Unusual names for girls!

Brielle

Short form of Gabrielle, French, Cajun, Hebrew, Celtic

"god is my strength; hunting grounds"

Though it sounds modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, and the name of a historic seaport in the Western Netherlands, also known as Brill. Today, it is…

Alayna

Spelling variation of Alana or Elena

"handsome, cheerful; bright shining light"

Blending classic with contemporary elements, Alayna is considered a spin on the name Alana, which also draws inspiration from Elaine and Elena. An obscure choice until the 80s, it began to climb the…

Brynn

Spelling variation of Bryn, Welsh

"hill"

Brynn outshines the original Welsh Bryn in the popularity stakes. This simple, brisk name might be seen as a combination of Bree and Lynn, an androgynous-sounding choice that especially in this…

Cassandra

Greek

"shining or excelling man"

The name of the tragic mythological Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but was condemned never to be believed, Cassandra has been used for striking characters in movies and…

Kiana

Modern invented name

Kiana (or more appropriately, Quiana) is the original polyester name, coming into favor in the 1970s but then drifting downward for years before taking a surprise turn back up the charts, perhaps…

Ashlynn

Irish

"dream"

This Anglicized spelling of Irish Aislinn or Aisling has enjoyed some popularity in the US as an updated Ashley.

Astra

Latin

"stars"

A starry-eyed, intergalactic name, far rarer than Stella or Esther. It's attached both to a comic book character and to Princess Astra on "Doctor Who".

Caia

Latin, feminine variation of Caius

"to rejoice"

Caia Caecilia was the Roman Goddess of fire and women. The name Caia would make a truly fresh alternative to the flagging Maya, with which it rhymes.

Talitha

Aramaic

"little girl"

Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times. Talitha is also the name of two stars in…

Tanya

Russian diminutive of Tatiana

Long integrated into the U. S. name pool but still retaining some Slavic flavor, Tanya feels a bit tired; it's ready for replacement by cooler Russian choices like Sasha, Mischa, or parent name…

Mirielle

Mirielle is a feminine name of French origin, a variant spelling of Mireille, which derives from the Occitan name Mireio, made famous by Frédéric Mistral's poem of the same name. The name is thought…

Evalee

Evalee combines elements of classical and modern naming traditions, blending the timeless 'Eva' with the melodic suffix 'lee.' Eva derives from Hebrew, meaning 'life' or 'living one,' while the 'lee'…

Kia

African

"season's beginning"

Kia is a sweet, simple name that is now, unfortunately, associated with a Korean car label. Better today: Nia, Thea, or Keira.

Bette

Diminutive of Elizabeth

Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.

Kismet

Word name

"fate"

The next Destiny? Kismet seems like it might be fated for increased use.

Adelma

German

"noble, famous"

Adelma is likely a feminization of Adelmar, which means famous nobleman. The name was seen a bit during the nineteenth century, with a famous bearer being Adelma Vay, a medium and spiritualist, which…

Aithne

Irish

"fire"

This soundalike for the famous volcano, Mount Etna, is a fiery Irish choice that could be perfect for a red-haired baby girl.

Ardis

Scottish, Irish

"fervent"

The name of a character in the once scandalous novel Valley of the Dolls now sounds a little more dated than the similar Arden.