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Unusual Girl Names

  1. Mirtha

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "myrtle"

    • Description:

      The Dutch name is usually spelled Myrthe or Mirthe and pronounced meer-ta. But most English speakers will say it mer-tha and confuse the name with Martha, Bertha, or Myrtle.
  2. Miuccia

    • Origin:

      Italian, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Influential designer Miuccia (nicknamed Miu Miu) Prada's surname is much better known here than her first.
  3. Monica

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "advisor"

    • Description:

      This saintly name--she was the mother of St. Augustine--plummeted after the double whammy of Lewinsky and the demise of Friends.
  4. Morwenna

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "maiden"

    • Description:

      Morwenna is an ancient Cornish name now being revived in Wales, deriving from a Celtic word meaning "maiden", although the Mor- syllable means that it's often associated with the sea. It's been heard in the British series Doc Martin and Poldark. Morwenna Banks is a British actress.
  5. Naretha

    • Origin:

      Aboriginal

    • Meaning:

      "a saltbush"

    • Description:

      As far-flung as the outback.
  6. Neima

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "pleasant, agreeable, likeable"

    • Description:

      One of the less attractive Hebrew choices.
  7. Nephele

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "cloudy"

    • Description:

      An enchanting ancient Greek name belonging to the Greek goddess who was created from a cloud by Zeus and so became goddess of the clouds and mother of the centaurs. The name Nephele is not widely known but as among modern parents become used to Phoebe, Penelope, and Persephone, it may become one of the ancient Greek goddess names that's back in the mix.
  8. Nesta

    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of Agnes

    • Description:

      This is the most popular Welsh form of Agnes. Variants include Annest and Nest. There was an eleventh century Nest who was known as 'Helen of Wales' for her beauty and the problems it caused.
  9. Nicasia

    • Origin:

      Latin, female variation of Nicasio

    • Meaning:

      "victorious"

    • Description:

      An interesting and unusual member of the "Nic" family--far more distinctive than NICOLE or NICOLA.
  10. Niobe

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      The mythological queen whose perpetual weeping for her slain children turned her into a stone has always cast a pall over this name. Still, when other names with less-than-savory associations -- Delilah, Ophelia, Persephone -- are becoming popular, parents might want to consider this one of the more unusual mythology names for girls.
  11. Olesia

    • Origin:

      Polish, diminutive of Aleksandra

    • Description:

      Sounds a bit pharmaceutical.
  12. Oma

    • Description:

      Oma is a feminine name with Germanic origins, literally meaning 'grandmother' in German and Dutch. The name carries warm associations of maternal wisdom and familial nurturing. While primarily known as a term of endearment for grandmothers in German-speaking countries, Oma has occasionally been used as a given name in the United States, particularly in communities with German heritage. The name peaked in limited popularity in the early 1900s but has since become quite rare as a first name. Oma also appears in Japanese, meaning 'horse,' and in some African languages with various meanings. The name's brevity and soft sounds give it a gentle quality, though its strong association with grandmotherhood in German culture may influence how the name is perceived.

  13. Ottaline

    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Ottilie

    • Meaning:

      "prospers in battle"

    • Description:

      This name, more often spelled Ottoline, is curiously appealing, in a hoop-skirted, wasp-waisted way; heard more often in novels than real life, though that is showing some signs of change.
  14. Ottilie

    • Origin:

      German, French

    • Meaning:

      "prosperous in battle"

    • Description:

      Ottilie is trending in the UK, where the pronounced T helps the name sound pretty and delicate, rather like Amelie and Elodie. Ottilie is less popular in the US, where many Americans pronounce it as a near-homonym for "oddly".
  15. Ovidia

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Ovidius, Roman family name

    • Meaning:

      "shepherd or sheep"

    • Description:

      Ovidia is the unusual feminine form of the ancient Roman Ovidius, most famous as the name of the exiled 1st century Roman poet Ovid. Modern male form Ovidio is known in Spain and Portugal. Ovida is another variation.
  16. Palila

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "a bird"

    • Description:

      Pacific island member of the currently-in-favor Lila/Leila family and one of the most attractive and unique girls' names starting with P.
  17. Parthenope

    • Description:

      Parthenope is a rare feminine name from Greek mythology, belonging to one of the Sirens who, according to legend, drowned herself when her songs failed to lure Odysseus. The ancient Greek city that would later become Naples was named Parthenopolis after her, as her body was said to have washed ashore there. The name derives from Greek elements meaning 'virgin face' or 'maiden voice.' Despite its rich historical and mythological associations, Parthenope remains extremely uncommon as a personal name. Those who bear it might appreciate its unique quality, classical heritage, and melodic pronunciation. It offers an exceptionally distinctive option for parents drawn to mythological names with profound cultural significance.

  18. Pascaline

    • Description:

      Pascaline is a feminine name with French origins, derived from the male name Pascal, which comes from the Latin 'paschalis' meaning 'relating to Easter' or 'born at Passover.' The addition of the feminine suffix '-ine' creates this elegant variation. While relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, Pascaline has maintained modest usage in French-speaking regions. The name carries associations with springtime, renewal, and celebration. Historically, it gained some recognition through Blaise Pascal's 17th-century calculating machine called the Pascaline. The name combines classical roots with a melodic, sophisticated sound. Pascaline offers the friendly nickname options of Pasca or Lina for those who prefer shorter forms.
  19. Pelagia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "the sea"

    • Description:

      The name of several early saints, including one, Pelagia the Penitent, a beautiful and licentious dancing girl who repented, then, disguised as a man, spent the rest of her life living alone in a cave on the Mount of Olives. Because of her early vocation, she is the patron saint of actresses.
  20. Perdita

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lost"

    • Description:

      A Shakespearean invention for an abandoned baby in The Winter's Tale, Perdita's sense of loss has always been off-putting to parents. But her image was somewhat resuscitated by its association with the appealing canine character in Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmations.