Rare Names from my Family Tree

Beta

Greek, second letter of the Greek alphabet

If you can't have an Alpha male, how about a Beta girl.

Calista

Greek

"most beautiful"

Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she…

Cintha

Cintha is an uncommon feminine name that likely originated as a variation of Cynthia, which derives from Kynthia, an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis who was said to have been born on Mount…

Clarinda

Literary elaboration of Clara

"bright, clear"

A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns. "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are…

Cyntha

Cyntha is a feminine name that appears to be a variant or shortened form of Cynthia, which derives from Greek mythology where it was an epithet of the goddess Artemis, who was born on Mount Cynthus.…

Drucilla

Latin

"strong"

Pleasingly quaint and dainty New Testament possibility; the nickname Dru modernizes it.

Easter

English, from German

Easter has been used as a name for several hundred years, as part of the day-naming tradition; now, this rarely heard holiday celebration name would make a novel choice for a springtime baby.…

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.

Gladys

Possibly a form or Claudia or Welsh

"land, nation"

Hard as it might be to believe, Gladys was the Harper of 1900, emerging almost out of nowhere to take the naming world by storm. It became a favorite among parents — and writers of romantic Edwardian…

Hesper

Greek

"evening, evening star"

Hesper is a feminine form of Hesperus, the name of the Greek mythological personification of the Evening Star. The Hesperides are daughters of nymphs of the evening. Hesper may be related to the name…

Illa

Illa is a delicate feminine name with diverse cultural roots. It may derive from Latin-based languages where 'illa' means 'she' or 'that,' giving it a simple yet profound feminine essence. In some…

Iren

Iren is a feminine name that functions as a variation of Irene, with roots in ancient Greek. Derived from "Eirene," it means "peace." In Greek mythology, Eirene was the goddess of peace, giving the…