justthinkin's list "Daring Middle Names for Girls" of 20 great name ideas: Caledonia - Corisande!

Daring Middle Names for Girls

Be daring. Be dashing. Scare grandma. From overly stuffy Victorian to outrageous nature names, follow your heart in the middle spot. Nobody will notice anyway.

If not, some fun choices for your cat.

Caledonia is a rhythmic and alluring place name used by singer Shawn Colvin for her daughter.  It would make an interesting and apt choice for a girl with Scottish ancestry.

Caledonia

A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago, while it was selected more recently by influencer Paige R Williams for her daughter in 2025.

Calico

Has not caught on as much as other Golden State place-names — Sierra, Marin, West, or even Francisco — probably because of its length.
 
The state of California got its name from the 16th-century romance novel Las sergas de Esplandián , or The Adventures of Esplandián. In the book, California was an island solely inhabited by Black Amazonian women, ruled by the fictional Queen Califia. It is believed that the name Queen Califia was inspired by the Spanish word califa, derived from the Arabic khalifa, meaning an Islamic ruler or leader. This origin gives California the alternate meaning of "land of the caliph".

California

This evocative term for a stone or shell carved in relief could make a striking first name for a girl, though she would have a starring role in her story, rather than a cameo. 

Cameo

Capucine was a chic French actress half a century ago and has been one of the most fashionable girl names in France in recent decades, ranking in France's Top 100. Capucine is also popular in French-speaking Belgium.

To Americans and other English speakers, this name still feels fresh -- so fresh that last year, no baby girls were named Capucine in the US.

Capucine

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge.  Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

A pretty, Frenchified nickname of Cecilia that would work well on its own, perhaps as a reference to an aunt Cece.

Cecette

The unusual (to English speakers) name Cendrillon is French for Cinderella, though most Americans wouldn't recognize it as such. This might make an excellent middle name for those who are looking for something rare, whimsical, fantastical, and literary. But you must insist on the lovely French pronunciation — if you're choosing a name this uncommon, why not go all the way.

Cendrillon

A mythological Welsh name with an intriguing sound, Ceridwen appears in several Welsh legends, in which she is an an enchantress and the owner of the cauldron of poetic inspiration. She is also associated with the great bard, Taliesin, with one 16th-century tale recounting that when her servant consumed a potion of wisdom, intended for Ceridwen's son, Ceridwen swallows the servant, who is then reborn through her as the bard. 
 
Sometimes interpreted as the goddess of rebirth, transformation, inspiration, and poetry. in modern times, there are several theories on the etymology of the name. One is that it comes from cyrrid meaning "bent, crooked", combined with either ben or gwen meaning "woman" and "white, fair, blessed" respectively. In this case, the name could take on a darker, witchy-er feel.
 
Alternatively, it may come from credd meaning "poetry", mixed with either gwen or awen, which offer two lovely meanings: "fair as a poem" or "poetic inspiration". Other scholars have additionally proposed that the first element may come from craid meaning "passionate, fierce, powerful" or from credu meaning "belief", thereby interpreting the name as "powerful woman" or "woman to be believed in".
 
Ceridwen has been predominantly used in its native Wales, but is sometimes seen in England too.


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Ceridwen

This vivid sky blue color name is at present used mostly for boys, but it is used in such small numbers that it could easily work on any gender. Whimsical and magical, but reminiscent of more established names, such as Ocean, Elowen, Seraphine, and Celestine, Cerulean might just make more appearances in coming years.
 Made familiar to some by T.J Klune's popular novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, the name was also fittingly chosen by fashion and lifestyle blogger Courtney Quinn — known as @colormecourtney and "queen of color". She shared the announcement on social media in 2024, and even took the time to explain her choice, noting that: Cerulean was Pantone's first ever color in the year 2000; features heavily in a favorite movie monologue from The Devil Wears Prada; gives the nicknames Rue, Leon, Sir, and Mr Blue Sky; and has both a sunny and celestial energy to it.
 Courtney Quinn sells it well and even provides both cute and grounded nicknames, so perhaps this bright and intriguing name might find its way onto more parents' lists. As for more more feminine leaning nicknames, you've got Cece, Lena, Lela, and Sky too.

Cerulean

Chariot is an uncommon feminine name with fascinating historical connections. Derived from the French word for a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used in ancient warfare and racing, Chariot evokes images of movement, speed, and classical antiquity. While extremely rare as a personal name, it carries symbolic weight, suggesting someone who forges ahead with purpose and direction. The name may appeal to parents drawn to unique word names with historical significance and dynamic energy. Though unconventional, Chariot shares phonetic elements with more familiar names like Charlotte or Harriet, giving it a somewhat familiar sound despite its distinctive nature. Its rarity ensures a memorable quality for anyone bearing this unusual name.

Chariot

Charmaine is an ancient name connected to Charmion, the name of one of Cleopatra's servants, and Charmian, a Shakespearean name. Its meaning is related to the word charm, though some sources tie it to the Charles family, which means "free man".

Charmaine

This name was used by Shakespeare (who got it from Plutarch) in Antony and Cleopatra for one of the attendants of the Egyptian queen. An interesting possibility, it is heard occasionally in the UK, even less frequently in the US.

Charmian

For years there was only one Cher, and then along came the charming heroine of the movie "Clueless."  The world now officially has enough Chers in it. 

Cher

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 <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/c">girl names starting with C</a>.

Citrine

Rich purplish red color choice that may gain favor along with Claire, though the wine connection can't be ignored. 

Claret

Constantina is a pretty, feminissima, if lengthy, variation on the Constance theme.  The fourth century Constantina, also known as Constantia and Constantiana, was the eldest daughter of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great and his second wife Fausta, daughter of Emperor Maximian. Constantina received the title of Augusta by her father, and is venerated as a saint; in English she is also known as Saint Constance.



Constantina

Cookie is most often used as a dog name, and it should stay that way.

Cookie

This herb is also known as cilantro. It's meaning, "bed bug" is on account of its smell, characterized by the ancient Greeks as bed bug-like.

Coriander

Corisande is a very unusual, haunting choice, with the aura of medieval romance--it is found in early Spanish romantic tales, arriving in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century.
 'La belle Corisande' was the poetic name applied to Diane de Poitiers, the beautiful and powerful mistress of King Henry II&mdash;-Henri of Navarre-- of France.
 
 Lady Corisande is the leading character in
Benjamin Disraeli's 1870 novel Lothair, and, more recently, was heard in Annabel Davis-Goff's novel This Cold Country.