Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Esmee

Spelling variation of Esme

Esme and by extension Esmee have gotten more popular in the US in recent years, but that extra e can confuse an already-confusing pronunciation, especially if you start adding accents.

Polaris

Latin

"pole star"

The astronomical Polaris is better known as the North Star, the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation. It's also the name of a character in the Marvel Universe, as the daughter of Magneto.…

Zariza

Hebrew

"gold, brilliantly bright"

Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.

Adamina

Hebrew

"child of the red earth"

A feminization of Adam with several sweet nickname options — Addie, Ada, Minnie, or Mina being a few.

Dellen

Cornish

"petal"

Intriguing combo of elements.

Nashoba

Nashoba is a feminine name with Native American origins, specifically from the Choctaw language where it means "wolf". This unique name carries the symbolic power and spiritual significance that many…

Adolpha

German

"noble wolf"

Nein.

Marni

Marni is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. Some consider it a diminutive of Marina or Marna, derived from Latin meaning "of the sea," while others trace it to Hebrew origins as a…

Suky

Suky is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Susan or Susannah, which derive from the Hebrew name Shoshana meaning "lily" or "rose." This playful, affectionate nickname has…

Fanchon

French variation of Frances

"from France; free man"

Fanchon is a sweet and affectionate Gallic choice.

Spirit

English word name

" a supernatural being or essence"

Spiritual word names are becoming more and more popular – think Peace, Bodhi, Zen and Psalm – and Spirit is among the rarer options, given to a couple dozen baby girls each year in the US. It's the…

Etoile

French

"star"

This French word for star sounds like even more of a celebrity-worthy choice than Star or Esther or Estella or Stella. But count on English speakers who never took high school French to stumble over…

Piri

Piri is a concise, distinctive feminine name with diverse cultural connections. In Hungarian tradition, it functions as a diminutive of Piroska (the Hungarian form of Priscilla), while in Turkish, it…

Canary

English

"small bird"

The name of a small yellow bird that hasn't taken off in the way that some of its avian sisters – like Robin, Wren or Lark – have. Given to a small number of girls across the 20th-century, the 2020s…

Pansy

English flower name from French

"thought"

Pansy is an early floral name that lost credibility when it became a derogatory slang term for gay people. Better these days: Posy or Poppy.

Nolah

Nolah is a modern feminine name that appears to be a variation of more established names like Nola or Norah. The name has a gentle, melodic quality with its soft consonants and vowel ending. While…

Majesty

Word name

Alternative to Princess or Queenie.

Corona

Spanish

"crown"

Corona was once an improbable choice due to the beer brand. After the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, its firmly cemented its status as a nonviable baby name.

Kamariah

Kamariah is a feminine name with Arabic and Malay origins, carrying beautiful celestial associations. The name derives from 'qamar,' the Arabic word for 'moon,' with the suffix '-iah' adding a…

Villanelle

English from Italian

"pastoral song"

Is Villanelle the new Sonnet? This elaborate name is a form of poetry — an example is Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night — but many know it better as an assassin's codename in the…