Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Emeny

English, uncertain origin

Emily substitute, though it sounds like a child's mispronunciation of "enemy".

Zazu

Zazu is a feminine name that gained recognition through the character of King Mufasa's hornbill advisor in Disney's 'The Lion King.' With African origins, the name carries connotations of movement…

Hortensia

Latin

"of the garden"

Hortensia is an ancient Roman name that's also the common name of the flower hydrangea. The French form of the name is Hortense, which is coming back into style in Paris but has never caught on in…

Silja

Silja is a feminine name with Scandinavian and Finnish origins, representing a variation of Cecilia or a nickname for Sylvia in these cultures. The name carries a crisp, clean sound characteristic of…

Grayce

Grayce is an elegant variation of Grace, a feminine name with Latin origins derived from 'gratia,' meaning 'favor' or 'thanks.' This alternative spelling maintains the traditional pronunciation while…

Antimony

Element name

Antimony is a lustrous grey metal. Beware though - antimony is very poisonous and harmful to the environment, so a bit of a harsh name to give to a child.

November

English word name

"month name"

The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical…

Elixyvett

English combination of Elizabeth, Alexis, and Yvette

"pledged to God + defender + yew tree"

Elixyvett is part Elizabeth, part Alexis, part Yvette — and a total mess. Few people go to such lengths to make a name different. Aren't you glad?

Brana

Brana is a feminine name with Slavic origins, particularly found in Czech, Slovak, and other Eastern European cultures. The name means 'protection' or 'defense,' deriving from Slavic words related to…

Joëlle

Hebrew

"the Lord is God"

A French name that's lost its chic.

Drucilla

Latin

"strong"

Pleasingly quaint and dainty New Testament possibility; the nickname Dru modernizes it.

Brunhilda

Norse

"armed for battle"

Variant of Brunhild, still clad in heavy armor. Though the heroine Brunhilda of Quentin Tarantino's recent film Django Unchained may have given this version of the name new appeal.

Phebe

Akan, Ghanaian

"born on Friday"

Though often Anglicized as Phoebe, Phebe has separate roots. It originated as a variation of Afua, an Akan day name, and commonly used among enslaved people in America.

Rosabella

Latin

"beautiful rose"

A mashup of two of the most popular baby names today, Rose and Bella, that's still comparatively undiscovered in the US. Just 58 American baby girls were named Rosabella last year. It feels more…

Primavera

Italian

"spring"

A bit syllable-heavy, but a pretty name for a springtime baby.

Deshawna

Deshawna appears to be a compound name combining the prefix 'De-' with 'Shawna,' a feminine form of Shaun/Sean (itself derived from John, meaning 'God is gracious'). The 'De-' prefix has been used in…

Gaylyn

Gaylyn is a feminine name that emerged in the mid-20th century in the United States as a variation of Galen or a combination of Gay and the popular suffix -lyn. The name has English roots and…

Issoria

nature name

The Issoria is a genus of butterflies found in Africa, one of which is known as the African Queen. This name would make a wonderful choice for those looking for a name which subtly honors Africa.

Kinzley

Kinzley is a modern feminine name that emerged in American naming culture during the early 2000s. Created as part of the trend toward distinctive '-ley' ending names, it appears to be a creative…

Dorinda

Greek

"bountiful gift"

Cinderella stepsister type Victorian-valentine name.