Power Names/Fantasy

Iva

Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Slovak, Czech, English

"willow tree; God is gracious; yew tree; bow warrior"

Short, sweet, and sharp, this multicultural choice is currently popular in Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While not in the charts elsewhere, it is familiar in English…

Dyara

Dyara is an uncommon feminine name with obscure origins. It may be a variant of the Arabic name Diara, meaning "home" or "dwelling place," or possibly derived from similar-sounding names in various…

Acacia

Greek

"thorny"

Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl…

Desdemona

Greek

"ill-starred"

Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time,…

Corsica

Place name, English from Latin, or Italian, Corsican surname

"from Corsica"

Corsica, the picturesque Mediterrean island birthplace of Napoleon, makes an easy switch from atlas to baby name book, with its delicate, feminine ending. Just don't consider neighboring island…

Liesl

German diminutive of Elizabeth

"pledged to God"

Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesl is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse,…

Mirinda

Mirinda is a feminine name with a melodic quality that appears in several language traditions. In Esperanto, it literally means "wonderful" or "amazing," derived from the verb "miri" (to wonder).…

Isleen

Isleen is a rare feminine name with Celtic or Irish origins, possibly a variation of Aisling (meaning 'dream' or 'vision') or derived from elements meaning 'island.' With its gentle sound and unique…

Tatiana

Russian, from Latin family name Tatius, meaning unknown

Classic yet spritely, Tatiana has long been familiar and popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, though it wasn't until the 80s that it caught on in the English-speaking world. With short forms Tiana,…

Imala

Native American

"strong-minded"

Distinctive Native-American choice with forceful meaning.

Nevada

Spanish place-name

"covered in snow"

Named for its snowcapped mountains, Nevada is a state name which, unlike Carolina, Montana, and Dakota, has been relatively undiscovered. Warning: today's unvisited place-name could become tomorrow's…

Maija

Finnish and Latvian variation of Maria

A lovely and typical name on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia that no one in the English-speaking world will know how to pronounce. Maia sounds (virtually) the same and is far more familiar…

Nahara

Aramaic and Hebrew

"light"

Beguiling cousin of Sahara.

Imogen

Celtic

"maiden"

Imogen has long been fashionable in England and is gaining favor in the US among stylish parents. Pronounced the British way — the initial i is short as in Kim, as is the final E as in Ken — Imogen…

Deirdre

Irish

"sorrowful"

Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports.