Aries inspired names

Meliora

Latin, Cornish

"better; honey"

Unusual and lush Roman name adopted, improbably, by the Puritans. The Cornish version, pronounced mel-YOHR-ah, has been in use since the 13th century.

Melisande

French form of Millicent, German

"strong in work"

This old-time fairy tale name is rarely heard in the modern English-speaking world, but it's so, well, mellifluous, that it would make a lovely choice for a twenty-first century girl--a romanticized…

Melita

Greek

"honey"

A coffee filter.

Mellona

Latin

"honey"

This name — also seen as Mellonia — belonged to the Roman goddess of bees and bee-keeping, said to encourage the supply of honey.

Melyor

Melyor is an uncommon feminine name with possible Celtic or Cornish origins. It may be related to the medieval Cornish name 'Melior' or 'Meliora,' which means 'better' or 'more excellent' in Latin.…

Merida

Latin

"one who has achieved a high place of honor"

You'll probably be hearing more of this name thanks to the newest Pixar film, featuring Princess Merida, the first Pixar princess--a feisty, athletic, independent medieval Scottish girl with wild red…

Merona

Aramaic, breed of sheep

The name of a breed of Spanish sheep is hardly worthy of a child.

Merve

Turkish variation of Marwa, Arabic

"white stone"

Merve is derived from Marwa, a significant name in the Muslim community, as it the name of a mountain in Mecca.

Messiah

Aramaic

"expected savior or deliverer"

Highly unusual -- and audacious -- name chosen by basketball star Allen Iverson.

Michele

Feminine variation of Michael, Hebrew

"who is like God"

Onetime superstar name (Number 4 in the seventies) that's now in steep decline. Today's feminine is more likely to be some form of Michaela...or Makayla.

Micheline

French, feminine variation of Michael

One of those quintessentially French names still wearing a beret, also too tied to the image of tires.

Miel

French

"honey"

A sweet way—literally—to honor a Melissa or a Pamela.

Miguela

Spanish, feminine variation of Miguel

If you're looking for an unusual Michaela alternative, try this Spanish route.

Milly

Variation of Millie, English diminutive of Mildred or Millicent

"gentle strength; strong in work"

Milly and her more popular sister Millie are adorable Old Lady nickname-names springing back to life. Nearly 100 baby girls were named Milly, just Milly, last year, and Millie is in the US Top 500.…

Minta

English, diminutive of Araminta, invented hybrid name

Minta is an eighteenth century short form of a literary beauty still used in England today, but yet to be discovered by American baby namers. It has a fresh and dainty feel. Virtually unheard today,…

Minty

English diminutive of Aminta and Araminta, Greek

"defender"

Minty isn't a fresh word name — it's an old-fashioned nickname for Araminta, the romantic smoosh name coined by playwright William Congreve in 1693.

Mireya

Spanish from Latin

"admired"

A pretty and unusual path to the nickname Mira. Mira is the main character in Nobel Prize-winner Federico Mistral's poem of the same name. Mireya Moscoso was Panama's first female president.

Miv

Diminutive of Myfanwy, Welsh

"my precious little one"

If Liv can stand on it's own, why not Miv?

Miyabi

Japanese

"elegance; beautiful night fire"

An attractive Japanese name with appealing meanings.

Moneta

Latin

"to remind, instruct; alone, unique"

Moneta was the name of two separate goddesses in Roman mythology. The first was the goddess of memory, equivalent to the Greek Mnemosyne, and the second was as an epithet of Juno, mother of the gods.…