Persian, Cuban, Macedonia girl -- need cute names :)

Persian, Latin, Balkan, Macedonian
  1. Aida
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "happy"
    • Description:

      Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
  2. Ailana
    • Origin:

      Kazakh
    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"
    • Description:

      A pretty Kazakh name derived from Turkish ayla, meaning "moonlight". The Hawaiian name 'Ailana (with the 'okina mark) means "loving".
  3. Astra
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "stars"
    • Description:

      A starry-eyed, intergalactic name, far rarer than Stella or Esther. It's attached both to a comic book character and to Princess Astra on "Doctor Who".
  4. Aveline
    • Origin:

      French from German
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or island, water"
    • Description:

      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.
  5. Aviana
    • Origin:

      Variation of Avis, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bird"
    • Description:

      Aviana is a name that's kinda like the megapopular Ava, and kinda like the popular Ariana, and not quite as widely appealing as either of them. But it's on everyone's scope now as the choice of actress Amy Adams for her new daughter -- ironic as she was quoted as saying she wanted a "normal" name. Turns out that Adams was born in Aviano, Italy, explaining the mystery. The first syllable of the name can be pronounced ah, ay, or (most commonly) to rhyme with have.
  6. Ayla
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, or Turkish
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
    • Description:

      Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the Top 100.
  7. Anayis
    • Brisa
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "breeze"
      • Description:

        Brisa is commonly used in Latino families, all but unheard of in others.
    • Dasha
      • Origin:

        Russian, diminutive of Dariya or Darya
      • Description:

        Nice, energetic -- dare we say dashing. -- quality.
    • Leda
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "happy"
      • Description:

        Leda is that rare name that has not yet been discovered in the current craze for ancient names from mythology. In classical Greek myth, Leda was a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy. Leda is at once simple, deeply-rooted, and unique: Only 23 baby girls were named Leda in the US last year. A name used in several European countries, pronunciation is usually the straightforward lee-dah but the Italians say lay-dah.
    • Magdalena
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "from Magdala"
      • Description:

        Magdalena is a pretty name forever associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen; often heard in the Hispanic community. But forward thinking parents are reviving Magdalena along with Magdalene and the unrelated but similar-sounding Marguerite.
    • Magdalene
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Magdalen
      • Meaning:

        "woman from Magdala or high tower"
      • Description:

        This name made famous in the New Testament has gone from crusty grandma to sleek and chic in recent years, or is it months? The name's image is perhaps helped by the fact that Mary Magdalene was one of the most intriguing women inthe Bible, both a saint and a sinner.
    • Naida
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "water nymph,"
      • Description:

        Possibility for a girl born under one of the water signs -- Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio.
    • Parisa
      • Origin:

        Iranian/Persian
      • Meaning:

        "like a fairy"
      • Description:

        Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special. Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris.
    • Sonya
      • Description:

        See SONIA.
    • Soraya
      • Origin:

        Persian
      • Meaning:

        "Pleiades constellation"
      • Description:

        Soraya is a Persian name made famous in the Western world by the one-time empress of Iran, who settled in Europe, primarily in France. Soraya is derived from Thurayya, the Arabic name of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus.
    • Tandiz
      • Zoya
        • Origin:

          Russian and Greek variation of Zoe
        • Description:

          Now that Zoe is getting wildly popular in the U.S. and the U.K. -- one poll puts it at number one in Wales -- parents may start hunting down fresh twists like this.