Best One-of-a-Kind Names for Girls

Umeko

Japanese

"plum-blossom child, patient"

Unfamiliar Asian choice that can work for a parent in search of something really different.

Undine

Latin

"little wave"

Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.

Venetia

Italian place-name

Venetia, the name of the region encompassing Venice, has a radiant, picturesque authenticity, as do the related Venezia and Venice. Venetia is the title of a novel by Benjamin Disraeli centering on…

Verbena

Latin

"sacred foliage"

This name of a showy, lemony plant makes an unusual entry into the name garden.

Vespertine

Latin

"of the evening"

An elaborate form of the stylish Vesper, taken from the Latin vespertinus meaning "evening". It may work for those who want to step away from the religious connotations of Vespers.

Vrai

French word name

"true"

A happy combination of several desirable genres: it's a word name, it has a foreign accent, and it has a highly virtuous meaning. And few other parents will be bold enough to choose it.

Winsome

English

"agreeable, lighthearted"

A sweet, modern descriptive name, with a wholesome and winning feel, Winsome means "appealing, fresh, simple, innocent" or "cheerful and lighthearted." Some may find it a little too cutesy, but with…

Xevera

Portuguese feminine variation of Severus, Latin

"stern"

An attractive, one-of-a-kind girl name with the covetable X initial.

Yardley

English surname

"wood clearing"

Yardley, a surname redolent of British soaps and perfume, was used for her daughter by Megyn Kelly. Yeardley Smith (born Martha), has long been the voice of Bart on The Simpsons .

Zabelle

Spelling variation of Zabel, form of Isabel which is a form of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

Zabelle and Zabel are fresh (to us) and ancient forms of Isabel, making zippy variations for modern lovers of that ancient name who feel the original is overexposed.

Acantha

Greek

"thorn, prickle"

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…

Zephyrine

Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek

"west wind"

Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina,…

Adabella

Combination of Ada and Bella, German, Turkish, and French

"noble and beautiful, or beautiful island"

Ada is one of those names found in two different languages with two different meanings. As a German name, it means noble or nobility, and as a Turkish name, it means island. Bella means beautiful, so…

Alastriona

Irish: feminine form of Alasdar

Spelled Alastríona in its native language, this Irish cousin of Alexandra is little-known but fairly intuitive.

Aldine

German

"wave"

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…

Aletris

Flower name, from Greek

"corn grinder"

The bell-shaped flower Aletris is also known as Colic Root, Blazing Star, Unicorn Root, and Stargrass. Its roots have medicinal properties and are used to aid digestive and muscle problems. Its name…

Alouette

French

"lark"

Alouette is a sweet Gallic twist in the stylish bird name genre made familiar via the charming French children's song, Alouette, gentile alouette .

Amandine

French, diminutive of Amanda

"much-loved"

This fragrant, almond-scented name has hardly been heard in this country, which is a pity--we've loved it since John Malkovich used it for his now grown daughter. A French diminutive of Amanda, it…

Anemone

Flower name; Greek

"daughter of the wind"

Anemone is a floral name that relates to the ancient Greek myth of the famous love story of Aphrodite and Adonis, in which Aphrodite transforms her wounded lover's blood into a flower, the crimson…

Aphra

Hebrew, variation of Aphrah

"dust"

Aphra would make an interesting choice-- especially since it's the name of the first professional female writer in English, the seventeenth century's Aphra Behn. Born in 1640, she was a prolific…