Feminine and smart unusual names for girls.

Gladys

Possibly a form or Claudia or Welsh

"land, nation"

Hard as it might be to believe, Gladys was the Harper of 1900, emerging almost out of nowhere to take the naming world by storm. It became a favorite among parents — and writers of romantic Edwardian…

Henna

Color name, Finnish feminization of Henry, English from German

"estate ruler"

Reddish dye that sounds as if it could be a real name — of the outdated, Old World, Yetta-Hedda variety.

Halcyon

Greek

"kingfisher bird"

This highly unusual name -- the Halycyone was a mythic bird who could calm the seas -- conjures up images of utter peace and tranquility because of the phrase "Halycon days"...and the sleeping pill.

Imogen

Celtic

"maiden"

Imogen has long been fashionable in England and is gaining favor in the US among stylish parents. Pronounced the British way — the initial i is short as in Kim, as is the final E as in Ken — Imogen…

Jemima

Hebrew

"dove; daytime"

Jemima, the name of a strong and beautiful Biblical daughter of Job, has long been among the chicest choices of aristocratic Brits, and has since shifted to be used more generally too, replacing…

Kyrie

Short form of Kyra or Greek

"Lord"

Kyrie elieson is one of the oldest religious refrains, meaning Lord, have mercy. As a first name, though, Kyrie is less a name of God and more a nickname-name that might be short for Kyra or a…

Leilah

Variation of Leila, Arabic

"night"

Leilah is one of many variations of the Arabic name Leila or Layla (the most popular version), and while this spelling was given to a relatively few 125 baby girls last year, Leila was used for about…

Larissa

English, German, and Portuguese variation of Larisa, Greek and Russian

"citadel"

Daintily pretty without being frilly, Larissa is familiar but more quietly used than its sound-alikes Melissa and Alyssa. Though this is the more common variation in the Western World, the original…

Natasha

Russian diminutive of Natalya

"birthday of the Lord"

Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for…

Pomona

Latin

"apple"

This name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees is also associated with a suburban town in Southern California.

Patrice

French variation of PATRICIA

"noble"

Patrice is a more modern-sounding and polished unisex alternative to Patricia.

Raisa

Russian; Yiddish; Arabic

"easygoing; rose; leader"

Known in America via the wife of Soviet head Mikhail Gorbachev; a possibility for parents of Eastern-European descent wanting to move beyond Natasha and Nadia or for parents from the Middle East…

Sable

English animal name

Sable is often associated with the Dynsaty soap opera, but it is actually a type of animal historically hunted for its fur. Sable is also used as a word for a warm, rich black color. Both…

Stacia

Short form of Anastacia or Eustacia

This short form can stand on its own, perhaps because of the familiarity of Stacy, of which it may also be a variation. But Stacia feels somehow more modern and stylish than 60s-style Stacy. Stasia…

Tamsin

English, contracted form of Thomasina

"twin"

Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes , Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan…

Tilda

Estonian and Spanish diminutive of Matilda, German

"battle mighty"

Actress Tilda Swinton injected this dated nickname name with some modern charm.