User-created list
Unusual / Interesting names
Across 17 pages
of 17
Iphigenia
Greek
"of royal birth"
In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon -- a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.
Porfirio
Italian and Spanish from Greek
"purple dye"
This ancient saint's name was borne by the infamous midcentury playboy, Porfirio Rubirosa.
Socorra
Spanish
"one who helps"
Popular Spanish choice that refers to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help -- or Perpetuo Socorro.
Keeva
Irish, phonetic spelling of Caoimhe
"gentle, beautiful, precious"
Keeva, the name chosen by "How I Met Your Mother" star Alyson Hannigan for her daughter, has recently been a Top 20 name in Ireland, using the authentic spelling Caoimhe. The male version is…
Arabesque
French word name
"ballet position; ornate design"
Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.
Merida
Latin
"one who has achieved a high place of honor"
You'll probably be hearing more of this name thanks to the newest Pixar film, featuring Princess Merida, the first Pixar princess--a feisty, athletic, independent medieval Scottish girl with wild red…
Thierry
French variation of Theodoric
"ruler of the people"
A hugely popular choice in France back in the 60s and 70s, Thierry took the number one spot in 1964,though it has since dropped out of the French Top 500. Derived from the Germanic Theodoric (not a…
Elizaveta
Elizaveta is the Russian and Bulgarian form of Elizabeth, a name with Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' This elegant Slavic variation has been used by Russian royalty,…
Illuminata
Illuminata is a rare feminine name with Latin origins, derived from the word 'illuminatus' meaning 'enlightened' or 'illuminated.' This distinctive name carries connotations of brightness, knowledge,…
Abyssinia
African place-name
Abyssinia is the ancient name of the Ethiopian Empire, no longer found on any map but with a possible future as a melodic girls' name in the ever-expanding place-name category. Among African names…
Januaria
Portuguese
"January"
Way before January Jones made this month a fashionable girls' name, there was Princess Januaria of Brazil, daughter of the King of Portugal and the Archduchess of Austria. One of the most pointed yet…
Janvier
French word name
"January"
Used in France as a male name, this would make an appealing and unusual choice, as would two other Gallic month names, Avril and Mai.
Octaviana
Octaviana is a feminine name with Latin origins, the feminine form of Octavian, ultimately derived from the Roman name Octavius meaning 'eighth.' In Roman naming traditions, it would historically…
Tiodoria
Tiodoria is an exceptionally rare feminine name likely derived from Theodore or its feminine form Theodora, which have Greek origins meaning "gift of God." This elaborate variation maintains…
Aurelian
Romanian and English form of Aurelius, Latin
"golden"
While Aurelio, Aurelia, and Aurelius are all on the rise, this historical and Romanian form of the golden name is yet to share in its relatives' success. Given to just 25 boys in a recent year, it…
Kimora
Modern name, meaning unknown
Afro-Asian model, designer, and entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons brought this name into the public eye and it enjoyed more than a decade in the Top 1000 during the 2000s and early 2010s. It peaked in…
Kimana
Native American, Shoshone
"butterfly"
Kimana, the name of a resort in the foothills of Mountain Kilimanjaro in Kenya, would make an unexpected path to the nickname Kim.
Kimbry
Kimbry is a feminine name that appears to be a modern variation of Kimberly, which originated as an English place name derived from Cyneburg-leah, meaning "royal fortress meadow." This streamlined…
Kimika
Kimika is a feminine name of Japanese origin, combining elements that typically represent 'noble' (ki), 'beautiful' (mi), and 'fragrance' or 'flower' (ka), though the exact meaning depends on the…
Kimiko
Kimiko is a feminine Japanese name composed of elements that can have various meanings depending on the kanji characters used. Common interpretations include 'noble child' (貴美子), 'empress child'…