Elsinore
Literary place name, English, Danish
"narrow strait"
The famous home of Hamlet in Shakespeare's great play, Elsinore is based on Kronborg Castle in eastern Denmark. Known as Helsingør in Danish, it guarded the narrow entryway to the Baltic Sea for…
Ainsworth
Place name and surname, English
"Ægen's estate; owner of the estate"
A preppy surname which could work as a tough and distinctive alternative to Ainsley, Ainsworth blends the sounds of the the 2000s favorite with a modern virtue-style ending. Originally a place name…
Ellette
English compound of Elle + Etta
"little light; Little girl"
A little like Elliot (or Elliette), Electra, and Etta, Ellette is a zippy but rarely used compound name.
Ismerie
French
This French form of the name Ismeria is one of those uncommon names that's been consistently used in France since the middle ages.The origins of this rare name are shrouded in mystery. Ismeria /…
Innogen
Celtic
"daughter, maiden"
Innogen is the Shakespearean name that never was. Most sources will tell you that Shakespeare intended to use Innogen for a character in Cymbeline , but his printer mistook the twos Ns for an M, thus…
Avonlea
Place name
"river by a field"
As all good Anne of Green Gables buffs would know, Avonlea is the fictional Canadian town created by L. M. Montgomery that Anne Shirley considers home. The literary creation inspired a real Canadian…
Calandra
Greek
"lark"
Calista Flockhart opened the door to a whole flock of graceful and unusual Greek names like this, including Calantha, Calla, Carissa, and Cassia. Calandra itself is the name of a species of lark, and…
Calanthe
English from Greek
"Christmas orchid"
If you love Calliope and Callista, you'll love Calanthe, which combines the trendiness of the Greek 'cal' names with the equally fashionable "the" ending (like Xanthe and Evanthe) and a connection to…
Liriel
Brazilian
"lily"
Possibly a variant of Lirio, from Latin lilium .
Bryndis
Icelandic
"armoured goddes"
A strong, sleek name with a hint of mystique and legend around it, Bryndis is comprised of the Old Norse elements , brynja and dís meaning "armour" and "goddess" respectively. Usually spelled…
Myrna
Irish
"festive; affection, endearment"
An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a…
Freydis
Norse, Icelandic
"goddess Freya, lady + priestess"
Also spelled as Freydís, this Norse and Icelandic name appears in Norse mythology, borne by Viking warrior and half-sister of Lief Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir. While Freda and Freya are far more…
Kerrigan
Irish surname
"son of Ciaragán"
An attractive Irish surname that is currently used exclusively for girls in the US, likely due to the feminine associations with the first name Kerry and with skating champion Nancy Kerrigan.…
Spruce
Tree name
A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.
Clady
Irish
"muddy banks of a river; rocky place, stony shore"
The name of a river and several places in Northern Ireland, Clady comes from the Irish cladaigh meaning "rocky shore; muddy river banks." Also used as a surname, it feels reminiscent of Brady, Grady,…
Farley
English
"fern clearing"
Actor Farley Granger set it in motion, now could be a gentler alternative to Harley.
Floy
Floy is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Welsh name Floyd (meaning 'grey-haired' or 'grey'), function as a shortened form of Florence, or have roots as a…
Umber
Color name
Conjures up the rich brown colors of raw and burnt umber, but it may be too close to girls' Amber.
Jemison
English
"son of James"
A variant of Jameson or Jamison, borne by the first Black woman in space, former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison.
Caedmon
Anglo-Saxon, Brythonic
"battle, wise warrior"
An ancient name with poetic and mystical qualities, Caedmon was borne by a 7th-century poet, notable for being the first English poet to have their name recorded. Caedmon appears in the 8th-century…