Serious Names For My Children

Lileas

Scottish variation of Lily

Adds some thorns to the smooth texture of Lily.

Lore

Lore is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In German tradition, it's a shortened form of Eleanor or Lorelei, while in Spanish it can be a diminutive of Dolores. The name literally means…

Rhys

Welsh

"ardor"

Less than ten percent of the babies named Rhys are girls, whereas Reese is given five times more often to girls than to boys, thanks to Ms. Witherspoon. It's a sleek and attractive name, but one that…

Spencer

French

"keeper of provisions"

Yes, Spencer makes a plausible and powerful female choice these days, though it's still used four times as often for boys as for girls. But Spencer does not swim that far beneath the Top 1000, used…

Elvina

English

"elf friend"

Sounds elven in every sense of the word.

Parisa

Iranian, Persian

"like a fairy"

Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special. Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris, with its sparkly meaning. It ultimately comes from the Persian word parī…

Magdalene

Spelling variation of Magdalen

"woman from Magdala or high tower"

This name made famous in the New Testament has gone from crusty grandma to sleek and chic in recent years, or is it months? The name's image is perhaps helped by the fact that Mary Magdalene was one…

Livana

Hebrew

"the moon, white"

Pretty and unusual, Livana may find a lot more fans as parents look for alternatives to Number 1 Olivia. Livana was used for only seven baby girls in the US last year.