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Uncommon Girls Names

Piggyperson
By Piggyperson
Updated Tue Jun 28 2022
This list is filled with wonderful uncommon girl names. Whether they are old or unpopular, they seem to flow, and you won't have your daughter come home from school saying she is now called Mia B. because the new girl is also named Mia. Though popular names are popular for more than obvious reasons, there is something satisfying about having an uncommon, more original name. Some names are old, others religious, but all are beautiful.
  1. Amelia

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "work"

    • Description:

      Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, the Number 2 choice in England, is now also comfortably ensconced in the US Top 10, where it ranked as the third most popular name for girls in 2024.
  2. Josephine

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      Josephine, with its large measure of class and character and a gently offbeat quality, has been on a gentle uphill climb in the US for over 30 years, now ranking in the Top 100. With an intriguing number of vivacious nicknames, from Jo to Josie to Fifi to Posy, Josephine is a Nameberry favorite.
  3. Harriet

    • Origin:

      English variation of French Henriette

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it.
  4. Delphine

    • Origin:

      French from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "of Delphi; womb"

    • Description:

      Delphine is a sleek, chic French name with two nature associations — the dolphin and the delphinium, a bluebell-like flower, a well as a link to the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed to be the womb of the earth. All of these derive from the Greek word delphus "womb".
  5. Winnie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Winifred

    • Meaning:

      "holy peacemaking, gentle friend"

    • Description:

      This pet form of such names as Winifred and Edwina and Gwendolyn has loads of vintage charm, a la Millie and Maisie, with a decidedly winning vibe. And it just got celebrity cred as the baby daughter of Jimmy Fallon.
  6. Bonnie

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful, cheerful"

    • Description:

      Bonnie is an adorable nickname name, heading back up the popularity list after a 50-year nap. A Top 100 girls' name throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Americans are later to jump on the Bonnie bandwagon but now it's trending here too.
  7. Anastasia

    • Origin:

      Greek, feminine variation of Anastasios

    • Meaning:

      "resurrection"

    • Description:

      Anastasia is the feminine form on Anastasius, a Greek name derived from the word anastasis, meaning "resurrection." It was a common name among early Christians, who often gave it to daughters born around Christmas or Easter. There are handful of saints named Anastasia, including the patron saint of weavers.
  8. Flora

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flower"

    • Description:

      Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names we think is due for a comeback— alongside cousins Cora and Dora. Florence, Fiorella, Fleur, and Flower are translations, but we like Flora best of all.
  9. Elaine

    • Origin:

      French and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining light"

    • Description:

      This old Scottish form of Helen has had quite a history, going from appearing as one of the shining heroines of the Arthurian legends, the princess who fell in love with Sir Lancelot and became the mother of Sir Galahad, referred to as 'Elaine the fair' and 'Elaine the lovable', to being the name of the most famous of New York's celebrity restaurants, to being the archetypal New York neurotic on Seinfeld.
  10. Wilhelmina

    • Origin:

      German and Dutch, feminine variation of Wilhelm

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      Wilhelmina might once have been condemned as a clunky relic best left in the past, but a steadily increasing number of parents are dusting it off for their 21st century babies. A reasonably popular choice in the 19th century, but out of favor by the 1950s, in the last decade, Wilhelmina has attracted more attention, and was given to around 110 babies in a recent year.
  11. Clover

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Old English

    • Meaning:

      "key"

    • Description:

      Clover is a charming, perky choice if you want to move beyond hothouse blooms like Rose and Lily, and it's recently become a new celeb favorite, chosen by both Neal McDonough and Natasha Gregson Wagner, who used it to honor her mother, Natalie Wood, one of whose most iconic films was Inside Daisy Clover.
  12. Liliana

    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish variations of Lilian

    • Meaning:

      "lily, a flower"

    • Description:

      Frilly and fit for a princess, but with plenty of spark and flair, Liliana holds international appeal and a modern glamor. Joining Lily and Lillian in the US Top 100 for the first time in 2022, Liliana is a fast-rising choice for girls.
  13. Renee

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "reborn"

    • Description:

      Chic in the fifties, now kept in the public eye mainly by actress Zellweger. Variations include Rene, Renae, and Renny.
  14. Martha

    • Origin:

      Aramaic

    • Meaning:

      "lady"

    • Description:

      The name of our first First Lady still has something of a prim and proper image, academic and efficient. That quiet, traditional, and tasteful gestalt is exactly what makes Martha appealing to some parents today.
  15. Polly

    • Origin:

      English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "bitter"

    • Description:

      An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid.
  16. Pamela

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "all honey"

    • Description:

      Pam was a somewhat pampered prom queen of the sixties who was never called by her full name, which is a pity because Pamela is so mellifluous and rich in literary history. A Top 25 name from the late 1940's through the late 60's, Pamela has just, sadly, dropped out of the Top 1000.
  17. Bernadette

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "brave as a bear"

    • Description:

      Although feminizations ending in "ette" are not particularly popular now, Bernadette is a pleasant, feminine, but strong name that doesn't feel prohibitively dated. And though strongly associated with the saint who saw visions of the Virgin Mary—Saint Bernadette of Lourdes—it is now no longer strictly inhabiting the Catholic diocese.
  18. Geraldine

    • Origin:

      German and French, feminine variation of Gerald

    • Meaning:

      "ruler with the spear"

    • Description:

      Though twin brother Gerald is still in baby name limbo, Geraldine is in line to follow the path of Josephine to imminent revival—even though Gerry is not as spunky a nickname as Josie.
  19. Nadine

    • Origin:

      French variation of Nadia, Russian

    • Meaning:

      "hope"

    • Description:

      Part of the vogue for French-sounding names in the 1920s and 30s, Nadine has been replaced by the Russian sound of Nadia and Natasha.
  20. Shelby

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "estate on the ledge"

    • Description:

      Though Shelby was trendier ten years ago, it's still a widely used choice.