Celestian Names

Elka

Latinization of Elke, Scandinavian diminutive of Adelheid

"noble one"

Much more manageable than the full form of the name. Possible international alternative to Ella.

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…

Elya

Slavic form of Helen

A Slavic variation of Helen that might make an unusual update of that classic name.

Elynor

Elynor is an uncommon variant spelling of Eleanor, a name with Greek and Provençal origins meaning 'light' or 'bright one.' This distinctive spelling gives a fresh twist to the classic name while…

Emme

Variation of Emmy, English diminutive of Emily and Emma

"work; universal"

Introduced by model Emme (born Melissa) and now a legitimate member of the Em-starting girls' name group, especially since it was chosen by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for their twin daughter.

Enya

Irish

"fire"

This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.

Eos

Greek; Welsh

"dawn; nightingale"

Eos -- that's pronounced with a short e like eros without the r -- is the Greek Titan of the dawn. Any ancient name with a sleek modern feel has definite revival possibilities. Eos could be an…

Eternity

Word name

"infinite, unending; endless life after death"

A name in tune with the likes of Heaven and Ever, Eternity is a spiritual choice, given to 85 girls in a recent year. Associated with life-after-death and with God (and gods) in general, it has been…

Eulalia

Greek

"sweetly speaking"

Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double L s and similarity to similar Eudora and Eula. Familiar in the US in the early 20th century, it was also a popular…

Euphemia

Greek

"fair speech"

Ancient martyr's name that, though not especially appealing, might still be mildly possible, especially for Anglophiles. It was widely used in early Scotland, but was overtaken by its nickname, Effie.

Euphony

English word name from the Greek Euphonia

"well sounding"

With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.

Evadne

Greek

"pleasing one"

In Greek mythology, Evadne was the daughter of Poseidon. Evadne also appears in literature (Mary Shelley's "The Last Man") and has a pop culture reference as the cousin of Wonder Woman. A more…

Evanthe

Greek

"fair flower"

Evanthe is a pretty Greek name not often heard outside its native culture. With its stylish Ev-begining, Evanthe could make an interesting choice if you're looking for a generic flower name.

Evening

Day name

Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too? It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a…

Ever

English word name

"always, eternally, constantly"

A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends…

Fable

English word name

"a legendary story of supernatural happenings"

Fable, like Story, is a word name with real potential, combining enchanted tale-telling with a moral edge. And soundwise, it would fit right in with the likes of Abel and Mabel.