Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool
Updated Mon May 19 2025
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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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- Eluned
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"idol, image"Description:
Romantic and mysterious, Eluned's beauty and intelligence were legendary in Welsh legend; she was the handmaiden of the Lady of the Fountain in a Welsh Arthurian romance, who had a magic ring that made the wearer invisible. Pronunciation is usually similar in emphasis to Eleanor, but with ned instead of nor at the end. However, it's sometimes also pronounced el-LIN-ed or even shortened to Luned, the sounce of Lynette, in Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette.
- Kit
Origin:
English diminutive of Katherine, GreekMeaning:
"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.
- Nyx
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"night"Description:
In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, but when spoken, its negative meaning can't be ignored.
- Nell
Origin:
English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et alMeaning:
"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.
- Isolde
Origin:
Welsh, GermanMeaning:
"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.
- Isadora
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"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.
- Eyre
Origin:
Literary name and Old NorseMeaning:
"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.
- Brilliana
Origin:
Invented name, Celtic, EnglishMeaning:
"from Brill; from the hunting preserve; brilliant"Description:
A word-adjacent name, reminiscent of brilliant and brilliance, Brilliana is older than you might be thinking. It was coined by Lord Conway back in the late 16h century for his daughter, Lady Brilliana Harley, who went on to become a notable English letter-writer, fluent in multiple languages.
- Arwen
Origin:
Literature, Sindarin, WelshMeaning:
"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.
- Ione
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"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.
- Kephirah
Origin:
Variation of Chephirah, HebrewMeaning:
"young lioness; village"Description:
A distinctive Biblical place name, Kephirah could make an interesting alternative to the more familiar Keziah, Keturah, and Sapphira. Also spelled as Chephirah (and sometimes Kefeera, Kfira, Kephira, Kefirah, Kefira, and Kephyra too), it derives from the Hewrew kephir which can mean both "young lion" and "walled village".
- Vesper
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"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.
- Yuna
Origin:
Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, DutchMeaning:
"superiority, gentleness, 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.
- Azure
Origin:
English color nameMeaning:
"sky blue"Description:
Azure is a colorful gender-neutral choice, currently used equally for baby girls and boys in the US. It refers to a specific shade of blue seen in a cloudless sky. Elon Musk recently revealed Azure to be the name of his daughter with Shivon Zilis, twin sister to Strider. While X and Y didn't stand a chance at greater popularity, parents may be inspired to use the name Azure following this celebrity endorsement.
- Maple
Origin:
English tree name from LatinMeaning:
"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.
- Zinnia
Origin:
Flower name, from German surnameMeaning:
"Zinn's flower"Description:
Zinnia is an unusual floral choice with a bit more edge and energy than most and beginning to find its way onto namers' wish lists of botanical possibilities. Named after an eighteenth German botanist called Johann Gottfried Zinn, it appears in Roald Dahl's Matilda as the young protagonist's mother.
- Lucinda
Origin:
Variation of LuciaMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucinda, an elaboration of Lucia created by Cervantes for his 1605 novel Don Quixote, is a pleasingly pretty alternative to Lucy. It was subsequently used by Moliere in his play The Doctor in Spite of Himself' (1666). More in tune with the times than Linda, Belinda and Melinda, it could be used to honor someone with one of those dated names.
- May
Origin:
Diminutive of Margaret and Mary; month nameDescription:
May is a sweet old-fashioned name that hasn't been on the national charts in several decades, but is definitely sounding fresh and springlike. Parents are beginning to see it once more as one of the prettiest middle name options. May was as high on the list as Number 57 in the 1880s; it's now 228 on Nameberry.
- Sunniva
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"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.
- Hyacinth
Origin:
Flower name, from GreekMeaning:
"blue larkspur; precious stone"Description:
Though it may not be as sweet and gentle as, say, Violet, the purple-hued Hyacinth still might hold some appeal for the parent seeking a truly unusual flower name.