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Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool

Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Mon May 19 2025
Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool

Rare, unusual, and unique girl names come in many varieties, from ancient to modern, traditional to invented. The best uncommon girls names are those that are unusual and rare but also have deep roots, are attractive, and can fit into contemporary life.

By rare, unusual, and uncommon girl names, we mean names that don't rank in the Top 100 or even the Top 1000 in most countries, which makes these girl names uncommon no matter where you live. Some people might also define unique names as those that are new and different from traditional names; just remember, everyone's perception of unusual will we different.

Unique nature names for girls seem to be especially primed to rise in popularity. Along with Fawn and Bee, cute unique girl names with nature meanings include Samphire, Lilac, and Tansy.

Rare girl names with celebrity and pop culture ties also have a better-than-average chance of becoming less unique. These include Eleven, Celaena, Dalzary, and Costeen.

But what are the most unique girl names in the world? One-of-a-kind names you create yourself probably qualify. Lots of international girl names are highly unique in the English-speaking world too. Have a look at the Turkish Gozdegul, the Norwegian Tomine, and the Persian Yekta to get an idea.

Of course, there are thousands upon thousands of unique girl names. The choices on this list range from light and cute unique girl names like Tassie and Ellerby to serious rare names such as Biondina and Ethelberta, all organized according to their current popularity on Nameberry.

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Girl Names

Unique Names

  1. Arwen

    • Origin:

      Literature, Sindarin, Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "noble maiden; fair, blessed"

    • Description:

      Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.
  2. Kirrily

    • Origin:

      Aboriginal, Australian

    • Meaning:

      "tree bark or leaf"

    • Description:

      Kirrily, which rhymes with cheerily, is a name that's uniquely popular in Australia. It originated in recent decades as an elaboration of several similar names – the European Kyra or Keira, the Maori Kiri which means tree bark, or the Aboriginal word kira which means leaf – plus the lee sound.
  3. Nell

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et al

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining one"

    • Description:

      Nell, once a nickname for Helen, Ellen, or Eleanor, is a sweet old-fashioned charmer that is fashionably used today in its own right. While Nell is perfectly in tune with contemporary vintage name style, it hasn't taken off the way some of its sisters have and so maintains an air of distinction. Use Nell or Nellie as a short for any name from Eleanor to Penelope or just name her Nell.
  4. Isadora

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of Isis"

    • Description:

      For a long time, Isadora has been overlooked in favor of Isabella, owing perhaps to its association with the tragic modern dancer, Isadora Duncan, or because parents would rather their daughter be a Bella than a Dora. Now, with Theodora back in the charts and vintage names in vogue, Isadora has been slowly gaining more attention over the last decade.
  5. Jezebel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "not exalted"

    • Description:

      Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a strong woman, the power behind the throne. Previously avoided as a baby name, Jezebel is now, along with the also previously avoided Delilah and Desiree, coming into use, helped by its relation to other 'bel' name such as Isabel and Bella.
  6. Kit

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too.
  7. Isolde

    • Origin:

      Welsh, German

    • Meaning:

      "ice ruler"

    • Description:

      Now that Tristan has been rediscovered, maybe it's time for his fabled lover in the Arthurian romances and Wagnerian opera, a beautiful Irish princess, to be brought back into the light as well.
  8. Vesper

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "evening star"

    • Description:

      This Latin word used for evening spiritual services was introduced to baby namers by the Eva Greene character Vesper Lynd in the modern James Bond film Casino Royale in 2006, based on the Ian Fleming novel, and is just now beginning to provoke interest among namers, with its spiritual reference and soft, whispery sound.
  9. Izara

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Basque, Hausa

    • Meaning:

      "shawl; star; section of tree"

    • Description:

      Attractive, rhythmic choice with roots in several languages and cultures. It's a lesser-known a celestial name, meaning "star" in Basque and referring to a star in the constellation Boötes in Arabic.
  10. Minerva

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the mind, intellect"

    • Description:

      Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the mythology names for girls that might appeal to adventurous feminist parents. With Juno and Jupiter, she made the Capitoline triad, whose worship was at the very center of Roman religion.
  11. Eyre

    • Origin:

      Literary name and Old Norse

    • Meaning:

      "gravel bank river"

    • Description:

      This lovely name is best-known as the surname of eponymous Bronte heroine, Jane Eyre, and would make an appealing and distinctive middle name for the child of fans of that book. While the surname Eyre is found mainly in England, its origins are Norse and it's thought to derive from Norse settlers. Still, the status of the classic books means Eyre deserves to stand proudly among English baby names.
  12. Maple

    • Origin:

      English tree name from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "maple tree; tree of the Acer genus"

    • Description:

      Maple is one of those sweet-spot word names that sounds so almost name-like that it doesn't feel outlandish or strange, despite its relative newness as a given name. Just as Juniper is adjacent to June or Pippa, Clover like Chloe or Clara and Ember like Emma or Ebba, Maple is enough like Mabel, Maisie and Mae that it blends in well and has a touch of borrowed vintage charm.
  13. Ione

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"

    • Description:

      This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan.
  14. Sunniva

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "sun gift"

    • Description:

      Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and Sunniva's intact body was found. Sunniva is the patron saint of Western Norway. Her name would make a fascinating and unusual choice for a modern baby girl, and if her story is a bit grim, you can take refuge in the upbeat nickname Sunny or Sunni.
  15. Yuna

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "superiority, gentleness, or citrus fruit; lamb; willow, abundant, child, happy + to reach, to hold; jade + elegant, beautiful; June"

    • Description:

      An attractive, widely appealing, multicultural option, Yuna has its roots in Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese. KPOP singer Yuna may be attracting some attention to her name, as might influencer Yunabugs who shares her life with her eight dachshunds on Instagram. Also used in the game franchise Final Fantasy, it is a popular choice in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
  16. Eulalia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sweetly speaking"

    • Description:

      Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls and similarity to similar Eudora and Eula. Familiar in the US in the early 20th century, it was also a popular choice in Brazil and Spain until the 60s when it fell out of style.
  17. Nixie

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "water nymph"

    • Description:

      If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you. It might also make an update for Nicki.
  18. Nyx

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "night"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, giving this name a dark yet mystical feel. While some may associate too strongly with the word nix (meaning "nothing", "refuse" or "put an end to"), or to the make-up brand Nyx, it was nevertheless chosen for 64 girls (and 26 boys) in the US in a recent year.
  19. Joan

    • Origin:

      English feminine variation of John, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Joan was the perfect name choice for one of the leading characters on Mad Men, being a quintessential girls' name of the period. A Top 10 name in the 30s, a Top 50 name from the 40s through the early 60s, it was the fifth most popular name in the country for three years running and ranks as one of the most common names for girls in the 20th century. But alas, Joan hasn't even appeared in the Top 1000 for a dozen years, and these days it's primarily associated with Joans of the generation of Joan Crawford, Joan Collins and Joan Rivers--just a few of the noted Joans whose ranks also include the singers Joan Sutherland, Joan Baez, Joan Armatrading and Joan Jett. But it's possible that modern parents who are reviving Jane might move on to Joan, inspired by Joan Hollaway Harris.
  20. Fenna

    • Origin:

      Dutch and Frisian

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      The vintage Fenna, an old lady name making a comeback in the Netherlands, originates in Friesland in the northern part of the country, where the Fries language is spoken. Rhyming with Jenna, it's both rare and familiar and could conceivably enjoy wider usage in the English-speaking world as well. Fenna is a Top 50 girls' name in the Netherlands.