Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Giuseppina

Italian feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew

"Jehovah increases"

One case where the English version -- Josephine -- is far preferable.

Björk

Icelandic

"birch tree"

Destined to remain a one-person name -- in this country anyway.

Lulla

Lulla is a feminine name with roots in multiple cultures. It likely derives from Norse mythology where Lulla was a goddess of rest, or it may be connected to the word 'lullaby,' suggesting a…

Cyane

Greek

"bright blue enamel"

Cyane is a mythological Sicilian nymph who lived in a pool and whose name is an intriguing twist on the color name trend.

Hanako

Japanese

"flower child"

Hanako has a delicate sound and quaint meaning -- but there's a catch. According to widespread urban legend in Japan, Hanako is the name of the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms, who…

Buffy

English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an…

Asya

Turkish; Russian and Bulgarian diminutive of Anastasia

"Asia; resurrection"

Asya has dual origins: it is both the Turkish word for Asia (the continent), and a short form of Anastasia in Russian and Bulgarian. Beyond that, it is a beautiful example of a "travelling light"…

Hereswith

Old English

"Strength of the army"

Hereswith is a rare name that comes to us from the dark ages. She was a Northumbrian saint, whose more famous sister, Hilda, was the Abbess at Whitby and patron of the first English poet, Caedmon.…

Novella

Novella is a feminine name with Latin and Italian roots, derived from 'novus' meaning 'new' or 'young.' Beyond its literal meaning, Novella carries literary associations as it refers to a short prose…

Cherri

Cherri is a feminine variant of the name Cherry, derived from the English word for the fruit. It's a sweet, playful name that gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century as a nickname or…

Tziporah

Hebrew

"bird"

Biblical wife of Moses whose name has many variations, with and without the initial T and final h, with one p or two. However you spell it, it's an original choice that also carries teasing…

Cimarron

Spanish, English

"wild, untamed"

Cimarron is a Great Plains city and river name used by Edna Ferber as the title of a popular novel. The Cimarron people of Panama were previously enslaved Africans who had escaped from their Spanish…

Olivine

Latin

"olive"

A gem named for its green hue.

Lupe

Spanish diminutive of Guadalupe, Latin

"wolf"

Derived from a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Guadalupe, Lupe has both a spiritual and animal meaning. In relation to its long form, it is associated with a convent in Spain and the appearance of…

Carolena

Carolena is a graceful feminine name that blends elements of Caroline and Elena/Helena. With Latin and Greek roots, it can be interpreted as meaning "strong" or "free woman" combined with "bright" or…

Arella

Hebrew

"messenger from God, angel"

Bell-like and original.

Elizabel

Elizabel is a distinctive feminine name that combines elements of Elizabeth and Isabel/Isabella, two classic names with royal heritage. This creative blending results in a name that feels both…

Foxglove

Flower name, from English

"fox's glove"

A rare flower name that works as well for boys as it does for girls, so named because of its resemblance to a small glove.

Dancer

English word name

"someone who dances"

A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.

Ellisif

Icelandic variation of Elizabeth