My Best Friends Crazy Baby Names!

This royal Danish name has long been used across Scandinavia, Germany and Slavic countries and somewhat in the US around the turn of the last century --it was #622 in 1888. There were two notable silent screen stars named Dagmar, one with Polish, the other with Danish roots.

Though she has long stood on her own, Elke has many longer cross-cultural connections, to the Dutch/German/Scandinavian Adelheid and Alice and the English Adelaide, as a feminine version of Elkanah and as a Yiddish form of Eleanor.

Jolena is a feminine name that appears to be a modern combination or variation of names like Jolene and Elena. The name Jolene was popularized by Dolly Parton's 1973 song of the same name and derives from Jolly or the French 'jolie' meaning 'pretty.' The '-ena' ending gives it a softer, more elaborate feel similar to names like Elena or Serena. Jolena has a melodic quality with its three syllables and flowing sounds. While not among the most common names in any English-speaking country, it experienced modest usage in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s following Parton's hit song. The name carries a Southern American charm but with a unique twist that distinguishes it from the more familiar Jolene.