Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Azenor

Breton form of Elinor or Helen

"light"

One way to spin grandma Helen or Ellen's name off the beaten track. The legendary Azenor was a tragic 6th century Breton princess who was mother to a saint. This personage also may be known as Senara.

Deianira

Greek

"man destroyer"

The name of Hercules' third wife in Greek mythology, who unwittingly killed her demigod husband by giving him a poisoned shirt. Hence the meaning. Dayanara -- as in "Orange is the New Black"…

Danila

Danila is a feminine name in some cultures and masculine in others, primarily found in Slavic and Eastern European regions. As a feminine name, it's often a variation of Daniela, derived from the…

Bethel

Hebrew

"house of God"

A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.

Maeby

Diminutive of Mae

Maeby sprang into the modern consciousness via the cult TV favorite Arrested Development , in which the appealing teen character Maeby's name is a nickname for Mae. It's also a homonym for Maybe,…

Amedea

Italian

"lover of God"

Feminine form of Amadeus popular now in Italy and ripe for export. Might also be spelled Amadea. The preferred pronunciation is AHM-a-DAY-a but it may also be pronounced ah-MED-ee-a.

Flick

Flick is a feminine name with English origins, often considered a diminutive or nickname form of names like Felicity or Felicia. It has a bright, spunky quality that conveys quickness and vitality.…

Cruz

Spanish

"cross"

Cruz might be a sister for Concepcion and Corazon, although its masculine side was emphasized when the high profile David Beckhams chose it for their son.

Zarouhi

Armenian variation of Sarah

"princess"

An entrancing, beguiling name that goes far to freshen up Sarah.

Evergreen

English

"always green"

This offbeat botanical name boasts the trendy Ever sound and a cool wintery vibe. Evergreen was only given to a handful of baby girls in recent years, but would work just as well for a boy.

Fran

Diminutive of Frances

"from France or free man"

This short form has been pretty much replaced by Frankie, however, it could fit in with other clunky but charming names, like Peggy, Bess, and Enid.

Gravity

Word name

Spacey. Gravity will probably be too heavy and grave -- sorry -- for most parents. But one possible exception might be big fans of Alfonso Cuaron's 2013 movie Gravity . And astrophysicists.

Veronique

French form of Veronica

"true image"

Veronica seems poised to rise again, along with many other V names, and with it may follow this more romantic French version.

Starlet

Starlet is a feminine English word name that evokes images of both celestial beauty and Hollywood glamour. Derived from 'star' with the diminutive suffix '-let,' it literally means 'little star,'…

Tempe

Greek place name

The Vale of Tempe is an important place in Greek mythology as well as a real place in Greece. The ancient poets wrote of it as the halcyon dwelling of Apollo and the Muses. The modern cities in…

Chessie

Chessie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive of Francesca, Chelsea, or Chester, though it has evolved to stand independently. The name carries a playful, cheerful quality with its soft…

Cascade

English word name

"waterfall"

A nature name evocative of rushing waterfalls and flowing water, with a plausible, name-y sound thanks to it similarity to Cassie, Cassidy, and Cade.

Biddy

Irish and English diminutive of Bridget

"strength or exalted one"

A once very common Irish diminutive of Bridget that has unfortunately been associated since the 18th century with a pejorative slang term for an old or fussy woman.

Melena

Dutch diminutive of Magdalena, variation of Melaina or Melina

"from the high tower; black, dark; honey"

A short form of Magdalena in Dutch and a variation of Melaina, Melina, Melinda, Melanie, Milena and similar, Melena is also used for a character in the novel Wicked and the subsequent Broadway…

Maiya

Maiya is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Sanskrit, it relates to 'illusion' or 'magic,' while in Hebrew it can mean 'wished-for child.' It's also found in Japanese culture where it…