Dusty Ancient Gems

Damaris

Greek

"dominant woman"

In the New Testament, Damaris was an Athenian woman converted to Christianity by St. Paul. Known for her charitable work, her name was a favorite among the Puritans. Having slid off the bottom of the…

Damiana

Greek

"tame, domesticated"

This feminine form of Damian projects a positive and lilting image, a distinct contrast to its male counterpart.

Decima

Latin

"tenth"

In the days of huge families, this name of the Roman goddess of prophecy and childbirth, and one of the Fates, would be saved for bambina number ten. Now it might be used for a girl born in October,…

Delphina

Latin from Greek

"of Delphi; womb"

Delphina is another form of the sleek French Delphine, rising in popularity. The Blessed Delphina was a Provencal nun.

Demelza

Cornish

"eel house or Maeldaf's fort"

A punchy modern Cornish name derived from a place name, which is of disputed origin. It is sometimes said to derive from a rare Welsh name, Maeldaf, plus dinas , the Cornish for "fort". Another…

Demetria

Greek, alternate form of Demeter

Demetria is a dramatic ancient Greek earth goddess possibility with the star-studded nickname Demi. Young actor/singer/songwriter Demi Lovato was born Demetria, but contrary to common hearsay, Demi…

Desiderata

Latin

"the desired one"

Desiderata is a feminine name from antiquity which, although fussy and long, has a lovely meaning for that longed-for daughter.

Desideria

Latin

"desire"

Feminine form of Desiderio, borne by a 19th-century queen of Sweden, the wife of Karl XIV.

Diamantina

Greek, Latin

"diamond"

Diamantina is a feminine name of Latin and Greek origin, derived from 'diamante' meaning 'diamond.' This elegant and jewel-inspired name has been used historically in Portuguese and Italian cultures.…

Dido

Greek, meaning obscure

Dido was the heroine of Virgil's Aeneid and of the opera "Dido and Aeneas," and in Roman mythology the founder of Carthage. A strong ancient name in the Juno mode, but it could have some awkward…

Dionysia

Greek

"dedicated to Dionysos"

A name from Greek mythology, much more melodic than its later form Denise. With mythical names on the rise, this would make an interesting lesser-used option.

Dorothea

Greek

"gift of God"

Dorothea is a romantic Victorian-sounding name that blends elegance, gravitas and a hint of clunkiness too. Popular in the early decades of the twentieth century, it has been off the charts since…

Drusilla

Latin

"fruitful"

Drusilla is an ancient Roman name, (probably) borne by descendants of Antony and Cleopatra, and is one of the 'illa' names that are ready for a comeback, especially with its cute short form Dru.…

Dulcinea

Spanish

"sweetness"

Miguel de Cervantes invented this elaborate-sounding name -- which roughly translates as "sweetness" -- for the beautiful maiden Don Quixote is obsessed with in his great novel. Even in the fictional…

Dymphna

Anglicized form of Irish Damhnait

"fawn"

Dymphna – also spelled Dympna – is the distinctive name of an Irish virgin martyr. According to the legend, she was a Celtic princess who fled to Belgium to escape the abusive attentions of her…