maiaraye's list "Favorite Girl Names- Unique" of 20 great name ideas: Iola - Joss!

Favorite Girl Names- Unique

Here are my favorite unique ish girl names. There's a lot haha enjoy!! Why do these descriptions have to be 15 words??

Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that should be ripe for rediscovery.

Iola

Mayuri is the feminine version of the name Mayur, which means peacock. The name has a mellifluous sound to it, which makes it well placed to make the transition to the West. Dancer and chorerographer Mayuri Upadhya is a notable bearer of this name.

Mayuri

Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine. 

Moselle

A popular Irish name virtually unknown here, but one that feels like it could follow in the footsteps of Siobhan and Saoirse. It's pronounced SOR-ka, but with a little hiccup between the 'r' and the 'c' that's difficult for non-Gaelic speakers to reproduce. Spelled (and pronounced) Sorsha, she is a major character in the movie Willow.

Sorcha

In 2014, fifteen newborns were named Whisper, all of them girls. We can see the attraction of the name but if you are in Australia be warned - Whisper is a well-known brand of sanitary products, so a teenaged Whisper will find life more embarrassing than usual. 

Whisper

Athens the city takes its name from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and courage. If you prefer place names to mythological names and like gender neutral names better than those that are gender distinct, Athens may be a good alternative to Athena.

Athens

Binah is a feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning 'understanding' or 'wisdom.' It comes from Hebrew philosophy and Kabbalah, where Binah represents the third sephirah on the Tree of Life, symbolizing processing, understanding, and intelligence. It is considered a spiritually significant name that embodies deep comprehension and discernment. Though uncommon in mainstream Western culture, Binah has maintained steady usage among Jewish communities and those drawn to names with profound spiritual significance. Its distinctive sound and meaningful connotation make it an appealing choice for parents seeking a name that conveys intellectual depth and spiritual awareness for their daughter.

Binah

Bryony is an unusually strong plant name --the bryony is a wild climbing vine with green flowers --that caught on in the U.K. before sprouting here. The name of the young character in the Ian McEwan novel Atonement is spelled Briony, which is the variation and Bryony the original.
 Bryony sounds a lot fresher than the now dated Brittany. Pronunciation is like Brian with an ee at the end, though the name bears no relationship to the male Brian or Bryan.

Bryony

From the botanical name for common heather, Calluna vulgaris, which ultimately derives from the Greek kallos "beauty". A unique, nature-inspired route to the fashionable nicknames Callie and Luna.

Calluna

There are many variations of Clare and Clara, but this might be one of the simplest and most surprising. Clary can be a diminutive of the Latin name Clara, meaning 'bright' or 'clear,' or it might derive from the herb clary sage, giving it botanical associations. \

In literature, the name gained some recognition through Cassandra Clare's 'The Mortal Instruments' series featuring a character named Clary Fray. The name has a bright, crisp sound with its short syllables and clear pronunciation. While never achieving mainstream popularity, Clary has maintained consistent if uncommon usage throughout the years. It appeals to parents seeking a short, distinctive name with both historical roots and contemporary appeal.

Clary

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 Coralia.

Coralia

Emonie is a contemporary feminine name with a melodic quality, likely derived as a variation of names like Harmony or Simone, or possibly created as a unique blend of popular elements like "Em-" (from Emily or Emma) with a musical-sounding ending. While not having deep historical roots, Emonie has gained some recognition in recent decades, particularly in the United States. The name carries a modern, rhythmic feel with its flowing syllables and distinctive sound. Parents might choose Emonie for its uniqueness while still maintaining familiar phonetic elements. Its musical quality suggests attributes of harmony, balance, and artistic expression. The name's relative rarity makes it an individualistic choice that still sounds accessible and pleasing to the ear.

Emonie

Genie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of names like Eugenia, Eugenie, or Imogene, though it's now often used independently. The name inevitably evokes connections to mythological spirits from Arabic folklore (jinn), especially following the popularization of genies in Western culture through stories like Aladdin. The name peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Genie has a whimsical, magical quality that suggests someone with a vibrant, wish-fulfilling personality. Despite its fantastical associations, the name has a sweet simplicity and vintage charm that has kept it in occasional use, though it remains relatively uncommon.

Genie

With Isabel getting so popular, parents are searching for new varieties of the name, and Isabeau is one that makes a lovely French twist. 
 Isabeau of Bavaria was the wife of King Charles VI of France--and it was possibly a nickname for Elisabeth. It is also the name of an opera by Pietro Mascagni, a retelling of the medieval English legend of Lady Godiva, and in the 1985 film Ladyhawke, Michelle Pfeiffer plays the heroine, Lady Isabeau d'Arjou, who assumes the form of a hawk during the day.

Isabeau

Khione was the name of several minor figures in Greek mythology, of which the most notable is the nymph who Hermes turned into a snow cloud. Khione works as both a high-brow mythological name and a Kardashian-trendy K name.

Khione

While god of mischief Loki is usually depicted as a male -- sometimes in animal form -- he gives birth as a mare to the eight-legged horse Sleipnir and also appears in some stories as an elderly woman.  The name Loki, in contemporary American, will feel more feminine based solely on its sound.

Loki

Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x.  Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.

Pixie

Hagar is an Old Testament name with an unfortunate association with comic strip character "Hagar the Horrible."

Hagar

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 eccentric aristocrat, much more accepted in the U.K. than she has been here.
 Hester's beyond-Hawthorne's literary appearances include as characters in Theodore Dreiser's novel An American Tragedy, in Oscar Wilde's play A Woman of No Importance, in John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meaney, and as Niles and Frasier Crane's mom on Frasier.
 Hetty is Hester's usual nickname, sometimes used independently.

Hester

Joss is more fashionable than Jocelyn or Josslyn. This is a short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone. One of a troupe of adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls a la Lou and Charlie. 