Substantial and Poetic Names
By Environments1
Updated Thu May 18 2023
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This is a list of classic names that are either out of circulation or underused. They are beautifully unique and will give your baby a strong, significant sense of character. Some of the names seem a bit big or heavy but each can be nicknamed in adorable ways that I will describe. Nicknames give a feeling of being a special insider in a family--especially if your family is large. Nicknames also help produce a myriad of self-expressions and playful confidence.
- Ariadne
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"most holy"Description:
This name of the Cretan goddess of fertility is most popular now as the more melodic Ariana, but Ariadne has possibilities of its own. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. The renewed interest in the name falls in line with the revival of other mythological names like Apollo and Athena. The trendy nickname Ari doesn't hurt either.
- Aurelius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"the golden one"Description:
Since Aurelius was given the supermodel seal of approval by Elle Macpherson, this is one of the Roman emperor names, like Augustus, now in the realm of possibility. Like the female Aurelia and Aurora, Aurelius has a particularly warm golden aura.
- Faye
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fairy"Description:
Does Fay really need that e at the end? We vote no, but modern parents disagree: The Faye spelling was used for nearly 300 girls in 2014, vaulting the name back onto the Top 1000 after a 35-year absence, nearly ten times as many babies as received the Fay spelling.
- Gaëlle
- Lalage
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"to chatter"Description:
An interesting name despite the pronunciation challenge. It has literary roots, both in the classical poetry of Horace, and as a character in John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman. Appealing nicknames are Lalla and Lally.
- Nevaeh
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Nevaeh has had phenomenal success since singer Sonny Sandoval introduced the idea of turning Heaven around and using it as a baby name. Especially popular with religious parents, Nevaeh has been in the Top 100 for a decade now, though is off its peak as the spelling spin gets less clever and more familiar.
- Percy
Origin:
French surname from place name Perci-en-AugeDescription:
Percy is a traditional boys' name that could be cute and unexpected for a girl – perhaps as a short form for Persephone or Persis.
- Philippa
Origin:
Greek, feminine variation of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
Philippa is a prime example of a boy's name adapted for girls that was common as crumpets in Cornwall, but rarely heard stateside. That was before the advent of royal sister-in-law Philippa Middleton, who goes by the lively nickname Pippa.
- Próspero
- Socorro
- Tennessee
Origin:
Native American, Cherokee, place-nameDescription:
When playwright Thomas Lanier Williams adopted the pen name of Tennessee, he created a new possibility among American place-names, although it's admittedly a bit bulky in size. Reese Witherspoon brought it back into the spotlight when she chose it for her son.
- Winifred
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed peacemaking"Description:
One of the few remaining unrestored vintage gems, with a choice of two winning nicknames--the girlish Winnie and the tomboyish Freddie--as well as the slight stretch Freda. Winifred, the name of a legendary Welsh saint, was a Top 200 name into the mid-1920's.