Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Danikah

Danikah is a feminine variant of the Hebrew name Daniel, meaning 'God is my judge.' It incorporates the trendy '-kah' suffix that adds a contemporary twist to traditional names. While relatively…

Esmay

English variation of Esme, French

"esteemed, beloved"

As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.

Clor

American invented name

Cloris is bad enough without shortening. Consider FLOR instead, a beautiful Spanish name.

Bunnie

Bunnie is a feminine name with an endearing, playful quality. Originally emerging as a nickname for Bernice, Barbara, or Bonnie, it has evolved to stand as an independent given name. The spelling…

Daenerys

Literary name

Daenerys is yet another girls' name invented by "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin that is beginning to gain some traction in real life. Daenerys was used for 67 baby girls in 2013 while…

Karlita

Karlita is a feminine name that functions as a diminutive form of Karla, which itself is the feminine version of Karl/Carlos. The base name Karl has Germanic origins meaning 'free man' or 'strong.'…

Bird

Nature name

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.

Vegas

Spanish

"meadows"

Viva Las Vegas? What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? We think not. Maybe Vega, the name of an actual heavenly star?

Shalon

Shalon is a feminine name with Hebrew origins, derived from 'shalom' meaning 'peace' or 'harmony.' This gentle yet powerful name has been used in Jewish communities for generations but gained broader…

Zorah

Biblical place-name

Zorah, the Old Testament home of Samson, is both soft and substantial, and also has musical heritage, having appeared on a character in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, Ruddigore (1887). Similar in…

Utopia

Greek word name

"imagined place of perfection"

A utopia is the concept of a perfect society — a lot to live up to as a baby name! Despite that, Utopia was used for a string of years in the late '70s and early '80s. However, it has never been…

Yasma

Yasma is a feminine name of Arabic origin, though it appears in various cultures with slightly different meanings. In Arabic traditions, it may be related to the word for beauty or might be a…

Adlyn

Variation of Adeline, diminutive of Adele, French

"noble, nobility"

Adlyn is a streamlined, modernized spelling of the popular Adeline. The name combines 'adal' meaning 'noble' or 'nobility' with the '-lyn' suffix that softens and feminizes it. Adlyn emerged in the…

Emmalynn

Combination of Emma and Lynn

"universal lake"

An updated form of Emmeline or Emmaline or a compound name that makes your chosen pronunciation more obvious. Spelling variation Emmalyn reached the US Top 500 in2017, but has since fallen out of Top…

Pascale

French from Hebrew

"Passover"

Sophisticated, stylish feminine form of Pascal especially appropriate for girls born around Easter or Passover.

Faleece

Faleece is a feminine name that appears to be a unique phonetic spelling variation of the more common Felice or Felicia, which derive from Latin origins meaning 'happy' or 'fortunate.' This…

Dome

Dome is an uncommon feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Latin 'domus' meaning 'home,' or could be a short form of names like Dominique or Dorothy. In some…

Columba

Latin

"dove"

Columba is an early saint's name that rhumbas to a modern beat. While the original St. Columba is male, the name sounds more appropriate for a girl in the modern world. Leave variations Colm and…

Shavonne

Phonetic variation of Siobhan

Many of the parents who choose this name may not even be aware of the lovely Irish_Gaelic name that spawned it.

Vasya

Diminutive of Vasilisa and Vasilia, Russian, Greek

"royal"

A unisex nickname used most often among Russian families, Vasya derives from Vasilisa or Vasilia, both feminine forms of Basil. It appears in the 2017 novel, The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine…