Girls

Madelief

Dutch

"daisy"

Madelief is an uncommon name but not unheard of in the Netherlands, where 123 girls were called Madelief in one recent year. With its soft sounds and similarities to all those "Madeleine" type names…

Rhoswen

Welsh

"white rose"

If you're looking for an unusual alternative to all those Rose names, Rhoswen might be a good choice. This name has the soft sounds we've come to love from the Welsh language but is still not as…

Saffron

Spice name

"orange-yellow color; a type of crocus"

Spice names are increasingly appealing to the senses of prospective parents; this one, belonging to a precious spice derived from the crocus has a vaguely orange-scented-incense sixties feel. English…

Brona

Irish

"sorrow"

Brona is an Anglicized form of Bronach or Bronagh, the name of a sixth century mystic and follower of Saint Patrick. The name is attracting some modern notice in the US via the character Brona Croft…

Franziska

Franziska is a feminine name of German origin, serving as the female form of Franz (Francis). The name ultimately derives from Latin "Franciscus," meaning "Frenchman" or "free one." Franziska has…

Makilde

Makilde is a rare feminine name with unclear origins, possibly a variant of Matilda or Machild, which have Germanic roots meaning 'mighty in battle.' The name may have evolved through regional…

Lykke

Swedish and Danish

"happiness, good fortune"

Sweet Lykke, virtually unknown in English-speaking countries, is one of the top girl names in Sweden.

Tula

Choctaw, English, Spanish, Hindi, or Kiswahili

"leaping waters; town; spear strength; mountain peak"

Tula is a multicultural name, linked to the names Tallulah, Gertrude, and Tullia, a mountain range in Antarctica, and to the Greek Toula, used for the heroine of the hit film My Big Fat Greek Wedding…