Cool Underused Names for Girls

Opal

Sanskrit

"gem"

Opal is on the verge of a repolishing, following other jewel names like Ruby and Pearl. A Top 100 name during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the opalescent Opal has a good chance of…

Solana

Spanish

"sunshine"

A bright and warm possibility for a summertime girl, Solana feels both soulful and fresh, distinctive and familiar. Originally adapted from the Spanish surname and Saint name, Solano, it entered the…

Luana

Combination of Louise and Anna or Hawaiian

"content, at ease"

In the slipstream of Luna, this everywhere-and-nowhere international name, with its attractive liquid sound, is popular in several European countries along with Hawaii.

Echo

Greek mythology name

"echo or sound"

Echo, the pretty, resonant name of a legendary nymph, was the heroine of Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse . Nick Hexum, of the band 311, named his daughter Echo Love. In the Greek myth, Echo was…

Queenie

English

"queen"

Wisecracking waitress name stuck in the luncheonette. Started as nickname for girls named Regina -- queen in Latin -- now mostly a canine choice.

Hildegard

German

"comrade in arms; battle enclosure, battle ground"

Hildegard is an ancient name that sounds it, but it does have sweet short forms Hildie and Hilda to recommend it, as well as several illustrious historical bearers. Strong and striking, it would make…

Neva

Spanish

"white snow"

Has a pure, clean aura, but is also evocative.

Henrietta

Feminine variation of Henry, German

"estate ruler"

Despite a return to such feminizations of male names as Josephine, Clementine, and Theodora, starchy Henrietta has not made it into that group. Still, if you look hard enough, you'll see that…

Dione

Greek

"divine queen"

In Greek mythology the mother of Aphrodite by Zeus, and also one of Saturn's moons; this is an astral name quite distinct from the better known Dionne.

Nella

Nella is a feminine name with Italian and Germanic origins. It can be a standalone name or a diminutive of names like Petronella, Antonella, or Cornelia. In Italian, it literally means 'at the' or…

Griselda

German

"grey battle"

Griselda is a famous folklore figure, noted for her patience and obedience. Her story has been told by Petrarch, Chaucer, Boccaccio and set to music by Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Massenet. In the most…

Arionna

Arionna is a feminine name that emerged as a modern variation of names like Arianna or Ariana. With Greek origins, it connects to the element 'ari' meaning 'excellence' or 'best,' though the specific…

Athene

Athene is a feminine name derived from Greek mythology, where Athena was the goddess of wisdom, courage, strategic warfare, and crafts. This variant spelling offers a slightly softer pronunciation…

Barbarella

Barbarella is a feminine name that gained recognition primarily through the 1968 science fiction film of the same name featuring Jane Fonda. It's an elaboration of Barbara, which comes from Greek…

Bibianne

Bibianne is an elegant feminine name with French and Latin influences. It likely derives from Vivian or Vivienne, which come from the Latin "vivus" meaning "alive" or "lively." The modification from…

Calypso

Greek

"she who hides"

This hyper-rhythmic name has two evocative references. In Greek mythology, she was an island nymph, a daughter of Atlas, who delayed Odysseus from returning home. It is also a genre of West Indian…

Clio

Greek

"glory"

Clio is the name of the ancient Greek mythological muse of history and heroic poetry, one that is rich with modern charm and would make an intriguing choice, especially thanks to its dynamic…

Daffodil

Flower name, from Greek

"asphodel"

Yes, though it seems so extreme, girls were actually sometimes given this name a century ago; now it is so uncommon it would make a strong springtime statement. Biggest obstacle: the nickname Daffy.…

Evadne

Greek

"pleasing one"

In Greek mythology, Evadne was the daughter of Poseidon. Evadne also appears in literature (Mary Shelley's "The Last Man") and has a pop culture reference as the cousin of Wonder Woman. A more…

Faun

Faun is a delicate feminine name derived from Roman mythology, where fauns were woodland deities or nature spirits, often depicted as half-human, half-goat creatures similar to the Greek satyrs. The…