Elegant, ancient, not so popular names for girls

Lotta

Short form of Charlotta or Carlotta, forms of Charlotte, French

"free man"

This nickname-name is very popular in Germany, though Lottie is still the preferred version in the US. The problem, of course, is that you'll have to put up with a lotta jokes. See?

Levina

Levina is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Lavinia, an ancient Roman name associated with Latin roots meaning 'woman of Rome' and featured in Virgil's 'Aeneid.'…

Tricia

Diminutive of Patricia

"noble, patrician"

Back in Patricia's midcentury heyday, Patty/Patti was the plebeian nickname while Tricia/Trisha and Tish/Trish carried a snobby-yet-insubstantial image associated with then First Daughter Tricia…

Vonda

Vonda is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from African languages, or possibly be a variant of the Germanic name Wanda, meaning "wanderer." The name gained modest…

Zaria

African place-name, variant of Zahra, Arabic

"rose; to shine, to bloom"

Zaria, the name of the Nigerian capital city, could be another Z name for parents to consider. It currently ranks lower than variations Zariah and Zariyah. Popular 1990s sitcom The Parent 'Hood…

Cadence

Latin

"rhythm, beat"

The musical word name Cadence, seemed to come out of nowhere to zoom up the charts; it rose over 700 spots between 2002 and 2004, and showed up in the Top 200 in 2007. It's gone down in the popular…

Ardelle

Ardelle is a feminine name with French origins, derived from the word 'ardent,' meaning passionate or fiery. This elegant name gained modest popularity in the United States during the early 20th…

Aracely

Aracely is a feminine name with Spanish origins, particularly popular in Latin American countries like Mexico. It likely derives from Araceli, which comes from the Latin phrase "ara caeli" meaning…

Leandra

Feminine variation of Leander, Greek

"lion-man"

With the rise of many once-dated leonine names, from Leona to Lionel to Leonora, Leandra is an unusual choice that might be looking at a comeback..

Florella

Florella is a delicate feminine name with Latin origins, derived from 'flora' meaning 'flower.' This charming elaboration adds the diminutive suffix '-ella,' creating a name that essentially means…

Mercedez

Mercedez is a feminine name derived from Spanish origins, representing an alternative spelling of Mercedes. The name comes from 'merced,' meaning 'mercy' or 'grace,' and has religious connotations…

Adora

Latin

"adored"

A name that would lavish your child with adoration, a princess name--as in Princess Adora of She-Ra: Princess of Power .

Orella

Latin

"announcement from the gods, oracle"

A pleasantly unfamiliar addition to the ella family of names.

Lucilla

Latin

"light"

A delicate name with an ancient pedigree, more appealing to some than Lucille. It elaborates on Lucy and even Lucia and feels more distinctive than Lucinda.

Niara

Hindi

"nebula, mist"

More unusual alternative to Tiara.