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Fanciful Names for Girls

  1. Calanthe

    • Origin:

      English from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Christmas orchid"

    • Description:

      If you love Calliope and Callista, you'll love Calanthe, which combines the trendiness of the Greek 'cal' names with the equally fashionable "the" ending (like Xanthe and Evanthe) and a connection to the beautiful Christmas Orchid. Color Calantha one of the more unusual and captivating names for Christmas babies.
  2. Quintessa

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "essence"

    • Description:

      Sounds like a fictional rank of royalty.
  3. Madelief

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "daisy"

    • Description:

      Madelief is an uncommon name but not unheard of in the Netherlands, where 123 girls were called Madelief in one recent year. With its soft sounds and similarities to all those "Madeleine" type names as well as names ending in "eef/eev" sounds (Aoife, Eve, Genevieve), Madelief has potential in English-speaking countries to be a fresh and pleasant change from Daisy, Margaret and Madeleine.
  4. Decima

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "tenth"

    • Description:

      In the days of huge families, this name of the Roman goddess of prophecy and childbirth, and one of the Fates, would be saved for bambina number ten. Now it might be used for a girl born in October, the tenth month.
  5. Augustina

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "the exalted one"

    • Description:

      Derived from the Ancient Roman family name, Augustinus, itself a form of Augustus, this elaborate form is less familiar than August and Augusta, but it has the flair of Georgiana and Evangelina. Briefly popular in the US, France and Czechia a century ago, Augustina blends clunky and frilliness.
  6. Aristeia

    • Origin:

      Literary term from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "the best"

    • Description:

      In epic poetry, the term aristeia is used to denote the climactic point where the hero/heroine has their finest hour. Aristeia feels at home with other big Greek names like Atalanta, Cassiopeia and Galatea. We think this name has potential for parents who think Poem, Saga and Rhapsody are too obvious.
  7. Conwenna

    • Origin:

      Cornish, Welsh or Breton

    • Description:

      Made familiar by poet William Blake. According to Blake, after her death, Conwenna "shines ... over the north with pearly beams gorgeous and terrible". Make of that what you will.
  8. Cambria

    • Origin:

      Place name, Latin from Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "Wales"

    • Description:

      Most names that start with Cam- are on the upswing, so why not this obscure term for Wales as well as for a prehistoric time period.
  9. Brigitta

    • Description:

      Brigitta is a feminine name with rich historical roots, derived from the ancient Celtic name Brighid, meaning 'exalted one' or 'high goddess.' It's the Central European form of Bridget, particularly popular in Hungarian, German, and Scandinavian cultures. The name is associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's patron saints known for her generosity and compassion. Brigitta gained international recognition through characters in literature and film, including Maria's friend in 'The Sound of Music.' While maintaining its classic origins, Brigitta offers a more distinctive alternative to the more common Bridget or Brigitte, combining ancient Celtic heritage with continental European elegance.

  10. Citrine

    • Origin:

      Gemstone name

    • Description:

      Citrine is a type of quartz named after its citrus-colored hues. if Amethyst, Jasper, and Onyx (all other types of quartz) can be used, why not Citrine, which has a lovely French-sounding suffix. Citrine is one of the many rare and attractive girl names starting with C.
  11. Ardesia

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "slate, slate gray"

    • Description:

      An attractive Italian color and rock word name that doesn't sound anything like its meaning.
  12. Sirena

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "entangler"

    • Description:

      Sounds like Serena, but refers to the mythological sirens -- half woman, half bird -- who virtually sang men to death. Not a great role model for your little girl.
  13. Umbria

    • Origin:

      Italian place name, from the Umbri, one of the chief tribes settling the Italian nation

    • Description:

      Umbria is a lovely, virtually unused Italian name for girls, reflecting the beautiful rolling hills of the area's countryside. And since it's right next door to Tuscany, in which Siena resides, maybe Umbria could be a follow-up to the popular Siena-Sienna.
  14. Marlena

    • Description:

      Marlena is a feminine name with various European origins, primarily formed as a blend of 'Maria' and 'Elena' or 'Magdalena.' The name carries a romantic, elegant quality while maintaining strength. With Latin roots connected to the names Mary and Helen, Marlena suggests traditional feminine virtues like grace, nurturing, and inner beauty. Though never among the most popular names in the US, Marlena has maintained consistent usage since the mid-20th century, with periodic boosts from characters in literature and television. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables, making it both sophisticated and accessible. Marlena offers the appeal of being recognizable without being overly common.
  15. Devika

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "little goddess"

    • Description:

      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 mythology. English speakers might make Devi the short form.
  16. Francisca

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Spanish and Portuguese form of Frances or Francesca
  17. Parisa

    • Origin:

      Iranian, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "like a fairy"

    • Description:

      Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special. Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris, with its sparkly meaning. It ultimately comes from the Persian word parī, used to describe a fairy, sprite, or similar.
  18. Eldora

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "covered with gold"

    • Description:

      An unusual old school name which is made more modern by that fashionable El- beginning.
  19. Titania

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "giant, great one"

    • Description:

      This name of the queen of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream has a delicate, lacy charm similar to Tatiana's, but that first syllable could cause embarrassing problems.
  20. Faustina

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fortunate one"

    • Description:

      A name with several distinguished namesakes: the wife of ancient Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a famous Italian opera singer, and two Catholic saints--making it both substantial and unusual.

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