Unusual Girls Favourites

Isla

Scottish place-name or Spanish

"island"

Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those…

Mila

Slavic, Russian

"gracious; dear"

Mila is a popular name that took a 125 year nap, ranking in the Top 1000 in 1881 and then not ranking again until 2006, after actress Mila Kunis appeared on That 70s Show . Ukrainian-born Kunis was…

Madelyn

Variation of Madeline, English

"woman from Magdala or high tower"

Capturing some of the playful elegance of Madeleine, while avoiding any confusion over the end sound, Madelyn is now an established spelling variation of the French classic. Sweet but strong, Madelyn…

Lyla

Spelling variation of Lila, Arabic

"night"

The Lyla spelling variation has now superseded the original Lila — the former remains on the rise while the latter is consistently falling in popularity. Celebrity couple Katherine Schwarzenegger and…

Lyra

Greek

"lyre"

Lyra is a name with ancient and celestial roots that's found new popularity thanks to its starring role in Philip Pullman's book series, His Dark Materials and its subsequent movie and TV adaptions.…

Ila

Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, Finnish

"from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"

A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural…

Arria

Latin, thin"

The name of a woman who played a dramatic role in ancient Roman legend, it seems quite slight for modern use. Variation: ARIA

Aeliana

Latin

"sun"

This female form of the ancient Latin Aelian has an appealing sound, though kids might have a hard time handling that initial "ae" spelling. Just remember that the "ae" is pronounced "ee" (think…