Dusty Ancient Gems

Agrippa

Latin

"born feet first"

A Roman forename, and later family name, used for both sexes in ancient times (but more commonly men).

Agrippina

Latin

"born feetfirst"

A name with a rich history in Ancient Greece and Rome, Agrippina was the sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls. The…

Aikaterine

Aikaterine is a feminine name representing the original Greek form of Katherine. It derives from the Greek 'Aikaterinē,' though its exact etymology remains debated. Some scholars connect it to the…

Alastriona

Irish: feminine form of Alasdar

Spelled Alastríona in its native language, this Irish cousin of Alexandra is little-known but fairly intuitive.

Albina

Albina is a feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'albus' meaning 'white' or 'bright.' The name suggests qualities of purity, clarity, and radiance. Historically popular across Eastern Europe,…

Alodia

Germanic

"foreign riches"

A melodious ancient saint's name now more commonly heard in its French form, Elodie.

Alsephina

The name of a cluster of stars in the constellation Vela, also known as Delta Velorum.

Amalthea

Greek

"tender goddess"

In Greek mythology, Amalthea is the name of a goat (or, sometimes, a goat-keeping nymph) who nursed the infant Zeus and protected him from his murderous father, Cronus. Thanks to the goat’s…

Amarantha

Flower name; Greek

"unfading"

Amarantha is a rare botanical name whose mythical equivalent was believed to be immortal. The Italian and Spanish form is the somewhat-more-acccessible Amaranta.

Amata

Italian feminine variant of the Latin Amatus

"beloved"

Name that's virtually unknown here but has a lovely meaning and a simple sound and spelling.

Ambrosia

Latin, feminine form of Ambrose

"Immortal"

Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning. In Greek mythology, Ambrosia was not a goddess or other figure but literally the…

Amoret

Literary name

This lovely name from Spenser's The Faerie Queene is borne by a character who represents married love. A related unusual-yet-usable choice: Amabel.

Amphitrite

Greek

"the surrounding sea or the surrounding third"

Amphitrite is a mysterious Greek mythological figure, most often cited as a sea goddess who was the wife of Poseidon. She was said to be the personification of the sea water itself and was said to be…

Anahita

Persian

"immaculate"

Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls. Anahita was derived from the Old…

Anatolia

Anatolia is a feminine name derived from the ancient Greek word "anatolē," meaning "sunrise" or "east." It refers to the geographic region now comprising most of modern Turkey, historically called…

Andromache

Greek

"battle of man"

Andromache is a name found scattered throughout ancient literature. She was Hector's long-suffering wife in The Iliad and The Odyssey , featured in The Trojan Women and Andromache by Euripides, then…

Andromeda

Greek mythology name

"advising like a man"

One of the stellar unique baby names from mythology, Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of Cassiopeia who, like her mother, literally became a star--the constellation that bears her name.The…

Annunziata

Italian

"announced"

A spiritual name of Italian origin, Annunziata refers to the angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary to tell her of the upcoming birth of Jesus. Annunciata is an alternative spelling, while diminutive…

Antigone

Greek

"worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"

In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh. Despite…

Antonia

Latin

"from Antium"

Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names , reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia . Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which…