classic and unusual character names for Women

Subira

African, Swahili

"patience"

One African name that's virtually unknown in the western world, but sounds both soft and strong.

Sugar

Word name

You can call your daughter Sugar, but it's probably best to keep it as a term of endearment. For sweet names, you try Dulcie, Honey, Mitsu, Amai, Sherine, Melita, Eulalia, or Melina, but Sugar does…

Summerbreeze

Summerbreeze is an uncommon feminine name that falls into the category of nature-inspired word names. As a modern coinage rather than a traditional name, it combines 'Summer'—a well-established…

Sunniva

Scandinavian

"sun gift"

Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and…

Sunshine

Word name

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 .

Swanhilda

Germanic

"swan battle"

Form of Swanhild, borne by the heroine of the ballet Coppélia . The -a ending certainly gives this ancient name a lighter, more balletic feel.

Swanilda

Germanic

"swan battle"

Form of Swanhild, borne by the heroine of the ballet Coppélia . The -a ending certainly gives this ancient name a lighter, more balletic feel.

Taffeta

English, from Persian, word name

A few boys have adopted fabrics like Denim and Suede; here's a singular one for the girls, with a distinctively silky sheen.

Tangerine

Word name

We've had Apples, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Berries added to the fruit basket: you could be the first to pick a Tangerine.

Tarana

Hindi

"music, song"

Both graceful and melodious.

Terpsichore

Greek

"delight in dancing"

The name of the Muse of dancing in Greek mythology. Arguably the least usable of the nine Muses' names, despite serious competition from Melpomene and Polyhymnia. Those two at least have obvious…

Thalassa

Greek

"the sea"

A pretty, rarely used Greek name, Thalassa is the ancient personification of the sea, particularly the Mediterranean, who is sometimes considered the mother of Aphrodite. In 1991, a newly discovered…

Thecla

Latinized form of Thekla, Greek

"glory of God"

Thecla is a female name with ancient Greek origins, derived from the word theokleia meaning "glory of God" or "God's fame". A saintly choice, it was borne by a 1st-century follower of Saint Paul who…

Themyscira

Greek place name

According to legend -- and, crucially, the Wonder Woman comics and movies -- Themyscira is the home of the Amazons, a mythical race of powerful female warriors. As depicted in the DC comics,…

Theophaneia

Theophaneia is a rare feminine name with ancient Greek origins, derived from 'theophania,' meaning 'manifestation of God' or 'divine appearance.' In Greek tradition, the term referred to festivals…