Endearingly Untamed
- Domino
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lord, master"Description:
One of those ultimate cool-girl names, played by Keira Knightley in a movie about a supermodel-turned-bounty hunter, but kids might associate it with the game. High profile British designer India Hicks used it for her daughter. As a girls' nameit's still very rare, used in 2015 in the US for only seven baby girls.
- Draven
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Inspired by Brandon Lee's character in The Crow and Cuba Gooding Jr.'s in In the Shadows, this name, with its Wiccan feel, was used by a member of Linkin Park. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1995.
- Belladonna
Origin:
English from ItalianMeaning:
"nightshade, beautiful lady"Description:
Literally meaning "beautiful lady" in Italian, Belladonna is the name of a poisonous flower also known as nightshade. This connection gives an otherwise flowery name a darker, more dramatic edge.
- Judas
Origin:
Greek variation of JudahMeaning:
"praised"Description:
Though there were two apostles named Judas, everyone remembers the one who betrayed Jesus, and the name has been permanently shunned.
- Ares
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"ruin, bane"Description:
Rooted in Greek mythology, Ares entered the US Top 1000 in 2013, when it was one of the year's fastest rising names. Similar in style to Atticus, Atlas, and Ari, it has continued to climb up the charts, and now ranks in the Top 500, given to around 770 babies each year .
- Raven
Origin:
Word and animal nameDescription:
Bird name Raven, once a symbol of pride for both African-American and Wiccan parents, is finding new life as a superhero name. Raven Darkholme is the real name of Mystique, heroine of the X-Men films played by Jennifer Lawrence. And there is another Raven superheroine in Teen Titans. Some parents may still choose Raven to signal black pride or mystical powers or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe fandom, but we are guessing most inspiration is coming from the comics.
- Taj
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"crown"Description:
Taj is a cool-sounding name reflecting the magnificence of the seventeenth-century Indian Taj Mahal, chosen by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for his son.
- Bandit
Origin:
Word or occupational nameMeaning:
"outlaw, thief"Description:
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking only Gerard Way could pull that off) undoubtedly owes a debt to occupational cousins from Pilot to Parker.
- Eris
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"strife, discord"Description:
Eris was the goddess of strife and discord, turned fairy tale and then popular culture figure Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Ironic, as her name sounds so much like that of Eros, the god of love.
- Desdemona
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"ill-starred"Description:
Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time, there might be some adventurous parents willing to overlook that.
- Jinx
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"spell, curse, bringer of bad luck"Description:
Jinx, a James Bond heroine name has an ominous meaning but kinetic energy. In the film "Die Another Day," the actual first name of the character played by Halle Berry is Giacinta. It could therefore be a playful nickname to Ginevra, Jessica, Genevieve, Gianna, Josephine, or Georgina, or a bold choice for those wanting some sparky and witchy.
- Jabez
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"borne in pain"Description:
Jabez has a rare combo of three appealing elements: a Biblical heritage, a captivating Southern accent, and a jazzy feel. It was popular with the Pilgrims and on into the nineteenth century (there have been four U.S. Congressmen named Jabez), but it hasn't been in the Top 1000 since 1880.
- Draco
Origin:
Greek from LatinMeaning:
"dragon"Description:
For as long as we all shall live, Harry Potter's sneering nemesis.
- Loki
Origin:
Norse mythological nameMeaning:
"lock"Description:
Loki is the shape-shifting, gender-bending god of mischief in Norse mythology. Taking several animal forms, from a salmon to a seal to a fly, Loki is alternately friend and foe of the gods.
- Emeric
Origin:
French form of German EmmerichMeaning:
"power"Description:
A name popular both in France (where it's Number 405) and within the Cajun population, it's more substantial than Eric, and occurs twice in the Harry Potter series.
- Howell
Origin:
English variation of Hywel, an eminent Welsh kingDescription:
A familiar and usable last name turned first. Or you could look at it as a homophone of the verb howl, which gives it a wilder feel.
- Corentin
Origin:
French, BretonMeaning:
"tempest, hurricane"Description:
Corentin is an intriguing saint's name fashionable in France but virtually unknown here-- which you may consider a big plus. St. Corentin possessed a magical fish that regenerated itself each night, feeding himself and his lucky visitors in perpetuity.
- Elvira
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"white, fair"Description:
Before there was the campy TV Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira was the long-suffering wife of Don Juan, and remnants of those negative, gothic images still cling to it, though they are fading.Other references include the romantic film Elvira Madigan, based on a real person, and the main ghostly character in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, as well as appearances in several operas.
- Clove
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"clove"Description:
Clove is a spice name that is a tad more piquant than Saffron or Cinnamon. It might get more attention now as a member of The Hunger Games family of names.
- Carmilla
Description:
Carmilla is a feminine name with literary origins, most famously associated with Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 Gothic novella featuring a female vampire character named Carmilla, predating even Bram Stoker's Dracula. The name likely derives from 'Carmela' or 'Carmel,' which has Hebrew origins meaning 'garden' or 'vineyard of God.' Carmilla has a flowing, romantic sound with its melodic syllables and gentle ending. While uncommon in most English-speaking countries, it offers an intriguing alternative to more familiar names like Camilla or Carmela. The Gothic literary connection gives it a mysterious, somewhat dramatic flair that might appeal to parents with an appreciation for classic literature or unconventional name choices that still maintain feminine elegance.
Introducing the Nameberry App

- Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
- Names you match on are saved to your shared list
- Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
- Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
- Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.

