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Unusual Names from My Family Tree

emilyfontes
By emilyfontes
Updated Sat May 20 2023
I'm the family genealogist and in documenting over 3500 people for my family tree I've run across some very unusual and interesting names. These are all first or middle names.
  1. Vere

    • Origin:

      English from French

    • Meaning:

      "alder"

    • Description:

      Upper-class surname in England that might be prime for adoption here.
  2. Keziah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "cassia tree"

    • Description:

      This lively Old Testament nature name (belonging to one of the three beautiful daughters of Job) entered the US Top 1000 list in 2024, and ranks highly here on Nameberry — making it one to watch!
  3. Zebulon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "exaltation or little dwelling"

    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
  4. Larkin

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "rough, fierce"

    • Description:

      The additional syllable makes Lark a masculine surname name, borne by poet Philip Larkin.
  5. Ona

    • Origin:

      Lithuanian variation of Anna, Catalan diminutive of Mariona

    • Meaning:

      "grace; wave; bitter; wished-for child"

    • Description:

      One of those names with a wide array of meanings across different cultures; it's the Lithuanian form of Anna, for instance, and William Blake used it as the name of one of his mysterious, godlike characters. But it's found major popularity in Spain, where it's just outside the Top 50. It makes the Top 10 in Catalonia, being both a diminutive of Mariona and the word for "wave".
  6. Medora

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "mother's gift"

    • Description:

      Medora is a Greek name much less common here than, say, Melanie or Melissa. It has some literary references, including as the beautiful and passionate heroine of Lord Byron's poem The Corsair, and in Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, there is a character named Marchioness Melora Manson.
  7. Dabney

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "from Aubigny"

    • Description:

      Dapper-sounding choice with old American roots (Dabney Cosby was a 19th century Virginian architect who worked with Thomas Jefferson on some of that state's most iconic buildings). Dabney Montgomery was Martin Luther King Jr's bodyguard, giving this name yet more American history depth. Dab is a sweet nickname option for this name.
  8. Reason

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a statement offered in explanation or justification"

    • Description:

      Provocative word name that may strike the right chord for an adventurous baby namer.
  9. Electa

    • Origin:

      American, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "chosen, elected; amber"

    • Description:

      An early American name inspired by the word spiritual word "elect" and by a passage in the New Testament in which the Christian Church is referred to as "The Elect Lady and Her Children". Used in the 19th and early 20th century, it has since faded out of view, last appearing in the stats in 2016 when it was given to 7 girls.
  10. Diantha

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "divine flower"

    • Description:

      Diantha, a mythological flower of the supreme Greek god Zeus, is a melodious and more unusual cousin of Diana, heard most often in The Netherlands.
  11. Omri

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my sheaf"

    • Description:

      Old Testament name of a king of Israel, related to the harvest.
  12. Jerusha

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "inheritance"

    • Description:

      This biblical name of the mother of King Jotham of Judah has an appealing soft Russian accent.
  13. Erastus

    • Origin:

      Latinized form of Greek Erastos

    • Meaning:

      "beloved"

    • Description:

      The Biblical Erastus was an assistant of Paul's in the New Testament. A name used in the 19th century that has fall off the scope, but may be revived as parents dig deeper for undiscovered Biblical choices.
  14. Dennison

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of Dennis"

    • Description:

      A case in which the son is now more attractive than the father. There have been Colonial settlers surnamed Dennison on this side of the Atlantic since 1623.
  15. Zerelda

    • Description:

      Though the etymology of this name is unclear, it had modest usage in the United States during the nineteenth century. Zerelda has a double connection to outlaw Jesse James: Zerelda James was his mother, and Zerelda Mimms was his wife and first cousin. Zerelda G. Wallace was a temperance activist and a women's suffragist during the same era. All three of these Zereldas were born in Kentucky.
  16. Hepzibah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my delight is in her"

    • Description:

      This is a streamlined spelling of the biblical Hephzibah. Hephzibah is an Old Testament name that came into use in the 17th century, but is not often used today. It does have less formal nicknames Eppie and Hepsie, which seem revivable. Hephzibah "Eppie" Cass/Marner is the heroine of George Eliot's novel Silas Marner and Hepzibah Smith is a witch in the Harry Potter series.
  17. Aruna

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "reddish brown"

    • Description:

      This colorful Sanskrit name belongs to the Hindu god Aruna, the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna can also be masculinized to Arun.
  18. Permelia

    • Description:

      Permelia is a feminine name with historical roots dating back to the 19th century in America. It's a variant of Pamela or Permilia, derived from Greek elements meaning 'all honey' or 'sweetness.' The name enjoyed modest popularity during the 1800s, particularly in rural communities across the United States. Permelia fell out of common usage by the early 20th century, making it a rare vintage choice in modern times. Women named Permelia were often nicknamed 'Melia' or 'Perm.' The name carries a quaint, old-fashioned charm that connects to America's pioneer heritage and represents the ornate naming style popular in Victorian-era America.
  19. Brannon

    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Brennan

    • Description:

      Occasionally used as an alternative to Brandon or Brennan.
  20. Lilburn

    • Description:

      Lilburn is a masculine name with Old English origins, combining elements that likely meant 'small stream' or possibly relating to 'lily flower' and 'burn' (stream). It originated primarily as a surname and place name before occasionally being adopted as a given name. Lilburn saw modest popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has since become quite rare. The name carries a gentle yet masculine quality, with nature-inspired undertones that connect to the English countryside tradition. Despite its softness, Lilburn maintains a distinctly masculine character and historical gravitas. It might appeal to parents interested in reviving vintage names or those with family connections to this surname. Lilburn also shares sounds with more common names like Wilburn, giving it a familiar quality despite its rarity.