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Underused and Undiscovered Gems
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About this list
The names
Evander
Scottish; Greek
"bow warrior; strong man"
Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander. Evander was prominent in Greek and Roman mythology: in…
Toivo
Finnish, Estonian
"hope"
This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish or Estonian…
Galen
Greek
"calm, healer"
Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The…
Orvin
Orvin is a masculine name with Germanic roots, likely derived from either Old English elements meaning "friend of spears" or Scandinavian origins related to names like Orvar. It may also be connected…
Mekhi
Derivation and meaning unknown
Fans of versatile, rising African- American actor Mekhi Phifer have begun to adopt his unusual first name for their sons.
Shira
Hebrew, Japanese
"singing, song; poetry, excellent, white"
A popular Israeli choice that could work across different languages, Shira comes from the Hebrew shir meaning "song." Some parents may be reminded of the animated heroine She-Ra, Princess of Power ,…
Acacius
Greek
"thorny; or, innocent, not evil"
Acacius is a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Akakios and can be interpreted to relate to the same root as the name Acacia, for the thorn bush, or Akakios which means "not evil." With the modern…
Akasha
Hindi
"ether"
This Hindi name for the fifth element, related to the male Akash which means "open sky," was used by Anne Rice in her Vampire Chronicles .
Aloisia
German
"famous fighter"
Inventive female form of Aloysius.
Despina
Greek
"lady"
Despina is best known as the clever and wily maidservant character in Mozart's opera Così fan tutte , and as one of Neptune's moons, making it a musical and an astronomy-inspired choice. However, the…
Devika
Hindi
"little goddess"
Nine little goddesses got this lovely name in the US in 2021, making it a usable yet unusual entry in the popular mythological category. Devika is a diminutive of Devi, the head goddess of Hindu…
Eilon
Hebrew
"oak tree"
Eilon, a fraternal twin of the name Elon, was the Biblical grandson of Jacob. A rare name, Elon is getting some recent notice thanks to Tesla maker Elon Musk.
Elke
Dutch, German, and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid
"noble"
Though she has long stood on her own, Elke has many longer cross-cultural connections, to the Dutch/German/Scandinavian Adelheid and Alice and the English Adelaide, as a feminine version of Elkanah…
Fife
Scottish place name, German, French
"path; small shrill flute"
Also spelled Fyfe, this zippy sounding name would make a great middle name choice for music lovers or those with Scottish roots. The name has a double meaning: it is both a Scottish place name,…
Gower
Welsh
"pure"
This Old Welsh name associated with blacksmiths has never caught on, but it has the right two-syllable occupational feel to qualify for revival. Gower Champion was a successful midcentury dancer,…
Hikaru
Japanese
"light or radiance"
A unisex Japanese name with a beautiful and radiant meaning, it is notably borne by chess prodigy Hikaru Nakamura, and is a central character in the manga series The Summer Hikaru Died .
Immilla
Diminutive of Irmengard
"universal enclosure"
Immilla is a soft and mellifluous sounding name which is exponentially more attractive than the original. The name offers several lovely nickname options, such as Immy, Millie, and Mila. Immilla of…
Issoria
nature name
The Issoria is a genus of butterflies found in Africa, one of which is known as the African Queen. This name would make a wonderful choice for those looking for a name which subtly honors Africa.
Itzal
Basque
"Shadow"
The Basque name, meaning shadow, has the virtue of having both an interesting meaning and an obvious pronunciation.
Ivara
German
"yew tree, archer"
Similar to Ivana but less personality-driven.
