My Favorites

Elliott

English diminutive of Elias, Greek

"Yahweh is God"

While Elliott and Elliot are well-established for boys, parents are now considering both these boy names for girls , too. Credit the possibility of nickname Ellie, as well as literary associations…

Cappella

Itallian, musical term

It's usually preceded by the letter 'A'--as in 'a capella'--singing without accompaniment, and probably has never been used as a girl's name, but in this anything-goes naming climate, we're putting…

Ever

English word name

"always, eternally, constantly"

A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends…

Madrigal

Latin

"song for unaccompanied voices"

Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison .…

Primrose

English flower name

"first rose"

A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen…