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Ngaio
Maori
"reflections on the water"
New Zealand writer Ngaio (born Edith Ngaio) Marsh is the best-known bearer of this Maori nature name, properly pronounced ng (like the end of sing) -EYE-oh. It is the name of a tree indigenous to New…
Olivine
Latin
"olive"
A gem named for its green hue.
Melora
Greek
"golden apple"
Euphonic hybrid of the sounds of Melissa and Laura. Melora Hardin is an actress who was featured on The Office.
Bertille
French
"heroine, bright maiden"
The name of medieval French saint, similar to Sally Field's name, Bertrille, on the old The Flying Nun sitcom, leading some to expect the word "Sister" in front of it.
Maida
English
"maiden"
Old English name as outmoded as the use of the word maid for a young girl.
Rhian
Welsh
"maiden"
Popular in Wales, but likely to be mispronounced as Ryan here.
Naarah
Hebrew
"girl, maiden"
Another rarely heard biblical name, with some possible pronunciation confusion.
Nahla
Arabic
"a drink of water"
Nahla is a lovely name chosen by Halle Berry for her daughter. Not to be confused with the Disneyfied Nala.
Nizana
Hebrew
"a flower bud"
Has a pleasantly fizzy, effervescent feeling.
Fionnuala
Irish Gaelic
"white shoulders"
This lovely Gaelic name, very popular in the Emerald Isle, has inspired a whole host of diminutives (including Nuala and Nola) and variant spellings, from Finola to Finula to the Scottish and English…
Shulamit
Hebrew
"peace"
Shulamit--which has a variety of different spellings--is a serious-sounding Old Testament name that appears in the Song of Songs. Its common nickname is Shula, which is sometimes used on its own.…
Orinthia
Latin
"to excite, to stir the mind"
A pretty, feminissima name, more distinctive than Cynthia. George Bernard Shaw used it for a character in his play The Apple Cart, about which it is said 'Orinthia is a name full of magic for me.'
Zale
Greek
"sea-strength"
Appealing sound and meaning, but there is that discount-store association.
Swithun
English
"strong bear cub"
Variously spelled as Swithun or Swithin, this distinctive sounding name is belonged to St. Swithun, an Anglo-Saxon bishop known as the patron saint of Winchester and of the weather — making him the…
Uzziah
Hebrew
"my power is Yahweh"
Uzziah was an Old Testament king of Judah, among other personages. The initial U is a bit funky for modern tastes; we don't see this one enjoying a revival ala Isaiah and Noah anytime soon.
Ziza
Hebrew
"splendor, abundance"
A lively, zippy name that is surprisingly rare in the US. It was the name of two men mentioned in the Bible, but is feminine in modern times.
Camellia
English flower name from Czech surname
"Kamel's flower"
Camellia is a rare flower name with distinct roots related to the Camille/Camila group and has varied associations to the moon, water, wealth, and perfection. It could be thought of as a floral…
Cynara
Greek
"thistly plant"
Poetic though thorny, Cynara is one of those names that has a genuine root but that many will assume is invented. Depending on your viewpoint, that might be the best or worst of all worlds.
Linnet
French
"flaxen haired"
Although the accent in Linnet is on the first syllable, it could be confused with the dated Lynette.
Idra
Aramaic
"fig tree"
Idra is one of the less obvious botanical names. In ancient times, a fig tree was a symbol of learning, peace, and prosperity.