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The Luisianna spelling both Latinizes the state name Louisiana and makes it feel like a combination of Luis and Anna. Improvement? We think not.

Shelomit is the Biblical Hebrew form of the name Shelomith, making it a relative to both Solomon and Salome, via their shared root, shalom. Used as a unisex name in …

Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since …

In Buddhism, Dharma embodies the basic principles of cosmic existence--making it a fitting name for the hippyish character on the sitcom Dharma and Greg, whose middle name was Freedom …

This spelling of Devon, as opposed to Devin or Devan, makes it a pretty and popular British place-name, evoking the beautiful county of farmlands and dramatic seascapes and moors …

If you're looking for a name with Scandinavian roots, Dagny makes a strong and appealing import. Derived from Old Norse, it means "new day", perfect for a girl born …

Gopal is an alternative form of Gopala, meaning "cow protector", making it a significant name within Hinduism in which cows are considered sacred. It was also the name of the …

To some, Eloise will forever be the imperious little girl making mischief at the Plaza Hotel, while the original version Heloise recalls the beautiful and learned wife of the French …

Airy word name on the rise for both sexes. Breeze makes an especially lovely middle name.

In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet …

Parul sounds almost like Pearl to the Western ear, which makes it a friendly cross-cultural Indian name. The flower the name Parul refers to has five petals.

The name of the larger-than-life shopkeeper in Frozen makes a very on-trend nature-inspired baby name.

im transgenger and im lookin for a name that makes me feel like me. more looking for neutral and masc names.. grungey names too.

Again, I hope I'm being fun by making this list, not to mention helpful to anyone looking for really out-of-the-way old-fashioned names for boys. Enjoy!

by Sophie Kihm I’ve been making predictions on Nameberry long enough now that I’m forecasting names of the younger siblings of children whose names I’ve predicted before …

Diamond was a big hit for girls in the nineties, ultimately making it into the Top 150. It's a relative rarity today for baby girls and boys, for whom …

This alternate spelling of Amora rose over 1000 places in 2019, making it the fastest-rising girl name of the year. It continued to rise steeply in 2020, but has …

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher named their daughter Wyatt in 2014, making it a viable option for girls, and more recently NFL player Jason Kelce and podcaster Kylie Kelce used …

Yes, Yew is a tree name, but it's similarity to "you" makes it a potentially problematic choice as a first name.

It's pronunciation is identical to that of Lucian, but this spelling makes it appear to rhyme with "cushion," so we suggest sticking with the original.

The possibility of the nickname Maddy (or the even spunkier Moxie) makes this have some potential as a modern, unisex name for a girl - if you can get past the …

The Narina is a type of butterfly, but the name also makes a good contribution to the rising popularity of "ina" names like Marina, Adelina, and Perlina.

Haris is in the top 50 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and makes a good choice for the globetrotting child. It would make for an excellent and not overused Arabic-English …

The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.

Jermajesty is a slightly bizarre name created by Jackson brother Jermaine, making his son a royal version of himself.

Randall Jarrell was an important mid-20th century poet; his surname makes a pleasingly soft name for a girl.

Josiah—a biblical name with lots of quaint, old-fashioned charm—makes a much fresher sounding alternative to either Joseph or Joshua, combining the best of both. Josiah is among …

Newswoman Paula brought the surname Zahn to the public eye. It makes a dramatic, unusual Zane alternative -- though you may not want to enlighten your child as to its prosaic …

Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own …

Omero lifts Homer out of both The Simpsons and The Odyssey, making it a romantic name ala Romeo. Some sources give the meaning of Omero and Homer as "hostage".

Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the …

A key figure in Norse legend and a traditional Scandinavian favorite making inroads here.

Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Derived from the Roman Aelius and the …

The Irish boys' name Colum, rarely heard in the U. S., makes an interesting alternative to Colin.

Innovative architect, inventor, and thinker Buckminster (universally known as Bucky) Fuller makes this vaguely possible.

Lilting and nearly unknown here, with the currently popular ella ending, makes a good Marissa alternative. The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from …

There are so many variations of this name in circulation, it makes it hard for any of them to feel as special as they might.

This Olde World name with a large measure of European style makes an offbeat possibility for the bold baby namer in search of interesting Italian names for girls. Currently very …

A surname-style choice that could work as an alternative to Madison, Marceline, Arden, and Eden, Marsden is a topographical name referring to someone who lived near the boundary of …

Jena is a succinct name with a number of different roots, making it a versatile choice. On one hand, it might be used as a diminutive for the 70s favorite …

D'ja is a feminine name with limited documented historical usage, making its etymology somewhat difficult to trace with certainty. The apostrophe construction suggests it may be a contracted form …

In ancient Rome, Cornelia was considered the paragon of womanly virtue, making it a handsome name with an excellent pedigree. It's rare today, so if you want a name …

This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin. Santa Catalina of Siena was …

Another name for the Hindu god Krishna, Gopala means "cow protector", making it a significant name within Hinduism in which cows are considered sacred. It was also the name of …

About 60 girls were named Alise in the US last year, making it an uncommon but not truly rare name. While it's pretty and intriguing as a spin on …

Gender-neutral choice with the covetable X initial. Xue's snowy meaning makes it especially well suited to a winter-born child.

The name of a pretty white flower with star-shaped flowers makes for a very on-trend celestial and nature name for a baby girl. This word name could also …

The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.

Afrikah is a feminine name that directly references the African continent, making it a name with clear geographic and cultural significance. The distinctive spelling with the 'k' and ending 'h …

This feminine form of Abel is also a flower name and makes a distinctive alternative to the widely used Abigail. There is a similar name, Adelia, that is beginning to …