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 .

Serafina

Italian and Spanish variation of Seraphina

"ardent"

Serafina is a name so lovely it's worthy of an angel. But the more stylish spelling today is Seraphina.

Ellison

English

"son of Ellis"

Updates Allison—which everyone will misunderstand it as. But it's definitely a fresh spin on the Ellie names, and a rising surname name choice for girls. Ellison made its first appearance on the US…

Odessa

Russian form of Odesa, Ukrainian place-name

"voyage"

Odessa, (transcribed as Odesa in Ukrainian) is a Ukrainian port city and was given its name by Catherine the Great, who was inspired by Homer's Odyssey . It would make an original and intriguing…

Devorah

Hebrew

"bee"

The Biblical name of a great prophet and judge who helped organize an army and effect a major victory over the Canaanites. Sounds much fresher than the Anglicized Deborah.

Zia

Short form of Luzia or Terézia, Hungarian, Portuguese

"light; harvest"

A short and zippy name that would blend right in with but also stand out among a group of girls named Mia, Gia, Lia and Tia. It is a multicultural choice, used in Hungary as a short from of Terézia,…

Yvette

French, feminine of Yves

"yew tree"

This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names like Colette and Odette, and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it. Related to the sleek French name Yves, it was popular in…

Maribel

English combination of Mary and Bel, or Spanish short form of María Isabel, "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"

This modern name gathers some steam from the wildly popular Isabel. The meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter"…

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…

Kalilah

Kalilah is a feminine name with Arabic origins, derived from the word "khalil" which means "friend" or "beloved." It carries connotations of loyalty, friendship, and close companionship. The name…

Maliah

Spelling variation of Malia, Hawaiian version of Mary

"bitter"

Maliah is a spelling variation of former First Daughter's name Malia and has seen some use since it first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2009.

Saphira

English and Norman variation of Sapphira, Greek, Hebrew, literary

"lapis lazuli, sapphire"

A gemstone name that doesn't sound as wordy as Sapphire or Lazuli do, this is a streamlined spelling of the Biblical name. It was also used in by Christopher Paolini in his dragon series, Eragon ,…

Yelena

Russian variation of Helen

"bright, shining one"

One of many international versions of this classic.

Reverie

Word name

"pleasant, dreamlike state"

With strong sounds but a whimsical feel, Reverie is a word name associated with being in a dreamy, ethereal state, of being lost in a daydream, or coming up with a pleasant fantasy for the future.…

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…

Zarina

Persian

"a golden vessel"

Derived from Persian zarin "golden", Zarina is a strong and sparkling name used in multiple languages, including Kazakh, Urdu and Malay. It was the name of an ancient Scythian queen, and also sounds…