User-created list
Unusual / Interesting names
Across 17 pages
of 17
Neva
Spanish
"white snow"
Has a pure, clean aura, but is also evocative.
Eos
Greek; Welsh
"dawn; nightingale"
Eos -- that's pronounced with a short e like eros without the r -- is the Greek Titan of the dawn. Any ancient name with a sleek modern feel has definite revival possibilities. Eos could be an…
Grover
English
"one who lives near a grove of trees"
Forget the furry blue Muppet, forget corpulent President Cleveland (not too difficult), and consider this name anew. We think it's spunky, a little funky, and well worth a second look, similar in…
Nerys
Welsh
"chief, lady"
A sweet yet substantial name of Welsh origin, Nerys has the fresh feel of Carys, but the vintage charm of Mavis, Morag, and Lois. Likely borrowing from the Welsh element nêr meaning "lord, chief",…
Caledonia
Latin place-name for Scotland
"hard or rocky land"
Caledonia is a rhythmic and alluring place name used by singer Shawn Colvin for her daughter. It would make an interesting and apt choice for a girl with Scottish ancestry.
Cyprian
Greek
"man of Cyprus"
With a long and noble history -- Cyprian was one of the great Christian Latin writers -- this could make a highly unusual but meaningful choice. Cyprian has been in use since medieval times,…
Melisande
French form of Millicent, German
"strong in work"
This old-time fairy tale name is rarely heard in the modern English-speaking world, but it's so, well, mellifluous, that it would make a lovely choice for a twenty-first century girl--a romanticized…
Amadea
Latin
"lover of God"
Amadea is a strong and musical feminine form of Amadeus, as in Mozart. In more conservative times, Amadea might have seemed too strange for use on a contemporary baby, but by today's sensibility, it…
Zuleika
Arabic
"fair, brilliant beauty"
Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max…
Anzu
Japanese
"apricot"
A representative Japanese name with a meaning symbolizing ripeness.
Silkie
Silkie is a whimsical, uncommon feminine name with several possible origins. It might connect to the Silkie folk tales from Scottish and Irish mythology about seal-like creatures that can transform…
Ondine
Latin
"little wave"
Mythological spirit of the waters; spelled Undine, she was an Edith Wharton heroine.
Quilliam
Irish
"son of William"
A really unusual choice that could be used to honor Grandpa Will.
Xerxes
Persian
"hero among heroes"
The two X's may be a challenge for even the most intrepid baby namer. Xerxes was the name of two early kings of Persia and the Handel opera Serse or Xerxes is loosely based on Xerxes I.
Azalia
Azalia is a feminine name derived from azalea, the vibrant flowering shrub whose name originates from Greek 'azaleos' meaning 'dry' (ironically, as the plant thrives in moisture). This botanical name…
Eliyahu
Hebrew
"Jehovah is God"
Eliyahu is the Hebrew form of the increasingly popular Biblical prophet name Elijah, also found in forms Elias and Eli. There were 100 boys given the name Eliyahu in the U.S. in 2012. Its upside is…
Wenczeslaw
Polish
"glory of the Wends"
Should only be used when singing Christmas carols.
Caia
Latin, feminine variation of Caius
"to rejoice"
Caia Caecilia was the Roman Goddess of fire and women. The name Caia would make a truly fresh alternative to the flagging Maya, with which it rhymes.
Leire
Basque place name
Also spelled Leyre and taken from the name of a monastery fortress, the popular and lilting choice in Spain will pose pronunciation problems elsewhere. Among the Top 100 girls' names in Spain, Leire…
Laia
Catalan diminutive of Eulalia
"sweet-speaking"
Saint Eulalia was born in Spain and is the patron saint of Barcelona, so her name and its derivatives are popular throughout the land — especially in her native Catalonia.