User-created list
By thesedays · Updated May 2023
Across 37 pages
of 37
English
"sea-bright; pleasant hill"
Merrill, once fairly common for American boys back in the first half of the 20th-century, is now a rare choice, given to just 7 girls and 6 boys in a recent year. Alternative spelling Meryl is also…
Scottish
"from the land by the sea"
An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too. For girls, it might be associated with Mina Murray (later, Mina Harker) from Bram…
Bird name
Unusual choice that was the original name of children's illustrator Tasha Tudor, but is an interesting elaboration of Star, taking it into avian territory.
Van as a feminine name is quite uncommon, as it's more frequently encountered as a male name or surname across various cultures. Of Vietnamese origin, Van can mean 'cloud' and is often used as a…
Allene is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive as a variation of Aileen or Eileen (from the Gaelic 'Eibhlín,' meaning 'bright, shining one'), or it could be a feminized form…
English, Scottish
"grace"
Elaboration of Anne
Dessie is a charming feminine name with multiple origins. Primarily considered a diminutive of Desdemona (from Greek, meaning 'ill-fated'), it's also used as a nickname for names like Desirée (French…
Flower name, from English surname
"Garden's flower"
More uncommon and powerful than garden varieties like Rose and Lily. Named for Scottish botanist Dr Alexander Garden.
Diminutive of Ida, German
"industrious one"
Ida is one of those terminally old-fashioned names that suddenly sounds fresh again, especially given how fashionable it is in Europe. Ida, usually pronounced ee-da, is a Top 100 name in Scandinavia…
Greek
"mother's gift"
Medora is a Greek name much less common here than, say, Melanie or Melissa. It has some literary references, including as the beautiful and passionate heroine of Lord Byron's poem The Corsair, and in…
Merlyn is primarily used as a feminine name in modern contexts, though it has historical usage for both genders. It represents a variant spelling of Merlin, the legendary wizard from Arthurian tales.…
Native American
"dugout canoe"
Missouri, the name of a tribe, a state and a river, derives from the Illinois word mihsoori meaning "dugout canoe". It became a somewhat popular American girls' name in the mid-19th century. Missouri…
Ozella is a feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly derived from the Hebrew name Azaliah (meaning 'God has set aside') or as a feminine form of Oswald (from Germanic elements meaning 'god' and…
Greek, first letter of the alphabet
The first letter of the Greek alphabet ande the brightest star in every constellation, this would make an interesting choice for a first daughter, though it does give off some spectral sci-fi…
Latin
"corn, grain"
Name of the Roman goddess of harvest and grain, appropriate for a fall baby. And a palindrome too!
"bird"
Avis is a bird name that's been in hibernation for awhile, possibly due to the car rental association, but it could make a return on the wings of Ava. Baldwin brother Daniel chose it for his…
"small bird"
The name of a small yellow bird that hasn't taken off in the way that some of its avian sisters – like Robin, Wren or Lark – have. Given to a small number of girls across the 20th-century, the 2020s…
Carmine as a feminine name represents an interesting gender crossover, as it's traditionally more common as a masculine name in Italian culture. Derived from the Latin 'carminium' referring to a…
Latin from Greek
"lordly"
Cyrilla is an obscure feminization of Cyril that's a bit buttoned-up but also intriguingly unique, with an authentic pedigree. Spelling Cirilla is more visible thanks to The Witcher series, in which…
"church official"
Like many passé boys' names, this one sounds fresh again for girls.
