Best One-of-a-Kind Names for Girls
- Season
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"time of sowing"Description:
Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases.
- Fifer
Origin:
Scottish occupational nameMeaning:
"piper"Description:
Fifer is a musical name that fits in seamlessly with the likes of Harper and Piper, but is much more unusual. It's also a Scottish demonym, referring to an inhabitant of the historic Scottish county of Fife.
- Dancer
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"someone who dances"Description:
A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.
- Aldine
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"wave"Description:
Aldine and the related Alda are ocean-related names that are highly unusual in the US. No babies were given these names, though hundreds of baby boys were named Aldo or Alden. There were even a few dozen baby girls named Alden.
- Cosetta
Origin:
Italian, FrenchMeaning:
"little thing"Description:
Italianate variation of Cosette, from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.
- Capucine
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"nasturtium"Description:
Capucine was a chic French actress half a century ago and has been one of the most fashionable girl names in France in recent decades, ranking in France's Top 100. Capucine is also popular in French-speaking Belgium. To Americans and other English speakers, this name still feels fresh -- so fresh that last year, no baby girls were named Capucine in the US.
- Acantha
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"thorn, prickle"Description:
Acantha is one of the unique baby names in the stylish mythological category that also might count as a flower name. In Greek mythology, Acantha was a nymph beloved by Apollo. An unusual and attractive choice that could make a creative way to honor a grandma Rose.
- Sigrun
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"victory rune"Description:
A popular choice in contemporary Iceland, in Norse mythology, Sigrún was a Valkyrie. She married Helgi, a legendary Danish king, and dies of sadness after he is slain by her brother, Dagr. As a name, it combines the elements sigr meaning "victory" and meaning "secret lore, rune", adding to the mythological, mystical feel it holds.
- Kalindi
Origin:
Hindi, variation of KalindaMeaning:
"sun"Description:
Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.
- Xevera
Origin:
Portuguese feminine variation of Severus, LatinMeaning:
"stern"Description:
An attractive, one-of-a-kind girl name with the covetable X initial.
- Devri
Origin:
Greek, variation of Devra, HebrewMeaning:
"bee"Description:
Devri derived both as a variant of the Hebrew name Devra, related to Deborah, and as an independent Greek name. With Deborah and Debbie firmly in grandma territory, Devri would be a lovely and modern honorific.
- Petronilla
Origin:
Roman and Italian feminine variation of PetroniusMeaning:
"yokel, woodpecker, stone"Description:
Petronilla is an ancient saint's name that relates to the Roman family name Petronius, thought to mean yokel or woodpecker, though some connect it with Petra or Peter, meaning stone. With the resurgence of so many ancient Roman names, the elaborate and pretty Petronilla or its French form Petronille seem more usable these days than they have in centuries.
- Taci
Origin:
African, ZuniMeaning:
"washtub"Description:
One African choice that might be easier to understand if spelled phonetically: it's pronounced TAH-shee.
- Selby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the willow farm"Description:
Selby, a rarely heard British surname, feels sleeker and more distinctive than Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.
- Umbria
Origin:
Italian place name, from the Umbri, one of the chief tribes settling the Italian nationDescription:
Umbria is a lovely, virtually unused Italian name for girls, reflecting the beautiful rolling hills of the area's countryside. And since it's right next door to Tuscany, in which Siena resides, maybe Umbria could be a follow-up to the popular Siena-Sienna.
- Eaven
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"beautiful sheen"Description:
Anglicized form of the Irish name Aoibheann, which is also in use in Ireland itself. Eavie/Evie would make an adorable short form.
- Grania
Origin:
Variation of Grainne, IrishMeaning:
"the loved one or grain of corn"Description:
In addition to being the appellation of an ancient grain goddess, this name was also borne by two mythic Irish figures, one of whom was betrothed to legendary chieftain Finn MacCool, the other the brave sixteenth century pirate Grainne Ni Mhaille— known in English as Grace O'Malley-- whose name passed into poetry as a symbol of Ireland.
- Millaray
Origin:
Mapuche, ChileanMeaning:
"golden flower"Description:
A melodic and glowing name, derived from Mapuche, the language of the Indigenous people of central Chile, Millaray means "golden flower". It ranked in the Chilean Top 100 in the 2010s and remains a familiar choice. Pronounced as mee-ya-rye, and not as mih-luh-ray as those unfamiliar with it might assume, Millaray is notably borne by actress and presenter Millaray Viera and footballer Millaray Cortés.
- Freesia
Origin:
Flower name, from German surnameMeaning:
"Freese's flower"Description:
A rare, free-feeling flower name for the parent who wants to move far, far beyond Rose and Daisy. Named for German physician Friedrich Freese.
- Cato
Origin:
Dutch diminutive of CatharinaDescription:
Cato may have risen to new prominence in the English speaking world as an ancient Roman boys' name, popularized by The Hunger Games. But in the Netherlands, it's most widely used as a short form for Catharina and other forms of Katherine, ranking close to the Top 100, higher than any formal variation of the name. Cato for a girl is a cute idea and a fresh way to shorten the ubiquitous Catherine.
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