Unusual Names
- Calypso
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"she who hides"Description:
This hyper-rhythmic name has two evocative references. In Greek mythology, she was an island nymph, a daughter of Atlas, who delayed Odysseus from returning home. It is also a genre of West Indian music, originating in Trinidad and Tobago and largely popularized in the States by Harry Belafonte.
- Phaedra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"bright"Description:
This name of a tragic figure in Greek mythology, the daughter of King Minos, sister of Ariadne and wife of Theseus, has a mysterious and intriguing appeal, and would make a dramatic choice.
- Nyx
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"night"Description:
In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, giving this name a dark yet mystical feel. While some may associate too strongly with the word nix (meaning "nothing", "refuse" or "put an end to"), or to the make-up brand Nyx, it was nevertheless chosen for 64 girls (and 26 boys) in the US in a recent year.
- Odysseus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"wrathful"Description:
The name of the brave, resourceful hero of Homer's epic saga has almost always been considered too weighty for a child to bear, but at this point, some brave, resourceful parents out there might be willing to take it on.
- Lucette
Origin:
French diminutive of LucyMeaning:
"little light"Description:
Popular in the 1930s in France, this is a diminutive of Lucy (or Lucie).
- Lucienne
Origin:
French feminine variation of LucianMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle.
- Nero
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"stern"Description:
The association with the infamous Nero, the fiddling Roman emperor, would be unavoidable. But there was also the detective Nero Wolfe, hero of many mystery stories.
- Zipporah
Origin:
Variation of Tziporah, HebrewMeaning:
"bird"Description:
There are many variations of this name, with or without the initial T and the final h, with one p or two. In the Bible she was the wife of Moses.
- Saskia
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"Saxon"Description:
From the first time we saw the name Saskia attached to a portrait of Rembrandt's wife (her full name was Saakje van Uylenburgh, but she was always called Saskia), we have found it utterly charming and wondered why it hasn't attracted more fans In this country--she's appreciated by the Brits, who have moved her to Number 392. Saskia is one of those names that's been used in Europe since the Middle Ages, but has never crossed the ocean.
- Acacia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"thorny"Description:
Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.
- Onyx
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"gem stone; claw, nail"Description:
Onyx is a fresh and trending gemstone name for boys, currently in the US Top 500, having climbed the charts rapidly since 2018. Now, an increasing number of girls are receiving the name, with a recent count revealing nearly 200 baby girls were called Onyx in 2023.
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