Favorite names from my Family Tree

Elvira

Spanish

"white, fair"

Before there was the campy TV Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira was the long-suffering wife of Don Juan, and remnants of those negative, gothic images still cling to it, though they are fading.…

Eugenia

Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek

"wellborn, noble"

Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival. Eugenia has some interesting literary references, including the…

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…

Ingrid

Norse

"fair; Ing is beautiful"

The luminous Ingrid Bergman's appeal was strong enough to lend universal charisma to this classic Scandinavian name, which has been somewhat neglected in the US. Even today, a child named Ingrid…

Karin

Danish variation of Katherine or Karen

"pure"

Karin was a fairly popular spelling variation of Karen in the US but fell off the Top 1000 in the late 80s, as Karen's popularity wained. Today, the Karen meme interferes with the otherwise appealing…

Karolina

Karolina is a feminine name of Germanic origin, being a variant of Caroline or Carolina, ultimately derived from the masculine name Karl or Charles, meaning 'free man' or 'strong.' This elegant name…

Katarina

Slovak; Swedish; Serbian; Croatian; Slovenian, variation of Katherine

"pure"

The Russian version of Katherine is usually Ekaterina, but this form is used throughout Eastern Europe and may be more friendly to the American ear.

Kristina

Scandinavian variation of Christina

"annointed, a Christian"

This streamlined form of a pretty and feminine classic may not be as popular as it once was, but it's never out of style. A royal name best used now in its full glory rather than as nicknames Kris or…

Laurentia

Latin, feminine form of Laurence

This pretty female form of Laurence originated in ancient Rome and is still sometimes heard in the Latino community. It is one of the many intriguing Latin names for girls worth consideration by…

Lovisa

Lovisa is a Scandinavian feminine name, particularly popular in Sweden, derived from Louise, which ultimately comes from the Germanic name Ludwig, meaning 'famous warrior' or 'renowned fighter.'…

Ottilia

German and Swedish

"prosperous"

Form of Ottilie or Odilia

Petronella

Greek

"rock, stone"

Petronella, and its shorter sister Petra, are both feminizations of Peter. While Petronella is a name with deep history, it's extremely rare. It was given to no baby girls on record in the US last…

Selma

German

"godly helmet"

Selma has recently been given a more youthful spin via actresses Selma Blair and Salma Hayek. But while Selma has not yet become popular again in the US, it is widely used in both Sweden and Norway.…

Teresia

Teresia is a feminine name that serves as a variant of Teresa or Theresa, which derives from the Greek word 'therizein' meaning 'to harvest.' This traditional name has been used throughout Europe for…

Viola

Latin

"violet"

Viola has plenty of positive elements going for it: the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth…

Cornelia

Feminine variation of Cornelius, Latin

"horn"

In ancient Rome, Cornelia was considered the paragon of womanly virtue, making it a handsome name with an excellent pedigree. It's rare today, so if you want a name no one else is using, somewhat…