Clunky and Eccentric Feminizations

Baptista

Latin

"the baptized one"

Probably too evangelical for mass importation.

Basilia

Greek, feminine variation of Basil

Rare but attractive female form of Basil.

Benedicta

Latin

"blessed"

Saintly, and a Mother Superior to boot.

Benjamina

Hebrew

"daughter of the right hand"

The kind of feminized male name that never caught on.

Bente

Danish feminine form of Benedict

"blessed"

Bente, pronounced ben-tah, is a popular girls' name in both The Netherlands and Denmark though largely unknown in the English-speaking world. It suffers by being a near-homonym of the English word…

Berengaria

Latin

"bear spear"

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the…

Bernarda

German

"brave as a bear"

Too close in sound to the so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out Bernard.

Calvina

Latin, feminine form of Calvin

There are several better Cal- names that don't simply echo a male form.

Cesaria

Feminization of Cesar, Latin

"head of hair"

Cesaria, a modern feminine form of Caesar or the Latinate Cesar, has been obscure in the Western World but may stir to life along with other names that have their roots in ancient Rome. Cesarina,…

Claudine

French feminine variation of Claude

There are much chicer versions of this name today, such as Claudie, Claudia, or Claude itself. Claudine is a name wobbling on the edge of extinction.

Colombine

Latin

"dove"

A beautiful English and French flower name deriving from the Latin word for dove. Sadly, in America this name is now forever linked with a tragic terrorist attack on a Colorado high school.