User-created list
By kyra_nicole · Updated January 2021
Across 15 pages
of 15
Word name
"heavy object used to moor a ship; provide with a solid foundation"
Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability, currently given to a small handful of boys in the US each year.
Diminutive of Elizabeth
"God is my oath"
Bettina is a dainty ballerina version of Betty, that has not been heard much since its 1950s-60s heyday. Bettina appeared in the Danielle Steele novel Loving, and in real life as one of Grace Kelly's…
French feminine variation of Clement
"mild, merciful"
Calm, composed, and chic. Often seen with an accent in France, as Clémence.
English
"flower"
Florence, Flora, and a whole plethora of botanical names are in style at the moment, but simple Flower remains rare. Perhaps it's the association with the little skunk in Bambi, or because it rhymes…
Variation of Jacinta, Spanish and Portuguese
"hyacinth"
Jacinda, a form of the lovely and unusual Spanish and Portuguese flower name Jacinta (for Hyacinth), was first popularized by the Australian actress Jacinda Barrett. Today, the girls' name Jacinda is…
Hungarian and Dutch diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Robust and energetic with an even blend of spikiness and elegance, Mariska is a diminutive of Maria, notably used in Hungary and The Netherlands. Internationally, it was brought into the spotlight by…
Ciera is a feminine name that emerged as a modern variation of Sierra, which comes from the Spanish word for 'mountain range.' This contemporary spelling became popular in the United States during…
feminine of Galen
"calm"
Galena is the feminine of the Galen, which means calm. Galena is also a mineral-related name, a type of lead.
English, diminutive of Theresa, Greek
"to reap, gather"
With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.
Variation of Genevieve or Geneva, French
"tribe woman or juniper"
The rare name Genoveva might be thought of as a variation of the French names Genevieve or Geneva, which have different roots and meanings. An unusual, pretty choice.
Irish
"glen"
Honoring a male relative. Be bold and go with Glenn.
Spanish variation of Grace
Although Gracia is the literal Spanish translation of Grace and is used as the Grace equivalent in Spanish-speaking countries, where it's pronounced grah-see-ah or grah-thee-ah, it's also a long-time…
Italian variation of Letitia
"gladness"
Letizia is a pretty Latin variation of Letitia; it's one of those Italian names for girls that makes the more familiar version feel less prissy and more appealing. Letizia was the first name of…
Literary name
"little she-bear; peace; good natured, charm"
A literary name with a simple yet alluring sound, Sula may appeal as an alternative to those who like Lula, Lola, Susannah, and Tallulah. The protagonist and titular character of Toni Morrison's 1973…
African
"free man"
Though this is traditionally a male name, it can work for a girl in our culture. Might also be considered a short form of the Italian Amadea.
Romanian, Italian, Galician and Spanish variation of Coralie, French from Latin
"coral"
Coralia was the name of a dancing mermaid in a 19th century ballet. As Cora — which has another root and means maiden — rises, so may elaborations and related names such as Coralie, Coraline, and…
Savilla is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variant of Savilla or Sabilla, which derive from the Latin 'Sabina,' referring to the Sabine people of ancient Italy.…
Place-name
Sonoma, the name of a beautiful northern California wine-growing region, might inspire some parents. Other California place names beyond Sonoma: Marin, Berkeley, Sierra.
Italian variation of Florentia and Florence, Latin
"flourishing, prospering"
Bold and elegant, Fiorenza is an Italian form of Florence, which was used as the name of the Tuscan city in the Middle Ages. Appearing in the title of a 1907 play but Thomas Mann, it has been notably…
Medieval variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…
