User-created list
Unusual / Interesting names
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of 17
Teal
Bird and color name
Teal is one of the prettiest and most straightforward of the new color names -- an ideal middle name choice.
Deveraux
French
"of Evreux; riverbank"
Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the town of Evreux in France and combined with the prefix de- denoting it likely referred to a noble of…
Delicia
Latin
"delight"
Tastier than Alicia or Felicia.
Nicasia
Latin, female variation of Nicasio
"victorious"
An interesting and unusual member of the "Nic" family--far more distinctive than NICOLE or NICOLA.
Paccia
Latin
"peace"
Many parents these days are responding to names meaning peace , and this is one of the more unusual ones (more often heard as a surname). Pronounced PACH-ee-a, it relates to such other peaceful names…
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.
Damiane
Brazilian Portuguese and German feminization of Damian, Greek
"to tame, subdue"
A name with an ancient pedigree which might prove confusing to the modern ear.
Zelina
Greek
"zealous"
A rarely heard name that might appeal to parents looking for an unusual name starting with "Z".
Tanaquil
Etruscan
"gift of God"
This intriguing name of an ancient Etruscan queen renowned for her prophetic powers was long associated with the prima ballerina Tanaquil LeClerq.
Zephyrin
French variation of Zephyr
"west wind"
This name feels warmer and more human-appropriate in its longer version, but still retains that breezy feel. Trivia tidbit: Zephyrinus was a Jewish pope.
Aleph
First letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Hebrew
"chief, number one"
Aleph came into the spotlight when chosen by Israel-born Natalie Portman for her son. Alef is a more common spelling of these related Hebrew baby names . In the Kabbalah, Aleph/Alef relates to the…
Oren
Hebrew
"laurel or pine tree"
Soft and sensitive name often heard in Israel.
Ilya
Russian variation of Elijah
"the Lord is my God"
A rare example of an a-ending boy's name that sounds masculine, Ilya has a large measure of creative Slavic charm. >p>Ilya Ilyich Oblomov is the central character in Goncharov's novel "Oblomov."…
Havilah
Biblical place-name
"to dance"
Though there are a few (male) people named Havilah in the Bible, it's also a Biblical place-name that can work as an original choice for modern girls.
Alaïa
Arabic
"sublime"
Fashion designer surname that could make a dynamic first.
Althea
Greek
"with healing power"
Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at…
Aoife
Irish Gaelic
"beautiful, radiant"
Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, is derived from the Irish word aoibh , meaning "beauty." Aoife was borne by several different heroines of ancient Irish legend. In one tale, she was the fiercest woman…
Crispin
Latin
"curly-haired"
Crispin, which was introduced into the mainstream by actor Crispin Glover and which means "curly-haired" in Latin, has an image very much like its first syllable: crisp, autumnal, and colorful. St.…
Eilidh
Gaelic form of Eleanor
Long popular in Scotland, this attractive name is strictly-speaking the Gaelic version of Eleanor, but is also often considered part of the Helen family of names. After the Normans introduced it into…
Crispina
Latin
"curly-haired"
Unfortunately, everyone will hear Crispina, the feminine form of Crispin, as Christina.