Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool

Another intriguing and virtually unused Spanish nature name to add to the books.

A relative of the Arabic Salih or Saleh, meaning "virtuous".

Medieval English variant of Petronella or Petronilla, which relate to the male name Peter.

Gelila is a beautiful Ethiopian name that may have two different origins — some sources cite the name as a variation of the Biblical place Galilee, meaning rolling hills. Others view the name as a variation of Biblical Delilah. Whichever way, Gelila is a gorgeous name that would work well in the English-speaking world. The name Gelila is also worn by Ethiopian model Gelila Bekele, former longtime girlfriend of actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry with whom she shares a son.

Israeli spin on Danielle is rarely heard here.

Long forgotten Old Testament name with modern potential.

A unisex surname familiarized by male actor Dabney Coleman, but with potential to carry over to the girl's side as well. Dabney feels in line with the Irish Darcy and Darby.

A bright and succinct name of Turkish origin, with a glowing meaning to match, Zerrin derives from the Persian zarrin. It is also used as the Turkish word for daffodil, lending the name a springy feel. Actress Zerrin Tekindor and singer Zerrin Özer are notable bearers.

Quincy may be unisex, but Quimby is decidedly feminine — at least according to the stats, it's never been used for boys. Perhaps it's because of Beverly Cleary's children's book heroine Ramona Quimby, or the queen-related meaning. In either case, Quimby is a quirky, unexpected choice for a daughter.

This rare, botanical compound could make a bold middle name for a winter baby.

This Arabic name is used for both girls and boys. The high-minded meaning can also be translated as esteem or veneration.

Fate was in the US Top 1000 for boys in the late 19th century, not as a word name but as a short form of the old French name, Lafayette. In the contemporary landscape however, it may well be perceived as a gender neutral word name among English speakers, akin to Destiny, Blessing, Felicity, and Chosen.

A feminist, literary choice that inevitably conjures writer Virginia.

Playful yet grandiose, Biondina is a rare name of Italian origin, borrowing from the word bionda meaning "blonde". It was notably used as the title for a portrait by 19th century artist Frederic Leighton.

Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.

A Turkish compound of the Arabic names Hira and Nur, more common than either of the names individually.

Lynda and Linden meet Kendall and Randall in this surname-style choice, familiar in South African, owing to its use by author and activist Olive Schreiner in her 1883 novel, The Story of an African Farm. In the book, Lyndall is borne by a female character and drawn from the maiden name of Schreiner's mother.

Also spelled as Lyndell and Lyndal, Lyndall is likely an English surname name meaning "lime tree valley" or "linden tree valley", giving it an an outdoorsy feel. Alternatively, however, Lyn may be drawn from the Welsh word for lake, lending it the meaning "lake in the valley".

Jacobine is a rare -- no baby girls received the name in the US last year -- feminine form of the popular Jacob. But Jacobine has a quirky appeal. The Jacobins were a radical political club formed during the French revolution as well as an order of Dominican friars.

Inoa is an evocative choice from the South Seas.

Gwyniveth feels as if it could have stepped out of Arthurian, however, it is in fact a compound name, combining the Welsh element gwyn with Iveth, a French variation of Yvette.