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Endearingly Untamed

  1. Elvira

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "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.

  2. Desdemona

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Draven

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      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.
  4. Ares

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "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 .
  5. Corentin

    • Origin:

      French, Breton

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  6. Hecate

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "willpower or far-reaching"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Hecate is associated with witchcraft and magic. The name may mean "willpower" or "far-reaching".
  7. Perseus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "to destroy"

    • Description:

      Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just might have modern possibilities along with other so-old-they're-new-again names such as Atticus and Orion.
  8. Deirdre

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "sorrowful"

    • Description:

      Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports.
  9. Electra

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "amber, shining, bright"

    • Description:

      Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.
  10. Blaze

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "fire"

    • Description:

      Originally a form of the saint's name Blaise, though now more likely to be a hot word name used for both sexes, though heavily weighted toward the boys. It has been in the boys' Top 1000 since the year 2000. On the pop culture side of things, Blaze Bayley is a singer and musician who has been connected to the bands Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden.
  11. Taj

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  12. Morticia

    • Origin:

      Fictional invented name

    • Meaning:

      "mortician"

    • Description:

      Charles Addams invented the name Morticia for the mother in his cartoon series "The Addams Family." The name comes from the word mortician—very appropriate for this macabre mom.
  13. Helix

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a curve in three-dimensional space"

    • Description:

      A scientific word name that would work wonderfully as a given name, given its similarity to Felix.
  14. Howell

    • Origin:

      English variation of Hywel, an eminent Welsh king

    • Description:

      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.
  15. Belladonna

    • Origin:

      English from Italian

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  16. 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.

  17. Tempest

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "turbulent, stormy"

    • Description:

      Tempest is one of those names that could go either way. Cool, evocative modern word name? Or asking for trouble? Your call, but if you decide the former image is dominant, be warned that some people will see it as the latter.
  18. Jinx

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  19. Judas

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Judah

    • Meaning:

      "praised"

    • Description:

      Though there were two apostles named Judas, everyone remembers the one who betrayed Jesus, and the name has been permanently shunned.
  20. Loki

    • Origin:

      Norse mythological name

    • Meaning:

      "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.