Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool
- Isatou
Origin:
GambianDescription:
As more parents look for unique alternatives to the popular Isabella — Isabeau and Isadora are two great examples — they may like the beautiful Gambian name Isatou. Isatou Ceesay is a Gambian activist who started a revolutionary recycling movement called "One Plastic Bag".
- Kapua
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the flower or child"Description:
A unisex Hawaiian name with a fitting meaning. It also happens to mean "cloud" in Maori.
- Jilson
Origin:
English surname, spelling variation of GilsonMeaning:
"son of Giles"Description:
The unique name Jilson is considered a girl's name only because its best-known bearer is a not-very-nice female character in The Mysterious Benedict Society. Fun name detail: Jilson's twin brother is named Jackson.
- Almendra
Origin:
Spanish, LatinMeaning:
"almond"Description:
A rare choice with familiar sounds, Almendra is a Spanish word name meaning "almond", making it a nature-inspired choice with links to Bible and to marzipan treats. With potential nickname Alma, it could be an appealing choice.
- Jennings
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"child of John"Description:
This common English surname originated as a patronymic for the son or daughter of a person named Jen, a medieval short form of John.
- Jem
Origin:
Diminutive of Jemma or JemimaMeaning:
"gem; dove"Description:
There was an eighties cartoon queen named Jem (& The Holograms), and this is as likely to be a full name as a short form – deriving from Jemma, Jemima or Jameela.
- Arja
Origin:
Variation of Irja, FinnishMeaning:
"peace"Description:
Not to be confused with the Aria/Arya name family, Arja is a variation of Irja, which ultimately is derived from Irene.
- Kuleni
Origin:
Ethiopian, AmharicMeaning:
"the one whose eyes are lined with mascara; princess"Description:
This Ethiopian girl's name feels in line with stylish Kalani, Kehlani and Kailani. Kuleni, pronounced "koo-LEH-nee", has the evocative meaning of "the one whose eyes are lined with mascara".
- Kisakye
Origin:
LugandanMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Found as both a girls' first name and a surname in the African nation of Uganda, Kisakye has a lovely meaning but a non-intuitive pronunciation for English speakers. As with difficult-but-beautiful names such as Saoirse and Xiomara, you may decide Kisakye is worth the effort.
- Olliemae
- Isha
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"master, lord"Description:
A short and sweet Hindi name which has been relatively popular in the UK – peaking at #280 there in 2003.
- Kedzie
Origin:
Scottish surnameDescription:
Upbeat Scottish surname reminiscent of Kenzie. Kedzie Avenue is a major North-South street in Chicago, named after real estate developer John Hume Kedzie.
- Halliday
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"holiday"Description:
This ancient Scottish surname may be pagan in origin, referring to a "holy day", but today it makes an attractive and unique Scottish name for girls. Halliday has many spelling variations and traveled throughout the British Isles and to France, where it has royal associations, and eventually to the new world. Johnny Hallyday was a French pop star.
- Grady
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"noble"Description:
A name that's on the rise for boys but rarely used -- though possible -- for girls.
- Hezly
Origin:
American invented nameMeaning:
"heather field"Description:
Combining "Hez", a short form of Heather, and the -ley suffix meaning "field, clearing", Hezly is a modern invented name that has yet to catch on.
- 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".
- Cleide
Origin:
Italian variation of Cleis, Greek, Brazilian, PortugueseMeaning:
"glory; key, clave, keyholder"Description:
Rare, concise, and distinctive, Cleide is a multicultural choice. As an Italian name, it comes from the Greek Cleis (or Cleïs), the name of Sappho's mother and daughter, and a relation of Kleio or Cleo, meaning "glory". As a Brazilian name, it may come from the Spanish word for "key" or "keyholder", though it might also be in reference to the wooden rhythm keeping instrument, claves.
- Alala
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"war cry"Description:
This name of the mythological sister of Mars might be used for a girl born under one of the signs ruled by the planet Mars--Aries or Scorpio. She is the personification of the war cry.
- Dalett
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Larry Hernandez is at it again — the reality TV star known for his show Larrymania has successfully popularized each of his three daughters' names. He and Kenia Ontiveros created totally new names for their girls — Daleyza, Dalary, and Dalett, who was born in May 2020.
- Emony
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"great treasure"Description:
A medieval and early English variant of the Ismenia, which feels surprisingly on trend today.
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