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mostly obscure eclectic w european flair

  1. Dahlia

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Swedish surname

    • Meaning:

      "Dahl's flower"

    • Description:

      One of the flower names, used occasionally in Britain (where it's pronounced DAY-lee-a). It seems to have recovered from what was perceived as a slightly affected la-di-dah air. The flower was named in honor of the pioneering Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl, which means dale.
  2. Daphne

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "laurel tree, bay tree"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the plant genus daphne, which contains the laurel species, gets its name.
  3. Decima

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "tenth"

    • Description:

      In the days of huge families, this name of the Roman goddess of prophecy and childbirth, and one of the Fates, would be saved for bambina number ten. Now it might be used for a girl born in October, the tenth month.
  4. Delphi

    • Origin:

      Greek place name

    • Meaning:

      "of Delphi; womb"

    • Description:

      An interesting unisex possibility, with an air of mystery connected to the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in ancient Greece; it was also a major site for the worship of the god Apollo.
  5. Demeter

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "earth mother"

    • Description:

      Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain, agriculture, and the harvest, growth and nourishment, was Zeus's sister and Persephone's mother. Variation Demetria is the full name of actress Demi Moore. Though familiar, Demeter is not one of the Greek goddess namesthat's finding widespread modern favor.
  6. Deveraux

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "of Evreux; riverbank"

    • Description:

      Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the town of Evreux in France and combined with the prefix de- denoting it likely referred to a noble of that area.
  7. Domino

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lord, master"

    • Description:

      One of those ultimate cool-girl names, played by Keira Knightley in a movie about a supermodel-turned-bounty hunter, but kids might associate it with the game. High profile British designer India Hicks used it for her daughter. As a girls' nameit's still very rare, used in 2015 in the US for only seven baby girls.
  8. Dulcet

    • Description:

      Dulcet is an unusual feminine name derived from the Latin word 'dulcis,' meaning sweet or pleasant. While primarily known as an adjective describing something melodious or soothing to the ear, Dulcet's use as a given name is extremely rare. The name evokes qualities of gentleness, harmony, and a pleasant disposition. As a name, it carries musical connotations, suggesting someone with a sweet voice or artistic sensibilities. Dulcet has never appeared in popular name rankings, making it an extraordinarily distinctive choice. The name's literary quality gives it an elegant, sophisticated character that might appeal to parents seeking something genuinely unique. Though uncommon as a name, its meaning is immediately accessible, conveying sweetness and melodious charm.

  9. Edeline

    • Description:

      Edeline is a feminine name of Germanic origin, derived from the elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' or 'nobility' and 'lin' meaning 'little' or serving as a diminutive suffix. This elegant name can be considered a variant of Adeline or a feminine form of Edel. With its soft sounds and graceful ending, Edeline carries an air of vintage refinement while remaining relatively uncommon, making it appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional-sounding choice. The name experienced limited popularity in medieval Europe and has never ranked among common names in the United States. Its rarity, combined with its pleasant sound and noble meaning, gives Edeline a unique charm with historical roots.
  10. Eleodora

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of the sun"

    • Description:

      Spanish form of Eleadora, a combination of Elio and Dora, meaning sun and gift respectively.
  11. Elm

    • Origin:

      English, German, Norse, Danish tree name

    • Meaning:

      "red, brown"

    • Description:

      Strong, straight, and leafy, one of the new tree names used mostly as middles.
  12. Elma

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "will helmet"

    • Description:

      Historically a diminutive of Wilhelmina, Elma's parent name and soundalike sisters are slowly stirring back to life as the trend for vintage baby names continues. With Alma on the rise in the US, Thelma chic in France, and Selma hot in Scandinavia, Elma could be in with a shot at a revival – especially given the popularity of Emma and Ella. But Muppet Elmo and Looney Tune Elmer Fudd may cast a long shadow.
  13. Elmer

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "noble and renowned"

    • Description:

      Thanks to Elmer Fudd, Elmer the Cow, and even Elmer's glue, this name has become a bit of a joke -- the quintessential so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out name. But with its trendy El-beginning and popular er-ending, who knows?
  14. Emeraude

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "Emerald"

    • Description:

      Gemstone names have a long history of use, from Ruby to Pearl. Emeraude is the French word for emerald. If the Spanish Esmeralda is stylish, why not Emeraude?
  15. Emile

    • Description:

      Emile is a masculine name of French origin, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which comes from the Latin word 'aemulus' meaning 'rival' or 'emulating'. Popular throughout France and French-speaking regions, Emile has a distinguished literary connection through French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's influential work 'Émile, or On Education'. The name has a sophisticated European flair while remaining straightforward to pronounce and spell in many languages. Though never reaching extreme popularity in English-speaking countries, Emile maintains steady usage as a classic choice with intellectual associations. Notable bearers include French author Émile Zola and French painter Émile Bernard.
  16. Emilien

    • Origin:

      French form of Emil

    • Meaning:

      "friendly"

    • Description:

      Might make a worthy masculine spin on either of the uber popular Emma or Emily.
  17. Emre

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "friend"

    • Description:

      This Turkish name meaning "friend" should be very useable outside Turkey, given that it is pronounced just as it is spelled. Famous men named Emre include Emre Can, a chess grandmaster, and Emre Sahin, the director.
  18. Etta

    • Origin:

      English and Scottish, short form of any name ending with -etta: Henrietta, Loretta etc.

    • Description:

      Thanks to the surprise hit revival of Etta James' song At Last and because of recent interest in vintage style nicknames, Etta has established herself as a possible successor to Emma and Ella. Back in the US Top 1000 as of 2023 and rising rapidly up the UK charts, where it sits in the Top 200, Etta is a snappy, smart and sparky choice.
  19. Evadne

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pleasing one"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Evadne was the daughter of Poseidon. Evadne also appears in literature (Mary Shelley's "The Last Man") and has a pop culture reference as the cousin of Wonder Woman. A more unusual alternative to other Greek "-ee" names like Ariadne, Daphne and Penelope. The trendy "Ev" sound makes this a lovely choice in a world of Evelyns, Evangelines and Everlys.
  20. Evren

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "universe"

    • Description:

      A modern-sounding unisex name which belongs to a dragon in Turkish mythology, Evren has huge potential to rise more globally, thanks to its accessible sound and its wide-reaching meaning "universe". It may appear to those who are looking to a choice that works internationally, or for alternatives to the likes of Atlas and Cosmo.