A fabled storybook name via the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe (1819), which featured a heroine called Rowena of Hargottstanstede, and also a Harry Potter name, as Rowena Ravenclaw, founder of one of the Hogwarts houses, Rowena is a retro feeling choice with literary charm.

Sigrid is a distinctly Scandinavian name that is starting to edge out into the wider world, a la cousin Ingrid. Unfortunately, short form Siri is now off the table, but Sigrid is still a possibility.

Fans of versatile, rising African- American actor Mekhi Phifer have begun to adopt his unusual first name for their sons.

Elva is a multicultural choice, being both an anglicization of the Irish Ailbhe and an feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf". Popular in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, it remained in the charts until the 1970s before falling out of favor.

Possibly started life as a short form of Rhonwen, but most likely derives from the name of the Hebridean island Rona, which means "rough island".

Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi Longstocking's friend. A nice namesake for an ancestral Ann.

State name Alaska stems from an Aleutian word for the land mass itself. The number of baby girls named Alaska has doubled in the past five years, and is sure to continue increasing as more place names are annexed as baby names. Wilder but as habitable as Dakota or Cheyenne, Alaska is a girls' name choice for the future.

Aurelie is the delicate French variation of Aurelia, one of the most improbable popular names of recent years. Both versions of the name are lovely, but it might be difficult to insist that Americans pronounce Aurelie the attractive French way rather than like plain old orally.

Auriel is a Roman name that was revived during the nineteenth-century craze for unique names. Could make an interesting substitution for the popular Aurora or Ariel.

A punchy modern Cornish name derived from a place name, which is of disputed origin. It is sometimes said to derive from a rare Welsh name, Maeldaf, plus dinas, the Cornish for "fort". Another theory is that it comes from Cornish ty "house" plus malsai "eel" – likely a reference to Cornwall's fishing trade.

Less known than other Cornish beauties like Demelza, Elowen and Kerensa, Elestren is a pretty Cornish botanical name ripe for wider usage.

Majorie appears to be a variant spelling of Marjorie, a feminine name derived from Margaret, which comes from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl.' This medieval variation developed in Scotland and gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages. The spelling with 'j' rather than 'rj' gives it a slightly different visual impact while maintaining the same pronunciation. Majorie projects warmth and friendliness with a vintage charm that recalls the early to mid-20th century when Marjorie ranked among popular girls' names in America. Though less common today, this name carries nostalgic appeal and the friendly nickname options of Marge or Margie. Its classic sound balances familiarity with relative rarity in contemporary use.

Simple and pretty and user-friendly, the Welsh Sian was used by U2's Dave "the Edge" Evans for his daughter. In Welsh, it is also spelled Siân.

Could be a novel way for a boy's name to honor an ancestral Claire.

Appealingly gentle and romantic French classic--with a lot more charm than Steve.

Éinri is the Irish Gaelic form of Henry, a masculine name with Germanic origins meaning "home ruler" or "ruler of the household." The original Germanic name Heimirich combines the elements "heim" (home) and "ric" (ruler, power). In Ireland, Éinri has been used for centuries, often appearing in historical records of Gaelic families. While less common than the anglicized Henry in modern Ireland, Éinri represents a connection to Irish linguistic heritage and culture. The name has maintained a modest presence in Ireland but hasn't achieved widespread popularity internationally compared to other Irish names like Liam or Aidan.

Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesel is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse, Freya, Soren, and Heidi, it leans more towards being international and European chic.

This name of the bright orange flower found in Asia has been used occasionally in English-speaking countries. A notable namesake is Tiger Lily, the Native American princess from Peter Pan. Read more about Tiger Lily and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.

Eyla is a short, melodic feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Isla (Scottish for 'island'), Ayla (Turkish for 'moonlight' or Hebrew for 'oak tree'), or Ella (Germanic for 'fairy maiden'). The name's simplicity and soft sound have made it increasingly popular in recent years as parents seek short, distinctive names with international appeal. Eyla combines contemporary style with a timeless quality. Though still relatively uncommon in most countries, its usage has been growing gradually, especially in Scandinavian regions and among parents drawn to names with nature connections.

A name with plenty of grandeur, but a playful nickname, Wolfgang blends sophistication, wildness, and gothic imagery. While it may feel surprising in this century, it does have an allure for those who want a name associated with dark academia, Halloween, history, intellect, wolves, and art.