Exotic & Unique Names
- Bliss
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"great joy"Description:
A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot; in fact, nearly 90 girls in the US were called Bliss in a recent year.
- Amaris
Origin:
Variation of Amara or AmariahDescription:
Amaris sounds like "amorous," which is a loving name for a child, but doesn't really have a clear derivation or meaning of its own. The popular Amara is one of the most international names on the charts, with derivations and meanings in cultures that truly span the globe. And Amariah is an ancient Hebrew name. Still, Amaris is unusual and pretty, and that may be enough.
- Yasmine
Origin:
Arabic variation of JasmineMeaning:
"jasmine flower"Description:
Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.
- Karis
Origin:
English variation of Carys, WelshMeaning:
"love"Description:
This much less popular variation draws more from Karin.
- Adrina
Description:
Adrina is a feminine name with multiple cultural connections. It likely derives from the Latin name Adriana, feminine form of Adrian, meaning 'from Hadria' (an ancient city in northern Italy). The name also appears in Armenian culture, where it may relate to the Adriatic Sea or maintain its Latin origins. Adrina has a flowing, melodious quality with its soft consonants and rhythmic syllables. While less common than Adriana or Adrienne, it offers a slight variation that maintains familiarity while feeling unique. The name has seen modest usage across various cultures but remains relatively uncommon, giving it a distinctive quality while still being accessible and elegant.
- Anaise
Origin:
Variation of AnaisDescription:
Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies pronunciation.
- Kalani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the heavens"Description:
Kalani is a rhythmic name that can be used for either gender though it is predominantly used on girls in the US. With its celestial meaning, and cool K beginning, it only entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015. Now in the Top 400, it joins Kai and Leilani as popular choices with Hawaiian origins.
- Zandra
Origin:
Variation of Sandra and AlexandraMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
A name that is rarely heard and might be worth considering as a way of zipping up a namesake Sandra. It has long been associated with iconoclastic British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.
- Kaliyah
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
This name's trendy trademarks - the "K" start and the "-yah" suffix - explain how it made its way up the Top 1000. Just beware the similarities between this name and creamy liqueur "Kahlua".
- Sunshine
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Sunshine was seen as a quintessential hippie name of the 70s, reaching as high as Number 536 in 1975. Now such names are making a bit of a retro comeback, seen, for example, as a character on Glee.
- Alivia
Origin:
Variation of OliviaDescription:
While Alivia may not have achieved the megapopularity of its mother name, it's still a widely used choice. Alivia combines the trendiness of A names with the trendiness of Olivia to create a choice that's slightly off the beaten track -- slightly being the operative word here. Is the distinction the initial A earns you worth a lifetime of explaining, "No, it's Alivia, with an A, not Olivia"? Your call, though ours would be no.
- Janelle
Origin:
American, modern elaboration of JaneDescription:
It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.
- Keon
Origin:
Modern invented name; Gaelic, variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Keon, a mashup of Kevin and Leon, has been in the Top 900 for a decade and a half, following in the wake of female cousin Kiana. Keon also has roots as a Gaelic variation of John.
- Alani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"orange tree"Description:
One of those names you may not even be aware of if you haven't been paying attention to recent naming trends, Alani was given to more than 700 baby girls in the US in one recent year, to be the second most popular feminization of Alan after Alana. It's certainly the most modern-sounding female version of Alan.
- Kori
Origin:
Spelling variation of Corey, English, African, HebrewMeaning:
"from the hollow; lamb; coral"Description:
This variation of Corey has a Kardashian-style spelling update -- which might be why it's experiencing a boost in popularity of late. Kori is also a Kikuyu name meaning lamb, one of the many names from that African culture with animal meanings, and a short form of Koral, the Hebrew form of Coral.
- Saige
Origin:
Spelling variation of SageDescription:
What works for Paige just doesn’t work for Sage. The added i will likely create a lifetime of spelling mistakes.
- Whitley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"white meadow"Description:
Surname style Whitley emerged in the late 1980s as a spin on the (then) mega-popular Whitney, rising dramatically from obscurity to the Top 500 after it featured on a character in the TV sitcom, A Different World. By the mid-90s, it was out of style, but the recent appeal of retro names has saw it return to the US charts in 2018.
- Cherise
Description:
Cherise is a feminine name with French origins, derived from the French word 'cerise' meaning 'cherry.' The name evokes the vibrant red fruit, suggesting sweetness, freshness, and natural beauty. Cherise gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1970s, reaching its peak usage in 1977, reflecting the era's interest in nature-inspired and French-influenced names. Though never among the most common names, Cherise offers a melodic quality with its soft 'ch' sound and gentle conclusion. The name carries a certain romantic flair associated with its French roots while remaining easily pronounceable for English speakers. While its usage has declined since its peak, Cherise maintains appeal for parents seeking a name that sounds both familiar and distinctive. Its fruit association connects it to other botanical names while its French derivation adds sophistication.
- Trenton
Origin:
English, place-nameMeaning:
"Trent's town"Description:
There's only one Trenton, New Jersey, but it's a widely used name, more for its fashionable -on ending than the reference to the city. Since 2007, however, Trenton has been on a steady decline. Trenten is another popular spelling.
- Jasiel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"whom God made"Description:
Jasiel and its alternate spelling Yasiel are gaining a following thanks to superstar baseball player Yasiel Puig, a Cuban native who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Biblical Jasiel was a warrior in David's army.
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