Crazy Crazy Names

The name of one of the Furies in Greek mythology, a goddess who avenged crimes of murder. She is described as wearing a dripping blood-red robe, with a serpent coiled around her waist.

Nefertari Meritmut was the first and favorite wife of pharoah Ramesses II "the Great". She was highly educated and undertook important diplomatic work on behalf of her husband, corresponding with other prominent figures and even making speeches.

In Greek mythology, Hyperion is one of the twelve Titans: children of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). Hyperion presides over heavenly light, and is the father of Helios (Sun), Selene (Moon), and Eos (Dawn).

This intriguing name of an ancient Etruscan queen renowned for her prophetic powers was long associated with the prima ballerina Tanaquil LeClerq.

Most famously, the name of a 1920s alley cat.

A soft and lovely Hebrew name with an equally lovely meaning. Variations include Ahavah, Ahaba, Ahabah, Ahuva and Ahuvah.

A bright and appealing Spanish name traditionally given to honor the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.

The unique O-ending makes this name memorable, especially for someone with ties to Texas.

Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name, thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys too, inasfar as the name can work for any child. As a name, Hurricane is definitely original and attention-getting, but is it a name you'd want to carry around for life?

This French place name, which may derive from a word meaning "plowed land", is occasionally used for girls. It is best-known for two things: the grand Palace of Versailles, the historic seat of the French royal family; and the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War.

An interesting figure from Greek mythology -- an Amazon queen who fought for Troy in the Trojan War -- but no figure could be interesting enough to make that five-syllable mouthful usable today. Stick with Penelope or, if that's too popular for your taste, try Thessaly.

Many old-school girl names are feminine forms of male names. This one gets an exotic twist from being the female version not of Basil but the form used very commonly in Greece, Vasilios. This uncommon name would make an interesting and rare V-starting choice.

Petronilla is an ancient saint's name that relates to the Roman family name Petronius, thought to mean yokel or woodpecker, though some connect it with Petra or Peter, meaning stone. With the resurgence of so many ancient Roman names, the elaborate and pretty Petronilla or its French form Petronille seem more usable these days than they have in centuries.

Word name Love was a newcomer to the US Top 1000 in 2022, and was among the fastest rising names of the year. Lovelyn adds a bonus trendy -lyn ending, which may appeal to parents as feeling more name-like.

Radmilla is a feminine name with Slavic origins, combining elements that relate to joy and grace. The first part "Rad" derives from Slavic roots meaning "happy," "joyful," or "willing," while "milla" comes from "mila," meaning "dear" or "gracious." This beautiful combination creates a name that essentially means "joyfully gracious" or "dear joy." Most common in Eastern European countries like Russia, Serbia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, Radmilla has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables. While not widely used in Western countries, it has gained some recognition through notable bearers, including Radmilla Cody, a Native American musician. The name offers a distinctive option that bridges traditional Slavic naming conventions with an appealing international sound.

Latinized form of the Brythonic name Caratacos, with an extra C added in the middle. This spelling appears in the lyrics of "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General" (Pirates Of Penzance, 1879), as well as in the novel and musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Zealous and noble, an unusual and strong choice -- and if the original is too much of a mouthful, you can always call him Zen.

Scheherazade -- or Sheherazade --is a legendary Persian queen immortalized as the narrator of all one thousand stories in the One Thousand and One Nights. Her story is even more remarkable than the tales she tells.

Romantic Italian choice.