Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Elzunia

Polish variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to god"

One of the more uncommon international variations of Elizabeth.

Mallow

Greek

"soft, mellow"

A family of plants traditionally used for their relaxing properties.

Patchouli

Nature name

This fragrant name was sometimes seen in hippie communes in the days of flower power. There were no babies named Patchouli in the US last year, but there were about 25 baby girls named Indica and…

Bizzy

Diminutive of Elizabeth

"pledged to God"

Bizzy has a 1930s wisecracking waitress -- think Mitzi, Flossie, Fanny -- feel to it, yet at the same time feels like a fresh, modern nickname for Elizabeth. Given that any Bizzy better be, this name…

Guernsey

Place-name

The name of an island in the English Channel that might make an attractive first name, but would work better for a boy.

Brycin

Celtic, female variation of Brice

"bright strength"

Slightly awkward girl's version of a straightforward male name.

Alexandretta

Alexandretta is an elaborate feminine name that appears to be a diminutive or ornate variant of Alexandra, which derives from the Greek name Alexandros meaning 'defender of mankind.' This extended…

Aquitaine

French place name

If you're looking for a really untouristed place name, Aquitaine could be it. Aquitaine is a region of France that includes both Bordeaux and Biarritz and is famous for such food and drink as its…

Khaliah

Khaliah is a feminine name with diverse cultural influences, potentially drawing from Arabic origins where similar names relate to 'eternal' or 'immortal.' This melodious name gained modest…

Caleah

Caleah is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a modern variation of Callie or Kayla, or it could draw inspiration from the Hebrew name Kalila meaning "beloved." Another…

Mango

Fruit name

Mango is one fruit name best left untasted, unless you're naming a cat or looking for a nickname for a name like Manuela or even Margaret.

Zenevieva

Zenevieva is an uncommon feminine name that appears to be a creative variation of Genevieve, which has French origins meaning 'tribe woman' or 'woman of the race.' The replacement of the initial 'G'…

Kloe

Kloe is a modern, simplified spelling variant of the Greek name Chloe, which means 'blooming' or 'young green shoot'. This contemporary version maintains the same pronunciation as the traditional…

Haidee

Literature, English

"modest, reverant"

While Haidee may sound like a variant of Heidi or Hailey, it's actually a separate name with a literary history. First appearing in Byron's epic poem Don Juan (1819), it was likely inspired by the…

Essence

Word name, English from Greek

"the most significant element of a thing or person"

Heavily perfumed word name that peaked a few years ago.

Ororo

Literary name

Ororo Munroe is the civilian name of African-American comic book heroine Storm, from the X-Men series.

Ballou

French

"from Bellou"

Unusual surname with rowdy quality.

Almond

Word name

Gwyneth Paltrow's Apple has opened the world of botanical names beyond flowers to trees, herbs, fruits, and — why not — nuts. Cayley and Brandon Jenner have a daughter named Joan Almond.

Kerstin

Kerstin is a feminine Scandinavian name, particularly popular in Sweden, serving as the Nordic form of Christina. Derived from Christian roots, it ultimately means 'follower of Christ.' Introduced to…

Jennet

Old English short form of Jean or Janet

"God is gracious"

It feels like a slenderized modern version, but Jennet actually has deep roots. Could this plucky name rescue Janet and Jenny from their datedness?