dhavernasaugust's list "Story character ideas" of 20 great name ideas: Lelia - Emmalene!

Story character ideas

I like writing stories and sometimes just inventing characters. These are some of my favourite character name ideas. Most are pretty unheard of, or at least uncommon where I'm from. I've put most as girls' names (and most I would like for girl characters), but a lot are gender neutral.

A rare and delicate choice, Lelia is a modern variation of an ancient Roman family name. It came to Britain in the mid-nineteenth century, following the publication of George Sand's popular romantic novel titled Lelia in 1833.

Lelia

A thirteenth-century Tuscan saint, patron of homemakers, Zita is the kind of name that sounded really creative in an earlier era. 

Zita

Araminta is a poetic and enchanting eighteenth-century invention with plenty of elegance and a touch of old-fashioned clunkiness. It first appeared in William Congreve's 17th century comedy The Old Bachelor and then again in 1705 when it was used by architect and playwright Sir John Vanbrugh in his play The Confederacy.
 
There are several theories on where Araminta came from, one possibility being that it is a compound name, blending Arabella with Aminta. Arabella is considered a variant of Anabella or derived from the Latin orabilis and means "loveable" or "unyielding". Aminta is itself a literary invention, meaning "defender". Together then, they form a strong name, connected to love and strength.
 
An alternative suggestion is that it was developed from the plant name Amaranth, meaning "unfading" from the Greek amarantos. Poet Richard Lovelace had used to altered form Aramantha forty years before Araminta appeared on stage and could have been the inspiration.
 
Other theories suggest that Araminta is: a form of Aminata, itself a variant of the Arabic Amina, meaning "safe and secure" or "trustful"; inspired by the Greek element anthos meaning "flower"; or a spin on the Germanic Arminius, meaning "whole, universal" or army man".
 
Moving away from the tangled etymology, Araminta was notably the birth name of abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. It is also borne by photographer Araminta de Clermont, and by actress Araminta "Minta" Durfee.
 
More familiar in Britain than the US, but rare there too, it has however proved popular in fiction. In the Enid Bagnold novel National Velvet, Araminta is the name of the central character's mother, while Araminta Lee is a character in Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians.It had also appeared in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn and in Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi.
 
Just 11 girls were named Araminta in 2024 in the US.

Araminta

Original and straightforward, but with little appeal. 

Raynor

Keri is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It can be a variant spelling of Kerry, derived from the Irish county name Ciarraí, meaning "people of Ciar" or "dark-haired people." Alternatively, it may be a diminutive of names like Katherine or Kerith. The name gained significant popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, reaching its peak in 1976. Keri has a brief, bright sound that feels both friendly and professional. Notable bearers include actress Keri Russell and basketball player Keri Sanford. The name has declined in usage since its peak but maintains a contemporary feel while being recognizable. Its simplicity in spelling and pronunciation makes it practical across various cultures.

Keri

Jaye is a gender-neutral name that has been more commonly used for females in recent decades. It originated as a simplified variant of names like Jay, Jayne, or Jay, with the added 'e' giving it a more feminine appearance while maintaining its concise nature. The name has English origins and can be considered a modern, streamlined alternative to longer names like Janet, Janice, or Janelle. Jaye gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century and has maintained steady but uncommon usage since then. The name's brevity and contemporary feel make it appealing to parents seeking a name that is straightforward yet distinctive. Its simplicity allows it to pair well with various middle names and surnames.

Jaye

Sounding both tomboyish and feminine at the same time, this name is mostly associated with actresses Joely Richardson and Joely Fisher. 

Joely

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 comes from the Occitan word mirar meaning "to admire". 
 
Popular in France in the 20th century, it peaked in 1949 when it briefly entered the Top 20, however, it has been out of style in its native country since the 80s. In the US, it was given to just 13 girls in 2025, making it a rare choice.
 
International forms of the name include the Spanish Mireya and Mireia , the Italian Mirella, and the Albanian and Croatian Mirela.

Mireille

Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur Delacour, a French witch and the Beauxbatons champion for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter. 
 Fleur is currently in the Top 100 in Belgium and the Netherlands, home of the tulip and other fleurs.

Fleur

Eilish is one of those Irish names that, thanks to a celebrity, has suddenly become much more familiar outside of Ireland. Irish-American singer Billie Eilish (Eilish is actually one of her middle names) introduced the wider world to this Irish name as actress Saoirse Ronan did with hers. 

Interestingly, Saoirse Ronan's character in Brooklyn, based on the novel by Colm Toibin, was named Eilis, pronounced AY-lish in the movie (although usually EYE-lish or EYE-leesh with the fada).

While the Anglicized version of Eilish or Eilís is usually given as Elizabeth, it is sometimes translated to Alice, which is closer to the AY-lish pronunciation.

Eilish

Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
 Jessamine began to be used as a first name in Britain around 1900, along with other flower-related names. Yasmin and Yasmine are other Jasmine variations.
 This would make a great choice as a namesake honoring a Jessica.

Jessamine

This unjustly neglected floral name is smart and crisp, with a touch of Athena, Anna, and Cynthia about it. It also has that stylish Greek mythological heritage: Anthea is an epithet of Hera, the Greek queen of the gods, and her name has been used as poetic symbol of spring. 
 
The pronunciation of Anthea varies slightly depending on language and location. Among English speakers, it's ANN-thee-uh, while it's Greek and in French, it's AHn-TAY-A.
 
Notable bearers include Anthea Disney, a high-powered business executive and distant relative of Walt, and Anthea Turner, a TV presenter.
 Only 10 girls were called Anthea in the US in a recent year, so if you want to go beyond Azalea, Athena, and Anastasia, you might consider Anthea.

Anthea

Rising boys' name could cross the gender line. 

Corbin

Most Africas today would be named for the continent, but the name actually existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Africa has also been a Spanish name for girls since 1421. The church of the Virgin "Nuestra Senora de Africa" is in Ceuta, the Spanish city she is Patron of, in North Africa.
 There have been several other theories as to the origin of the name. Some believe it refers to the name of the ancient Berber people who inhabited North Africa, others believe Africa means "greyish" in reference to the color of sand, and yet another theory is that it is a Phoenician word meaning "colony," as Africa was once a colony of the Roman Empire. To complicate matters further, spelled Affrica, it is also used in Spanish-speaking countries, meaning "pleasant."
 Africa has been a recorded name in the U.S. since the eighteenth century.

Africa

Amory is best known for the hero of Fitzgerald's 1920 This Side of Paradise, Princeton student Amory Blaine. Amory is in some danger of being borrowed by the girls, a la Avery. Alternate spellings Amori or Amorie also relate to the Latin word for love.

Amory

These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.

Bell

Charissa is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from 'charis,' meaning 'grace,' 'kindness,' or 'beauty.' It's related to the more common Charisse, Carissa, and Karissa, all variations of the same root. The name carries connotations of elegance and divine benevolence, as 'charis' was associated with divine favor in ancient Greek culture. Charissa experienced modest popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s but has remained relatively uncommon. The name has a melodic quality with its three syllables and soft 'ch' sound, giving it a gentle yet distinguished character. For parents seeking a name with classical roots, feminine qualities, and a touch of uniqueness, Charissa offers historical depth without being overly common.

Charissa

Rarely used biblical choice -- he's a son of Jacob -- with a bit of a white-bearded image. 

Naphtali

The capital of Georgia is far from the ocean, but got its name from the Western and Atlantic Railroad which ran through the city. Best known as a hub of industry and transport, and for its roles in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, it has never been popular as a baby name despite sounding like one. Its peak popularity was in 1995, the year before Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.
As parents embrace more diverse place names for babies, beyond the obvious Georgia and Savannah, we may start to see more of Atlanta on the baby name map. Or add an extra letter to make it Atalanta, a bona fide (but even rarer) mythological name.

Atlanta

Emmalene is a delicate feminine name that combines the classic Emma with the traditional suffix -lene. Emma derives from Germanic origins meaning 'universal' or 'whole,' while the -lene ending adds a flowing, graceful quality. This elaboration creates a name that feels both familiar and distinctive. Emmalene has historical roots but has never been widely popular, giving it a vintage charm without feeling overused. The name carries a sweet, gentle sound that evokes images of traditional femininity and warmth. Emmalene might appeal to parents who appreciate classic names like Emma or Helena but desire something less common. Its rhythmic three-syllable pattern and soft consonants create a melodious quality that feels both timeless and romantically old-fashioned.