Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Alikee

Alikee is an uncommon feminine name that appears to be a creative variant of Alice or Alicia. With its distinctive spelling, Alikee offers a modern twist on these classic names while maintaining…

Gypsy

English

"wanderer"

Gypsy, long associated with the intellectual stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and the musical that was made about her life, was used by Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings as the middle name of their daughter…

Iulia

Romanian version of Latin Julia

"youthful"

This spelling makes Julia worldly and distinctive. It is popular in Romania and Moldova, and might also be considered the Hawaiian form too, though Kulia is often used instead.

Ursuline

Diminutive of Ursula

"little bear"

Ursula, while beautiful, still carries a whiff of the Disney sea witch. Perhaps Ursuline smells a bit sweeter?

Zabel

Armenian form of Isabel, a form of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

The dashing Zabel -- or its Frenchified variation Zabelle -- was the name of a 13th century ruling queen of Armenia. In this modern era ruled again by the name Isabella and Isabel, Zabel provides a…

Estrid

Estrid is a feminine name with ancient Norse origins that carries a sense of Nordic strength and heritage. Historically used in Viking-age Scandinavia, the name combines the elements 'ás' referring…

Truth

English word name

"truth"

With the first name True receiving a Kardashian dose of popularity for girls, Truth is gaining in visibility too. Though its still more popular for boys two to one, the truth is that the name works…

Sophonisba

Punic via Latin

"sheltered by Ba'al"

The original Sophonisba was a Carthaginian noblewoman who was alive at the time of the Second Punic War, who became a legend for drinking lethal poison rather than be humiliated by Carthage's Roman…

Sister

English

"a female who has one or both parents in common with another"

Sister is an old-timey nickname-name for girls, ranking in the Top 1000 as a proper name for girls until the beginning of the 20th century. But more often, Sister was used as a nickname in the truest…

Jaylinn

Jaylinn is a modern feminine name that combines the popular 'Jay' prefix with the trendy '-lynn' suffix. This contemporary creation emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as part of the…

Rhodie

Rhodie is a feminine name with roots in Greek language, derived from 'rhodon' meaning 'rose.' It can be considered a diminutive form of Rhodes or Rhoda. The name evokes imagery of the beautiful…

Hellebore

Greek, English

"plant eaten by fawns"

A beautiful plant and a rare botanical name probably deriving from Greek. Could make a novel honor middle for an ancestral Helen.

Siobahn

Variation of Siobhan, Irish

"God is gracious"

Variant (mis)spelling of Siobhan.

Abyssinia

African place-name

Abyssinia is the ancient name of the Ethiopian Empire, no longer found on any map but with a possible future as a melodic girls' name in the ever-expanding place-name category. Among African names…

Shana

Diminutive of Shoshana or Shannon, variation of Shaina

Part of a group of similar midcentury names rarely given to babies today.

Vasilisa

Feminization of Vasili, Russian from Greek

"royal, kingly"

Vasilisa is the feminine form of Vasili, the Russian translation of Basil.

Delicia

Latin

"delight"

Tastier than Alicia or Felicia.

Saloma

Slovak and Croatian variation of Salome, Hebrew

"peace"

Disproportionately common among the American Amish.

Eccentricity

Word name, English from Greek

"eccentricity"

The definition of quirky.

Aishellyn

Aishellyn is an uncommon feminine name that appears to be a modern elaboration combining elements of names like Aisha or Ashlyn with decorative suffixes. The name has a contemporary, invented quality…