Girls

Ananda

Hindi

"bliss"

Genuine Indian name some parents turn to as an Amanda alternative; also connected to a network of spiritual communities.

Kirrily

Aboriginal, Australian

"tree bark or leaf"

Kirrily, which rhymes with cheerily, is a name that's uniquely popular in Australia. It originated in recent decades as an elaboration of several similar names – the European Kyra or Keira, the Maori…

Calina

Calina is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, creating a rich multicultural background. In Slavic languages, particularly Russian, it relates to 'kalina' meaning 'cranberry bush,' a…

Talitha

Aramaic

"little girl"

Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times. Talitha is also the name of two stars in…

Talisa

Modern invented name

Talisa is a recent addition to the Tali family, brought to light by actress Talisa Soto. It got a further boost from Talisa of Volantis, a small but crucial character in HBO's Game of Thrones .…

Aenea

Greek, female variation of Aeneas

"the praised one"

This name found in the fantasy series Endymion/Rise of Endymion has a slightly physiological feel to it.

Alida

Diminutive of Adelaide

Alida had a brief flurry of popularity a hundred years ago but is rarely used today. But given the rise of so many names related to Adelaide and Adeline, Alida might be rediscovered.

Aletta

Dutch from Germanic

"noble, nobility"

A form of Adelaide (and therefore related to Alice, too) used in the Netherlands. The country's first female physician was Aletta Jacobs. In the USA, Aletta is rare, but on a slight upward trend. It…

Trudy

German

"spear of strength"

Innocent, sincere, and bright-eyed, and as outdated as its mother name, Gertrude.

Edana

Irish

"fire"

Feminine of Aidan, but now girls would prefer to use the original.

Aleka

Aleka is a feminine name with Greek roots, derived from Alexandra or Alexia, which ultimately come from the Greek "alexein" meaning "to defend" or "to help". As a diminutive form, Aleka carries the…

Rika

Japanese, or diminutive of names that end in -rika

"beautiful village; peaceful ruler; estate ruler"

Rika is most common as a Japanese name, when it means "beautiful village" in one kanji combination. It is also seen as a nickname and given name in Scandinavia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, where…

Lilika

Lilika is a charming feminine name with multiple cultural connections. It may be considered a diminutive form of names like Lily or Liliana, or it could be related to the Greek name Lilitka. In…

Andraya

Andraya is a feminine name that serves as a creative variation of Andrea, which itself is the female form of Andrew, derived from the Greek 'andreios' meaning 'manly' or 'brave.' The unique spelling…

Danica

Slavic

"morning star"

While Danica may sound similar to Dana, Danielle, and Daniela, Danica is not a variation. Danica, a delicate and unique Slavic name meaning "Morning Star," is synonymous with Venus in many countries.…

Andreya

Andreya is a feminine name that represents a variation of Andrea, which derives from the Greek name Andreas meaning 'manly' or 'brave.' This spelling adaptation incorporates Slavic or Eastern…

Nereyda

Nereyda is a feminine name with Latin and Greek influences, likely derived from 'Nereid,' which refers to the sea nymphs of Greek mythology who were the daughters of Nereus, the sea god. These nymphs…