Hereswith is a rare name that comes to us from the dark ages. She was a Northumbrian saint, whose more famous sister, Hilda, was the Abbess at Whitby and patron of the first English poet, Caedmon. The name has a soft, lispy sound that is more wearable than its spelling would suggest.

The strong sounds in this energetic Hawaiian name mirror its meaning.

Old World Jewish name that could travel to the New.

Pacome is a French saint's name rarely heard in this country, but currently being revived in its native France.

Some variants are Pacomi, Pacomio and Pacomius.

This unique one-syllable name was added to the mix by Mariel Hemingway for her now grown model/actress daughter; it could make a distinctive middle name or Bree substitute.

Relatively unknown outside of its native region, Sendoa is an intriguing international name with a strong meaning.

Magni is a powerful name from Norse mythology: he’s the son of Thor and the giant Járnsaxa. A more modern variant is Magne, which is currently climbing fast in Denmark.

Seen as both a first name and surname in Turkey.

This obscure Zulu name was chosen by Stevie Wonder.

Beren is a gender-neutral name that's rare in the US, given last year to 20 baby boys and only five baby girls. But it's simple, distinctive, and yes, strong, plus it comes with an amazing nickname -- Berry.

Denzell appears to be a variant spelling of the surname Denzel, which originated as an English surname derived from a place name in Cornwall combining the Cornish elements 'din' (fort) and 'hal' (moor). As a given name, it gained significant popularity following the rise to fame of American actor Denzel Washington in the 1980s and 1990s. The doubled 'l' spelling (Denzell) represents a common phonetic variation that emerged as the name gained usage as a first name. This pattern of surnames becoming given names, often with modified spellings, is common in modern naming practices. Usage data shows a notable increase in babies named Denzell/Denzel during the height of Washington's fame, demonstrating the significant influence of celebrities on naming trends. While less common today than in the 1990s, the name continues to be used, appreciated for its strong consonant sounds and cultural associations with talent and success.

Geraud, as with many French variations of familiar names, makes the somewhat old-fashioned Gerard sound fresh and dashing. It's pronounced as if it ended with o, another trendy factor, though many English speakers may not get that.

Place-name of a settlement in Galilee in Israel.

A rare member of the popular -iel group of Biblical names, with a powerful sound and meaning.

A Top 100 pick in Israel that feels simple and appealing enough to work in almost any language.

One bright spot: famous namesake Threepenny Opera playwright Berthold (later known as Bertolt) Brecht.

A viable choice that may be growing on your family tree. Hartman Turnbow was a part of Mississippi's "First Fourteen", the first group of African Americans who attempted to register to vote in the state.

Harv and Marv are out, and this difficult Dutch choice doesn't fare any better.

Maoz is a symbolic name given to boys born at Hannukah because of the song "Maoz Tzur," "Rock of Ages," which is sung at that time.

A once very common Irish diminutive of Bridget that has unfortunately been associated since the 18th century with a pejorative slang term for an old or fussy woman.