By Emma Waterhouse · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Latin
"annunciation"
A religious name, referring to the announcement by the Virgin Mary that she was with child.
Immaculata is a feminine name with Latin origins, directly referring to the Catholic concept of the Immaculate Conception - the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. The…
Greek
"of royal birth"
In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon -- a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.
Octaviana is a feminine name with Latin origins, the feminine form of Octavian, ultimately derived from the Roman name Octavius meaning 'eighth.' In Roman naming traditions, it would historically…
French place-name
Louisiana is a geographic spin on the Louise theme. Pretty, if a bit of a syllable overload. Short form Lou or Lulu lightens it.
Greek place-name
"brotherly love"
Place-name mentioned in the New Testament and not yet on the name map. Philadelphia Thursday was the character played by Shirley Temple in John Ford's 1948 "Fort Apache."
English
"unexpected good fortune"
A unique virtue name with a sound as happy and lively as its meaning.
Italian
"young woman, girl"
The sound is quite lovely, but it still comes down to naming your little girl young girl.
Spanish
"splendid brightness"
Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending. St. Leocadia was an early martyred Spanish saint, and "La Leocadia" is a famous Goya painting of Leocadia…
Female variation of Maximilian
Vies with Maximiliana for the title of most obscure Maximilian variant. You could argue that both were made obsolete by Jessica Simpson's use of Maxwell for her daughter.
"desire"
Feminine form of Desiderio, borne by a 19th-century queen of Sweden, the wife of Karl XIV.
Hyacinthia is a feminine name with ancient Greek roots, derived from the flower name Hyacinth. In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a beautiful youth beloved by Apollo, who was tragically transformed…
Spanish diminutive of Mariana
"of the sea"
An elaboration of Mariana and a sea-inspired choice that once ranked in the US Top 1000 in the late 19th century.
This ancient name, belonging to a Byzantine empress, may be difficult for a modern child to carry, though it can be an original way to get to cute nickname Thea or even Theo or Teddie. The English…
Latin place-name for Scotland
"hard or rocky land"
Caledonia is a rhythmic and alluring place name used by singer Shawn Colvin for her daughter. It would make an interesting and apt choice for a girl with Scottish ancestry.
Aramaic
"of the furrow"
Feminine form of Bartolomeo
"brave, strong"
An elaboration on the sunny Spanish place name Valencia.
"the desired one"
Desiderata is a feminine name from antiquity which, although fussy and long, has a lovely meaning for that longed-for daughter.
Bartolomeo is a masculine Italian form of Bartholomew, derived from the Aramaic name Bar-Talmay, meaning 'son of Talmai' or 'son of the furrows.' The name gained prominence through Saint Bartholomew,…
Italian variation of Emmanuel, Hebrew
"God is with us"
A fresh, Italianized take on the Hebrew classic Emmanuel. But beware of the similarities to the feminine name Emmanuelle.
