Aries inspired names

Paulille

French, feminine variation of Paul

Almost completely unknown in this country: an intriguing possibility.

Pauline

French, feminine variation of Paul

"small"

Pauline had its moment of glory a century ago, when movie audiences were thrilling to the silent serial The Perils of Pauline , released in 1914. A Top 50 name in the US between 1908 and 1930, it…

Pavla

Czech, feminine variation of Pavel

Distinctive Slavic choice.

Pedra

Spanish

"rock"

Pedra has never caught on with anything like the popularity of its male counterpart, Pedro. The Greek Petra sounds a lot cleaner and more refined.

Pele

Hawaiian goddess of fire

Pele is a female name in Hawaiian culture that could make a provocative choice for a modern girls. Others might think you named your daughter after the all-time great soccer player, but the simple,…

Pella

Scandinavian, diminutive of Petronella, or Hebrew

"stone or marvel of God"

This rare name crosses cultures. With the popularity of Ella and Bella, perhaps we'll hear more of Pella one day soon?

Penzance

Cornish

"holy headland"

Penzance is a port town at the very tip of Cornwall. With its associations with operetta and pirates, Penzance packs quite a bit of zip for a name.

Pepita

Spanish, diminutive feminine variation of JosÉ

Personification of pep.

Peridot

Arabic

"a green gemstone"

Peridot is the gem of the month of August, a vibrant green mineral, said to be good for helping people put the past behind them, and an interesting, undiscovered jewel name. It was regarded in…

Permilia

possibly a version of Pamela

"honey"

A somewhat common name in the early 19th Century in America. The origins of this name are not clear. It could be a variation of Pamela, or it could be a contraction of Pearl and Amelia.

Perrine

Feminine variation of Perry or Peter, English or Greek

"dweller near a pear tree or rock, stone"

Five girls were given the name Perrine last year. Other feminine Perry or Peter alternatives are Perrin, Perry, or even Petra.

Peta

Native American, Blackfoot,or Greek, "golden eagle, or rock, stone"

"golden eagle, or rock, stone"

Too tightly tied to the acronym for the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Petah

Native American

"rock, stone"

This spelling variation of Peta, chosen by Ani DiFranco for her daughter, might be a little difficult to pull off. Alternative suggestions: Petra and Petal.

Petra

Greek

"rock, stone"

A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early…

Petronilla

Roman and Italian feminine variation of Petronius

"yokel, woodpecker, stone"

Petronilla is an ancient saint's name that relates to the Roman family name Petronius, thought to mean yokel or woodpecker, though some connect it with Petra or Peter, meaning stone. With the…

Petronille

French feminine variation of Petronius, Latin

"yokel, woodpecker, stone"

So many names sound better with a French accent, and Petronille is one of them: it feels unusual in an elegant way. Usually spelled as Pétronille, it is derived from the Latin Petronius, possibly…

Phaenna

Greek

"the shining one"

Light and ethereal, Phaenna is one of the Charities or Graces in some Greek myths. She was worshipped in Sparta, along with Cleta ("renowned one").

Philippa

Greek, feminine variation of Philip

"lover of horses"

Philippa is a prime example of a boy's name adapted for girls that was common as crumpets in Cornwall, but rarely heard stateside. That was before the advent of royal sister-in-law Philippa…

Philippine

French, feminine variation of Philippe

"lover of horses"

Philippine might be taken as an ethnic identification rather than a name in the U.S. Philippa would be more easily understood, though if you don't mind eternally correcting people, Philippine can…

Philonese

Feminine form of Philo

Philonese is a rare name that had some usage a century or more ago among the Louisiana Creole. As such, it has ties to French and Italian ancestry. While it may not be joining the popularity charts…