Cool and Unusual Ladies

Mabry

Variation of Mayberry, English and Irish

"mud hill"

Cute and eminently wearable surname name for girls.

Maelys

French or Breton

"chief or prince"

Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael. Spelled Maëlys, it is a very popular name in France today.

Mayson

Mayson is a contemporary feminine name that originated as an English surname meaning 'stoneworker' or 'mason.' It represents a modern trend of adapting traditionally male names and surnames for…

Merewen

Old English

"sublime delight"

This Anglo-Saxon gem was borne by a few medieval women including Saint Merewen, Abbess of Romsey Abbey. It has also been used in literature, for example in Kit Berry's Stonewylde series. Merewen has…

Mireille

French

"to admire"

A pretty name that may pose pronunciation problems for non-French speakers or those who've never encountered it, but it is worth the effort. Pronounced meer-AY (or closer to MEE-RAY in French), it…

Mirren

Scottish

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish…

Neely

English diminutive of Cornelia, Eleanor, Helena, or McNeilly, English, Scottish

"horn; shining torch; son of the poet"

A nickname style name, Neely could derive from the strong sounding Cornelia, as a playful alternative to Nelly from Eleanor and Helena, or as a variation of the Scottish surname McNeilly, with the…

Sabryn

Sabryn is a modern feminine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Sabrina. While Sabrina has Celtic origins and was the name of a river goddess in Welsh mythology, Sabryn represents a…

Sorcha

Irish

"bright, shining"

A popular Irish name virtually unknown here, but one that feels like it could follow in the footsteps of Siobhan and Saoirse. It's pronounced SOR-ka, but with a little hiccup between the ' r ' and…

Tulia

Spanish feminine form of Roman family name Tullius, meaning unknown

Tulia, rhyming with Julia, is one of several offshoots of the noble Roman family name Tullius, best known as the middle name of the philosopher Cicero. While the single L is considered the Spanish…

Verbena

Latin

"sacred foliage"

This name of a showy, lemony plant makes an unusual entry into the name garden.

Verena

Latin

"integrity"

Verena is pleasant but old-fashioned. Whether that's the outdated kind of old-fashioned or the so-out-it's-in-again kind is your call. St. Verena was a third century nurse; Verena Tarrant is a…