Old-Fashioned, Vintage, Retro, Classic, Eclectic, Unusual and Uncommon Names for Girls

Fernandina

Fernandina is a feminine form of Ferdinand, a name with Germanic origins meaning 'brave journey' or 'bold protector.' This elaborate feminine variation adds a romantic, southern European flair to the…

Maxi

Latin

"greatest"

Diminutive of Maxine, Maxima or Maximiliane

Maxie

Maxie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Maxine or Maxene, which themselves are feminine versions of Maximilian or Maxwell. The name has Latin roots in "maximus," meaning…

Nicolette

French, diminutive of Nicole, feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek

"people of victory"

Frilly and feminine, Nicolette is the name of an enchanting princess in the medieval French romance, Aucassin et Nicolette , but really got its publicity from the heyday of Desperate Housewives and…

Isabelline

Variation of Isabella and color name

With the popularity of Isabella, you might think of Isabelline as a further elaboration -- though it would be the definition of gilding the lily. But Isabelline is also a color, an amorphous pale…

Villa

Latin

"country house"

A word that carries a broad range of connotations across Europe, all of which ultimately derive from the Roman term for a country estate. Villa is well established as a surname, especially in…

Ora

Latin

"prayer"

Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.

Ollie

Short form of Olive or Olivia, Latin

"olive tree"

Less used than Liv or Livvy, Ollie is a boyish nickname for girls, sometimes used for Olivia and Olive. Currently out of the US charts, you might be surprised to learn that Ollie actually ranked more…

Olly

Short form of Olive or Olivia, Latin

"olive tree"

Olly is used less often as a nickname for the mega-popular Olivia or the stylish Olive than Ellie is for Eleanor or Allie for Allison. That may be because Olly has a much longer use as a nickname for…

Etty

English diminutive or names ending with 'etta' or 'ette'

"little"

Ettie or Etty works as a nickname for any name with a prominent "et" sound, usually at the end: think Henrietta, Juliette or Colette. The -ette ending is a French diminutive suffix.

Demelza

Cornish

"eel house or Maeldaf's fort"

A punchy modern Cornish name derived from a place name, which is of disputed origin. It is sometimes said to derive from a rare Welsh name, Maeldaf, plus dinas , the Cornish for "fort". Another…

Maye

Maye is a feminine name with multiple potential origins, primarily derived from the Old French word 'mai' referring to the month of May, symbolizing springtime, renewal, and growth. Alternatively, it…

Addy

Diminutive of Adelaide or Adeline

This name has become increasingly popular, though usually with the Addie spelling. In fact, Addy/Addie has taken over for Maddie and Allie as one of the most frequently-heard short forms for a range…

Clora

Clora is a feminine name with Latin roots, likely derived from 'chloros' meaning 'green' or 'pale green,' which has connections to flora and growth. It can be considered a variant of Clara or…