Obscure Female Names

Brielle

Short form of Gabrielle, French, Cajun, Hebrew, Celtic

"god is my strength; hunting grounds"

Though it sounds modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, and the name of a historic seaport in the Western Netherlands, also known as Brill. Today, it is…

Alessia

Italian variation of Alexis

"defending warrior"

Young Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara has given this spicy-sounding name a new lease on life, propelling it into the Top 1000 in 2016. It was one of the fastest rising girl names of the year in…

Neriah

Hebrew

"light of Jehovah"

A version of a symbolic name given to girls born on Hanukkah, the festival of lights. It can also be spelled Neriya(h), but this spelling made it into the Top 1000 in 2013. Neriah was among the…

Liora

Hebrew

"light"

A beautiful Hebrew name that would work perfectly for a child today.

Sariah

Variation of Sarah

Sariah is the perfect compromise name for when you say Sarah, and your spouse says Mariah. Spelled Saria, it's a character in the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time .

Aiza

Arabic

"replacement, substitute"

Popular among the Muslim community and currently in the UK Top 300, Aiza is a name with bright, zippy sounds and a short but substantial feel, making it an appealing choice. Though the exact…

Alexina

Variation of Alexandra, Greek

"defending men"

This spin on the "Alex" prefix was the 88th most popular girl name in Scotland in 1900.

Allouette

Allouette is a feminine name derived from the French word "alouette," meaning "lark" (a type of small songbird). The name evokes imagery of music, freedom, and natural beauty. In French culture,…

Andree

Andree is a feminine name of French origin, representing the female form of Andrew, which derives from the Greek name Andreas meaning 'brave,' 'strong,' or 'manly.' In French-speaking regions, it's…

Arayah

Arayah is a modern feminine name that combines elements of several naming traditions. It may be a variation of Araya, which has Thai origins meaning 'noble' or could be related to the Hebrew name…

Arlinda

Arlinda is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be an elaboration of the Germanic name Linda (meaning 'gentle' or 'soft'), or could combine elements from different naming…

Arlo

Irish, English

"between two hills"

Arlo, an unexpectedly popular name for boys these days, is also finding new life as a girls' name. Its roots are primarily as an Irish or English surname, but it might also be a short form of the…

Ashlene

Ashlene is a feminine name of modern origin, likely created as a variation of Ashley or a combination of Ash and the popular feminine suffix -lene. While Ashley originated as an English surname…

Aveline

French from German

"desired; or island, water"

Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root. Although…

Avira

Tamil

"bright"

A rare girls' name with cross-cultural appeal to burn, Avira might be a good option for parents interested in Ava but put off by its huge popularity.