Preliminary Girls' List

This Persian name with an Old Testament pedigree has a warm Sasha-like feel. The Biblical Vashti was a queen who refused her husband's orders to appear naked in front of his party guests and so was deposed in favor of Esther. For her independent spirit, Vashti has become something of a feminist icon.

This modern name gathers some steam from the wildly popular Isabel.

Keturah, the Old Testament name of Abraham's second wife, is a possibility for anyone seeking a truly unusual and interesting biblical name; certainly a lot more distinctive than that of Abraham's first wife, Sarah.

Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies pronunciation.

Lovely entry into the tree name genre, joining Juniper, Maple, and Willow. Nearly 200 babies were named Cypress in the US last year, about 40 percent of them female.

A pretty and unusual path to the nickname Mira. Mira is the main character in Nobel Prize-winner Federico Mistral's poem of the same name. Mireya Moscoso was Panama's first female president.

The kind of serious old-school name that sounds appealing again; perfect for the intrepid baby namer. More commonly spelled Rosamund but highly unusual these days in either version, with fewer than 20 baby girls named Rosamund in the US last year while Rosamond didn't even register with five.

Leaf is a hippieish choice that, for girls, still retains an evergreen quality.

Mirinda is a feminine name with a melodic quality that appears in several language traditions. In Esperanto, it literally means "wonderful" or "amazing," derived from the verb "miri" (to wonder). Some may recognize it as a commercial beverage brand, though the name predates this usage. Mirinda has Latin influences and shares roots with words like "miracle" and "admire." The name has a pleasing rhythmic pattern with its three syllables and soft ending. While uncommon in English-speaking countries, it enjoys modest usage in parts of Europe and Latin America. Mirinda offers a unique alternative to more common names like Miranda or Melinda, providing distinctiveness while maintaining an intuitive pronunciation and spelling. Its positive meaning makes it particularly appealing.

Reveca is a feminine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Rebecca, which comes from Hebrew origins meaning "to bind" or "to tie." This alternative spelling may reflect Spanish or Latin American pronunciation influences, where the 'b' sound is sometimes softened to a 'v' sound. The biblical Rebecca was known for her beauty and kindness as the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. While the traditional spelling Rebecca has remained consistently popular across many generations, the Reveca variant is quite uncommon, offering a distinctive twist on the classic name. The name carries connotations of beauty, faith, and maternal strength from its biblical associations.