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Uncommon names with Common Nicknames

  1. Amabel

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lovable"

    • Description:

      Amabel is an older name than Annabel and a lot more distinctive. Amabel was a very common name in the twelfth and thirteen centuries, then was revived during the nineteenth century British fad for medieval names.
  2. Antigone

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"

    • Description:

      In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh.
  3. Sophronia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sensible, prudent"

    • Description:

      A name some people first encountered in the old children's book series The Five Little Peppers, in which Sophronia, the youngest of the Peppers is nicknamed Phronsie.`It was also used by Dickens in two of his novels: The Old Curiosity Shop and Our Mutual Friend.
  4. Electra

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "amber, shining, bright"

    • Description:

      Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.
  5. Rafaella

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Raphaela, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God has healed"

    • Description:

      Oh, the many spellings of Rafaella. Those with Fs and double-Ls denote Italian origins, while an F and a single L is Spanish and Portuguese. The original Hebrew form is Raphaela.
  6. Lucette

    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Lucy

    • Meaning:

      "little light"

    • Description:

      Popular in the 1930s in France, this is a diminutive of Lucy (or Lucie).
  7. Emerald

    • Origin:

      Gem name; Persian

    • Meaning:

      "green"

    • Description:

      Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names.
  8. Clarity

    • Origin:

      English virtue name

    • Meaning:

      "the quality of being clear"

    • Description:

      Clarity is one of the lightest of the newly rediscovered virtue names, with a bit of three-syllable sparkle, old-fashioned charm and a clear vision for the future. Clarity is a very desirable quality in this confusing world and it also, unlike some other newly coined word names, has real meaning and history as a name.
  9. Remember

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      No one will ever forget it. But Remember as a name came over on the Mayflower, so it has deep history as well as modern potential.
  10. Aloisa

    • Origin:

      German variation of Louisa

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Obscure form of an old-fashioned favorite that's poised to make a comeback. This version, which owes as much to Alison as to Louisa, has a stylish A beginning and a multi-syllabic feminine grace.
  11. Diamond

    • Origin:

      Gem name

    • Description:

      Diamond sparkled all through the nineties--reaching as high as Number 150 in 1999. Although its shine has diminished quite a bit, it remains in use.
  12. Lizbeth

    • Origin:

      Short form of Elizabeth

    • Meaning:

      "plegded to god"

    • Description:

      A condensed version of Elizabeth made more familiar by The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo's Lisbeth Salander.
  13. Kalilah

    • Description:

      Kalilah is a feminine name with Arabic origins, derived from the word "khalil" which means "friend" or "beloved." It carries connotations of loyalty, friendship, and close companionship. The name gained recognition through the famous Arabic literary work "Kalila wa Dimna," a collection of animal fables. While not extremely common in Western countries, Kalilah has been gaining appreciation for its melodious sound and meaningful roots. The name offers a balance of exotic appeal and accessibility, making it an increasingly attractive choice for parents seeking a name with cultural depth. Kalilah can also be spelled as Kalila or Kaleela in some variations.

  14. Elizabella

    • Origin:

      Compound name, Eliza + Bella

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God + beautiful"

    • Description:

      Elizabella is a much more obscure smoosh than sisters Isabella and Annabelle, but the megapopularity of Isabella may give this unusual combo name a boost.
  15. Maxfield

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "Mac's field"

    • Description:

      This name may be related to the Latin Maximus, which means "the greatest," or to a British landowner's name, but for most modern parents, it's one of several ways to get to short form Max.
  16. Lilibeth

    • Origin:

      Combination name of Lily and Beth or nickname for Elizabeth, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Queen Elizabeth's childhood nickname was Lilibet, the name of Prince Harry and Meghan's newborn daughter, and Lilibeth has the same kind of lilting charm. While many combo names are less attractive than either of their original parts, Lilibeth can make a nice compromise if you're stuck between Lily and Elizabeth or if you want a fresh variation of either.
  17. Ottavia

    • Origin:

      Italian, variation of Latin Octavia

    • Meaning:

      "eight"

    • Description:

      Softer and more romantic than Octavia, this is a name once used when it wasn't uncommon for families to have eight children. A possible substitute for the epidemically popular Olivia.
  18. Engracia

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "endowed with God's grace"

    • Description:

      Charming alternative to the overused Grace.
  19. Hollister
    • Anakin