Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool

The name of a nymph in Greek mythology, one of the prophetic Thriai, who divined the future by throwing pebbles. She was a lover of the sea god Poseidon.

Appealing comedian Aidy Bryant -- born Aidan -- put this energetic nickname on the map when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2012. Each of the years since then has seen a handful of baby girls given Aidy as a full name. Which makes sense: It combines the elegance and trendiness of the whole Ada/Adaline/Adelaide family with the retro (almost rockabilly?) appeal of names like Hattie. Expect to see it more going forward as Bryant's star continues to rise.

An off-beat Puritan era virtue name with a bright, optimistic meaning. Hopestill has occasionally been used as a unisex name, such as in the case of missionary Hopestill Pillow or builder Hopestill Cheswell.

A bright sounding Swedish name, reminiscent of Maisie, Ivy and Maia, that blends Maj with the Norse element vé, meaning "dedicated, devoted". As such, it's a light and cheerful name with a weighty meaning, that could reflect a caring nature or a mother's love.

A pretty possibility for a Gemini girl.

For most, Eureka will be tied up with the bathtub myth of Archimedes' discovery of volumetric displacement, making it linked to the idea of invention, discovery and innovation. Some Australians might more closely link it to the Eureka stockade, a 19th Century rebellion of miners and workers against the colonial British government. Amanda Knox named her baby girl Eureka in 2021.

Hadara is a Hebrew name associated with the holiday of Sukkot, the harvest festival. In the Torah, the citrus fruit etrog, used on the holiday, is called a "hadar fruit".

Used occasionally in Brazil, South Africa, Haiti, Kenya, and the Philippines, Mercilene is a rare but familiar sounding choice, inspired by the virtuous Mercy and the sweet but strong Marceline. Also spelled as Mercylene, Mercyline, and Merciline, it could be viewed as a compound name, blending Marceline and Mercy to make a name that means "compassionate little warrior". Alternatively, it could be a variation on Mercy, made by adding the popular feminine suffix -lene / -line to the end of it.

Clementine, Peaches, Cherry, and Pepper (and more occasionally, Apple) are all in use for girls, while the name of the largest citrus fruit, Pomelo, might be a more unisex option if you want something both rare and from the fruit bowl.

Stylized as Sha'Carri, Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson brought this name to the field. It entered the US stats for the first time in 2024, when it was given to 5 babies.

Unisex Hawaiian choice that's ranked in Hawaii (for boys) since the 1970s.

With Arley, Arlo, Remington, and Kensington on the rise, Arlington might also start to appeal. The surname style name could make a patriotic choice for those in the US, evoking Arlington National Cemetery, which is maintained by the military and considered the most hallowed ground in the States. Given to 7 girls and 22 boys in a recent count, it is currently a rare option.

With Willow and Willa becoming more popular for girls, surname-name Willoughby could be a more unusual alternative. Its full form sounds appropriate for both genders, but can be shortened for girls to Willow, Willa, or even Bee.

Norwegian feminine form of Tomas. Tomine currently ranks in the Norwegian Top 100 and is rising steadily. Its last period of modest popularity was towards the end of the 19th century.

Cooler than April, May, or June, but also a tad icy. December gets its name from the number ten as the old Roman calendar only had ten months, and as now, December was the last.

A Puritan-esque virtue name with religious undertones — referring to being cleansed of evil spirits. For the bold namer, the built-in nicknames Liv and Livy feel approachable.

This simple and pretty name means "goddess" in Brazilian Portuguese, and was given to 44 girls in 2024.

A Chinese name with international appeal, Lufei is a sparkling name, associated with jades, emeralds and kingfishers, conjuring up different shades of green. Other interpretations are possible however, including "prosperous + swiftly"; "dew + to fall", or "land + luxuriant".

A bright and lively name of Arabic origin, also spelled as Eshal. Currently in the England and Wales Top 1000, it is popular among Muslim families.