Dusty Ancient Gems

Laurentia

Latin, feminine form of Laurence

This pretty female form of Laurence originated in ancient Rome and is still sometimes heard in the Latino community. It is one of the many intriguing Latin names for girls worth consideration by…

Lavinia

Latin, from ancient place name Lavinium

Lavinia is a charmingly prim and proper Victorian-sounding name which actually dates back to classical mythology, where it was the name of the wife of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who was considered the…

Leocadia

Spanish

"splendid brightness"

Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending. St. Leocadia was an early martyred Spanish saint, and "La Leocadia" is a famous Goya painting of Leocadia…

Leontyne

English female form of Leontios, Greek

"lion"

Almost exclusively associated with opera diva Leontyne Price. If you want to use the suddenly-stylish Leontyne, we'd recommend the French Leontine spelling.

Leucosia

Greek

Leucosia was one of the Sirens of Greek Mythology. The island across from the Sirens' island was named after her.

Ligeia

Greek

"clear-voiced, whistling"

One of the Sirens in Greek mythology, Ligeia was also the title character in an Edgar Allan Poe story. The mythological Ligeia was half-bird, half-woman. Spelling may also be Lygeia or Ligia.

Lilaia

Greek

"longed for"

Lilaia is the name of a city in Ancient Greece, as well as a modern village, after the mythological nymph Lilaea. As Alaia makes its way up the charts, could parents be convinced to turn to Lilaia?

Liluri

Syrian mythology

"lady of the mountains"

Liluri was the goddess of the mountains in Syrian mythology, associacred with the Nur mountains, the weather and with bulls, the latter being sacred to Liluri and her consort, the weather god…

Lucilla

Latin

"light"

A delicate name with an ancient pedigree, more appealing to some than Lucille. It elaborates on Lucy and even Lucia and feels more distinctive than Lucinda.

Lucretia

Latin, female form of Lucretius

"profit, wealth"

A pretty and plausible Latin name that's gotten a bad rap through the years via a link to Lucrezia Borgia, who, though long considered a demon poisoner, was actually a patron of learning and the…

Ludivine

French

"friend of the people"

This rare French name was made a little more familar via French soccer player Ludivine Diguelman, golfer Ludivine Krautz and actress Ludivine Sagnier.

Luminosa

Luminosa is a feminine name with Latin origins, meaning 'full of light' or 'luminous.' This evocative name derives from the Latin 'lumen' (light) and directly connects to concepts of brightness,…

Lysandra

Greek

"liberator"

This name is the feminization of mythological name Lysander, which is best known to English-speakers as a character in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream .

Lysistrata

Greek

"she who disbands armies"

Literary and ancient, Lysistrata is the Latinized form of the Greek Lysistrate and the variation used by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophenes in his comedy of the same name. Set around the…