The Hoarder's List of Names

Arava

Hebrew

"willow"

Unknown but eminently usable choice, especially for Jewish parents, with lovely meaning.

Kady

Irish

"first"

Kady, though it has an authentic Irish meaning, may also be a variation of Katy short form of Kadence, or combination of initials K. and D. Though Kady is more distinctive, everyone will just hear it…

Lystra

Biblical place-name

Anatolian city visited by Paul in the Bible, though risks sounding a tad antiseptic.

Satine

French

"smooth, shiny"

Satine, the name of the Nicole Kidman character in Moulin Rouge, , is, by definition satiny smooth. Jacinda Barrett named her daughter Satine Anais.

Laelia

Latin family name and botanical name

Upside: it has an interesting ancient look and feel, related to the Roman family name Laelius of uncertain meaning. There is also a type of orchid called the Laelia. Downside: possible confusion with…

Jace

Jace is a modern feminine name that has gained popularity primarily as a masculine name but has crossed gender boundaries in recent years. Originally a shortened form of Jason (meaning 'healer' in…

Adessa

Finnish and Swedish, meaning unknown

Adessa may be a Scandinavian variation of the place name Odessa.

Alaïa

Arabic

"sublime"

Fashion designer surname that could make a dynamic first.

Xanthe

Greek

"golden, yellow"

X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front. This extravagant name, which, like many Greek names beginning with X, is…

Connie

Diminutive of Constance, English

"steadfastness"

Connie is a sweet and charming vintage nickname, which ranks in the top 200 in the UK and has a vintage charm that makes it ready for a comeback in the US as well.

Mirabella

Italian variation of Mirabelle

"wonderful"

The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More…

Ione

Greek

"violet flower"

This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan. Ione was one of the fifty sea nymphs —…

Ismay

Possible variation of Esme

"esteemed, beloved"

The rise of the the various Isabel names may give a boost to this variation, which has a sunny, springtime feel. Although this name has been around since the thirteenth century, its origins remain…