Past Names of the Day
AALIYAH
This Arabic name means 'going higher.' It has many different spellings
in the USA, including Aliyah (which is actually a separate Arabic name),
Alia, Aleah etc. Aaliyah's most famous bearer is Aaliyah, the R&B
singer who died tragically in a plane crash last year.
ABAGARUS: this was the name of one of seven eunuchs in the court of Ahasuerus in the Old Testament.
ABIRAD: looking for a goth name? This Armenian boys' name means 'miserable.'
ADELAIDE: Originally from a German name meaning 'noble and kind.'
ADRIC: Dr. Who fans will recognize this one! The character's name comes from an anagram of the physicist Dirac.
AFINA:- according to one website, I found, this is a Romanian girls' name meaning 'blueberry.'
AGATHA: Sounds granny-ish now, but just wait--it will be the Hannah and Emma of tomorrow!
AIMADA /iy MAH da/:- a very unusual Occitan name (spoken in S. France & NE Spain). It means 'beloved' and corresponds to the name Aimée (Amy)
AISHA: This beautiful Arabic name means 'life.' Aisha was the name of Muhammed's 3rd and favorite wife, in the Islamic tradition.
ALAIA: this beautiful girls' name means 'joy' in Basque.
ALANA (uh-LAH-na): Beautiful name that is not overused. Ali & Lana make cute nicknames.
ALASTAIR: somewhat trendy, this solid Scottish name sounds and looks noble and cool at the same time.
ALBERIC: coming from Germanic elements meaning 'elf' and 'power', Alberic is a nice unusual name. It is a French from of Aelfrich, from which we get the English name Aubrey.
ALBERT: Formerly considered an 'old guy' name, this regal name is ready for a comeback.
ALDONZA: A medieval Portuguese name-it's beautiful and unusual.
ALICE: Sick of Alison? Alice is a nice, old-fashioned alternative.
ALIENOR: a nifty medieval form of Eleanor.
ALIMAH: this beautiful Arabic girls' name means 'skilled in music'
ALIZAH: pronounced /ah LEE za/, this pretty Hebrew name means 'joy.'
ALLEGRA: forget the allergy medicine! This beautiful Italian name means 'happy.'
ALON: pronounced /ah LON/, this modern Hebrew name means 'oak tree.'
ALONDRA: This beautiful girls' name means 'lark' in Spanish.
ALTAN: this name reportedly means 'red dawn' in Turkish and is a boys' name. It is also the word for 'ravine' in Irish Gaelic (though used in several place names, it's not a person's name)
AMALIA: More exotic and daring than Amelia, this name has lots of potential.
AMANI: this lovely Arabic girls' name means 'desires; aspirations.'
AMARYLLIS: the name of a gem, and a flower, this is an unusual name with an old-fashioned flair. It is the name that shows up in many madrigals
AMINAH: A beautiful Arabic name, meaning either 'truthful' or 'young.' It was the name of the Prophet Muhammed's mother.
AMITY: Virtue names like Grace and Hope are becoming popular these days. Why not use the less common Amity? This pretty name means 'peaceful relations; friendship'
AMOUR: means 'love' in French. It's also an Armenian man's name meaning 'solid, strong, firm'
AMYAS/AMIAS: meaning 'love' in Latin, this boys' name (pronounced ah MY is) has a dreamy, old-fashioned quality.
AMYNTAS: a boys' name used in many English madrigals. It's pronounced /uh MIN tus/
ANANDA: a beautiful Sanskrit name meaning 'happiness.' Pronounced /ah NAHN da/
ANATA: this was the name of the ancient Babylonian goddess of the earth. It sounds lovely today, and works well as an environmentally-conscious name.
ANGIOLINA: my book says, 'derived from a physiological term relating to circulation.' That just cracked me up. It's kind of pretty, if you say it to yourself (in the way that Rubella and Scarletina are pretty words)
ANGUS: A nice, underused Scottish name.
ANJALI: This beautiful Indian name means 'offering.'
ANTOINE: a classic name with a Euopean feel.
ANTON: a nice, classic, underused name.
AOIBHGRÉINE /eev uh GRAIN yeh/: If your daughter can spell this ancient Irish name by the time she is 10, she can achieve anything. It means 'radiance of the sun,' And is the name of the daughter of Deirdre and Naoise in Irish legend. It's sometimes anglicized Evgren or Avgren.
AQUINNAH: Michael J. Fox has a daughter named Aquinnah. I always thought that it sounds pretty and you could call her Quinn. Aquinna is another spelling. Michael J. Fox said it means 'beautiful colors of the sea' but I don´t know if this is true or not.
ARAM: pronounced /AHR um/, this name is very popular amongst Armenians, but few others. The most famous Aram is probably the composer Khatchaturian, who wrote the classic 'Sabre Dance.'
ARAXIA: an uncommon Armenian girls' name; the name of a river.
ARCHER: with names like Gunner, Hunter, etc. climbing the charts, why not Archer?
ARCHIE: this spunky nickname could be used for Archer, following in the surname-as-first name trend.
ARI: Meaning 'lion,' this Hebrew name sounds cute on a little boy, but distinguished on a grown man.
ARIA: Italian, means 'song or melody.' Refers to a vocal solo in an opera.
ARMEN: Used extensively in Armenia, where it is connected to the country name, this name is also used in German speaking countries, where it is a form of Herman.
ARZI: this Hebrew boys' name is derived from the word for 'cedar tree.'
ASENATH: The name of a Joseph's Egyptian wife in the Old Testament, this name was very common among the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries.
ASHLEY (for a boy): it was used for boys first, why not reclaim it for them?
ASTREA: a goddess of justice who became the constellation virgo. A beautiful name /ah STRAY a/.
ASTRID: a lovely Scandinavian name meaning 'divine beauty,' it walks that fine line of being unusual, but not weird.
AUGUST: A nice, old-fashioned name. A more unusual choice than June, May, or April.
AVELINE: a medieval French name possibly meaning 'hazelnut.' This would make a nice alternative to Ava.
AVI: Starting out as a pet form of Avrahom/Avram, this nice Hebrew name is now used independently.
AVIVA: Palindromic names (the same backwards and forwards) are cool! This one means 'spring' in Hebrew.
AXEL: this spunky German name is fairly common in many Eurpoean countries, but is virtually unknown in the USA.
AYLWIN: the name of a Welsh saint; means 'noble friend.'
AYSU: according to one book I have, this girls' name means 'moon water' in Turkish.
AZANIAH: The name of a minor Old Testament character, this biblical name was uaed by the Puritans.
AZARIA: meaning 'god will help' in Hebrew, this name has the zippy Z sound in the middle.
AZIZA: Palindromic names (the same backwards and forwards) are cool! This one means 'powerful' in Arabic.
AZUBA/ AZUBAH: I found this name in my family tree of a girl born in Massachusetts in 1728. It's an Old Testament name coming from the Hebrew word for 'forsaken.'
AZURE: a deep blue color-- a bit exotic, and rigt at home with all the little Scarletts, Ambers and Rubys out there.
BADEN: with Jaden, Aidan, Braydon, Caden etc. being popular, how about Baden? It's the name of an English mathematician, as well as by the founder of the Boy Scouts.
BALTHASAR: Serious-sounding and unusual, it means 'Ba'al, protect the king,' in Phoenician. How many kids can claim they have a Phoenician name?
BARAK: means 'blessing' in Arabic and 'lightning' in Hebrew-- an all around auspicious name.
BARNABAS: a funky, underused old-fashioned name.
BARRON: sick of Aaron, Darren, Karen, and Sharon? How about Baron?
BASTIAN: From 'The Neverending Story', this is a short form of Sebastian.
BAXTER: in medieval England, this was a term for a female baker. However, as a surname today, it might make a nice first name for those who like using surnames as first names.
B'BIYA/BIBIYA: this beautiful, exotic feminine name comes to us from the Berber region of Algeria.
BECK: This is a nice, short name (in fact, it can mean 'short' in Scottish) that would make a hip choice for a child of today.
BEDE: a strong historical boy's name for those who'd prefer not to shorten their child's name
BELINDA: this seemingly-fluffy name possibly comes from an old German word for 'snake' and was used in medieval times all over Europe.
BENEDICT: Long shunned in the USA because of the Revolutionary traitor Benedict Arnold, Benedict is a rare name coming from the Latin meaning 'blessed.' It may be a good alternative to Benjamin for those looking for a less common long form of Ben.
BENEVOLENCE: a virtue name used by the Puritans in the 1600-1700s. Unlike other Puritan names like Fear or Flee-Fornication, this name might work well in the modern world!
BENONI: means 'son of sorrow' in Hebrew. A dramatic choice.
BESS: This makes a nice, old-fashioned nickname for Elizabeth. Fresher sounding than Lizzie or Beth.
BET, BETJE, BETKEN, LISKEN: /BET ya/ these are all Flemish diminutives of Elizabeth, that would make unusual nicknames, or would be nice on their own.
BETHARI: Like the name Beth but are sick of Elizabeth and Bethany? This lovely Indonesian girls' name means 'goddess.'
BETHIA: a hebrew name meaning 'daughter of god.' this name was used in medieval Scotland to translate BEATHA..
BETHIA: it's less common than Bethany, but retains that familiar Beth- sound whilst having a feminine ending
BLAISE: Most commonly associated with the brilliant French mathemitician Blaise Pascal, this name has elements of the traditional and unusual.
BLYTHE: a virtue name meaning 'happy'-- good for a child born on the sabbath day (blythe and bonny, good and gay!)
BOAZ: Short and sweet, this Old Testament name means 'strength and swiftness' in Hebrew. Bo makes a cute occasional nickname, and who wouldn't want a name ending in -z?
BORIS: this name has had a long history in Russia. Why not import it to other shores?
BOSTON: Austin is becoming way too popular, how about giving place names a Northeast spin?
BRAN: From a Celtic word meaning 'raven,' this monosyllabic treasure sounds modern and bright.
BRANNON: originally an Irish surname meaning 'son of Bran [raven]', Brannon might make a good alternative to the overused Brandon today.
BRIA: Cute & sweet. Can be used as a nickname for the popular Brianna, or as a name on it's own.
BRIALLEN: A welsh name meaning 'primrose.'
BRIAR: a lovely dramatic, fairy-tale type name.
BRIGHTON/BRYTON: it's a place name, a surname, ends in that trendy -ton...a perfect alternative to Brian/Ryan!
BRITTA: Originally a Swedish short form of Brigitte, this lovely name stands on its own. It could be a nice alternative to (or even nickname for) Brittany
BROCK: an English surname-name, coming from the word 'badger.' Just don't give him the middle name Lee!
BRYANT/BRIANT: perhaps this is a good alternative to Brian?
BRYONY: a serene victorian name, taken from the name of a plant.
CAERSINA: an 11th century Occitan (spoken in southern France) name coming from a place name.
CAL: It's a nice, all-around user friendly nickname. Use it for Calvin, Caleb, Calpurnius...whatever.
CALANTHA: an ususual Greek name meaning 'beautiful flower.'
CALEA: /kah LAY a/- called 'the dream herb,' this is a plant used to induce dreams by Central American native peoples.
CALLIOPE: pronounced /ca LY oh pee/, this was the name of the ancient Greek muse of music. She could always use Callie as a nickname.
CAMI: this cute girls' name means 'temple' in Romanian.
CAMILA: A nice classic ripe for comeback.
CAMILLE: with images of fragrant flowes, this name is ready for a comeback.
CAMOMILE: a soothing herb, and one not commonly found in the name stock, with plenty of nickname options!
CAMPBELL: a little more unusual than Cameron, but with a similar flavor. The one drawback: soup references.
CANAAN - unlike popular names like Kaydin and Kaylin, this 'kay'-sounding name has roots in the Old Testament.
CANICE: an old-fashioned Irish boys' name, this was used by 4 saints. It is pronounced /CON is/, and means 'pleasant person.'
CAPARINA: a type of butterfly, this makes a beautiful, unusual girls' name.
CARINA: the name of a constellation in the southern hemisphere, this pretty Latin name is fairly unusual.
CARMEL/CARMELA: Popular among Spanish-speakers, this lovely names comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'garden.'
CARMO: according to one book I have, this means 'vine-dresser' in Hebrew, this is a creative choice.
CAROLA: a pretty alternative to the now-popular Caroline.
CARRICK: tired of Eric & Derek? Here's a nice Irish surname and place name meaning 'stone.'
CASHLIN: an Irish place name meaning 'little castle.' Would make an offbeat choice
CASPIAN: Both a sea, and a character in the Chronicles of Narnia, this unusual name is ready for discovery.
CASSIA: the scientific name for cinnamon, this is used as a name in various forms (like KEZIAH) around the world.
CATHAL/CAHIL: Pretty common in Ireland, this name (pronounced /KAH hul/ would make a nice alternative to Conor.
CEDRIC: A nice, serious-sounding English name.
CELESTE: a nice, old-fashioned name that's ready for a comeback.
CERYS/ CARYS: /CA ris/ coming from the Welsh word for 'love', this name is popular in Wales, but fairly unknown in the USA.Spelled CHARIS, it's Greek, meaning 'kindness.'
CÉZANNE: the surname of a famous painter would make a culturally-minded, artistic alternative to Suzanne.
CHANDRA: this beautiful name means 'moon' in Sanskrit.
CHANNING: This unusual surname name could be used for either sex, although it is more popular among boys.
CHASKA: a lovely Quechua name (spoken in Peru)
CHIBIBI: /chee BEE bee/ this name means 'beautiful fat girl' in Runyankore (Uganda).
CHRISTABEL: for the suffragettes amongst us, a strong name for a strong woman!
CHRISTIANA: A flowery, feminine alternative to Christa/Christina.
CIAN or KIAN: pronounced /KEE un/ (rhymes with Ian), this ancient Irish name makes a nice name for those tired with Brian and Aidan.
CIANA: pronounced /KEE uh na/, this is a modern Irish name; a feminine form of the legendary name Cian, which means 'ancient.'
CITLALI: this lovely girls' name means 'star' in Nahuatl. It's moderately popular in Spanish:speaking communities, but farely unknown outside.
CLARA: This soft, classic name is ripe for a comeback, replacing the more tired Claire.
CLEMENT: This old-fashioned gem is ready for a comeback.
CLEMENTINE: With images of oranges, this name is ripe for a comeback. A plus is the 'Oh My Darling' song.
CLIO: the ancient Greek muse of history and epic poetry.
CLIVE: short, yet unusual and masculine. Clive Barker & Clive Owen are good namesakes
CLOVIS: an eccentric, noble-sounding name.
COLINE: /koe LEEN/ French word for 'hill.'
CONLAN: a nice, unusual Irish name that can mean either 'strong as a wolf', or 'fair; comely shape.'
CONRAD: a classic, underused germanic name.
CORA: a nice, old-fashioned alternative to Laura.
CORAL: A beautiful, underused 'gem' name.
CORDELL: has two cool nicknames: Cory and Del.
CORIN (KOREN/CORRIN etc.): This is a nice, unusual masculine name. It could be used as an alternative to Corey. I've also met girls with this name.
CORMAC: This nice Irish name is extremely rare in the USA. It might be a nice alternative to Con(n)or.
COSMO/COSIMO: popular with Greek communities, this name is ready to branch out. Coz is a nifty nickname.
CROSBY: with so many surnames being used as first names these days, why not?
CYBÈLE: French version of the Roman Mother Earth goddess, pronounced /sih BELL/.
CYNTHIA Not in its tired nickname, Cindy, but on its own, Cynthia is a beautiful classical name. Another name for the Greek goddess Artemis, 'Thia' might make a better, more modern-sounding nickname
DAFNA: a Hebrew form of Daphne, this name is popular in Israel.
DAMARIS: this New Testament name was used frequently by the Pilgrims.
DAMON: From Greek mythology, this legendary name is perfect for a modern child.
DANBY: a surname name that would be cute on a boy or a girl.
DANIA: /DAIN ya/ a city in Florida, I always thought this made a lovely name.
DANIELA: the Spanish and Portuguese form of Danielle, Daniela is a beautiful modern alternative.
DANTE: a nod to a famous writer, Dante has an exotic, timeless yet classic quality, like its meaning, 'enduring.'
DANYA: a more unusual feminine form of Daniel than Danielle.
DARIUS: means 'one who upholds goodness' in Greek.
DAVROS: Armenian name for 'taurus,' the name of a mountain. May not be appropriate for Dr. Who fans!
DAYA: 'mercy; compassion' in Sanskrit. A lovely name.
DEAN: short, sweet, and fairly uncommon these days.
DECLAN: this classic Irish name is very unusual in the USA.'
DEIO /DYE o/: This is one of the many short forms of the Welsh name Dafydd, a form of David.
DELFINA: Meaning 'from Delphi,' this pretty name has a classical flair.
DELLA: classic, simple
DEMETRIA: with roots in Classical mythology, this is a beautiful name. An interesting side-note: it's also Demi Moore's real name.)
DENALI: The Native American name for Mt. McKinley in Alaska. It would fit right in with other popular US place names like Dakota, Sierra and Cheyenne.
DEONCÉ: I'm not sure how he spells it, but I met an adorable little boy named this. It's kind of like Beyoncé crossed with Dion.
DERMOT: popular in Ireland, this name is fairly uncommon in the USA
DERVILA/ DERVLA: Pronounced /DER vah la/ , these are anglicizations of the Irish name Deirbhile. This lovely girls' name means 'daughter of a poet' and was also the name of a 6th-century saint. Its most famous modern bearer is perhaps Dervla Murphy, the Irish author whose name was also allagedly inspired by her godfather, Eamon deValera, former president of Ireland.
DESTA: a lovely Ethiopian girls' name. It means 'happiness'
DEVLIN: An Irish surname that would fit in with all the little Kennedys and Ryans out there.
DEVORAH: the Hebrew form of Deborah, meaning 'bee.' A beautiful name, and doesn't have the overused nickname, Debby.
DEWEY: popular at the turn of the 20th century, who wouldn't want to be named for a library system still used in elementary schools all over?
DEYANIRA: This was the name of Hercules' wife in Greek mythology. Meaning 'forceful killer,' this pretty name is most popular among Spanish-speaking populations in the USA.
DIMA: in Arabic, this beautiful girls' name means 'torrential rain,' which is a blessing in a dry climate.
DINAH: meaning 'judged' or 'vindicated' in Hebrew, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah in the bible. She also is the main character of Anita Diamant's novel, The Red Tent.
DOLI: according to one book I have, this is the Lakota word for 'bluebird.' I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it still sounds lovely.
DORA: this pretty old-fashioned name is ripe for resurrection.
DORCAS: popular with the Puritans, this biblical name means 'gazelle.' I've known a few Dorcases in my life, and they don't take crud from anybody! Naming a daughter Dorcas is kind of like having a 'Boy Named Sue'...
DORETHA: the one I knew pronounced it /dar ATE a/, which I always thought was really pretty.
DORIAN: A literary name invented by Oscar Wilde.
DORIS: Think Doris Day. This classy Greek mythological name will be all the rage again in 10 years.
DOUGAL: This unusual name, meaning 'dark foreigner' in Gaelic, would make a good alteranive to Douglas.
DRAGO: a Croatian, Slovenian and Serbian name meaning 'precious.' a dramatic choice, invoking images of dragons in English.
DREDA: the name of the first African-American woman elected to a state legislature
DRUSILLA: it may remind you of Cinderella's evil stepsister, but say it. It has a lovely sound. Remember, her other stepsister was Anastasia, which sounds fine!
DRYSI: /DROO see/ in Welsh, this word means 'briars.' It's not used as a name, but there are many other Welsh nature words out there used as names; this one would fit right in.
DUFF/ DUFFY: a pair of Irish surnames meaning 'black', these would make a modern-sounding choice.
DULCIE: meaning 'sweet' in Latin, this cute girls' name was used in the Victorian era and might be ready for a comeback.
DURAND/DURANT: a surname which was also used as a man's name in the medieval Occitan region of France.
DYMPHNA: the patron saint of crazy people and epileptics, this Irish name is almost unheard of in the USA.
EAMON: The Irish form of Edmund, this name would fit right in with all of the other long 'a' names out there (like Aidan, Braydon, Caden etc.)
EBENEZER: well, why not? He definitely won't haveclassmates with the same name! It means 'stone of help' in Hebrew.
EBREL: Cornish for the month of April. This would make a lovely, unusula choice.
EDITH: Edie is an awesome nickname. Just watch, Edith will be the next old-lady-chic name!
EDMUND: a nod to the little brother in the 'Narnia' series-- plus, Ned is an awesome nickname.
EDMUND: not very popular now, but should make a comeback. Brings to mind the Narnia books.
EDNA: may sound stuffy now, but in 10 years, it will be the next Emma. Eddi is an adorable nickname.
EDWARD: This classic English name is kind of bland when you use the nickname Ed, but Ned is a sweet, unusual pet form. Edward is regal and serious when used in full..
EIRA: in Welsh, this is the word for 'snow.' Pronounced /AY ra/, it is used as a girls' name.
ELAM: /EE lum/ an Old Testament name last frequently used by the Puritans. Ready for a comeback
ELI: more unusual than Elijah, this is a nice, simple name.
ELIAM: /eh LYE um/ - a very rare Old Testament name, Eliam would fit right in with the Elijahs and Isaiahs out there.
ELIAN: /el lee ON/ or /ELL ee un/- a lovely boys' name in a similar vein as Julian and Elliot. It is derived from Helios, the ancient Greek sun god.
ELIANE/ELIANA: feminine forms of Elian, this pair of beautiful feminine names is derived from Helios, the ancient Greek sun god.
ELIO: A Portuguese form of Elijah, this short name has a lot of energy.
ELISE: This French form of Elisabeth is a nice, underused classic.
ELISEO: An Italian and Spanish form of Elisha.
ELLERY: A nice unisex surname-name; this would make a nice alternative to Emily.
ELLIS: A nice unisex surname, name. Just be sure your last name isn't Dee!
ELLIS: simple, uncommon, nice
ELMER: forget the glue references and the stodgy old connotions. It means 'noble and famous'-- You'd definitely be the first one on your block to revive this one.
ÉLODIE a French form of a Spanish name meaning 'foreign riches,' Elodie is very popular in France.
ELSIE: this sweet, old-fashioned pet form of Elizabeth is sounding hip and fresh again, much more so than Lizzie or Beth.
ELSPETH: this Scottish form of Elizabeth is an unusual beauty. Elsie & Ellie are cute nicknames.
EMELINE: a nice old-fashioned alternative to Emma and Emily.
EMERALD: I think it´s pretty and a nice alternative to Emma and Emily and she could be called Emmie for short.
EMERY: for a girl or a boy, this name sounds modern enough, but with an old-fashioned flair.
EMILIO: The -o ending gives this name a lot of energy.
EMLYN: a Welsh boys' name that was very popular in the 1900s. It may be ready for a comeback.
EMRE: a Turkish boys' name meaning 'friend.' It is pronounced like something between /EM ray/ and /EM ree/
EMRYS: a Welsh form of Ambrose, this name was popular in 20th-century Wales, but unheard of int he USA.
ESMERALDA: a lovely literary name-- unusual, flowing, and provides the nickname Ellie that everyone is into these days!
ESMIRA: this beautiful exotic girls' name comes from Azerbaijan.
ESTELLIE: Pronounced /ESS teh lee/, this was the name of a cool teacher I had once. '
ESTRELLA: a beautiful name, meaning 'star.'
EUDOCIA/ EUDOXIA: from Ancient Greek, this name means 'good fame.' Eu- names are hopelessly out of fashion at the moment, but I think this one has a lot of old-lady chic.
EULALIA: EU names aren't very stylish now, but they'll come around! This lovely name is worn by the patron saint of Barcelona.
EUNICE: it may sound stuffy to you now, but it will be the Hannah and Isabel of tomorrow!
EVANDER: Holyfield aside, this name is a masculine, unusual name. It has a lot of history-- it was a Roman hero, as well as being used in Scotland as a 'translation' of the native name Iomhar. It would make a good alternative to Alexander or Evan.
EVENY: This is an anglicization of Aibhne, a rare Irish name whose origins are so ancient, the meaning has been lost.
EVGREN: /EV gren/- a completely obscure anglicization of an Irish girls' name meaning 'radiance of the sun.'
EXPERIENCE: A virtue name common among Puritans in the 1600-1700s. Is it too early for a revival?
FABIAN: this name means 'bean farmer.' A little Fabian would fit in with all the Damians and Darians out there.
FABIANA: this name is FAB! (and it means 'bean grower' to boot)
FALKNER/FAULKNER: With all the last-names-as-first-names these days (Taylor, Tyler and friends) why not go for this one with literary overtones? As a name, it means 'trainer of falcons.'
FAOILTIARNA: /fweel TEE uhr na/ This is a very old and fairly rare Irish girls' name meaning 'wolf lord.'
FARRELL: not far off from names like Daryl, Carol and Sheryl (sometimes rhymes with Carl)-- this is a nice, Irish last name that could be used for a boy or a girl.
FEAR: Believe it or not, this 'virtue' name was fairly common among the Puritans for girls in the 1600s.
FEAR: this may not be for everyone, but it was a fairly common name for girls among the Puritans and the Pilgrims.
FELIX: This spunky name is another moldy-oldy that's ready for a comeback.
FENELLA- /fen ELL a/ this is an anglicization of the Gaelic name Fionnghuala, which means 'white shoulders.' The form Fenella is used mainly in Scotland.
FERN: a lovely plant, also the name of the little girl in Charlotte's Web.
FESTUS: Once used as an English equivalent of the Irish name Fearghus (Fergus), this name is festive, if nothing else!
FFION: /FEE on/ This lovely girls' name is very popular in Wales. It's the word for the foxglove flower.
FIDANKA: a lovely Bulgarian girls' name meaning 'young tree; sapling.'
FIERA: means 'proud' in Esperanto. How many people can say they have an Esperanto name?
FINBAR: a good, solid Irish name meaning 'fair-haired'
FINIAN: if you like Finn but dislike Finlay/Finley, here's an alternative 'long' version to try
FINN: Short, sweet, to the point, and the name of an ancient Irish hero as well.
FINTAN: A nice, unusual Irish name.
FIONNUALA: /fin NOO uh la/ or /fyun YOO uh la/ a lovely old Gaelic name meaning 'white shoulders.'
FIORELLA: Italian for 'little flower.' A pretty, unusual name.
FIORENZA: Italian for Florence, this name has a lovely sound.
FISHL: in yiddish, this is a dimiutive of the word for 'fish.' It is also found as FISHKE.
FITZWILLIAM: ok, this name is a bit over-the-top. It was the first name of the character Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Predudice.' He's a bit of an over-the-top character, so I guess it fits!
FLANNAN: a good Irish name meaning 'firery red'.
FLANNERY: an Irish surname meaning 'fiery red,' this name could be a nod to American author Flannery O'Connor.
FLAVIAN: meaning 'golden; yellow-haired', this is an unusual, literary-sounding name.
FLEUR: French for 'flower,' this makes a lovely name in English as well.
FLORA: Greek, means 'flower.' Wife of Zephyros and goddess of flowers and spring.
FLORENCE: a city in Italy, and a Medieval French form of a Latin name meaning 'blossoming', what's not to like about Florence? (oh, except maybe the nickname Flo)
FLORIAN: This old-fashioned Latin name is perfect for a boy, whether you are a big Kraftwerk fan or not.
FRANCA: an Italian pet form of FRANCESCA. beautiful, and Frankie is a cute nickname.
FRANKIE: for a girl or a boy, this is a cute nickname. A plus if you like the downbeat song 'Frankie Teardrop' by Suicide.
FREELOVE: This name was fairly common among the Puritans in the 1500s-1600s. Fairly unknown since then, surprisingly, it wasn't resurrected by hippies in the 1960s-1970s!
FRITZI: German pet form of Friederike; this name is so hopelessly cute how could you not love it?
FUCHSIA: a pink climbing flower named for Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German herbalist. This name has also come to mean a shade of hot pink. With all the flower names (Lily, Rose etc.) and color names (Indigo, Cerise) used as names, why not add Fuchsia to the mix?
GADIEL: a biblical name meaning 'god is my good fortune.' extremely rare these days, this would make a great name, fitting in with all the Gabriels and Nathaniels out there.
GALANG: means 'to assemble' in Indonesian. Used for boys.
GALATEA: dramatic name from Greek mythology. She was an alabaster statue brought to life by Aphrodite.
GALEN /GAY lun/: with names like Kaylin, Maylin etc. being popular, how about this name of an ancient Greek physician?
GALINA This name is very popular in Russia. It has its traditional nickname, Galya, but you could also use others, such as Gali (Hebrew for 'wave'), or Lina.
GAMALIEL: /guh MAH lee el/ an Old Testament name meaning 'god rewards with good.' It was the middle name of US president Harding.
GARDENIA: With Jasmine, Rose and Lily climbing the charts, why not this lovely alternative?
GARETH: an Arthurian legend name meaning 'old man.'
GAVIN: This formerly stuffy-sounding name is ready for a comeback.
GAVRILA: the equivalent of Gabrielle/Gabriela used in many languages, this is also the original Hebrew form.
GEMMA: Great alternative to Krystal & Jewel. What could be better than being named after a sparkling gem?
GENESSEE: a home-grown name, the name of several towns across the USA. Makes a nice alternative to Jennifer. It rhymes with Tennessee.
GENEVIEVE: A classic, elegant name. Jenna with more style.
GENTIAN: a beautiful, unusual flower name.
GENYA: with a hard G (like in 'grass' not like 'gene'), this is a nickname for the lovely Russian name Yevgyenya (the form of Eugenia).
GERARD: popular in many European languages, this name is almost unheard of in the USA.
GERMÁN: Pronounced /hayr MON/, this elegant Spanish name comes from the Latin meaning 'brother.'
GERSHON: a cool Hebrew name meaning 'exiled' or 'stranger.'
GIDEON: strong sounding and it even ends in -on for those trendy people among us.
GILBY: for either gender, but I think this sounds best on a boy. Cute for a child, but he could be called Gil when he got older.
GILES/GILLES: whether you pronounce this the French way /ZHEEL/ or the English way /JILES/, it's a creative, aristocratic sounding name.
GILFAETHWY: the name of a legendary Welsh hero. It is pronounced something like /gil FYTH oo ee/
GILLIAN: This name is most often pronounced with a hard 'g' in the UK, and with a soft 'g' (like Jillian) in the USA. Either way, it might make a pretty alternative to Julia.
GILLON: A Scottish name, would make a nice alternative to Dylan.
GISELE: pronounced /zhee SELL/ in French, and /GEEZ uh la/ in German, this pretty old Norse name means 'noble.'
GLEB: a man's name in Russian, this was the name of a 10th century saint.
GLYNIS: this fairly modern Welsh girls' name means 'valley.' Girls' names ending with -a are getting old [Emma, Ella, Isabella]-- time for a new ending, and -s is a nice, soft sound.
GODELIVA: a Spanish form of Godiva, this beautiful name is pronounced /go day LEE ba/ and means 'god's gift.'
GRETA:- this German short form of Margareta makes a lovely name on its own with old world charm.
GRETEL/ GRETL: aside from Hansel's sister and the Sound of Music, this lovely Austrian name works as both a short form of Margaret and on its own.
GRIM:- this name, used by Vikings means 'one who wears a mask.' It may not be for everyone, but it would work on the right kid!
GURO: a Norwegian short form of Gudrun, which means 'secret lore of the gods.'
GUTHRIE: Woody Guthrie was one of the most influential US folk singers/collectors. Guthrie is a neat surname-name')
GUY: short, sweet, masculine, no-nonsense... the ultimate guys' name!
GWENITH: meaning 'wheat' in Welsh, this pretty girls' name is also used as a poetic word meaning 'favorite'.
HADIL: this soft-sounding Arabic girls' name means 'cooing of doves.'
HADLEY: meaning 'heather field,' this name could be used for either a boy or a girl.
HAFSA: This unusual name means either 'brooding hen' or 'young lioness' in Arabic. This was the name of the daughter of Umar, the second caliph, and a wife of Muhammad.
HALA: this beautiful Arabic girl's name means 'a halo around the moon.'
HALCYON: the Greek word for 'kingfisher', a handsome bird; can easily be shortened to Hal
HAMISH: /HAY mish/- the architypal Scottish name, it also means 'homey' in Yiddish.
HANK: the world could use a few more kids named Hank. Not Henry; there are enough of those. Just Hank.
HARISH: means 'lord of monkeys' in Sanskrit. Another name of the god Vishnu.
HARRIET: This formerly stuffy name is becoming cutting-edge again. Who can resist the adorable nickname Hattie?
HARRY: Harry Potter has made this 'old guy' name sound young again.
HARSH: 46 boys were named this in 1999. I suspect it's a foreign name (maybe a form of the Sanskrit Harish?), but in English, if you want a no-nonsense name--this is it!
HAVILAH: Hebrew, 'stretch of sand' Place name in the bible.
HAWKEN/HAWKINS: with all the surnames being used as first names out there, why not this one?
HAZEL: more unusual than Heather or Holly, this pretty botanical name is ripe for a comeback.
HEBE - short but sweet, and with good mythological history behind it
HECTOR: a classical Greek name used in many European languages. It doesn't get much manlier than this.
HELENA: this pretty latinate form of Helen is overdue for a comeback.
HENNING: this is lovely, old-fashioned Swedish name, short for Henrik or Johannes.
HENRIETTA: a nice, old-fashioned girls' name. Netty, Hetty and Hattie make lovely nicknames.
HENRY This royal name is becoming hip again, after years of being an 'old guy' name. Hank is kind of a dorky nickname that might suit the right, daring child.
HERMIONE: Harry Potter did wonders for bringing this beautiful, classic name into the public sphere.
HERSHEL: this soft Yiddish name comes from the Hebrew word for 'deer.' Heshel and Heshi are other forms.
HESTER: This old-fashioned name will be tomorrow's Emma and Hannah. Just wait.
HESTIA/ESTIA: The name of the ancient Greek goddess of the hearth.
HILARIO/Ilario pronounced /ee LAHR ee o/, this Spanish name means 'cheerful.' Ilario is the Italian form.
HOBART: If you like the nickname Bart, but think Bartholemew is too long, Hobart works.
HOLGER: (with a hard 'g')- a good no-nonsense Viking name meaning 'powerful with a spear.'
HOLLAND: for either gender, this gentle place name evoking images of windmills and tulips, sounds serious, yet simple.
HONORÉ: Used for boys, this is the French form of the Latin Honoratus, which means 'honor.'
HROTHGAR: Used in 'Beowulf,' the modern form of this Anglo-Saxon name is Roger. Hrothgar sounds much cooler!
HUGO: be the first on your block to resurrect this historic boys' name!
HUMILITY: another name used by the Pilgrims. What better way to ensure that your daughter will grow up to be a diva than name her Humility?
HUMPHREY: brings to mind Humphrey Bogart. An eccentric classic that would work well today.
HYACINTH: this was a man's name in Greek mythology, and in medieval Europe. However, it has been used for girls since the Victorian era when flower names became fashionable for girls.
IAGO: this is a nifty old Spanish form of James. Forget the Shakespearean character; this is a cool name!
IANTHE: a soft, quiet name meaning 'violet' in Greek. It was the name of the poet Shelley's daughter .
ICHBOD: I can guarantee that no other kid in Ichabod's school would have the same name!
IDA: 'sweet as apple cider' as the old song goes. A pretty old name ready for a comeback.
IDRIYA: this modern Israeli name means 'duck' in Hebrew.
IGNACIO: A Spanish form of Ignatius, which means 'fire.' Iggy is a cute nickname.
ILO: This was the name of the wife of Henry Agard Wallace, Vice President under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I can't find any information on the name, but it sounds cool!
ILONA: meaning 'oak tree,' this is a beautiful modern Hebrew name.
ILSE: If you pronounce it /EEL sa/ it's a lovely name with European flair.
ILYA: the Russian form of Elijah, this name would be an unusual, soft-sounding, and somewhat exotic choice.
IMANI: this beautiful name means 'faith' in Swahili.
INARA: the name of a clever Hittite goddess-- she was a protector of wild animals.
INARI: this is the name of a Shinto god in Japanese.
INGA/INGRID: a pair of lovely, serene-sounding Scandinavian names.
INGMAR: brings to mind its most famous bearer, the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman-- A subtly masculine name.
IPHIGENIA: /if uh jen NYE a/ this pretty name from Greek mythology is definitely uncommon.
IRINA: This name is very popular in Russia, where it is a form of Irene.
IRIS: Unlike Rose and Lily, Iris is one flower name that hasn't hit the mainstream again yet. In Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger of the gods, who traveled from Mt. Olympus to earth on the rainbow.
ISAI: /ee sah ee/ - this name means 'music; melody' in Tamil (spoken in India & Sri Lanka).
ISKENDER: This is the Turkish form of Alexander. It sounds cool and exotic to English-speakers without being weird or unpronounceable.
ISLA: Scottish, comes from the island of Scotland called Islay. Pronounced EYE-la (like Island)
ISOLDE/ISEULT: an Arthurian name with lots of class.
ISTVÁN: /EESHT von/- the hungarian form of Stephen. Very unusual outside Hungary!
IVY: this lovely vine was first coined as a name in the nature-name happy Victorian era. An ancient symbol of fertility (ivy stays green all year round), this name is definitely ready for a comeback.
JABEZ: A nice, old-fashioned Old Testament name that sounds funky today. How many kids do you know have names that end in Z?
JACIÁN: The Spanish form of Jason, this would make a nice alternative. Pronounced /hah see AHN/
JAGDISH: a nice Sanskrit name meaning, 'ruler of the world.
JAGO: a Cornish form of Jacob. It's energetic on its own, or as a nickname.
JAMIE: for a boy, this is a sweet nickname for James. Forget Jim, call him Jamie.
JANAKI Pronounced /JON uh kee/, this beautiful name is used by Seeta, wife of the Hindu god Rama.
JANINA: Pretty and she could be called Nina for short.
JANO: an Armenian boys' name meaning 'the soul, which is beloved.' Short and sweet, but with the spunky -o ending adding energy.
JANSEN: 'nice shooting, Jansen.' a good name for Star Wars geeks everywhere.
JANUARY: the name of this month was derived from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, doorways, halls, and other transitions. Hey, if April, May, August and June can be names, why not January?
JARETH: you may remember this as the name of the Goblin King (played by David Bowie) in Labyrinth. An unusual, but not too freakish choice.
JARO: a short, sweet, peppy boys' name. Rhymes with Arrow.
JAROMIR/YAROMIR: this lovely slavic name combines the words 'radiant' and 'peace.'
JARRET: Unusual, yet not weird. This is a nice, masculine name that would work well for a child or adult.
JARVIS: a nice, unusual name that's ready for a comeback.
JAVAN: an Old Testament name meaning 'Greece.' Sometimes this name is used to refer to Greece as well.
JAYAN: a Sanskrit boys' name meaning 'victorious.' Would be right at home with all the Jasons, Jacob, Jayden, Jaylens etc.
JAYANT/ JAYANTI: these are masculine and feminine versions of a sanskrit name meaning 'victorious.'
JEREMIAH: Less common than Jeremy, this is a nice Biblical classic.
JERSEY: an island off the coast of England. A type of cow. A US state. A type of pullover. A darn cute name!
JERUSHA: An unusual biblical name.
JESSAMY: perhaps derived from the medieval form of the word 'jasmine', this is a lovely girls' name.
JOACHIM: this biblical name is used in just about every single European language except English.
JOAN: once extremely popular, this English feminine form of John has been relegated to the 'unfashionable' pile. We think it still has a lot of life left (but not the nickname Joanie!)
JOCKUM: this is a Danish form of Joachim. It sounds a bit funny in English, but that's part of its charm.
JOELY: this modern name could be the feminine of Joel (biblical; 'Yahweh is good') or it could be a variant spelling of Jolie. Either way, it's feminine and sassy.
JOLYON: a medieval form of Julian. A nice-sounding, unusual choice.
JONAS: A Greek form of the Hebrew Jonah ('dove'), Jonas is more unusual.
JONTY: this is a really cute and unusual (at least in the USA) nickname for Jonathan.
JOPLIN: whether you're a fan of Janis or Scott, this surname makes a spunky, musical-sounding name.
JORINDA: I remember reading a fairy tale about a little girl named Jorinda and her brother Joringel. I've liked the name ever since.
JORY: a Cornish form of George.
JORY: this ambigender name is cute and energetic on either a boy or a girl.
JOSEPHINE: a beautiful, classic feminine name.
JOSETTE: a very cute French feminine form of Joseph. Josie is an adorable short form.
JOSS: this name was used for boys in medieval England, but now many girls use it as a short form of Jocelyn. Jocelyn itself was used exclusively for boys in previous eras.
JOTHAM- this rare Old Testament name means 'Jehovah is perfect.'
JUDAH: a nice, underused Old Testament name.
JUDE: This is a nice, old-fashioned, underused (in the USA) name. Unfortunately, a child named Jude would have to get used to hearing 'Hey Jude!' a lot in life.
JUDSON: an unusual alternative to Justin, Jud makes a cute nickname.
JULES: French form of Julius, makes an upbeat, old-fashioned choice.
JUNE: brings to mind lovely warm days-- a nice old-fashioned name in need of rescuing from the stuffy closet.
JUNO: Roman name of the goddess Hera, this would make a spunky choice. It was also used to 'translate' the Irish name Una in past centuries.
KAEDE: /kah eh deh/ this lovely Japanese girls' name means 'maple leaf.'
KAI: Popular in Germany, this name (pronounced /KYE/) might make a good alternative to Kyle/Ty/Skylar.
KAILUA: /kah ee LOO a/ a city in Hawaii that would make a lovely name.
KAISER: a K name that fits right in with Kyler, Ryder etc. and friends. He could always use the cool nickname Kai.
KALIYA: (kah LEE a) a nice alternative to the Kaylee/Kayla continuum
KALYANI: This beautiful Sanskrit name isn't used much in the USA.
KAMALA: meaning 'lotus flower,' this name is used for both girls and boys in India. (pron. something like /KAHM ah la/)
KAMANDA: a male name of a 'rishi' (seer) in Hinduism.
KAMYA: a beautiful Hindu name meaning 'capable.'
KARIZA: Pronounced /kah REE za/ , this name is zippy, yet exotic sounding.
KARUNA: meaning 'merciful' in Sanskrit, this is a beautiful, feminine name.
KATIA (also spelled KATYA, KATJA, KAATJE etc.): no matter how you spell it, this is a lovely form of Katherine/Katarina that is used in many European countries.
KATIUSHKA/KATYUSHKA: /cot YOUSH ka/ sick of Katelyn/Katherine/Kathleen? Here's an alternative!
KATRIEL: a lovely, masculine Hebrew name meaning, 'crown of the lord.'
KATTO: /KAH to/ this boys' name is given to the second born of twins among both the Runyankore and Rootoro of Uganda.
KAVERI: one of the 7 sacred rivers in India.
KAVI: a lovely Sanskrit boys' name meaning 'poet.'
KEELIN: an Irish name meaning 'fair and slender.' A nice, authentic alternative to the Katelyn/Kaylin continuum
KELLAN/KELLIN: modern-sounding and unisex, without sounding too contrived.
KELYN: /KEL un/ Cornish for 'holly,' this name could be seen as a more updated-sounding version of Kelly.
KENZA: This beautiful name is from Arabic meaning 'treasure.' A Kenza would fit right in amongst all the Mackenzie/Kenzie/Mckenna/Kennas out there.
KERENSA: this lovely Cornish name is said to mean 'love.'
KERR: a Scottish surname that would make a good first name. It's not so far off of other Scottish surnames used as first names, such as Keith and Kirk
KETURAH: pronounced keh-TOOR-ah, this beautiful name is biblical but uncommon.
KEYNA: /KAY na/ a Cornish name meaning 'beautiful.' The name of a 6th century Cornish saint.
KHADIJAH: This beautiful Arabic name means 'premature child.' The name of the Prophet Muhammad's first wife, she was the first convert to Islam. She was also the mother of all of his children. Khadijah is probably best known for being the character Queen Latifah plays on Living Single.
KHRSROVITOUKHD: In Armenian, this means 'daughter of renown' and was the name of an Armenian saint. A child named this would *definitely* be the only one in her school with that name!
KILIAN: underused Irish name, for those sick of Conor and Aidan.
KIRA: from a Persian word meaning, perhaps, 'sun.' It's the feminine form of Cyrus. It's fairly common in Russia
KIYA: pronounced /KEE yah/, this was the name of King Tut's mother.
KLEMENS: this is the Polish form of Clement; the pet form is KLIMKO. Used for boys.
KNAR: An Armenian girls' name that means 'harp.' A familiar form is KNARIG.
KSENIA: This Russian form of Xenia is an exotic, unusual, modern-sounding name.
KYALIGONZA /k'yal ee GONE za/: a name from Uganda which means 'man of god.'
KYLLIKKI: I think this is pronounced something like /KOO lee kee/. It's a Finnish woman's name that comes from an ancient saga.
LACHLAN: this Scottish surname is becoming really trendy for boys in Australia, though it's practically unheard of in the USA.
LAETITIA: /lay TEE tsee uh/ or /leh TISH a/ an aristocratic English name that's fairly unknown in the USA. It means 'happiness' in Latin. Letty is a cute short form.
LALA: this pretty name means 'tulip' in Bulgarian.
LALAZAR: used in Persian and Armenian for boys, it means 'garden of tulips.'
LALITA: this lovely Sanskrit name means 'playful; charming.' It's similar to Lolita, but without the literary stigma attached!
LANGSTON: Surnames are being used as first names all over the place now. This is a nice southern-sounding name.
LAURIE: For a boy, with a namesake in <i>Little Women</i>, this would be adorable.
LAVANYA: in Sanskrit, this means 'beauty; loveliness.'
LAVERNA: the Roman goddess of thieves and imposters. Would make a bold, unusual choice!
LAVINIA: a Roman name full of Victorian charm. Ready for a comeback.
LEDA: Although the name will probably forever attached to the Greek myth, Leda is a beautiful, simple name.
LEDA: Despite the mythological character, this name would make a beautiful, unusual choice.
LEILANI: this beautiful name means 'heavenly flowers' in Hawaiian.
LENNOX: Names with X's in them just always sound cool. This name fits in with both surname and place name trends as well.
LEO Meaning 'lion' in Latin, this spunky name was used by popes.
LEONIE: popular for baby girls in Germany, this pretty European name would work well with English-speaking children as well.
LEONOR/LIANOR: Used in medieval Portugual, and modern-day Spanish speaking countries, this is a beautiful classic.
LEOPOLD: the name of W.A. Mozart's dad, Leo makes a spunky nickname.
LEROY: it means 'the king.' Enough said!
LESTER: a long-forgotten 'stuffy' name, this one is ready for a comeback. When it comes to nicknames, Les is more! (har har)
LETTICE: this is really a name. Seriously. It's actually pronounced /leh TEECE/ and is a medieval English form of the Latin name Laetitia, which means 'happiness.'
LIADAN: This beautiful, ancient Irish name means 'grey lady.'.
LIESE: /LEE za/ a German short form of Elisabeth, would work as a nice alternative to Lisa/Alisa etc.
LIETTE: This pretty French name was popular in Québèc in the 60s, but unheard of in the USA.
LILAC: an underused flower name
LINDEN: The name of a tree, this would make a nice name for either gender.
LINNET: a type of songbird. A beautiful name.
LINUS: a mythological Greek musician and a pope, this name is pretty unused in the USA. With 'old guy' names like Oscar and Oliver climbing the charts, Linus will be right at home! A plus, for Linux users as well.
LIOR, LIORA: a beautiful modern Hebrew girls' name meaning 'light.'
LIRIA: a rare Spanish name meaning 'lyre'- the ancient Greek stringed instrument.
LIRIOPE: A fountain-nymph, and the mother of Narcissus in Greek mythology, this is also a species of Asian flower.
LISE: a form of Elisabeth, this would make a more Eurocentric and unusual alternative to Lisa.
LISELOTTE: /leez uh LOTT ah/-- a German name combining 'Lis' from 'Elisabeth' and 'lotte' from 'charlotte.' Lottie and Lise are nice diminutives. Lilo is another one.
LISETTE: This French pet form of Elisabeth may sound out-of-date because of it's 'ette' ending, but we think this a a soft, pretty underused name. It is most popular among Spanish speaking populations in the USA, where it is also found in the spellings Liset, Liseth, etc.
LIV: This simple, dynamic name is Swedish for 'life.' It can be used by itself or as a short form of Olivia or Livia.
LOKI: the mischievous Norse god would make a cool, unusual choice.
LOMAN/LONAN: a couple of old Irish names--Loman was the nephew of St. Patrick, Loman means 'blackbird.'
LORNA: this literary name was invented by the Scottish author R.D. Blackmore for his novel 'Lorna Doone'.
LOUISA: After a couple of generations of slumber, Louisa is probably ready to replace the now wheezier sounding Louise.
LOVEDAY: an old-fashioned English name with good connotations
LUCAN: an Irish place name, a little Lucan would feel right at home with all the Lukes and Lucases out there.
LUCIAN: A serene, old-fashioned name meaning 'light'.
LUCIENNE: I predict that Lucy will be the next Emily-- this lovely French name makes a distinguished long form.
LUCIFER: Unappreciated! Unloved! Scorned and shunned for its darker connections while its sweetness and light go unseen! C'mon, this name rocks. And it's fun to tell people you plan to name your child Lucifer.
LUCINE: sick of Lucy? Use Lucine, a lovely Armenian name meaning 'moon.'
LUKA: This is the Slavic form of Lucas/Luke. It may sound feminine because of the 'a' ending to English-speaking ears, but it is a masculine name. One downside that Suzanne Vega song. People tell me that they automatically associate this name with domestic violence because of the song!
LUPIN: a lovely blue wildflower. With all the other flower names out there (Lily, Daisy, Rose), why not?
LURANDA: I found this name belonging to an ancestor in my family tree in the 1800s. It has a sort of down-home charm to it. It's definitely unusual.
MACARIO: this masculine Spanish name comes from a Greek word meaning 'blessed; fortunate.'
MADOC: The name of a legendary Welsh prince.
MAGNUS: Want a masculine name? Forget Hunter, Gunnar and Wayne. Magnus is where it's AT!
MAISIE: a cute nickname for Margaret, Mary, or anything else you can think of.
MAISIE: this started out as a pet form of Mary, it would be cute on its own.
MALACHY: pronounced /MAL uh kee/, this old Irish name is spelled Maelsheachlainn in Gaelic. You'd probably want to go with Malachy! Mal is a great nickname.
MALIK: This nice Arabic name is getting more popular, but still not hugely so.
MANON - This is a popular name in France and in Germany. It is a pet form of Marie.
MARANTHA/MARANTA: from Amaranthe/Amarantha, the name of a beautiful flower whose beauty, according to Greek mythology, never fades.
MARCELA: This pretty name is a Spanish feminine form of Marcel. It comes from Mars, the Greek god of war. Both Marcella and Marcelina, another form, were the names of Catholic saints.
MARCH: /MARKH/ in Welsh, this is a boys' name stemming from the word for 'horse.'
MARCO: An Italian form of Mark, this name has a lot of energy with its 'o' ending. It might make a more unusual alternative to Mark.
MARCUS: A nice, more usual name than Mark. This name has a lot of history and class.
MAREN: used in Germany and other European countries, this pretty name would fit in with all the Karens and Sharons.
MARINA: This name is most often used in Russia, although it is Latin in origin. It is a feminine form of Marinus, which may be related to the Latin marinus meaning 'of the sea.'
MARIO: The quintissential Italian name, this classic name is ready for wider use.
MARIS: used occasionally by Catholics as a shortening of 'Stella Maris' ('star of the sea' in Latin), this is a nice, unusual name.
MARIUS: stemming from Mars, the Roman god of war, this classic name was used in 'Les Miserables.' It's currently popular in several European countries.
MARLO: sick of Maggie, Peggy, and Meg? Marlo makes a spunky, unusual nickname for Margaret.
MARMADUKE: anglicized version of the Irish Mael Maedeóg ('servant of St. Madog'), a kid with this distinguished-sounding name could always go by Duke.
MATEO: Spanish form of Matthew, a nice alternative.
MATTHIAS: a nice biblical name, a good alternative to the hyper-popular Matthew.
MAUD(e): plain, simple, old-fashioned. This medieval English form of Matilda is ready for a comeback.
MAXIMO: Latin for 'greatest'-- he could always go by Max, if he thought it was too weird.'
MELANIA: more exotic sounding than Melanie, this Latin form would make a more unusual choice.
MELATI: this lovely name means 'jasmine flower' in Indonesian.
MELIA: (meh LEE ah) a nymph in Greek mythology. A cool name that would fit in with the Kaliyas and Aliyas of the world.
MELVIN: be the first one on your block to bring this one back!
MERCER: a good surname-name, this is softer than some of the others out there. Used for either a girl or a boy, you could use the short forms Mercy or Murray.
MERCY: An unusual, virtuous choice.
MERIC: /mer EEK/ a pretty Occitan name (spoken in S. France & NE Spain). It's short for AIMERIC /iy mer EEK/ and means 'beloved.' It corresponds to the name Aimée (Amy)
MERSEY: the river that runs through Liverpool, England. Might be a cute name for the right Beatles fan.
MILO: This short, spunky name might make a nice alternative (or a nickname) for the hyper-popular Michael.
MILTON: An old fogey name now, but could be the hot name of tomorrow! Brings to mind the poet.
MIREIA: Pronounced /mee RAY a/, this beautiful literary Spanish name means 'to admire.'
MIRKO: this is a Croatian pet form of Miroslav. It is an upbeat unusual choice in English-speaking places.
MIRSADA: pronounced /mir SAH da/, this pretty Croatian name is almost unheard of in English-speaking countries.
MITZI: German pet form of Maria; this name is adorable, although it's currently more popular for small dogs than for humans.
MIYUKI: This Japanese name means 'beautiful happiness.'
MIZUKI: this lovely Japanese girls' name can mean 'beauty of the moon.'
MOE: Forget Jeb, Jack, and Ben. If you want a short name, Moe is it!
MORAY: Scottish place name, would make a nice name, despite the eel connotations
MORDECHAI /MORDECAI: like many names in the Old Testament, this one is of Persian origin, meaning 'devotee of the god Marduk.'
MORIA: this name of a mountain range in Middle Earth would work well for Tolkien fanatics who don't want to scar their kids for life with names like Eowyn and Aragorn!
MORRIS: it reminds me of big orange cats and 60's sports cars.
MORRISSEY: sure, it's a little dramatic, but it fits right in with all the Morgans and other surnames out there.
MORTIMER: this name brings to mind Victorian gentlemen with handlebar moustaches. Thought it comes from a French name with the literal meaning of 'dead sea,' it still has a 'stiff-upper-lip' take-charge quality to it.
MORVEN: definitely unusual, slightly romantic and dramatic.
MORWENNA: an old Cornish saint's name.
MOSES: this name is not used enough. MO and MOSE are awesome nicknames; this name needs to be brought back!
MUGAMBA: /moo GAHM ba/ a boys' name in Runyoro (Uganda) which is given to people who talk to much.
MURDOCH: From a Gaelic name meaning 'mariner,' this would make an offbeat choice
MUSAAZI: /moo SAH zee/ in Luganda (Uganda), this boys' name means 'joker; ibe who makes jokes.;
MYRTICE: so far out of style, it's almost chic. This name will definitely stand out among the Ashleys and Madisons of the world.
MYRTLE: a beautiful purple flower with evergreen, trailing vines. This name will someday replace Rose and Lily as the flower name of choice.
NABIL: meaning 'noble' in Arabic, this masculine name is fairly unusual in the USA.
NADIA: A pet form of the Russian name meaning 'hope,' this is a lovely name.
NANJALA: /non JAH la/- this girls name means 'born during a famine' in Lugisu (Uganda).
NAYELI : this pretty girls' name has been well-used by Spanish speakers, but hasn't travelled into other territories. It means 'I love you' in Zapotec.
NAYILA, NAHILA, NA'ILA: a lovely Arabic name meaning 'to attain one's desires or goals.'
NAYIRI: for a boy or a girl, this comes from the ancient name of Armenia.
NAYIRI: this is an ancient name for Armenia, which is used for girls today. It means, roughly, 'land of canyons.'
NEDA: (nee-da) the name of a nymph who took care of the infant Zeus in Greek mythology.
NELL: As a nickname for Penelope, Eleanor, or anything else, Nell is strong enough to also stand on its own.
NELLA, AGNELLA, ANIELLA: This is an -ella name that gives the cute nicknames Nell and Nellie.
NERGÜI: Can't think of a name? This Mongolian name means 'no name.' It is one of the names with a seemingly negative connotation given to a child born to a couple after a previous child has died. Giving unpleasant names, it was thought, will confuse the spirits so they will leave the new baby alone.
NERISSA: another name coined by Shakespeare-- used by a minor character in The Merchant of Venice. Much more silvery and smooth than similar names Vanessa, Marissa etc.
NESTOR: A classical Greek name used by Spanish speakers, Nestor is a nice, unusual name that's ready for wider use.
NETRI: meaning 'guide; leader,' this is another name for the Hindu goddess Laxmi.
NGAIRE/NYREE: a Maori name that's cool enough to jump continents.
NIA: pronounced nee-uh. It's a welsh name, the welsh form of the Irish Niamh and it means bright, light.
NIALL/NEAL/NEIL: all these are pronounced the same, Niall being the original Irish Gaelic spelling. This is a nice simple, classic name that has never been overused enough to sound outdated.
NICANDRO: a name used by Spanish speakers that comes from a Greek name meaning 'man of victory.' Used often during the middle ages, Nicandro would make a good alternative to Nicholas, Alexander, or Andrew.
NICO: for a boy or a girl, this unusual name has a lot of charm. Use it as an offbeat nickname for Nicholas or Nicole.
NICODEMUS: a nice, old-fashioned biblical name. More unusual the the now hyper-popular Nicholas.
NIKOLAI: Russian form of Nicholas, this would make a funky alternative. Kolya is a nice pet form.
NINA: This short, spunky, yet feminine name would make a great nickname for a variety of things (Katarina, Antonina etc)
NINEL: a Russian name invented because it is 'Lenin' spelled backwards.
NINETTA: want a super-feminine name? This Italian gem is a pet form of Nina.
NIXON: OK, Nixon maybe wasn't the greatest president on earth, but his last name fits right in with all the Nicholases & Jacksons out there. Nix is a cool, energetic nickname.
NOAM: it sounds like /NO uhm/, not like 'gnome'! This modern Hebrew name means 'delight; joy; pleasantness.'
NOBLE: used for either a man or a woman, this 'virtue' name sounds strong and modern.
NOEL: as a man's name, Noel rhymes with 'foal.' A nice, underused name in the USA, Noel might make a good alternative to more popular names like Noah and Cole.
NOELANI: means 'Beautiful one from Heaven'-Hawaiian
NORBERT: so out-of-date-sounding it's almost funky for that reason alone! It was the name of an 11th century saint who founded the order of Norbertians (also known as Premonstratensians). I am so not kidding about this.
NYSSA: This pretty Greek name would make a good alternative to Alyssa/Melissa.
OBERON, AUBERON: used by Shakespeare in 'a Midsummer Night's Dream,' as the consort to Titania, queen of the Fairies.
OCEAN: A lovely nature name that could be used for a girl or a boy.
OCÉANE: /o see AHN/ French for (you guessed it!) 'ocean', this lovely name is currently very popular in Québèc.
OCTAVIA: With the popularity of Olivia, Octavia should fit right in!
ODALISCA: I saw this lovely name somewhere recently-- it's a modern Spanish form of Odalis, which comes from a germanic word meaning 'wealth.'
ODD: this Norwegian derivative of Odin would definitely stand out in a crowd!
ODESSA: Ukranian city on the coast of the Black Sea.
OFRA: little used Old Testament name meaning 'fawn.' A man's name in the Bible, but would sound lovely on a little girl
OLIVE: Olivia is way too common these days. How about something more unusual?
OLIVER: A nice, unusual classic that's ripe for the picking.
OLWEN: In Welsh mythology, Olwen had the powers for flowers to spring up wherever she walked. Her name means 'blessed; holy footprint.'
OMAR: Arabic for 'flourishing,' a nice, masculine name.
OMEGA: the last letter of the Greek alphabet, this pops up as a name every now and then.
ONYX/ ONIX: for either gender, this black gem makes a cool, exotic name. Oni or Nix/Nixi are nifty nicknames.
ONZIA: /OHN zee ah/ in Lugbara (Uganda), this girls' name means 'bad.'
OPAL: another lovely jewel name ready for a comeback.
ORAZIO: /or OT zee o/- the Italian form of Horatio, this would make an unusual, cultured choice.
ORCHID: why not go with something more exotic and rare than a Rose or a Lily?
ORIANE/ORIANA: meaning 'gold,' this delicate Latin name would fit right in with all the Briannas and Savannahs out there.
ORION: a well known constellation, Orion was named after a mythological Greek hunter. It might make a good alternative to Ryan these days.
ORLA: this name meaning 'golden princess' is fairly common in Ireland, though it is unheard of in the USA.
OSANNA/OVSANNA: these two Armenian girls' names come from the Hebrew 'hosannah' (rejoice!). They would make beautiful modern choices.
O'SHEA: Ice Cube's real name is O'Shea Jackson. O'Shea is just an awesome-sounding name.
OTTO: short, spunky and a palindrome to boot! Old fashioned to the point of almost being cutting-edge...
OVIYAN: in Tamil, this boys' name means 'painter.'
OZIAS: A cool biblical name, also found as Uzziah, meaning 'God is my power.'
OZIEL: more popular in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking households, this Old Testament name is ready to crossover into the mainstream. Who wouldn't want to be called Ozzie?
OZZIE: Why the heck not? I like names with z's.
PALOMA: Spanish for 'dove,' Pablo Picasso named his daughter this. A feminine name with a lovely sound.
PANTALEÓN: A little Pantaleón would definitely not have to worry about sharing his name with anyone else in his school (unless he managed to travel back to medieval Spain)...
PATIENCE: tired of Faith and Hope? Maybe you don't have enough Patience! A lovely virtue name that's ready for a comeback.
PEARL: This old-fashioned gem name is ready for a comeback.
PERCIVAL/PARSIFAL: a lovely sounding medieval Arthurian name.
PERDITA: Shakespeare invented this based on the Latin word for 'lost' for his play 'A Winter's Tale.'
PEREGRINE: an eccentric name today, it was not uncommon among early Christians up through the middle ages.
PERSEPHONE: a mythological name which flows musically
PERSIS: This exotic name has a lot of class.
PETUNIA: Lily and Rose are popular these days, why not use something a little different?
PHAEDRA: a beautful name from Greek mythology. Fits right in with the Phoebes and Daphnes of the world.
PHILOMELA: means 'lover of music' in Greek. Why not? -ella names are all the rage now!
PHINEAS: the Puritans were into bringing the names of obscure biblical figures into popular use. Phineas is no exception. Stemming from an ancient Egyptian name meaning "Nubian," this uncommon name is ready for a comeback. Already Finn and Finn- names are growing in popularity (i.e., Finlay, Finnegan), why not Phineas?
PHOEBE: A classic Greek name. Also a kind of bird.
PIPER: Unusual & pretty, without being overly feminine. Sounds strong.
POLLY: This name, originally a short form of Mary, would make a nice, more unusual alternative to Molly.
POPPY: Rose and Lily are getting a bit stale. This beautiful flower name is a nice alternative.
POSY: a word for 'flower' that was once used as a pet form of Josephine, this is a cute name that would fit right in with all the other flower names out there.
PRIMAVERA: Spanish for 'spring,' this name would fit right in with the Summers and Autumns of the world.
PRIYA/PRIYANKA: two Sanskrit names coming from the word meaning 'beloved/dear.'
PROTASIUS: the name of a 3rd century saint. His name hasn't been used in centuries, perhaps it's time to rediscover it?
PRUDENCE: so old-fashioned it will sound cutting-edge in a few years. Pru and Rudi make cute nicknames.
PRYDERI: /prih DER ee/ this legendary medieval boys' name means 'caring for' in Welsh.
QAYYAMA/KAYAMA/KA'YAMA - a beautiful sounding Arabic name that has the offbeat meaning of 'tent-maker.'
Q'RANA: /ka RAW na/ beautiful feminine take on the Arabic man's name Q'ran (Koran).
QUENTIN: Q names are so rare. This one sounds very distinguished.
QUINBY: an Engish surname that would make a nice modern-sounding name for a girl or a boy.
QUINCY: an offbeat surname-name that could be used for boys or girls. It has the fun pet form Quin.
QUINN: a nice unisex surname name.
QUINTANUS/ QUINTUS: Latin for 'fifth,' this name was often given to the fifth-born son.
RABIA: /RAH bee ah/ Sometimes spelled RABIYA, this lovely Arabic name means 'springtime.'
RADZA/ RAZA/ RIDA: meaning 'contentment; satisfaction' in Arabic, this was the name of a 9th century imam.
RAELYN: A modern, spunky name.
RAFAEL/Raphael: a little more unusual than Gabriel, Rafe makes a nice nickname.
RAISA: /rah EE sa/ this beautiful Russian name has the nice nickname Raya. It was the name of the former USSR premier Gorbachev's wife.
RAQUEL: This Spanish name is much more unusual than its English form, Rachel.
RAVEENA: in Punjabi, this name means 'beauty of the sun.'
RENATA: pronounced /reh NAH ta/, this name means 're-born' in Latin.
RETHA, THERA, HEART: anagrams of 'earth', one of these would be the perfect name for a budding environmentalist.
REUBEN/ RUBEN: Popular among the Puritans, this biblical name meaning 'behold, a son!' has enjoyed quiet use for several centuries, never becoming popular enough to ever sound out of date. It is more frequently found in Spanish speaking populations as Ruben, and among Jewish people as Reuven.
REUBEN: A Biblical name, Reuben is Hebrew for 'behold, a son.' It is a strong, uncommon name.
RHIANYDD: /rhee AN ith/ (the 'th' being vocative, like in 'this' and 'that', not like in 'three' or 'thing.'). This lovely Welsh name means 'maiden.'
RIDGE: one of those no-nonsense cowboy-type names.
RIDLEY: meaning 'red meadow,' this would make a nice choice for a girl or a boy.
RILIAN: a name from the <I>Chronicles Narnia</I> books.
RIONA: The Irish form of Regina, a nice underused name. Pronounced REE-uh-na (like Rina with an extra syllable)
RIVKA: The Hebrew form of Rebecca, this would make a refreshing alternative.
ROHAN: in Sanskrit, this name means 'ascending.'
ROLAND: A name in medieval ballads, ready for a comeback.
ROMAN: Popular in the former Soviet republics, this name is almost unheard of in the English-speaking world.
ROMANE /ro MAHN/- this lovely feminine form of Roman is currently fairly popular in France.
ROMY: It could be short for Rosemary, Romana or any number of things. It could also be used on its own for a girl or a boy. Whatever the use, it's a cute, peppy name that is substantial enough to work on an adult as well.
RONAN: This is an Irish name meaning 'seal.' It is the name of an Irish saint. Although it is fairly common on the Emerald Isle, it is pretty rare in North America.
RORY: this is an anglicization of Ruai(dh)rí/Ruairidh, which, the former being Irish and the latter being Scottish Gaelic means 'red [haired] king.' This is a spunky, though fairly uncommon name in the USA.
ROSALEEN: Dark Rosaleen was the anglicization of choice for 'Roisín Dubh', a Gaelic poem in the 'aisling' tradition, which portrays Ireland as a beautiful woman in peril. Roisín /RO sheen/ is the equivalent of Rosie in Irish.
ROSALIA: Pronounced /rosa-LEE-a/ This beautiful name was used by an Italian saint.
ROSALIE: Rose is becoming fairly common these days. Rosalie would be a nice, old-fashioned alternative.
ROSALINE: Used not once, but twice by Shakespeare, this lovely name has fallen pretty much into complete obscurity, the names Rosalind and Roslyn being more favored forms. Its popularity, like all the Ros- names, stems from the similarity to the rose flower. However, it is most likely derived from 'hros,' the Anglo-Saxon word for 'horse' (hence why it's pronounced ROHZ a line, rather than ROSE a line).
ROSAMUND: This old-fashioned Shakespearean name is ready for a comeback.
ROSEMARY: a quiet, gentle name of yesteryear. This 'granny name' may become the next Emma or Hannah. Just you wait!'
ROSHANA/ ROXANA: Two English forms of the same Persian name, which was borne by the wife of Alexander the Great. Roxanne is a French variant, but a Roshana wouldn't have everyone telling her to not 'put on the red light' throughout life!
ROSS: Short, sweet, and relatively uncommon, this name is ready for more widespread discovery.
ROWAN: the name of a tree; this lovely nature name is used for boys albeit rarely. Rowan would fit right in along side other nature names that have been cropping up, like Sequoia and Willow, as well as all the popular names ending in -an (Aidan, Jayden, Ethan, Ryan etc.).
ROY: short, sweet, the all-American cowboy name. Fits in with all the Jacks and Jakes out there.
RUDY: this is a cute, spunky name for either gender. On the <i>Cosby Show</i> in the 80s, little Rudy's name was short for Ruth.
RUFUS: originally a nickname for someone who had red hair, this has been used as a permanent English first name for a couple of centuries now.
RUPERT: this Dutch form of Robert was brought to England in the 17th century. It has never been terribly popular in the USA, but maybe it's time for that to change!
RUPINDER: in Sanskrit, this girls' name means 'an Indra [Hindu god of the sky and rain] of beauty,' implying a paragon of beauty.
RUTH: Popular among Puritans and everyone else throughout the early part of the 20th century, this lovely no-nonsense biblical name is ready for a comeback.
RYU: a Japanese boys' name meaning 'dragon.'
SABIAN: possibly a form of Xavier or a masculine form of Sabine, Sabian is an unusual, modern-sounding choice.
SABRA: a lovely Hebrew name. A good alternative to Sara(h)
SABRIYA: a beautiful Arabic name meaning 'patience; endurance.'
SAKURA: a lovely Japanese name meaning 'cherry blossom'
SALLY: originally a nickname for Sarah, Sally has been used on its own for decades. Popular in the 40s, this name may sound either old and dowdy or spunky and cutting-edge depending on whom you talk to!
SALMA: a beautiful Arabic name meaning 'peaceful; pacifist.''
SAORLA: an pretty, unusual Irish name pronounced /SAYR la/. It means 'noble queen' in Irish Gaelic.
SARIN: this pretty Armenian name means 'rose of the mountain.'
SARKIS: a nice Armenian name. Also means 'rainbow' in Persian.
SARO: as a man's name it's Armenian for 'cypress tree.' The girls' name comes from Sarah, and is heard in the American folk song 'Pretty Saro.'
SATYA: means 'true, the truth' in Sanskrit.
SAVION: this name has a smooth, yet energetic feel to it, thanks to dancer Savion Glover.
SCIPIO: one for the history buffs, a Roman name that doesn't end in '-us'!
SCOTTI: I met a little girl named Scotti the other day, which was her mom's maiden name. I thought it sounded kind of cute.
SEAMLAS /SHAHM las/ this is an Irish Gaelic word meaning 'hare-lip.' OK, it's not actually a name, but it's a cool sounding, esoteric word. I always wanted to call a Celtic mucic band this.
SEANAS: pronounced /SHAHN is/, this Irish Gaelic word means 'slaughterhouse.' OK, it's not exactly a name, but it's a nice enough sounding word...
SEASON: for those who can't decide on naming a child Summer or Autumn!
SELAH: a biblical word indicating perhaps a musical interlude in a sung psalm. This would make a nice alternative to Sarah.
SELMA: It has a sweet, lispy, silvery sound. Civil Rights marches in Selma, Alabama led to the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s. Selma was also the name of the castle in MacPherson's Ossianic poems.
SEMELE: (rhymes with Emily)- In Greek mythology, she was the mother of the god Dionysus.
SENKA: a lovely name meaning 'shadow' in Serbian.
SEVAN/SIVAN/SEVANA: a popular name in Armenia for both men and women-- named for Armenia's largest lake.
SEVERIN: an unusual name with a classic, somewhat dramatic feel.
SHAHLA: means 'Beautiful eyes' -Afghani
SHANTI: A beautiful Sanskrit name meaning 'peace; tranquility.'
SHELLA: a name I came across recently that I thought was interesting. I guess this person's parents couldn't decide between Sheila and Shelley!
SHIFRA: this lovely Hebrew name is derived from the word meaning 'beauty; grace.'
SîAN: Pronounced /SHAN/, this pretty name is a Welsh form of Jane.
SIBYL, SIBYLLA: old-fashioned names are coming back in style. This could be the next Hannah/Isabella!
SIGANANDA: this was the name of a king of a South African tribe.
SILAS: A boys' name that doesn't end in -on, this biblical name could work well on a boy or an adult.
SIMONE: This exotic French name is a feminine form of Simon.
SIRENA: /see RAY na/ Latin for 'siren,' the mythological creatures who lure sailors to their death with their beautiful voices. Also Spanish for 'mermaid.'
SIRÈNE: /see REN/ it means 'mermaid' in French. It's a lovely sounding word, though it's not techically a name. Why couldn't it be, though? Stranger words have become names!
SITKA: a town in Alaska that would make a lovely name.
SKYLARK: For the daring nature lover, this bird name gives the more common nickname Sky(e)..
SNEH: in Sanskrit, this girls' name can mean either 'viscous' or 'affection.'
SOBIRANA: a lovely name used in the medieval Occitan region of france. The English cognate is 'sovereign.'
SOLANA: although this means 'sun-room' in Spanish, it is also a Latin word for 'sunshine.' A pretty, unusual nature name.
SONYA: a beautiful, classic feminine name.
SORAYA: this beautiful name was used by the wife of the Shah of Persia.
SOREN: most often associated with the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, Soren is a nice, unusual choice in the USA.
SORIN: this boys' name means 'sun' in Romanian
SORINA: in Romanian, this lovely girls' name means 'sun'
SORLEY: Following on the heels of Mackenzie and Cameron, this Scottish surname, this would be nice on either a boy or a girl.
SORREL: a beautiful botanical name.
SOSI: an Armenian name, coming from the plane tree, which is sacred in Armenia.
ST. JOHN/SINJIN: Sure, a kid named Sinjin might take a couple of beatings on the playground, but I bet when he's an adult, everyone would want him to be their lawyer or doctor!
STELIAN: this Romanian boys' name comes from a Greek name meaning 'pillar.'
STELLA: -Ella names are in (Gabriella, Isabella), Stella, meaning 'star' in Latin is ripe for discovery as well.
STEREN: a lovely name meaning 'star' in Cornish.
STEWART, STUART: a serious, classic name. Ready for a comeback.
STOJAN: /sto yon/ this Slavic name means 'stand,' and is used for boys in Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovakia.
SUPARMAN: this super Indonesian man's name is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning 'good; fortunate.'
SUSANNAH: Although a child with this name may get sick of hearing 'oh, Susannah, don't you cry for me' all the time, this beautiful classic name is ready for a comeback.
SVIN: an unusual Armenian boys' name meaning 'bayonet.'
SYLVIAN/SILVIAN, SYLVAN, SYLVAIN: all from the same root meaning 'forest,' this trio of names would make a distinctive offbeat choice.
SYLVIE: a soft, beautiful French form of Sylvia, a Roman mythological name.
TACITA: A Latin name meaning 'silence.'
TAD: don't like nicknames? This is a nice, short nickname-free one.
TALITHA: in the Christian Bible, Jesus says talitha cumi, which means 'little girl, arise' in Aramaic. Meaning 'little girl,' this is sometimes used as a girls' name.
TANITH: the name of a Phoenician goddess of love, fertility, and the night sky. Her name means 'serpent lady.' Other variations are TANIS (Greek) and TANIT.
TARKA: not just for otters, this name is as unusual as Tarquin but somehow less pretentious!
TARRANT: A nice English surname that could be used as a first name.
TATIA (TAY sha): in Roman times, she was the daughter of the king of the Sabine peoples.
TAURICA (TOR ik a): an ancient name for the Crimean peninsula, this would make a lovely modern-sounding girls' name. You could use the spelling Torica, Torika etc.
TELOTTSEY: I found this name of a woman in my family tree-- I can't find any meaning or origin for it, but it sounds kind of cool!
TERTIA/ TERTIUS: these Latin names (the first for girls, the second the masculine form) means 'third,' and was often given to the third child in Roman times.
TESMOND: according to this book, it means 'protector from evil,' which is a cool meaning.
THALIA: The ancient Greek muse of comedy and playful, idyllic poetry
THATCHER: another occupational surname in the same vein as Taylor and Tyler, Thatcher is a more unique choice, and would be adorable on a child, conservative or not.
THELONIUS: it's unique and just plain cool
THEMIS: /TEM is/ in Greek mythology, she was justice, often shown holding scales and blindfolded. Her name means 'divine law.'
THEODEN: the king of Rohan in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. It sounds almost like a 'normal' name-- people may not give a Theoden funny looks, like they would had he been named Aragorn or Gandolf or something.
THOR: This strong Scandinavian name would make an original, unusual choice.
TIELMAN/ TYLMAN: the first name of the Flemish Renaissance composer Susato, it doesn't sound too out of place today.
TIHANA: this is a lovely Croatian name meaning 'quiet.';
TILLY: either short for Matilda or on its own, this cute nickname would fit right in with all the Lilys and Billys out there.
TOIRDHEALBHACH: Ok, we don't expect anyone to actually use this name, but we think it's really cool. It's Irish and is pronounced /TUR uh lukh/. It is anglicized Turlough, and means 'abettor'.
TOLA: the name of an ancient Irish saint, would make an unusual but nice choice.
TOMI: a nice Japanese boys' name meaning 'prosperous.'
TOMIKA: Also found as Tamika, this beautiful exotic name has a multitude of great nicknames, as well as being pretty and not too unwieldy on its own.
TORETH: I'll admit that I never saw this name before it came in a spam email the other day. I think it's kind of an nice name~! It's kind of like 'Doris' with a lisp...
TORQUIL: want a Scottish name that you can bet no other kid in the daycare has? Torquil is it!
TORSTEN: an old Norse name meaning 'Thor's stone.' This would make an unusual but still somewhat modern-sounding choice.
TOVIA: a modern Hebrew name meaning 'good.' It's a feminine form of Tobias.
TREEMONISHA: the name of an opera (and the heroine of the opera) by African-American composer Scott Joplin.
TRISTRAM: an older form of the name Tristan, this name is unusual, and has a literary flair.
TROND: a no-nonsense name used in Viking times. Nobody would dare pick on a Trond.
TRUE: A spunky, unusual modern virtue name. For the really daring, use it as a nickname for Truly (could be an alternative to Julie)
TRURO: the name of the main city in Cornwall in England-- would fit right in with all the other place names out there: London, Austin, Dallas, Paris etc.
TSIGE: the name of half the Ethiopian girls I know. Pronounced /TZIG ay/
VALERIAN: The name of a flowering plant that makes a lovely human name as well.
VALLEY: nature names are cool now, why not this one? We use Brook, Glen and Cliff! Valley sounds like Allie, Sally and Hallie; it's practically a name already!
VAN: short & energetic, this name brings to mind Van Morrison.
VARICK: more unusual than Eric, but with a similar sound.
VASHTI: This lovely name is biblical; probably of Persian origin.
VERA: In Russian, this name means 'faith.' In English-speaking countries, it owes its popularity to the fact that it's also Latin for 'true.' Especially pretty when pronounced the Russian way (VAIRA - rhymes with Sarah), rather than like Veera.
VERIDIANA/VIRIDIANA: a beautiful Italian name meaning 'green.' It was the name of a medieval saint.
VERITY: Latin for 'truth,' this is a lovely virtue name.
VERLIE: a French place name that has been occasionally used as a name. It's short, sweet and old-fashioned sounding.
VERO/VERAZ: both of these are names used in Spanish meaning 'truthful.'
VESSELA: Pronounced /VESS uh la/ this name means 'happy' in Bulgarian.
VIOLA: a pretty spring flower.
VIORICA: This pretty girls' name is the Romanian name for the Bluebell flower.
VISNJA: a pretty Croatian girls' name meaning 'cherry.'
WALDO: middle name of Ralph Waldo Emerson--despite 'Where's Waldo,' this name is rife with geek chic.
WALLIS: the lady love of Prince Edward in the 30's. A nice modern-sounding girls' name.
WENONAH: This legendary Lakota princess's name means 'first born.'
WILBUR: who could forget the loveable pig in 'Charlotte's Web'? Wil is a good, solid nickname.
WILLA: A soft, pretty, old-fashioned literery name that conjures up images of willow trees.
WILLEM: the Dutch form of William, picked as a stage name by actor William Dafoe after the Dutch artist Willem deKooning. It has a nice sound.
WILMER/ WILMAR: looking for a long form of Will without using William or Wilbur? Here's your name!
WINSOME: a vocabulary word meaning 'pleasant; cheerful' that was occasionally used as a name.
WINTER: Summer and Autumn are already pretty common as names. Why not add this season?
WISDOM : a virtue that everyone needs.
WOLFRAM: This is a strong germanic name. 'Wolfie' is a very cute nickname.
WYLIE: With the popularty of Riley/Reilly, why not Wylie/Wiley?
XAN: a cool, modern-sounding short form of Alexander/Alexandra.
XANDRA: a funky form of the now-popular Alexandra.
XANTHUS: This name is serious-sounding, yet something about the X makes it fun.
XARA: a funky spelling of the already-funky name Zara.
XAVIA: a cool, modern-sounding feminine form of Xavier.
XENIA: a Greek name meaning 'hospitality.' It's the name of several places in the USA, and is very unusual as a first name.
XENO: The name of a Roman emporer, this name makes a fun-yet-exotic modern-sounding name.
XIA: in Chinese, this word is used to denote the pinkish glow of the clouds at dawn and dusk and is used for girls. It is also used in compound names such as Mingxia and Xiafei.
XIAOLI: /ZHOW LEE/ /SHEEOW LEE/ Chinese names can have various meanings, based upon which characters are used to spell them. One of the meanings of this lovely name is 'morning jasmine.'
XIOMARA: a Mexican form of a Germanic name, this name is gaining popularity in Spanish-speaking communities.
XOCHITL: /SO cheel/ this is a very funky Aztec name that is fairly popular in Mexico for girls. I think it's a kind of flower.
YAEL: /yah EL/- a pretty Hebrew girls' name meaning 'mountain goat.' It is also found as Jael.
YANTO: in Javanese, this name means 'male.'
YELENA: /yeh LAY na/ - this Russian form of Helen is beautiful and slightly exotic-sounding to English-speaking ears.
YERED: the Hebrew form of Jared, this is more unusual.
YESMINA: derived from the word Jasmine, this is a more exotic sounding than other variants Yasmin or Jazlyn.
YONCA: this pretty Turkish girls' name means 'clover.'
YORICK: Shakespearean quotes aside, this form of York is a pleasant-sounding, unusual name.
YSANNE: /ee ZANN/, /ee SAHN/ - this soft, lovely name is actually a modern coinage, though it looks older.
ZABEL: This is a very old Armenian form of Isabel.
ZABEL: tired of Isabel(la) yet? This lovely Armenian form is unusual and has the zippy Z in the beginning.
ZAFIRA: meaning 'sapphire,' this beautiful name has an exotic quality
ZAHIRA: A beautiful Arabic name meaning, 'shining; radiant; blossoming.'
ZAKIYAH: Means 'pure' in both Arabic and Hebrew.
ZAL: Zal was the father of Rostam--the hero of an old Persian epic story in the 'Book of Kings', written by Ferdowsi. The name is pronounced /ZAWL/ (like Paul).
ZAMORA: this is the name of a city in Spain that has a ton of history. Though it's also a fairly common Spanish surname, it makes a lovely first name as well.
ZANAZAN or ZANI: this different girls' name means 'different' in Armenian
ZANETA: a nice, unusual Z name.
ZANNAH or ZANNA: this modern diminutive of Susannah would make a zippy alternative to the over-popular Hannah.
ZARED: a spinky Hebrew name, a nice alternative to Jared.
ZAREH: an Armenian form of a name meaning 'weeping, pain' in Persian and Kurdish. Deffinitely different.
ZARINA: This lovely Arabic name means 'golden.
ZAVEN: a cool Persian boys' name meaning 'helper.'
ZAYEV: Meaning 'wolf' in Hebrew, this unusual Z name would sound right at home amongst the Zacks and Zoes out there.
ZEDEKIAH: A good Old Testament name, and who wouldn't want to be called Zed?
ZELEIA: /zeh LYE a/ - a mythological Greek place name.
ZÉLIE: /zay LEE/ - a cool French alternative to the Kaylee/Shaylee continuum.
ZENO: several philosophers have had this name, along with a saint and a computer language. With a long history like that, why isn't this cool Z name more popular?
ZEORA: who wouldn't want to be named after the genus of lichens?
ZEPHYR: Greek, means 'the west wind.' Zephyros was the Greek god of the west wind.
ZERU: this funky Z name means 'sky' in Basque.
ZEV: This zippy Hebrew name has a lot of pizzazz
ZIA: Scott O'Dell wrote a book called 'Zia' that I liked a lot as a kid. I just heard this name recently in a movie for a male character, though. I think it's a cool name for either gender.
ZIGOR: in Basque, this boys' name means 'punishment.'
ZILLAH: this lovely Old Testament name means 'shadow.'
ZILPAH: a beautiful and underused Old Testament name.
ZIMRI: this is a rare Old Testament name that means either 'my music' or 'my praise' in Hebrew.
ZIMRIA, ZIMRIAH: a lovely Hebrew name meaning 'song.'
ZIONNAH: there was one baby named this in Québèc in 2006, so it's not terribly common! It has a lovely sound, though, and would fit right in with all the Ariana/Briana/Leannas of the world.
ZIVAN: there aren't enough Z names out there. This is a nice Slavic choice.
ZLATA: Meaning 'gold' in Slavic, this name is used for both girls and boys.
ZOLTAN: /ZOLE tun/ a nice, underused Z name from Hungary. Would make a zippy, unusual choice.
ZORA: Exotic, easy to spell, and definitely unusual; this name has literary overtones with the author Zora Neale Hurston.
ZORI: Corey, Rory, Tori, Dory etc. are names. Why not Zori?
ZOYA: this Russian and Yiddish version is much funkier than its Greek counterpart, Zoe.;
ZURI: 'beautiful' in Arabic.
ZVI/ TZVI: meaning 'deer' in Hebrew, this name is found often in Israel. How many names can you say start with 'Zv'?
ABAGARUS: this was the name of one of seven eunuchs in the court of Ahasuerus in the Old Testament.
ABIRAD: looking for a goth name? This Armenian boys' name means 'miserable.'
ADELAIDE: Originally from a German name meaning 'noble and kind.'
ADRIC: Dr. Who fans will recognize this one! The character's name comes from an anagram of the physicist Dirac.
AFINA:- according to one website, I found, this is a Romanian girls' name meaning 'blueberry.'
AGATHA: Sounds granny-ish now, but just wait--it will be the Hannah and Emma of tomorrow!
AIMADA /iy MAH da/:- a very unusual Occitan name (spoken in S. France & NE Spain). It means 'beloved' and corresponds to the name Aimée (Amy)
AISHA: This beautiful Arabic name means 'life.' Aisha was the name of Muhammed's 3rd and favorite wife, in the Islamic tradition.
ALAIA: this beautiful girls' name means 'joy' in Basque.
ALANA (uh-LAH-na): Beautiful name that is not overused. Ali & Lana make cute nicknames.
ALASTAIR: somewhat trendy, this solid Scottish name sounds and looks noble and cool at the same time.
ALBERIC: coming from Germanic elements meaning 'elf' and 'power', Alberic is a nice unusual name. It is a French from of Aelfrich, from which we get the English name Aubrey.
ALBERT: Formerly considered an 'old guy' name, this regal name is ready for a comeback.
ALDONZA: A medieval Portuguese name-it's beautiful and unusual.
ALICE: Sick of Alison? Alice is a nice, old-fashioned alternative.
ALIENOR: a nifty medieval form of Eleanor.
ALIMAH: this beautiful Arabic girls' name means 'skilled in music'
ALIZAH: pronounced /ah LEE za/, this pretty Hebrew name means 'joy.'
ALLEGRA: forget the allergy medicine! This beautiful Italian name means 'happy.'
ALON: pronounced /ah LON/, this modern Hebrew name means 'oak tree.'
ALONDRA: This beautiful girls' name means 'lark' in Spanish.
ALTAN: this name reportedly means 'red dawn' in Turkish and is a boys' name. It is also the word for 'ravine' in Irish Gaelic (though used in several place names, it's not a person's name)
AMALIA: More exotic and daring than Amelia, this name has lots of potential.
AMANI: this lovely Arabic girls' name means 'desires; aspirations.'
AMARYLLIS: the name of a gem, and a flower, this is an unusual name with an old-fashioned flair. It is the name that shows up in many madrigals
AMINAH: A beautiful Arabic name, meaning either 'truthful' or 'young.' It was the name of the Prophet Muhammed's mother.
AMITY: Virtue names like Grace and Hope are becoming popular these days. Why not use the less common Amity? This pretty name means 'peaceful relations; friendship'
AMOUR: means 'love' in French. It's also an Armenian man's name meaning 'solid, strong, firm'
AMYAS/AMIAS: meaning 'love' in Latin, this boys' name (pronounced ah MY is) has a dreamy, old-fashioned quality.
AMYNTAS: a boys' name used in many English madrigals. It's pronounced /uh MIN tus/
ANANDA: a beautiful Sanskrit name meaning 'happiness.' Pronounced /ah NAHN da/
ANATA: this was the name of the ancient Babylonian goddess of the earth. It sounds lovely today, and works well as an environmentally-conscious name.
ANGIOLINA: my book says, 'derived from a physiological term relating to circulation.' That just cracked me up. It's kind of pretty, if you say it to yourself (in the way that Rubella and Scarletina are pretty words)
ANGUS: A nice, underused Scottish name.
ANJALI: This beautiful Indian name means 'offering.'
ANTOINE: a classic name with a Euopean feel.
ANTON: a nice, classic, underused name.
AOIBHGRÉINE /eev uh GRAIN yeh/: If your daughter can spell this ancient Irish name by the time she is 10, she can achieve anything. It means 'radiance of the sun,' And is the name of the daughter of Deirdre and Naoise in Irish legend. It's sometimes anglicized Evgren or Avgren.
AQUINNAH: Michael J. Fox has a daughter named Aquinnah. I always thought that it sounds pretty and you could call her Quinn. Aquinna is another spelling. Michael J. Fox said it means 'beautiful colors of the sea' but I don´t know if this is true or not.
ARAM: pronounced /AHR um/, this name is very popular amongst Armenians, but few others. The most famous Aram is probably the composer Khatchaturian, who wrote the classic 'Sabre Dance.'
ARAXIA: an uncommon Armenian girls' name; the name of a river.
ARCHER: with names like Gunner, Hunter, etc. climbing the charts, why not Archer?
ARCHIE: this spunky nickname could be used for Archer, following in the surname-as-first name trend.
ARI: Meaning 'lion,' this Hebrew name sounds cute on a little boy, but distinguished on a grown man.
ARIA: Italian, means 'song or melody.' Refers to a vocal solo in an opera.
ARMEN: Used extensively in Armenia, where it is connected to the country name, this name is also used in German speaking countries, where it is a form of Herman.
ARZI: this Hebrew boys' name is derived from the word for 'cedar tree.'
ASENATH: The name of a Joseph's Egyptian wife in the Old Testament, this name was very common among the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries.
ASHLEY (for a boy): it was used for boys first, why not reclaim it for them?
ASTREA: a goddess of justice who became the constellation virgo. A beautiful name /ah STRAY a/.
ASTRID: a lovely Scandinavian name meaning 'divine beauty,' it walks that fine line of being unusual, but not weird.
AUGUST: A nice, old-fashioned name. A more unusual choice than June, May, or April.
AVELINE: a medieval French name possibly meaning 'hazelnut.' This would make a nice alternative to Ava.
AVI: Starting out as a pet form of Avrahom/Avram, this nice Hebrew name is now used independently.
AVIVA: Palindromic names (the same backwards and forwards) are cool! This one means 'spring' in Hebrew.
AXEL: this spunky German name is fairly common in many Eurpoean countries, but is virtually unknown in the USA.
AYLWIN: the name of a Welsh saint; means 'noble friend.'
AYSU: according to one book I have, this girls' name means 'moon water' in Turkish.
AZANIAH: The name of a minor Old Testament character, this biblical name was uaed by the Puritans.
AZARIA: meaning 'god will help' in Hebrew, this name has the zippy Z sound in the middle.
AZIZA: Palindromic names (the same backwards and forwards) are cool! This one means 'powerful' in Arabic.
AZUBA/ AZUBAH: I found this name in my family tree of a girl born in Massachusetts in 1728. It's an Old Testament name coming from the Hebrew word for 'forsaken.'
AZURE: a deep blue color-- a bit exotic, and rigt at home with all the little Scarletts, Ambers and Rubys out there.
BADEN: with Jaden, Aidan, Braydon, Caden etc. being popular, how about Baden? It's the name of an English mathematician, as well as by the founder of the Boy Scouts.
BALTHASAR: Serious-sounding and unusual, it means 'Ba'al, protect the king,' in Phoenician. How many kids can claim they have a Phoenician name?
BARAK: means 'blessing' in Arabic and 'lightning' in Hebrew-- an all around auspicious name.
BARNABAS: a funky, underused old-fashioned name.
BARRON: sick of Aaron, Darren, Karen, and Sharon? How about Baron?
BASTIAN: From 'The Neverending Story', this is a short form of Sebastian.
BAXTER: in medieval England, this was a term for a female baker. However, as a surname today, it might make a nice first name for those who like using surnames as first names.
B'BIYA/BIBIYA: this beautiful, exotic feminine name comes to us from the Berber region of Algeria.
BECK: This is a nice, short name (in fact, it can mean 'short' in Scottish) that would make a hip choice for a child of today.
BEDE: a strong historical boy's name for those who'd prefer not to shorten their child's name
BELINDA: this seemingly-fluffy name possibly comes from an old German word for 'snake' and was used in medieval times all over Europe.
BENEDICT: Long shunned in the USA because of the Revolutionary traitor Benedict Arnold, Benedict is a rare name coming from the Latin meaning 'blessed.' It may be a good alternative to Benjamin for those looking for a less common long form of Ben.
BENEVOLENCE: a virtue name used by the Puritans in the 1600-1700s. Unlike other Puritan names like Fear or Flee-Fornication, this name might work well in the modern world!
BENONI: means 'son of sorrow' in Hebrew. A dramatic choice.
BESS: This makes a nice, old-fashioned nickname for Elizabeth. Fresher sounding than Lizzie or Beth.
BET, BETJE, BETKEN, LISKEN: /BET ya/ these are all Flemish diminutives of Elizabeth, that would make unusual nicknames, or would be nice on their own.
BETHARI: Like the name Beth but are sick of Elizabeth and Bethany? This lovely Indonesian girls' name means 'goddess.'
BETHIA: a hebrew name meaning 'daughter of god.' this name was used in medieval Scotland to translate BEATHA..
BETHIA: it's less common than Bethany, but retains that familiar Beth- sound whilst having a feminine ending
BLAISE: Most commonly associated with the brilliant French mathemitician Blaise Pascal, this name has elements of the traditional and unusual.
BLYTHE: a virtue name meaning 'happy'-- good for a child born on the sabbath day (blythe and bonny, good and gay!)
BOAZ: Short and sweet, this Old Testament name means 'strength and swiftness' in Hebrew. Bo makes a cute occasional nickname, and who wouldn't want a name ending in -z?
BORIS: this name has had a long history in Russia. Why not import it to other shores?
BOSTON: Austin is becoming way too popular, how about giving place names a Northeast spin?
BRAN: From a Celtic word meaning 'raven,' this monosyllabic treasure sounds modern and bright.
BRANNON: originally an Irish surname meaning 'son of Bran [raven]', Brannon might make a good alternative to the overused Brandon today.
BRIA: Cute & sweet. Can be used as a nickname for the popular Brianna, or as a name on it's own.
BRIALLEN: A welsh name meaning 'primrose.'
BRIAR: a lovely dramatic, fairy-tale type name.
BRIGHTON/BRYTON: it's a place name, a surname, ends in that trendy -ton...a perfect alternative to Brian/Ryan!
BRITTA: Originally a Swedish short form of Brigitte, this lovely name stands on its own. It could be a nice alternative to (or even nickname for) Brittany
BROCK: an English surname-name, coming from the word 'badger.' Just don't give him the middle name Lee!
BRYANT/BRIANT: perhaps this is a good alternative to Brian?
BRYONY: a serene victorian name, taken from the name of a plant.
CAERSINA: an 11th century Occitan (spoken in southern France) name coming from a place name.
CAL: It's a nice, all-around user friendly nickname. Use it for Calvin, Caleb, Calpurnius...whatever.
CALANTHA: an ususual Greek name meaning 'beautiful flower.'
CALEA: /kah LAY a/- called 'the dream herb,' this is a plant used to induce dreams by Central American native peoples.
CALLIOPE: pronounced /ca LY oh pee/, this was the name of the ancient Greek muse of music. She could always use Callie as a nickname.
CAMI: this cute girls' name means 'temple' in Romanian.
CAMILA: A nice classic ripe for comeback.
CAMILLE: with images of fragrant flowes, this name is ready for a comeback.
CAMOMILE: a soothing herb, and one not commonly found in the name stock, with plenty of nickname options!
CAMPBELL: a little more unusual than Cameron, but with a similar flavor. The one drawback: soup references.
CANAAN - unlike popular names like Kaydin and Kaylin, this 'kay'-sounding name has roots in the Old Testament.
CANICE: an old-fashioned Irish boys' name, this was used by 4 saints. It is pronounced /CON is/, and means 'pleasant person.'
CAPARINA: a type of butterfly, this makes a beautiful, unusual girls' name.
CARINA: the name of a constellation in the southern hemisphere, this pretty Latin name is fairly unusual.
CARMEL/CARMELA: Popular among Spanish-speakers, this lovely names comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'garden.'
CARMO: according to one book I have, this means 'vine-dresser' in Hebrew, this is a creative choice.
CAROLA: a pretty alternative to the now-popular Caroline.
CARRICK: tired of Eric & Derek? Here's a nice Irish surname and place name meaning 'stone.'
CASHLIN: an Irish place name meaning 'little castle.' Would make an offbeat choice
CASPIAN: Both a sea, and a character in the Chronicles of Narnia, this unusual name is ready for discovery.
CASSIA: the scientific name for cinnamon, this is used as a name in various forms (like KEZIAH) around the world.
CATHAL/CAHIL: Pretty common in Ireland, this name (pronounced /KAH hul/ would make a nice alternative to Conor.
CEDRIC: A nice, serious-sounding English name.
CELESTE: a nice, old-fashioned name that's ready for a comeback.
CERYS/ CARYS: /CA ris/ coming from the Welsh word for 'love', this name is popular in Wales, but fairly unknown in the USA.Spelled CHARIS, it's Greek, meaning 'kindness.'
CÉZANNE: the surname of a famous painter would make a culturally-minded, artistic alternative to Suzanne.
CHANDRA: this beautiful name means 'moon' in Sanskrit.
CHANNING: This unusual surname name could be used for either sex, although it is more popular among boys.
CHASKA: a lovely Quechua name (spoken in Peru)
CHIBIBI: /chee BEE bee/ this name means 'beautiful fat girl' in Runyankore (Uganda).
CHRISTABEL: for the suffragettes amongst us, a strong name for a strong woman!
CHRISTIANA: A flowery, feminine alternative to Christa/Christina.
CIAN or KIAN: pronounced /KEE un/ (rhymes with Ian), this ancient Irish name makes a nice name for those tired with Brian and Aidan.
CIANA: pronounced /KEE uh na/, this is a modern Irish name; a feminine form of the legendary name Cian, which means 'ancient.'
CITLALI: this lovely girls' name means 'star' in Nahuatl. It's moderately popular in Spanish:speaking communities, but farely unknown outside.
CLARA: This soft, classic name is ripe for a comeback, replacing the more tired Claire.
CLEMENT: This old-fashioned gem is ready for a comeback.
CLEMENTINE: With images of oranges, this name is ripe for a comeback. A plus is the 'Oh My Darling' song.
CLIO: the ancient Greek muse of history and epic poetry.
CLIVE: short, yet unusual and masculine. Clive Barker & Clive Owen are good namesakes
CLOVIS: an eccentric, noble-sounding name.
COLINE: /koe LEEN/ French word for 'hill.'
CONLAN: a nice, unusual Irish name that can mean either 'strong as a wolf', or 'fair; comely shape.'
CONRAD: a classic, underused germanic name.
CORA: a nice, old-fashioned alternative to Laura.
CORAL: A beautiful, underused 'gem' name.
CORDELL: has two cool nicknames: Cory and Del.
CORIN (KOREN/CORRIN etc.): This is a nice, unusual masculine name. It could be used as an alternative to Corey. I've also met girls with this name.
CORMAC: This nice Irish name is extremely rare in the USA. It might be a nice alternative to Con(n)or.
COSMO/COSIMO: popular with Greek communities, this name is ready to branch out. Coz is a nifty nickname.
CROSBY: with so many surnames being used as first names these days, why not?
CYBÈLE: French version of the Roman Mother Earth goddess, pronounced /sih BELL/.
CYNTHIA Not in its tired nickname, Cindy, but on its own, Cynthia is a beautiful classical name. Another name for the Greek goddess Artemis, 'Thia' might make a better, more modern-sounding nickname
DAFNA: a Hebrew form of Daphne, this name is popular in Israel.
DAMARIS: this New Testament name was used frequently by the Pilgrims.
DAMON: From Greek mythology, this legendary name is perfect for a modern child.
DANBY: a surname name that would be cute on a boy or a girl.
DANIA: /DAIN ya/ a city in Florida, I always thought this made a lovely name.
DANIELA: the Spanish and Portuguese form of Danielle, Daniela is a beautiful modern alternative.
DANTE: a nod to a famous writer, Dante has an exotic, timeless yet classic quality, like its meaning, 'enduring.'
DANYA: a more unusual feminine form of Daniel than Danielle.
DARIUS: means 'one who upholds goodness' in Greek.
DAVROS: Armenian name for 'taurus,' the name of a mountain. May not be appropriate for Dr. Who fans!
DAYA: 'mercy; compassion' in Sanskrit. A lovely name.
DEAN: short, sweet, and fairly uncommon these days.
DECLAN: this classic Irish name is very unusual in the USA.'
DEIO /DYE o/: This is one of the many short forms of the Welsh name Dafydd, a form of David.
DELFINA: Meaning 'from Delphi,' this pretty name has a classical flair.
DELLA: classic, simple
DEMETRIA: with roots in Classical mythology, this is a beautiful name. An interesting side-note: it's also Demi Moore's real name.)
DENALI: The Native American name for Mt. McKinley in Alaska. It would fit right in with other popular US place names like Dakota, Sierra and Cheyenne.
DEONCÉ: I'm not sure how he spells it, but I met an adorable little boy named this. It's kind of like Beyoncé crossed with Dion.
DERMOT: popular in Ireland, this name is fairly uncommon in the USA
DERVILA/ DERVLA: Pronounced /DER vah la/ , these are anglicizations of the Irish name Deirbhile. This lovely girls' name means 'daughter of a poet' and was also the name of a 6th-century saint. Its most famous modern bearer is perhaps Dervla Murphy, the Irish author whose name was also allagedly inspired by her godfather, Eamon deValera, former president of Ireland.
DESTA: a lovely Ethiopian girls' name. It means 'happiness'
DEVLIN: An Irish surname that would fit in with all the little Kennedys and Ryans out there.
DEVORAH: the Hebrew form of Deborah, meaning 'bee.' A beautiful name, and doesn't have the overused nickname, Debby.
DEWEY: popular at the turn of the 20th century, who wouldn't want to be named for a library system still used in elementary schools all over?
DEYANIRA: This was the name of Hercules' wife in Greek mythology. Meaning 'forceful killer,' this pretty name is most popular among Spanish-speaking populations in the USA.
DIMA: in Arabic, this beautiful girls' name means 'torrential rain,' which is a blessing in a dry climate.
DINAH: meaning 'judged' or 'vindicated' in Hebrew, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah in the bible. She also is the main character of Anita Diamant's novel, The Red Tent.
DOLI: according to one book I have, this is the Lakota word for 'bluebird.' I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it still sounds lovely.
DORA: this pretty old-fashioned name is ripe for resurrection.
DORCAS: popular with the Puritans, this biblical name means 'gazelle.' I've known a few Dorcases in my life, and they don't take crud from anybody! Naming a daughter Dorcas is kind of like having a 'Boy Named Sue'...
DORETHA: the one I knew pronounced it /dar ATE a/, which I always thought was really pretty.
DORIAN: A literary name invented by Oscar Wilde.
DORIS: Think Doris Day. This classy Greek mythological name will be all the rage again in 10 years.
DOUGAL: This unusual name, meaning 'dark foreigner' in Gaelic, would make a good alteranive to Douglas.
DRAGO: a Croatian, Slovenian and Serbian name meaning 'precious.' a dramatic choice, invoking images of dragons in English.
DREDA: the name of the first African-American woman elected to a state legislature
DRUSILLA: it may remind you of Cinderella's evil stepsister, but say it. It has a lovely sound. Remember, her other stepsister was Anastasia, which sounds fine!
DRYSI: /DROO see/ in Welsh, this word means 'briars.' It's not used as a name, but there are many other Welsh nature words out there used as names; this one would fit right in.
DUFF/ DUFFY: a pair of Irish surnames meaning 'black', these would make a modern-sounding choice.
DULCIE: meaning 'sweet' in Latin, this cute girls' name was used in the Victorian era and might be ready for a comeback.
DURAND/DURANT: a surname which was also used as a man's name in the medieval Occitan region of France.
DYMPHNA: the patron saint of crazy people and epileptics, this Irish name is almost unheard of in the USA.
EAMON: The Irish form of Edmund, this name would fit right in with all of the other long 'a' names out there (like Aidan, Braydon, Caden etc.)
EBENEZER: well, why not? He definitely won't haveclassmates with the same name! It means 'stone of help' in Hebrew.
EBREL: Cornish for the month of April. This would make a lovely, unusula choice.
EDITH: Edie is an awesome nickname. Just watch, Edith will be the next old-lady-chic name!
EDMUND: a nod to the little brother in the 'Narnia' series-- plus, Ned is an awesome nickname.
EDMUND: not very popular now, but should make a comeback. Brings to mind the Narnia books.
EDNA: may sound stuffy now, but in 10 years, it will be the next Emma. Eddi is an adorable nickname.
EDWARD: This classic English name is kind of bland when you use the nickname Ed, but Ned is a sweet, unusual pet form. Edward is regal and serious when used in full..
EIRA: in Welsh, this is the word for 'snow.' Pronounced /AY ra/, it is used as a girls' name.
ELAM: /EE lum/ an Old Testament name last frequently used by the Puritans. Ready for a comeback
ELI: more unusual than Elijah, this is a nice, simple name.
ELIAM: /eh LYE um/ - a very rare Old Testament name, Eliam would fit right in with the Elijahs and Isaiahs out there.
ELIAN: /el lee ON/ or /ELL ee un/- a lovely boys' name in a similar vein as Julian and Elliot. It is derived from Helios, the ancient Greek sun god.
ELIANE/ELIANA: feminine forms of Elian, this pair of beautiful feminine names is derived from Helios, the ancient Greek sun god.
ELIO: A Portuguese form of Elijah, this short name has a lot of energy.
ELISE: This French form of Elisabeth is a nice, underused classic.
ELISEO: An Italian and Spanish form of Elisha.
ELLERY: A nice unisex surname-name; this would make a nice alternative to Emily.
ELLIS: A nice unisex surname, name. Just be sure your last name isn't Dee!
ELLIS: simple, uncommon, nice
ELMER: forget the glue references and the stodgy old connotions. It means 'noble and famous'-- You'd definitely be the first one on your block to revive this one.
ÉLODIE a French form of a Spanish name meaning 'foreign riches,' Elodie is very popular in France.
ELSIE: this sweet, old-fashioned pet form of Elizabeth is sounding hip and fresh again, much more so than Lizzie or Beth.
ELSPETH: this Scottish form of Elizabeth is an unusual beauty. Elsie & Ellie are cute nicknames.
EMELINE: a nice old-fashioned alternative to Emma and Emily.
EMERALD: I think it´s pretty and a nice alternative to Emma and Emily and she could be called Emmie for short.
EMERY: for a girl or a boy, this name sounds modern enough, but with an old-fashioned flair.
EMILIO: The -o ending gives this name a lot of energy.
EMLYN: a Welsh boys' name that was very popular in the 1900s. It may be ready for a comeback.
EMRE: a Turkish boys' name meaning 'friend.' It is pronounced like something between /EM ray/ and /EM ree/
EMRYS: a Welsh form of Ambrose, this name was popular in 20th-century Wales, but unheard of int he USA.
ESMERALDA: a lovely literary name-- unusual, flowing, and provides the nickname Ellie that everyone is into these days!
ESMIRA: this beautiful exotic girls' name comes from Azerbaijan.
ESTELLIE: Pronounced /ESS teh lee/, this was the name of a cool teacher I had once. '
ESTRELLA: a beautiful name, meaning 'star.'
EUDOCIA/ EUDOXIA: from Ancient Greek, this name means 'good fame.' Eu- names are hopelessly out of fashion at the moment, but I think this one has a lot of old-lady chic.
EULALIA: EU names aren't very stylish now, but they'll come around! This lovely name is worn by the patron saint of Barcelona.
EUNICE: it may sound stuffy to you now, but it will be the Hannah and Isabel of tomorrow!
EVANDER: Holyfield aside, this name is a masculine, unusual name. It has a lot of history-- it was a Roman hero, as well as being used in Scotland as a 'translation' of the native name Iomhar. It would make a good alternative to Alexander or Evan.
EVENY: This is an anglicization of Aibhne, a rare Irish name whose origins are so ancient, the meaning has been lost.
EVGREN: /EV gren/- a completely obscure anglicization of an Irish girls' name meaning 'radiance of the sun.'
EXPERIENCE: A virtue name common among Puritans in the 1600-1700s. Is it too early for a revival?
FABIAN: this name means 'bean farmer.' A little Fabian would fit in with all the Damians and Darians out there.
FABIANA: this name is FAB! (and it means 'bean grower' to boot)
FALKNER/FAULKNER: With all the last-names-as-first-names these days (Taylor, Tyler and friends) why not go for this one with literary overtones? As a name, it means 'trainer of falcons.'
FAOILTIARNA: /fweel TEE uhr na/ This is a very old and fairly rare Irish girls' name meaning 'wolf lord.'
FARRELL: not far off from names like Daryl, Carol and Sheryl (sometimes rhymes with Carl)-- this is a nice, Irish last name that could be used for a boy or a girl.
FEAR: Believe it or not, this 'virtue' name was fairly common among the Puritans for girls in the 1600s.
FEAR: this may not be for everyone, but it was a fairly common name for girls among the Puritans and the Pilgrims.
FELIX: This spunky name is another moldy-oldy that's ready for a comeback.
FENELLA- /fen ELL a/ this is an anglicization of the Gaelic name Fionnghuala, which means 'white shoulders.' The form Fenella is used mainly in Scotland.
FERN: a lovely plant, also the name of the little girl in Charlotte's Web.
FESTUS: Once used as an English equivalent of the Irish name Fearghus (Fergus), this name is festive, if nothing else!
FFION: /FEE on/ This lovely girls' name is very popular in Wales. It's the word for the foxglove flower.
FIDANKA: a lovely Bulgarian girls' name meaning 'young tree; sapling.'
FIERA: means 'proud' in Esperanto. How many people can say they have an Esperanto name?
FINBAR: a good, solid Irish name meaning 'fair-haired'
FINIAN: if you like Finn but dislike Finlay/Finley, here's an alternative 'long' version to try
FINN: Short, sweet, to the point, and the name of an ancient Irish hero as well.
FINTAN: A nice, unusual Irish name.
FIONNUALA: /fin NOO uh la/ or /fyun YOO uh la/ a lovely old Gaelic name meaning 'white shoulders.'
FIORELLA: Italian for 'little flower.' A pretty, unusual name.
FIORENZA: Italian for Florence, this name has a lovely sound.
FISHL: in yiddish, this is a dimiutive of the word for 'fish.' It is also found as FISHKE.
FITZWILLIAM: ok, this name is a bit over-the-top. It was the first name of the character Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Predudice.' He's a bit of an over-the-top character, so I guess it fits!
FLANNAN: a good Irish name meaning 'firery red'.
FLANNERY: an Irish surname meaning 'fiery red,' this name could be a nod to American author Flannery O'Connor.
FLAVIAN: meaning 'golden; yellow-haired', this is an unusual, literary-sounding name.
FLEUR: French for 'flower,' this makes a lovely name in English as well.
FLORA: Greek, means 'flower.' Wife of Zephyros and goddess of flowers and spring.
FLORENCE: a city in Italy, and a Medieval French form of a Latin name meaning 'blossoming', what's not to like about Florence? (oh, except maybe the nickname Flo)
FLORIAN: This old-fashioned Latin name is perfect for a boy, whether you are a big Kraftwerk fan or not.
FRANCA: an Italian pet form of FRANCESCA. beautiful, and Frankie is a cute nickname.
FRANKIE: for a girl or a boy, this is a cute nickname. A plus if you like the downbeat song 'Frankie Teardrop' by Suicide.
FREELOVE: This name was fairly common among the Puritans in the 1500s-1600s. Fairly unknown since then, surprisingly, it wasn't resurrected by hippies in the 1960s-1970s!
FRITZI: German pet form of Friederike; this name is so hopelessly cute how could you not love it?
FUCHSIA: a pink climbing flower named for Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German herbalist. This name has also come to mean a shade of hot pink. With all the flower names (Lily, Rose etc.) and color names (Indigo, Cerise) used as names, why not add Fuchsia to the mix?
GADIEL: a biblical name meaning 'god is my good fortune.' extremely rare these days, this would make a great name, fitting in with all the Gabriels and Nathaniels out there.
GALANG: means 'to assemble' in Indonesian. Used for boys.
GALATEA: dramatic name from Greek mythology. She was an alabaster statue brought to life by Aphrodite.
GALEN /GAY lun/: with names like Kaylin, Maylin etc. being popular, how about this name of an ancient Greek physician?
GALINA This name is very popular in Russia. It has its traditional nickname, Galya, but you could also use others, such as Gali (Hebrew for 'wave'), or Lina.
GAMALIEL: /guh MAH lee el/ an Old Testament name meaning 'god rewards with good.' It was the middle name of US president Harding.
GARDENIA: With Jasmine, Rose and Lily climbing the charts, why not this lovely alternative?
GARETH: an Arthurian legend name meaning 'old man.'
GAVIN: This formerly stuffy-sounding name is ready for a comeback.
GAVRILA: the equivalent of Gabrielle/Gabriela used in many languages, this is also the original Hebrew form.
GEMMA: Great alternative to Krystal & Jewel. What could be better than being named after a sparkling gem?
GENESSEE: a home-grown name, the name of several towns across the USA. Makes a nice alternative to Jennifer. It rhymes with Tennessee.
GENEVIEVE: A classic, elegant name. Jenna with more style.
GENTIAN: a beautiful, unusual flower name.
GENYA: with a hard G (like in 'grass' not like 'gene'), this is a nickname for the lovely Russian name Yevgyenya (the form of Eugenia).
GERARD: popular in many European languages, this name is almost unheard of in the USA.
GERMÁN: Pronounced /hayr MON/, this elegant Spanish name comes from the Latin meaning 'brother.'
GERSHON: a cool Hebrew name meaning 'exiled' or 'stranger.'
GIDEON: strong sounding and it even ends in -on for those trendy people among us.
GILBY: for either gender, but I think this sounds best on a boy. Cute for a child, but he could be called Gil when he got older.
GILES/GILLES: whether you pronounce this the French way /ZHEEL/ or the English way /JILES/, it's a creative, aristocratic sounding name.
GILFAETHWY: the name of a legendary Welsh hero. It is pronounced something like /gil FYTH oo ee/
GILLIAN: This name is most often pronounced with a hard 'g' in the UK, and with a soft 'g' (like Jillian) in the USA. Either way, it might make a pretty alternative to Julia.
GILLON: A Scottish name, would make a nice alternative to Dylan.
GISELE: pronounced /zhee SELL/ in French, and /GEEZ uh la/ in German, this pretty old Norse name means 'noble.'
GLEB: a man's name in Russian, this was the name of a 10th century saint.
GLYNIS: this fairly modern Welsh girls' name means 'valley.' Girls' names ending with -a are getting old [Emma, Ella, Isabella]-- time for a new ending, and -s is a nice, soft sound.
GODELIVA: a Spanish form of Godiva, this beautiful name is pronounced /go day LEE ba/ and means 'god's gift.'
GRETA:- this German short form of Margareta makes a lovely name on its own with old world charm.
GRETEL/ GRETL: aside from Hansel's sister and the Sound of Music, this lovely Austrian name works as both a short form of Margaret and on its own.
GRIM:- this name, used by Vikings means 'one who wears a mask.' It may not be for everyone, but it would work on the right kid!
GURO: a Norwegian short form of Gudrun, which means 'secret lore of the gods.'
GUTHRIE: Woody Guthrie was one of the most influential US folk singers/collectors. Guthrie is a neat surname-name')
GUY: short, sweet, masculine, no-nonsense... the ultimate guys' name!
GWENITH: meaning 'wheat' in Welsh, this pretty girls' name is also used as a poetic word meaning 'favorite'.
HADIL: this soft-sounding Arabic girls' name means 'cooing of doves.'
HADLEY: meaning 'heather field,' this name could be used for either a boy or a girl.
HAFSA: This unusual name means either 'brooding hen' or 'young lioness' in Arabic. This was the name of the daughter of Umar, the second caliph, and a wife of Muhammad.
HALA: this beautiful Arabic girl's name means 'a halo around the moon.'
HALCYON: the Greek word for 'kingfisher', a handsome bird; can easily be shortened to Hal
HAMISH: /HAY mish/- the architypal Scottish name, it also means 'homey' in Yiddish.
HANK: the world could use a few more kids named Hank. Not Henry; there are enough of those. Just Hank.
HARISH: means 'lord of monkeys' in Sanskrit. Another name of the god Vishnu.
HARRIET: This formerly stuffy name is becoming cutting-edge again. Who can resist the adorable nickname Hattie?
HARRY: Harry Potter has made this 'old guy' name sound young again.
HARSH: 46 boys were named this in 1999. I suspect it's a foreign name (maybe a form of the Sanskrit Harish?), but in English, if you want a no-nonsense name--this is it!
HAVILAH: Hebrew, 'stretch of sand' Place name in the bible.
HAWKEN/HAWKINS: with all the surnames being used as first names out there, why not this one?
HAZEL: more unusual than Heather or Holly, this pretty botanical name is ripe for a comeback.
HEBE - short but sweet, and with good mythological history behind it
HECTOR: a classical Greek name used in many European languages. It doesn't get much manlier than this.
HELENA: this pretty latinate form of Helen is overdue for a comeback.
HENNING: this is lovely, old-fashioned Swedish name, short for Henrik or Johannes.
HENRIETTA: a nice, old-fashioned girls' name. Netty, Hetty and Hattie make lovely nicknames.
HENRY This royal name is becoming hip again, after years of being an 'old guy' name. Hank is kind of a dorky nickname that might suit the right, daring child.
HERMIONE: Harry Potter did wonders for bringing this beautiful, classic name into the public sphere.
HERSHEL: this soft Yiddish name comes from the Hebrew word for 'deer.' Heshel and Heshi are other forms.
HESTER: This old-fashioned name will be tomorrow's Emma and Hannah. Just wait.
HESTIA/ESTIA: The name of the ancient Greek goddess of the hearth.
HILARIO/Ilario pronounced /ee LAHR ee o/, this Spanish name means 'cheerful.' Ilario is the Italian form.
HOBART: If you like the nickname Bart, but think Bartholemew is too long, Hobart works.
HOLGER: (with a hard 'g')- a good no-nonsense Viking name meaning 'powerful with a spear.'
HOLLAND: for either gender, this gentle place name evoking images of windmills and tulips, sounds serious, yet simple.
HONORÉ: Used for boys, this is the French form of the Latin Honoratus, which means 'honor.'
HROTHGAR: Used in 'Beowulf,' the modern form of this Anglo-Saxon name is Roger. Hrothgar sounds much cooler!
HUGO: be the first on your block to resurrect this historic boys' name!
HUMILITY: another name used by the Pilgrims. What better way to ensure that your daughter will grow up to be a diva than name her Humility?
HUMPHREY: brings to mind Humphrey Bogart. An eccentric classic that would work well today.
HYACINTH: this was a man's name in Greek mythology, and in medieval Europe. However, it has been used for girls since the Victorian era when flower names became fashionable for girls.
IAGO: this is a nifty old Spanish form of James. Forget the Shakespearean character; this is a cool name!
IANTHE: a soft, quiet name meaning 'violet' in Greek. It was the name of the poet Shelley's daughter .
ICHBOD: I can guarantee that no other kid in Ichabod's school would have the same name!
IDA: 'sweet as apple cider' as the old song goes. A pretty old name ready for a comeback.
IDRIYA: this modern Israeli name means 'duck' in Hebrew.
IGNACIO: A Spanish form of Ignatius, which means 'fire.' Iggy is a cute nickname.
ILO: This was the name of the wife of Henry Agard Wallace, Vice President under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I can't find any information on the name, but it sounds cool!
ILONA: meaning 'oak tree,' this is a beautiful modern Hebrew name.
ILSE: If you pronounce it /EEL sa/ it's a lovely name with European flair.
ILYA: the Russian form of Elijah, this name would be an unusual, soft-sounding, and somewhat exotic choice.
IMANI: this beautiful name means 'faith' in Swahili.
INARA: the name of a clever Hittite goddess-- she was a protector of wild animals.
INARI: this is the name of a Shinto god in Japanese.
INGA/INGRID: a pair of lovely, serene-sounding Scandinavian names.
INGMAR: brings to mind its most famous bearer, the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman-- A subtly masculine name.
IPHIGENIA: /if uh jen NYE a/ this pretty name from Greek mythology is definitely uncommon.
IRINA: This name is very popular in Russia, where it is a form of Irene.
IRIS: Unlike Rose and Lily, Iris is one flower name that hasn't hit the mainstream again yet. In Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger of the gods, who traveled from Mt. Olympus to earth on the rainbow.
ISAI: /ee sah ee/ - this name means 'music; melody' in Tamil (spoken in India & Sri Lanka).
ISKENDER: This is the Turkish form of Alexander. It sounds cool and exotic to English-speakers without being weird or unpronounceable.
ISLA: Scottish, comes from the island of Scotland called Islay. Pronounced EYE-la (like Island)
ISOLDE/ISEULT: an Arthurian name with lots of class.
ISTVÁN: /EESHT von/- the hungarian form of Stephen. Very unusual outside Hungary!
IVY: this lovely vine was first coined as a name in the nature-name happy Victorian era. An ancient symbol of fertility (ivy stays green all year round), this name is definitely ready for a comeback.
JABEZ: A nice, old-fashioned Old Testament name that sounds funky today. How many kids do you know have names that end in Z?
JACIÁN: The Spanish form of Jason, this would make a nice alternative. Pronounced /hah see AHN/
JAGDISH: a nice Sanskrit name meaning, 'ruler of the world.
JAGO: a Cornish form of Jacob. It's energetic on its own, or as a nickname.
JAMIE: for a boy, this is a sweet nickname for James. Forget Jim, call him Jamie.
JANAKI Pronounced /JON uh kee/, this beautiful name is used by Seeta, wife of the Hindu god Rama.
JANINA: Pretty and she could be called Nina for short.
JANO: an Armenian boys' name meaning 'the soul, which is beloved.' Short and sweet, but with the spunky -o ending adding energy.
JANSEN: 'nice shooting, Jansen.' a good name for Star Wars geeks everywhere.
JANUARY: the name of this month was derived from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, doorways, halls, and other transitions. Hey, if April, May, August and June can be names, why not January?
JARETH: you may remember this as the name of the Goblin King (played by David Bowie) in Labyrinth. An unusual, but not too freakish choice.
JARO: a short, sweet, peppy boys' name. Rhymes with Arrow.
JAROMIR/YAROMIR: this lovely slavic name combines the words 'radiant' and 'peace.'
JARRET: Unusual, yet not weird. This is a nice, masculine name that would work well for a child or adult.
JARVIS: a nice, unusual name that's ready for a comeback.
JAVAN: an Old Testament name meaning 'Greece.' Sometimes this name is used to refer to Greece as well.
JAYAN: a Sanskrit boys' name meaning 'victorious.' Would be right at home with all the Jasons, Jacob, Jayden, Jaylens etc.
JAYANT/ JAYANTI: these are masculine and feminine versions of a sanskrit name meaning 'victorious.'
JEREMIAH: Less common than Jeremy, this is a nice Biblical classic.
JERSEY: an island off the coast of England. A type of cow. A US state. A type of pullover. A darn cute name!
JERUSHA: An unusual biblical name.
JESSAMY: perhaps derived from the medieval form of the word 'jasmine', this is a lovely girls' name.
JOACHIM: this biblical name is used in just about every single European language except English.
JOAN: once extremely popular, this English feminine form of John has been relegated to the 'unfashionable' pile. We think it still has a lot of life left (but not the nickname Joanie!)
JOCKUM: this is a Danish form of Joachim. It sounds a bit funny in English, but that's part of its charm.
JOELY: this modern name could be the feminine of Joel (biblical; 'Yahweh is good') or it could be a variant spelling of Jolie. Either way, it's feminine and sassy.
JOLYON: a medieval form of Julian. A nice-sounding, unusual choice.
JONAS: A Greek form of the Hebrew Jonah ('dove'), Jonas is more unusual.
JONTY: this is a really cute and unusual (at least in the USA) nickname for Jonathan.
JOPLIN: whether you're a fan of Janis or Scott, this surname makes a spunky, musical-sounding name.
JORINDA: I remember reading a fairy tale about a little girl named Jorinda and her brother Joringel. I've liked the name ever since.
JORY: a Cornish form of George.
JORY: this ambigender name is cute and energetic on either a boy or a girl.
JOSEPHINE: a beautiful, classic feminine name.
JOSETTE: a very cute French feminine form of Joseph. Josie is an adorable short form.
JOSS: this name was used for boys in medieval England, but now many girls use it as a short form of Jocelyn. Jocelyn itself was used exclusively for boys in previous eras.
JOTHAM- this rare Old Testament name means 'Jehovah is perfect.'
JUDAH: a nice, underused Old Testament name.
JUDE: This is a nice, old-fashioned, underused (in the USA) name. Unfortunately, a child named Jude would have to get used to hearing 'Hey Jude!' a lot in life.
JUDSON: an unusual alternative to Justin, Jud makes a cute nickname.
JULES: French form of Julius, makes an upbeat, old-fashioned choice.
JUNE: brings to mind lovely warm days-- a nice old-fashioned name in need of rescuing from the stuffy closet.
JUNO: Roman name of the goddess Hera, this would make a spunky choice. It was also used to 'translate' the Irish name Una in past centuries.
KAEDE: /kah eh deh/ this lovely Japanese girls' name means 'maple leaf.'
KAI: Popular in Germany, this name (pronounced /KYE/) might make a good alternative to Kyle/Ty/Skylar.
KAILUA: /kah ee LOO a/ a city in Hawaii that would make a lovely name.
KAISER: a K name that fits right in with Kyler, Ryder etc. and friends. He could always use the cool nickname Kai.
KALIYA: (kah LEE a) a nice alternative to the Kaylee/Kayla continuum
KALYANI: This beautiful Sanskrit name isn't used much in the USA.
KAMALA: meaning 'lotus flower,' this name is used for both girls and boys in India. (pron. something like /KAHM ah la/)
KAMANDA: a male name of a 'rishi' (seer) in Hinduism.
KAMYA: a beautiful Hindu name meaning 'capable.'
KARIZA: Pronounced /kah REE za/ , this name is zippy, yet exotic sounding.
KARUNA: meaning 'merciful' in Sanskrit, this is a beautiful, feminine name.
KATIA (also spelled KATYA, KATJA, KAATJE etc.): no matter how you spell it, this is a lovely form of Katherine/Katarina that is used in many European countries.
KATIUSHKA/KATYUSHKA: /cot YOUSH ka/ sick of Katelyn/Katherine/Kathleen? Here's an alternative!
KATRIEL: a lovely, masculine Hebrew name meaning, 'crown of the lord.'
KATTO: /KAH to/ this boys' name is given to the second born of twins among both the Runyankore and Rootoro of Uganda.
KAVERI: one of the 7 sacred rivers in India.
KAVI: a lovely Sanskrit boys' name meaning 'poet.'
KEELIN: an Irish name meaning 'fair and slender.' A nice, authentic alternative to the Katelyn/Kaylin continuum
KELLAN/KELLIN: modern-sounding and unisex, without sounding too contrived.
KELYN: /KEL un/ Cornish for 'holly,' this name could be seen as a more updated-sounding version of Kelly.
KENZA: This beautiful name is from Arabic meaning 'treasure.' A Kenza would fit right in amongst all the Mackenzie/Kenzie/Mckenna/Kennas out there.
KERENSA: this lovely Cornish name is said to mean 'love.'
KERR: a Scottish surname that would make a good first name. It's not so far off of other Scottish surnames used as first names, such as Keith and Kirk
KETURAH: pronounced keh-TOOR-ah, this beautiful name is biblical but uncommon.
KEYNA: /KAY na/ a Cornish name meaning 'beautiful.' The name of a 6th century Cornish saint.
KHADIJAH: This beautiful Arabic name means 'premature child.' The name of the Prophet Muhammad's first wife, she was the first convert to Islam. She was also the mother of all of his children. Khadijah is probably best known for being the character Queen Latifah plays on Living Single.
KHRSROVITOUKHD: In Armenian, this means 'daughter of renown' and was the name of an Armenian saint. A child named this would *definitely* be the only one in her school with that name!
KILIAN: underused Irish name, for those sick of Conor and Aidan.
KIRA: from a Persian word meaning, perhaps, 'sun.' It's the feminine form of Cyrus. It's fairly common in Russia
KIYA: pronounced /KEE yah/, this was the name of King Tut's mother.
KLEMENS: this is the Polish form of Clement; the pet form is KLIMKO. Used for boys.
KNAR: An Armenian girls' name that means 'harp.' A familiar form is KNARIG.
KSENIA: This Russian form of Xenia is an exotic, unusual, modern-sounding name.
KYALIGONZA /k'yal ee GONE za/: a name from Uganda which means 'man of god.'
KYLLIKKI: I think this is pronounced something like /KOO lee kee/. It's a Finnish woman's name that comes from an ancient saga.
LACHLAN: this Scottish surname is becoming really trendy for boys in Australia, though it's practically unheard of in the USA.
LAETITIA: /lay TEE tsee uh/ or /leh TISH a/ an aristocratic English name that's fairly unknown in the USA. It means 'happiness' in Latin. Letty is a cute short form.
LALA: this pretty name means 'tulip' in Bulgarian.
LALAZAR: used in Persian and Armenian for boys, it means 'garden of tulips.'
LALITA: this lovely Sanskrit name means 'playful; charming.' It's similar to Lolita, but without the literary stigma attached!
LANGSTON: Surnames are being used as first names all over the place now. This is a nice southern-sounding name.
LAURIE: For a boy, with a namesake in <i>Little Women</i>, this would be adorable.
LAVANYA: in Sanskrit, this means 'beauty; loveliness.'
LAVERNA: the Roman goddess of thieves and imposters. Would make a bold, unusual choice!
LAVINIA: a Roman name full of Victorian charm. Ready for a comeback.
LEDA: Although the name will probably forever attached to the Greek myth, Leda is a beautiful, simple name.
LEDA: Despite the mythological character, this name would make a beautiful, unusual choice.
LEILANI: this beautiful name means 'heavenly flowers' in Hawaiian.
LENNOX: Names with X's in them just always sound cool. This name fits in with both surname and place name trends as well.
LEO Meaning 'lion' in Latin, this spunky name was used by popes.
LEONIE: popular for baby girls in Germany, this pretty European name would work well with English-speaking children as well.
LEONOR/LIANOR: Used in medieval Portugual, and modern-day Spanish speaking countries, this is a beautiful classic.
LEOPOLD: the name of W.A. Mozart's dad, Leo makes a spunky nickname.
LEROY: it means 'the king.' Enough said!
LESTER: a long-forgotten 'stuffy' name, this one is ready for a comeback. When it comes to nicknames, Les is more! (har har)
LETTICE: this is really a name. Seriously. It's actually pronounced /leh TEECE/ and is a medieval English form of the Latin name Laetitia, which means 'happiness.'
LIADAN: This beautiful, ancient Irish name means 'grey lady.'.
LIESE: /LEE za/ a German short form of Elisabeth, would work as a nice alternative to Lisa/Alisa etc.
LIETTE: This pretty French name was popular in Québèc in the 60s, but unheard of in the USA.
LILAC: an underused flower name
LINDEN: The name of a tree, this would make a nice name for either gender.
LINNET: a type of songbird. A beautiful name.
LINUS: a mythological Greek musician and a pope, this name is pretty unused in the USA. With 'old guy' names like Oscar and Oliver climbing the charts, Linus will be right at home! A plus, for Linux users as well.
LIOR, LIORA: a beautiful modern Hebrew girls' name meaning 'light.'
LIRIA: a rare Spanish name meaning 'lyre'- the ancient Greek stringed instrument.
LIRIOPE: A fountain-nymph, and the mother of Narcissus in Greek mythology, this is also a species of Asian flower.
LISE: a form of Elisabeth, this would make a more Eurocentric and unusual alternative to Lisa.
LISELOTTE: /leez uh LOTT ah/-- a German name combining 'Lis' from 'Elisabeth' and 'lotte' from 'charlotte.' Lottie and Lise are nice diminutives. Lilo is another one.
LISETTE: This French pet form of Elisabeth may sound out-of-date because of it's 'ette' ending, but we think this a a soft, pretty underused name. It is most popular among Spanish speaking populations in the USA, where it is also found in the spellings Liset, Liseth, etc.
LIV: This simple, dynamic name is Swedish for 'life.' It can be used by itself or as a short form of Olivia or Livia.
LOKI: the mischievous Norse god would make a cool, unusual choice.
LOMAN/LONAN: a couple of old Irish names--Loman was the nephew of St. Patrick, Loman means 'blackbird.'
LORNA: this literary name was invented by the Scottish author R.D. Blackmore for his novel 'Lorna Doone'.
LOUISA: After a couple of generations of slumber, Louisa is probably ready to replace the now wheezier sounding Louise.
LOVEDAY: an old-fashioned English name with good connotations
LUCAN: an Irish place name, a little Lucan would feel right at home with all the Lukes and Lucases out there.
LUCIAN: A serene, old-fashioned name meaning 'light'.
LUCIENNE: I predict that Lucy will be the next Emily-- this lovely French name makes a distinguished long form.
LUCIFER: Unappreciated! Unloved! Scorned and shunned for its darker connections while its sweetness and light go unseen! C'mon, this name rocks. And it's fun to tell people you plan to name your child Lucifer.
LUCINE: sick of Lucy? Use Lucine, a lovely Armenian name meaning 'moon.'
LUKA: This is the Slavic form of Lucas/Luke. It may sound feminine because of the 'a' ending to English-speaking ears, but it is a masculine name. One downside that Suzanne Vega song. People tell me that they automatically associate this name with domestic violence because of the song!
LUPIN: a lovely blue wildflower. With all the other flower names out there (Lily, Daisy, Rose), why not?
LURANDA: I found this name belonging to an ancestor in my family tree in the 1800s. It has a sort of down-home charm to it. It's definitely unusual.
MACARIO: this masculine Spanish name comes from a Greek word meaning 'blessed; fortunate.'
MADOC: The name of a legendary Welsh prince.
MAGNUS: Want a masculine name? Forget Hunter, Gunnar and Wayne. Magnus is where it's AT!
MAISIE: a cute nickname for Margaret, Mary, or anything else you can think of.
MAISIE: this started out as a pet form of Mary, it would be cute on its own.
MALACHY: pronounced /MAL uh kee/, this old Irish name is spelled Maelsheachlainn in Gaelic. You'd probably want to go with Malachy! Mal is a great nickname.
MALIK: This nice Arabic name is getting more popular, but still not hugely so.
MANON - This is a popular name in France and in Germany. It is a pet form of Marie.
MARANTHA/MARANTA: from Amaranthe/Amarantha, the name of a beautiful flower whose beauty, according to Greek mythology, never fades.
MARCELA: This pretty name is a Spanish feminine form of Marcel. It comes from Mars, the Greek god of war. Both Marcella and Marcelina, another form, were the names of Catholic saints.
MARCH: /MARKH/ in Welsh, this is a boys' name stemming from the word for 'horse.'
MARCO: An Italian form of Mark, this name has a lot of energy with its 'o' ending. It might make a more unusual alternative to Mark.
MARCUS: A nice, more usual name than Mark. This name has a lot of history and class.
MAREN: used in Germany and other European countries, this pretty name would fit in with all the Karens and Sharons.
MARINA: This name is most often used in Russia, although it is Latin in origin. It is a feminine form of Marinus, which may be related to the Latin marinus meaning 'of the sea.'
MARIO: The quintissential Italian name, this classic name is ready for wider use.
MARIS: used occasionally by Catholics as a shortening of 'Stella Maris' ('star of the sea' in Latin), this is a nice, unusual name.
MARIUS: stemming from Mars, the Roman god of war, this classic name was used in 'Les Miserables.' It's currently popular in several European countries.
MARLO: sick of Maggie, Peggy, and Meg? Marlo makes a spunky, unusual nickname for Margaret.
MARMADUKE: anglicized version of the Irish Mael Maedeóg ('servant of St. Madog'), a kid with this distinguished-sounding name could always go by Duke.
MATEO: Spanish form of Matthew, a nice alternative.
MATTHIAS: a nice biblical name, a good alternative to the hyper-popular Matthew.
MAUD(e): plain, simple, old-fashioned. This medieval English form of Matilda is ready for a comeback.
MAXIMO: Latin for 'greatest'-- he could always go by Max, if he thought it was too weird.'
MELANIA: more exotic sounding than Melanie, this Latin form would make a more unusual choice.
MELATI: this lovely name means 'jasmine flower' in Indonesian.
MELIA: (meh LEE ah) a nymph in Greek mythology. A cool name that would fit in with the Kaliyas and Aliyas of the world.
MELVIN: be the first one on your block to bring this one back!
MERCER: a good surname-name, this is softer than some of the others out there. Used for either a girl or a boy, you could use the short forms Mercy or Murray.
MERCY: An unusual, virtuous choice.
MERIC: /mer EEK/ a pretty Occitan name (spoken in S. France & NE Spain). It's short for AIMERIC /iy mer EEK/ and means 'beloved.' It corresponds to the name Aimée (Amy)
MERSEY: the river that runs through Liverpool, England. Might be a cute name for the right Beatles fan.
MILO: This short, spunky name might make a nice alternative (or a nickname) for the hyper-popular Michael.
MILTON: An old fogey name now, but could be the hot name of tomorrow! Brings to mind the poet.
MIREIA: Pronounced /mee RAY a/, this beautiful literary Spanish name means 'to admire.'
MIRKO: this is a Croatian pet form of Miroslav. It is an upbeat unusual choice in English-speaking places.
MIRSADA: pronounced /mir SAH da/, this pretty Croatian name is almost unheard of in English-speaking countries.
MITZI: German pet form of Maria; this name is adorable, although it's currently more popular for small dogs than for humans.
MIYUKI: This Japanese name means 'beautiful happiness.'
MIZUKI: this lovely Japanese girls' name can mean 'beauty of the moon.'
MOE: Forget Jeb, Jack, and Ben. If you want a short name, Moe is it!
MORAY: Scottish place name, would make a nice name, despite the eel connotations
MORDECHAI /MORDECAI: like many names in the Old Testament, this one is of Persian origin, meaning 'devotee of the god Marduk.'
MORIA: this name of a mountain range in Middle Earth would work well for Tolkien fanatics who don't want to scar their kids for life with names like Eowyn and Aragorn!
MORRIS: it reminds me of big orange cats and 60's sports cars.
MORRISSEY: sure, it's a little dramatic, but it fits right in with all the Morgans and other surnames out there.
MORTIMER: this name brings to mind Victorian gentlemen with handlebar moustaches. Thought it comes from a French name with the literal meaning of 'dead sea,' it still has a 'stiff-upper-lip' take-charge quality to it.
MORVEN: definitely unusual, slightly romantic and dramatic.
MORWENNA: an old Cornish saint's name.
MOSES: this name is not used enough. MO and MOSE are awesome nicknames; this name needs to be brought back!
MUGAMBA: /moo GAHM ba/ a boys' name in Runyoro (Uganda) which is given to people who talk to much.
MURDOCH: From a Gaelic name meaning 'mariner,' this would make an offbeat choice
MUSAAZI: /moo SAH zee/ in Luganda (Uganda), this boys' name means 'joker; ibe who makes jokes.;
MYRTICE: so far out of style, it's almost chic. This name will definitely stand out among the Ashleys and Madisons of the world.
MYRTLE: a beautiful purple flower with evergreen, trailing vines. This name will someday replace Rose and Lily as the flower name of choice.
NABIL: meaning 'noble' in Arabic, this masculine name is fairly unusual in the USA.
NADIA: A pet form of the Russian name meaning 'hope,' this is a lovely name.
NANJALA: /non JAH la/- this girls name means 'born during a famine' in Lugisu (Uganda).
NAYELI : this pretty girls' name has been well-used by Spanish speakers, but hasn't travelled into other territories. It means 'I love you' in Zapotec.
NAYILA, NAHILA, NA'ILA: a lovely Arabic name meaning 'to attain one's desires or goals.'
NAYIRI: for a boy or a girl, this comes from the ancient name of Armenia.
NAYIRI: this is an ancient name for Armenia, which is used for girls today. It means, roughly, 'land of canyons.'
NEDA: (nee-da) the name of a nymph who took care of the infant Zeus in Greek mythology.
NELL: As a nickname for Penelope, Eleanor, or anything else, Nell is strong enough to also stand on its own.
NELLA, AGNELLA, ANIELLA: This is an -ella name that gives the cute nicknames Nell and Nellie.
NERGÜI: Can't think of a name? This Mongolian name means 'no name.' It is one of the names with a seemingly negative connotation given to a child born to a couple after a previous child has died. Giving unpleasant names, it was thought, will confuse the spirits so they will leave the new baby alone.
NERISSA: another name coined by Shakespeare-- used by a minor character in The Merchant of Venice. Much more silvery and smooth than similar names Vanessa, Marissa etc.
NESTOR: A classical Greek name used by Spanish speakers, Nestor is a nice, unusual name that's ready for wider use.
NETRI: meaning 'guide; leader,' this is another name for the Hindu goddess Laxmi.
NGAIRE/NYREE: a Maori name that's cool enough to jump continents.
NIA: pronounced nee-uh. It's a welsh name, the welsh form of the Irish Niamh and it means bright, light.
NIALL/NEAL/NEIL: all these are pronounced the same, Niall being the original Irish Gaelic spelling. This is a nice simple, classic name that has never been overused enough to sound outdated.
NICANDRO: a name used by Spanish speakers that comes from a Greek name meaning 'man of victory.' Used often during the middle ages, Nicandro would make a good alternative to Nicholas, Alexander, or Andrew.
NICO: for a boy or a girl, this unusual name has a lot of charm. Use it as an offbeat nickname for Nicholas or Nicole.
NICODEMUS: a nice, old-fashioned biblical name. More unusual the the now hyper-popular Nicholas.
NIKOLAI: Russian form of Nicholas, this would make a funky alternative. Kolya is a nice pet form.
NINA: This short, spunky, yet feminine name would make a great nickname for a variety of things (Katarina, Antonina etc)
NINEL: a Russian name invented because it is 'Lenin' spelled backwards.
NINETTA: want a super-feminine name? This Italian gem is a pet form of Nina.
NIXON: OK, Nixon maybe wasn't the greatest president on earth, but his last name fits right in with all the Nicholases & Jacksons out there. Nix is a cool, energetic nickname.
NOAM: it sounds like /NO uhm/, not like 'gnome'! This modern Hebrew name means 'delight; joy; pleasantness.'
NOBLE: used for either a man or a woman, this 'virtue' name sounds strong and modern.
NOEL: as a man's name, Noel rhymes with 'foal.' A nice, underused name in the USA, Noel might make a good alternative to more popular names like Noah and Cole.
NOELANI: means 'Beautiful one from Heaven'-Hawaiian
NORBERT: so out-of-date-sounding it's almost funky for that reason alone! It was the name of an 11th century saint who founded the order of Norbertians (also known as Premonstratensians). I am so not kidding about this.
NYSSA: This pretty Greek name would make a good alternative to Alyssa/Melissa.
OBERON, AUBERON: used by Shakespeare in 'a Midsummer Night's Dream,' as the consort to Titania, queen of the Fairies.
OCEAN: A lovely nature name that could be used for a girl or a boy.
OCÉANE: /o see AHN/ French for (you guessed it!) 'ocean', this lovely name is currently very popular in Québèc.
OCTAVIA: With the popularity of Olivia, Octavia should fit right in!
ODALISCA: I saw this lovely name somewhere recently-- it's a modern Spanish form of Odalis, which comes from a germanic word meaning 'wealth.'
ODD: this Norwegian derivative of Odin would definitely stand out in a crowd!
ODESSA: Ukranian city on the coast of the Black Sea.
OFRA: little used Old Testament name meaning 'fawn.' A man's name in the Bible, but would sound lovely on a little girl
OLIVE: Olivia is way too common these days. How about something more unusual?
OLIVER: A nice, unusual classic that's ripe for the picking.
OLWEN: In Welsh mythology, Olwen had the powers for flowers to spring up wherever she walked. Her name means 'blessed; holy footprint.'
OMAR: Arabic for 'flourishing,' a nice, masculine name.
OMEGA: the last letter of the Greek alphabet, this pops up as a name every now and then.
ONYX/ ONIX: for either gender, this black gem makes a cool, exotic name. Oni or Nix/Nixi are nifty nicknames.
ONZIA: /OHN zee ah/ in Lugbara (Uganda), this girls' name means 'bad.'
OPAL: another lovely jewel name ready for a comeback.
ORAZIO: /or OT zee o/- the Italian form of Horatio, this would make an unusual, cultured choice.
ORCHID: why not go with something more exotic and rare than a Rose or a Lily?
ORIANE/ORIANA: meaning 'gold,' this delicate Latin name would fit right in with all the Briannas and Savannahs out there.
ORION: a well known constellation, Orion was named after a mythological Greek hunter. It might make a good alternative to Ryan these days.
ORLA: this name meaning 'golden princess' is fairly common in Ireland, though it is unheard of in the USA.
OSANNA/OVSANNA: these two Armenian girls' names come from the Hebrew 'hosannah' (rejoice!). They would make beautiful modern choices.
O'SHEA: Ice Cube's real name is O'Shea Jackson. O'Shea is just an awesome-sounding name.
OTTO: short, spunky and a palindrome to boot! Old fashioned to the point of almost being cutting-edge...
OVIYAN: in Tamil, this boys' name means 'painter.'
OZIAS: A cool biblical name, also found as Uzziah, meaning 'God is my power.'
OZIEL: more popular in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking households, this Old Testament name is ready to crossover into the mainstream. Who wouldn't want to be called Ozzie?
OZZIE: Why the heck not? I like names with z's.
PALOMA: Spanish for 'dove,' Pablo Picasso named his daughter this. A feminine name with a lovely sound.
PANTALEÓN: A little Pantaleón would definitely not have to worry about sharing his name with anyone else in his school (unless he managed to travel back to medieval Spain)...
PATIENCE: tired of Faith and Hope? Maybe you don't have enough Patience! A lovely virtue name that's ready for a comeback.
PEARL: This old-fashioned gem name is ready for a comeback.
PERCIVAL/PARSIFAL: a lovely sounding medieval Arthurian name.
PERDITA: Shakespeare invented this based on the Latin word for 'lost' for his play 'A Winter's Tale.'
PEREGRINE: an eccentric name today, it was not uncommon among early Christians up through the middle ages.
PERSEPHONE: a mythological name which flows musically
PERSIS: This exotic name has a lot of class.
PETUNIA: Lily and Rose are popular these days, why not use something a little different?
PHAEDRA: a beautful name from Greek mythology. Fits right in with the Phoebes and Daphnes of the world.
PHILOMELA: means 'lover of music' in Greek. Why not? -ella names are all the rage now!
PHINEAS: the Puritans were into bringing the names of obscure biblical figures into popular use. Phineas is no exception. Stemming from an ancient Egyptian name meaning "Nubian," this uncommon name is ready for a comeback. Already Finn and Finn- names are growing in popularity (i.e., Finlay, Finnegan), why not Phineas?
PHOEBE: A classic Greek name. Also a kind of bird.
PIPER: Unusual & pretty, without being overly feminine. Sounds strong.
POLLY: This name, originally a short form of Mary, would make a nice, more unusual alternative to Molly.
POPPY: Rose and Lily are getting a bit stale. This beautiful flower name is a nice alternative.
POSY: a word for 'flower' that was once used as a pet form of Josephine, this is a cute name that would fit right in with all the other flower names out there.
PRIMAVERA: Spanish for 'spring,' this name would fit right in with the Summers and Autumns of the world.
PRIYA/PRIYANKA: two Sanskrit names coming from the word meaning 'beloved/dear.'
PROTASIUS: the name of a 3rd century saint. His name hasn't been used in centuries, perhaps it's time to rediscover it?
PRUDENCE: so old-fashioned it will sound cutting-edge in a few years. Pru and Rudi make cute nicknames.
PRYDERI: /prih DER ee/ this legendary medieval boys' name means 'caring for' in Welsh.
QAYYAMA/KAYAMA/KA'YAMA - a beautiful sounding Arabic name that has the offbeat meaning of 'tent-maker.'
Q'RANA: /ka RAW na/ beautiful feminine take on the Arabic man's name Q'ran (Koran).
QUENTIN: Q names are so rare. This one sounds very distinguished.
QUINBY: an Engish surname that would make a nice modern-sounding name for a girl or a boy.
QUINCY: an offbeat surname-name that could be used for boys or girls. It has the fun pet form Quin.
QUINN: a nice unisex surname name.
QUINTANUS/ QUINTUS: Latin for 'fifth,' this name was often given to the fifth-born son.
RABIA: /RAH bee ah/ Sometimes spelled RABIYA, this lovely Arabic name means 'springtime.'
RADZA/ RAZA/ RIDA: meaning 'contentment; satisfaction' in Arabic, this was the name of a 9th century imam.
RAELYN: A modern, spunky name.
RAFAEL/Raphael: a little more unusual than Gabriel, Rafe makes a nice nickname.
RAISA: /rah EE sa/ this beautiful Russian name has the nice nickname Raya. It was the name of the former USSR premier Gorbachev's wife.
RAQUEL: This Spanish name is much more unusual than its English form, Rachel.
RAVEENA: in Punjabi, this name means 'beauty of the sun.'
RENATA: pronounced /reh NAH ta/, this name means 're-born' in Latin.
RETHA, THERA, HEART: anagrams of 'earth', one of these would be the perfect name for a budding environmentalist.
REUBEN/ RUBEN: Popular among the Puritans, this biblical name meaning 'behold, a son!' has enjoyed quiet use for several centuries, never becoming popular enough to ever sound out of date. It is more frequently found in Spanish speaking populations as Ruben, and among Jewish people as Reuven.
REUBEN: A Biblical name, Reuben is Hebrew for 'behold, a son.' It is a strong, uncommon name.
RHIANYDD: /rhee AN ith/ (the 'th' being vocative, like in 'this' and 'that', not like in 'three' or 'thing.'). This lovely Welsh name means 'maiden.'
RIDGE: one of those no-nonsense cowboy-type names.
RIDLEY: meaning 'red meadow,' this would make a nice choice for a girl or a boy.
RILIAN: a name from the <I>Chronicles Narnia</I> books.
RIONA: The Irish form of Regina, a nice underused name. Pronounced REE-uh-na (like Rina with an extra syllable)
RIVKA: The Hebrew form of Rebecca, this would make a refreshing alternative.
ROHAN: in Sanskrit, this name means 'ascending.'
ROLAND: A name in medieval ballads, ready for a comeback.
ROMAN: Popular in the former Soviet republics, this name is almost unheard of in the English-speaking world.
ROMANE /ro MAHN/- this lovely feminine form of Roman is currently fairly popular in France.
ROMY: It could be short for Rosemary, Romana or any number of things. It could also be used on its own for a girl or a boy. Whatever the use, it's a cute, peppy name that is substantial enough to work on an adult as well.
RONAN: This is an Irish name meaning 'seal.' It is the name of an Irish saint. Although it is fairly common on the Emerald Isle, it is pretty rare in North America.
RORY: this is an anglicization of Ruai(dh)rí/Ruairidh, which, the former being Irish and the latter being Scottish Gaelic means 'red [haired] king.' This is a spunky, though fairly uncommon name in the USA.
ROSALEEN: Dark Rosaleen was the anglicization of choice for 'Roisín Dubh', a Gaelic poem in the 'aisling' tradition, which portrays Ireland as a beautiful woman in peril. Roisín /RO sheen/ is the equivalent of Rosie in Irish.
ROSALIA: Pronounced /rosa-LEE-a/ This beautiful name was used by an Italian saint.
ROSALIE: Rose is becoming fairly common these days. Rosalie would be a nice, old-fashioned alternative.
ROSALINE: Used not once, but twice by Shakespeare, this lovely name has fallen pretty much into complete obscurity, the names Rosalind and Roslyn being more favored forms. Its popularity, like all the Ros- names, stems from the similarity to the rose flower. However, it is most likely derived from 'hros,' the Anglo-Saxon word for 'horse' (hence why it's pronounced ROHZ a line, rather than ROSE a line).
ROSAMUND: This old-fashioned Shakespearean name is ready for a comeback.
ROSEMARY: a quiet, gentle name of yesteryear. This 'granny name' may become the next Emma or Hannah. Just you wait!'
ROSHANA/ ROXANA: Two English forms of the same Persian name, which was borne by the wife of Alexander the Great. Roxanne is a French variant, but a Roshana wouldn't have everyone telling her to not 'put on the red light' throughout life!
ROSS: Short, sweet, and relatively uncommon, this name is ready for more widespread discovery.
ROWAN: the name of a tree; this lovely nature name is used for boys albeit rarely. Rowan would fit right in along side other nature names that have been cropping up, like Sequoia and Willow, as well as all the popular names ending in -an (Aidan, Jayden, Ethan, Ryan etc.).
ROY: short, sweet, the all-American cowboy name. Fits in with all the Jacks and Jakes out there.
RUDY: this is a cute, spunky name for either gender. On the <i>Cosby Show</i> in the 80s, little Rudy's name was short for Ruth.
RUFUS: originally a nickname for someone who had red hair, this has been used as a permanent English first name for a couple of centuries now.
RUPERT: this Dutch form of Robert was brought to England in the 17th century. It has never been terribly popular in the USA, but maybe it's time for that to change!
RUPINDER: in Sanskrit, this girls' name means 'an Indra [Hindu god of the sky and rain] of beauty,' implying a paragon of beauty.
RUTH: Popular among Puritans and everyone else throughout the early part of the 20th century, this lovely no-nonsense biblical name is ready for a comeback.
RYU: a Japanese boys' name meaning 'dragon.'
SABIAN: possibly a form of Xavier or a masculine form of Sabine, Sabian is an unusual, modern-sounding choice.
SABRA: a lovely Hebrew name. A good alternative to Sara(h)
SABRIYA: a beautiful Arabic name meaning 'patience; endurance.'
SAKURA: a lovely Japanese name meaning 'cherry blossom'
SALLY: originally a nickname for Sarah, Sally has been used on its own for decades. Popular in the 40s, this name may sound either old and dowdy or spunky and cutting-edge depending on whom you talk to!
SALMA: a beautiful Arabic name meaning 'peaceful; pacifist.''
SAORLA: an pretty, unusual Irish name pronounced /SAYR la/. It means 'noble queen' in Irish Gaelic.
SARIN: this pretty Armenian name means 'rose of the mountain.'
SARKIS: a nice Armenian name. Also means 'rainbow' in Persian.
SARO: as a man's name it's Armenian for 'cypress tree.' The girls' name comes from Sarah, and is heard in the American folk song 'Pretty Saro.'
SATYA: means 'true, the truth' in Sanskrit.
SAVION: this name has a smooth, yet energetic feel to it, thanks to dancer Savion Glover.
SCIPIO: one for the history buffs, a Roman name that doesn't end in '-us'!
SCOTTI: I met a little girl named Scotti the other day, which was her mom's maiden name. I thought it sounded kind of cute.
SEAMLAS /SHAHM las/ this is an Irish Gaelic word meaning 'hare-lip.' OK, it's not actually a name, but it's a cool sounding, esoteric word. I always wanted to call a Celtic mucic band this.
SEANAS: pronounced /SHAHN is/, this Irish Gaelic word means 'slaughterhouse.' OK, it's not exactly a name, but it's a nice enough sounding word...
SEASON: for those who can't decide on naming a child Summer or Autumn!
SELAH: a biblical word indicating perhaps a musical interlude in a sung psalm. This would make a nice alternative to Sarah.
SELMA: It has a sweet, lispy, silvery sound. Civil Rights marches in Selma, Alabama led to the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s. Selma was also the name of the castle in MacPherson's Ossianic poems.
SEMELE: (rhymes with Emily)- In Greek mythology, she was the mother of the god Dionysus.
SENKA: a lovely name meaning 'shadow' in Serbian.
SEVAN/SIVAN/SEVANA: a popular name in Armenia for both men and women-- named for Armenia's largest lake.
SEVERIN: an unusual name with a classic, somewhat dramatic feel.
SHAHLA: means 'Beautiful eyes' -Afghani
SHANTI: A beautiful Sanskrit name meaning 'peace; tranquility.'
SHELLA: a name I came across recently that I thought was interesting. I guess this person's parents couldn't decide between Sheila and Shelley!
SHIFRA: this lovely Hebrew name is derived from the word meaning 'beauty; grace.'
SîAN: Pronounced /SHAN/, this pretty name is a Welsh form of Jane.
SIBYL, SIBYLLA: old-fashioned names are coming back in style. This could be the next Hannah/Isabella!
SIGANANDA: this was the name of a king of a South African tribe.
SILAS: A boys' name that doesn't end in -on, this biblical name could work well on a boy or an adult.
SIMONE: This exotic French name is a feminine form of Simon.
SIRENA: /see RAY na/ Latin for 'siren,' the mythological creatures who lure sailors to their death with their beautiful voices. Also Spanish for 'mermaid.'
SIRÈNE: /see REN/ it means 'mermaid' in French. It's a lovely sounding word, though it's not techically a name. Why couldn't it be, though? Stranger words have become names!
SITKA: a town in Alaska that would make a lovely name.
SKYLARK: For the daring nature lover, this bird name gives the more common nickname Sky(e)..
SNEH: in Sanskrit, this girls' name can mean either 'viscous' or 'affection.'
SOBIRANA: a lovely name used in the medieval Occitan region of france. The English cognate is 'sovereign.'
SOLANA: although this means 'sun-room' in Spanish, it is also a Latin word for 'sunshine.' A pretty, unusual nature name.
SONYA: a beautiful, classic feminine name.
SORAYA: this beautiful name was used by the wife of the Shah of Persia.
SOREN: most often associated with the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, Soren is a nice, unusual choice in the USA.
SORIN: this boys' name means 'sun' in Romanian
SORINA: in Romanian, this lovely girls' name means 'sun'
SORLEY: Following on the heels of Mackenzie and Cameron, this Scottish surname, this would be nice on either a boy or a girl.
SORREL: a beautiful botanical name.
SOSI: an Armenian name, coming from the plane tree, which is sacred in Armenia.
ST. JOHN/SINJIN: Sure, a kid named Sinjin might take a couple of beatings on the playground, but I bet when he's an adult, everyone would want him to be their lawyer or doctor!
STELIAN: this Romanian boys' name comes from a Greek name meaning 'pillar.'
STELLA: -Ella names are in (Gabriella, Isabella), Stella, meaning 'star' in Latin is ripe for discovery as well.
STEREN: a lovely name meaning 'star' in Cornish.
STEWART, STUART: a serious, classic name. Ready for a comeback.
STOJAN: /sto yon/ this Slavic name means 'stand,' and is used for boys in Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovakia.
SUPARMAN: this super Indonesian man's name is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning 'good; fortunate.'
SUSANNAH: Although a child with this name may get sick of hearing 'oh, Susannah, don't you cry for me' all the time, this beautiful classic name is ready for a comeback.
SVIN: an unusual Armenian boys' name meaning 'bayonet.'
SYLVIAN/SILVIAN, SYLVAN, SYLVAIN: all from the same root meaning 'forest,' this trio of names would make a distinctive offbeat choice.
SYLVIE: a soft, beautiful French form of Sylvia, a Roman mythological name.
TACITA: A Latin name meaning 'silence.'
TAD: don't like nicknames? This is a nice, short nickname-free one.
TALITHA: in the Christian Bible, Jesus says talitha cumi, which means 'little girl, arise' in Aramaic. Meaning 'little girl,' this is sometimes used as a girls' name.
TANITH: the name of a Phoenician goddess of love, fertility, and the night sky. Her name means 'serpent lady.' Other variations are TANIS (Greek) and TANIT.
TARKA: not just for otters, this name is as unusual as Tarquin but somehow less pretentious!
TARRANT: A nice English surname that could be used as a first name.
TATIA (TAY sha): in Roman times, she was the daughter of the king of the Sabine peoples.
TAURICA (TOR ik a): an ancient name for the Crimean peninsula, this would make a lovely modern-sounding girls' name. You could use the spelling Torica, Torika etc.
TELOTTSEY: I found this name of a woman in my family tree-- I can't find any meaning or origin for it, but it sounds kind of cool!
TERTIA/ TERTIUS: these Latin names (the first for girls, the second the masculine form) means 'third,' and was often given to the third child in Roman times.
TESMOND: according to this book, it means 'protector from evil,' which is a cool meaning.
THALIA: The ancient Greek muse of comedy and playful, idyllic poetry
THATCHER: another occupational surname in the same vein as Taylor and Tyler, Thatcher is a more unique choice, and would be adorable on a child, conservative or not.
THELONIUS: it's unique and just plain cool
THEMIS: /TEM is/ in Greek mythology, she was justice, often shown holding scales and blindfolded. Her name means 'divine law.'
THEODEN: the king of Rohan in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. It sounds almost like a 'normal' name-- people may not give a Theoden funny looks, like they would had he been named Aragorn or Gandolf or something.
THOR: This strong Scandinavian name would make an original, unusual choice.
TIELMAN/ TYLMAN: the first name of the Flemish Renaissance composer Susato, it doesn't sound too out of place today.
TIHANA: this is a lovely Croatian name meaning 'quiet.';
TILLY: either short for Matilda or on its own, this cute nickname would fit right in with all the Lilys and Billys out there.
TOIRDHEALBHACH: Ok, we don't expect anyone to actually use this name, but we think it's really cool. It's Irish and is pronounced /TUR uh lukh/. It is anglicized Turlough, and means 'abettor'.
TOLA: the name of an ancient Irish saint, would make an unusual but nice choice.
TOMI: a nice Japanese boys' name meaning 'prosperous.'
TOMIKA: Also found as Tamika, this beautiful exotic name has a multitude of great nicknames, as well as being pretty and not too unwieldy on its own.
TORETH: I'll admit that I never saw this name before it came in a spam email the other day. I think it's kind of an nice name~! It's kind of like 'Doris' with a lisp...
TORQUIL: want a Scottish name that you can bet no other kid in the daycare has? Torquil is it!
TORSTEN: an old Norse name meaning 'Thor's stone.' This would make an unusual but still somewhat modern-sounding choice.
TOVIA: a modern Hebrew name meaning 'good.' It's a feminine form of Tobias.
TREEMONISHA: the name of an opera (and the heroine of the opera) by African-American composer Scott Joplin.
TRISTRAM: an older form of the name Tristan, this name is unusual, and has a literary flair.
TROND: a no-nonsense name used in Viking times. Nobody would dare pick on a Trond.
TRUE: A spunky, unusual modern virtue name. For the really daring, use it as a nickname for Truly (could be an alternative to Julie)
TRURO: the name of the main city in Cornwall in England-- would fit right in with all the other place names out there: London, Austin, Dallas, Paris etc.
TSIGE: the name of half the Ethiopian girls I know. Pronounced /TZIG ay/
VALERIAN: The name of a flowering plant that makes a lovely human name as well.
VALLEY: nature names are cool now, why not this one? We use Brook, Glen and Cliff! Valley sounds like Allie, Sally and Hallie; it's practically a name already!
VAN: short & energetic, this name brings to mind Van Morrison.
VARICK: more unusual than Eric, but with a similar sound.
VASHTI: This lovely name is biblical; probably of Persian origin.
VERA: In Russian, this name means 'faith.' In English-speaking countries, it owes its popularity to the fact that it's also Latin for 'true.' Especially pretty when pronounced the Russian way (VAIRA - rhymes with Sarah), rather than like Veera.
VERIDIANA/VIRIDIANA: a beautiful Italian name meaning 'green.' It was the name of a medieval saint.
VERITY: Latin for 'truth,' this is a lovely virtue name.
VERLIE: a French place name that has been occasionally used as a name. It's short, sweet and old-fashioned sounding.
VERO/VERAZ: both of these are names used in Spanish meaning 'truthful.'
VESSELA: Pronounced /VESS uh la/ this name means 'happy' in Bulgarian.
VIOLA: a pretty spring flower.
VIORICA: This pretty girls' name is the Romanian name for the Bluebell flower.
VISNJA: a pretty Croatian girls' name meaning 'cherry.'
WALDO: middle name of Ralph Waldo Emerson--despite 'Where's Waldo,' this name is rife with geek chic.
WALLIS: the lady love of Prince Edward in the 30's. A nice modern-sounding girls' name.
WENONAH: This legendary Lakota princess's name means 'first born.'
WILBUR: who could forget the loveable pig in 'Charlotte's Web'? Wil is a good, solid nickname.
WILLA: A soft, pretty, old-fashioned literery name that conjures up images of willow trees.
WILLEM: the Dutch form of William, picked as a stage name by actor William Dafoe after the Dutch artist Willem deKooning. It has a nice sound.
WILMER/ WILMAR: looking for a long form of Will without using William or Wilbur? Here's your name!
WINSOME: a vocabulary word meaning 'pleasant; cheerful' that was occasionally used as a name.
WINTER: Summer and Autumn are already pretty common as names. Why not add this season?
WISDOM : a virtue that everyone needs.
WOLFRAM: This is a strong germanic name. 'Wolfie' is a very cute nickname.
WYLIE: With the popularty of Riley/Reilly, why not Wylie/Wiley?
XAN: a cool, modern-sounding short form of Alexander/Alexandra.
XANDRA: a funky form of the now-popular Alexandra.
XANTHUS: This name is serious-sounding, yet something about the X makes it fun.
XARA: a funky spelling of the already-funky name Zara.
XAVIA: a cool, modern-sounding feminine form of Xavier.
XENIA: a Greek name meaning 'hospitality.' It's the name of several places in the USA, and is very unusual as a first name.
XENO: The name of a Roman emporer, this name makes a fun-yet-exotic modern-sounding name.
XIA: in Chinese, this word is used to denote the pinkish glow of the clouds at dawn and dusk and is used for girls. It is also used in compound names such as Mingxia and Xiafei.
XIAOLI: /ZHOW LEE/ /SHEEOW LEE/ Chinese names can have various meanings, based upon which characters are used to spell them. One of the meanings of this lovely name is 'morning jasmine.'
XIOMARA: a Mexican form of a Germanic name, this name is gaining popularity in Spanish-speaking communities.
XOCHITL: /SO cheel/ this is a very funky Aztec name that is fairly popular in Mexico for girls. I think it's a kind of flower.
YAEL: /yah EL/- a pretty Hebrew girls' name meaning 'mountain goat.' It is also found as Jael.
YANTO: in Javanese, this name means 'male.'
YELENA: /yeh LAY na/ - this Russian form of Helen is beautiful and slightly exotic-sounding to English-speaking ears.
YERED: the Hebrew form of Jared, this is more unusual.
YESMINA: derived from the word Jasmine, this is a more exotic sounding than other variants Yasmin or Jazlyn.
YONCA: this pretty Turkish girls' name means 'clover.'
YORICK: Shakespearean quotes aside, this form of York is a pleasant-sounding, unusual name.
YSANNE: /ee ZANN/, /ee SAHN/ - this soft, lovely name is actually a modern coinage, though it looks older.
ZABEL: This is a very old Armenian form of Isabel.
ZABEL: tired of Isabel(la) yet? This lovely Armenian form is unusual and has the zippy Z in the beginning.
ZAFIRA: meaning 'sapphire,' this beautiful name has an exotic quality
ZAHIRA: A beautiful Arabic name meaning, 'shining; radiant; blossoming.'
ZAKIYAH: Means 'pure' in both Arabic and Hebrew.
ZAL: Zal was the father of Rostam--the hero of an old Persian epic story in the 'Book of Kings', written by Ferdowsi. The name is pronounced /ZAWL/ (like Paul).
ZAMORA: this is the name of a city in Spain that has a ton of history. Though it's also a fairly common Spanish surname, it makes a lovely first name as well.
ZANAZAN or ZANI: this different girls' name means 'different' in Armenian
ZANETA: a nice, unusual Z name.
ZANNAH or ZANNA: this modern diminutive of Susannah would make a zippy alternative to the over-popular Hannah.
ZARED: a spinky Hebrew name, a nice alternative to Jared.
ZAREH: an Armenian form of a name meaning 'weeping, pain' in Persian and Kurdish. Deffinitely different.
ZARINA: This lovely Arabic name means 'golden.
ZAVEN: a cool Persian boys' name meaning 'helper.'
ZAYEV: Meaning 'wolf' in Hebrew, this unusual Z name would sound right at home amongst the Zacks and Zoes out there.
ZEDEKIAH: A good Old Testament name, and who wouldn't want to be called Zed?
ZELEIA: /zeh LYE a/ - a mythological Greek place name.
ZÉLIE: /zay LEE/ - a cool French alternative to the Kaylee/Shaylee continuum.
ZENO: several philosophers have had this name, along with a saint and a computer language. With a long history like that, why isn't this cool Z name more popular?
ZEORA: who wouldn't want to be named after the genus of lichens?
ZEPHYR: Greek, means 'the west wind.' Zephyros was the Greek god of the west wind.
ZERU: this funky Z name means 'sky' in Basque.
ZEV: This zippy Hebrew name has a lot of pizzazz
ZIA: Scott O'Dell wrote a book called 'Zia' that I liked a lot as a kid. I just heard this name recently in a movie for a male character, though. I think it's a cool name for either gender.
ZIGOR: in Basque, this boys' name means 'punishment.'
ZILLAH: this lovely Old Testament name means 'shadow.'
ZILPAH: a beautiful and underused Old Testament name.
ZIMRI: this is a rare Old Testament name that means either 'my music' or 'my praise' in Hebrew.
ZIMRIA, ZIMRIAH: a lovely Hebrew name meaning 'song.'
ZIONNAH: there was one baby named this in Québèc in 2006, so it's not terribly common! It has a lovely sound, though, and would fit right in with all the Ariana/Briana/Leannas of the world.
ZIVAN: there aren't enough Z names out there. This is a nice Slavic choice.
ZLATA: Meaning 'gold' in Slavic, this name is used for both girls and boys.
ZOLTAN: /ZOLE tun/ a nice, underused Z name from Hungary. Would make a zippy, unusual choice.
ZORA: Exotic, easy to spell, and definitely unusual; this name has literary overtones with the author Zora Neale Hurston.
ZORI: Corey, Rory, Tori, Dory etc. are names. Why not Zori?
ZOYA: this Russian and Yiddish version is much funkier than its Greek counterpart, Zoe.;
ZURI: 'beautiful' in Arabic.
ZVI/ TZVI: meaning 'deer' in Hebrew, this name is found often in Israel. How many names can you say start with 'Zv'?