Unusual but Usable
By LadyVanRaven
Updated Thu May 25 2023
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- Alexane
Origin:
French variation of AlexandraMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
This unusual form of Alexandra might be seen and pronounced as a combination of Alex and Anne.
- Amias
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"loved"Description:
Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
- Araceli
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"altar of the sky"Description:
Once-obscure Spanish name inching back up into the US Top 1000 girl names after a short break. Araceli Segarra is a noted mountain climber.
- Ardith
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"flowering field"Description:
Ethereal combination of Arden and Edith, with a sweet naturey meaning.
- Auberon
Origin:
English, French, GermanMeaning:
"elf ruler, bright elf; noble bear"Description:
Rarely heard in the US, Auberon has a gentle autumnal feel rare in a male name. A Shakespeare-adjacent choice, Auberon started out as as a pet form of Auberi, the French form of German Alberich.
- Brannon
Origin:
Irish variation of BrennanDescription:
Occasionally used as an alternative to Brandon or Brennan.
- Carabel
Description:
Carabel is a rare feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a combination of 'Cara' (beloved in Italian or Latin) and 'bel' (beautiful), creating a name that essentially means 'beautiful beloved.' Alternatively, it could be related to 'carabela,' a type of sailing ship, giving it a nautical connection. The name has a romantic, somewhat vintage quality with its flowing sounds. Carabel has never been common in English-speaking countries, making it an exceptionally distinctive choice. Parents might choose this name for its melodic quality and uniqueness. The name has a fairy-tale quality that evokes elegance and charm while remaining uncommon enough that bearers rarely meet others sharing their name.
- Connemara
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Wild, lovely place in western Ireland makes wild, lovely name.
- Cyra
Origin:
Persian or GreekMeaning:
"sun or throne, or lord"Description:
Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or SI-ra, rhyming with Keira or Tyra. This name may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own. One noted bearer is writer Cyra McFadden.
- Diarmaid
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"free man"Description:
This authentic form of the name of an Irish mythological hero with the power to make women fall instantly in love with him would work far better here as the Anglicized Dermot.
- Dwynwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"wave"Description:
St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her feast day on January 25 is the equivalent of Valentine's day in Wales. The short form Dwyn may be more manageable for the non-Welsh.
- Egan
Origin:
Variation of Aidan, IrishMeaning:
"little fire"Description:
Egan's likeness to the word eager gives this Irish surname a ready-to-please, effervescent energy, and it would make an appropriate substitute for the overused Aidan.
- Elowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"elm"Description:
A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A fresh and magical member of the fashionable El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
- Emrys
Origin:
Welsh, variation of AmbroseMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
If you're looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin. It's currently in the Welsh top 100 and in the England and Wales top 1000 over all and has been rising in recent years.
- Euan
Origin:
Gaelic, Anglicized form of EoghannMeaning:
"born of the yew tree"Description:
The attractive Euan and Ewan are just coming onto the U.S. radar, via actor Ewan MacGregor and Harry Potter's Euan Abercrombie.
- Eulalia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"sweetly speaking"Description:
Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls.
- Fionn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fair or white"Description:
Fionn, the modern Irish form of Finn, is more popular in Ireland these days than Finn, which is rising fast in the U.S. where Fionn is virtually unknown. That's probably a good thing, because few Americans would know that Fionn and Finn have the same root and are pronounced the same, like the fin of a fish. It's the namesake of a great hero from Irish mythology, Fionn MacCumhaill, who acquired divine wisdom by eating an enchanted salmon of knowledge.
- Gwyneira
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white snow"Description:
An unusual Gwyn name with a lovely meaning, this compound name pairs Gwyn with the name Eira, meaning "snow". A relatively modern creation, it remains very rare.
- Imelda
Origin:
Italian and Spanish from GermanMeaning:
"all-consuming fight"Description:
Saint's name made infamous by Philippine dictator's wife Imelda Marcos. A more positive famous bearer is the British actress Imelda Staunton, best known for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies.
- Kerensa
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"love"Description:
Kerensa, forever romantic, is a rare Cornish name spelled with an 's' or 'z', the most modern of the Karen family. Kerensa (or Kerenza) has ties to the Welsh Cerys.