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.
XENIA- a Greek name meaning 'hospitality.' It's the name of several places in the USA, and is very unusual as a first name.
ADELAIDE: Originally from a German name meaning 'noble and kind.'
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 rd and favorite wife, in the Islamic tradition.
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.
ALLEGRA: forget the allergy medicine! This beautiful Italian name means 'happy.'
ALON pronounced /ah LON/, this modern Hebrew name means 'oak tree.'
AMALIA: More exotic and daring than Amelia, this name has lots of potential.
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/
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.
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.
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/.
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.'
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.
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.
BARNABAS: a funky, underused old-fashioned name.
BARRON: sick of Aaron, Darren, Karen, and Sharon? How about Baron?
BASTIAN: From <i>The Neverending Story</i>, this is a short form of Sebastian.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
CAMBPELL: a little more unusual than Cameron, but with a similar flavor. The one drawback: soup references.
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!
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.
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)
CHRISTABEL - for the suffragettes amongst us, a strong name for a strong woman!
CHRISTIANA: A flowery, feminine alternative to Christa/Christina.
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.
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.'
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.
DERMOT: popular in Ireland, this name is fairly uncommon in the USA
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.
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.
DORA: this pretty old-fashioned name is ripe for resurrection.
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
DURAND/DURANT: a surname which was also used as a man's name in the medieval Occitan region of France.
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.
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..
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 - simple, uncommon, nice
ELLIS: A nice unisex surname, name. Just be sure your last name isn't Dee!
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.
EMERSON - I really like this for a girl it is unusual 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.
EMRYS: a Welsh form of Ambrose, this name was popular in 20th-century Wales, but unheard of int he USA.
ESTELLIE: Pronounced /ESS teh lee/, this was the name of a cool teacher I had once. '
ESTRELLA: a beautiful name, meaning 'star.'
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.'
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.'
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.
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.
FIDANKA - a lovely Bulgarian girls' name meaning 'young tree; sapling.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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!
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!
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.
HALCYON - the Greek word for 'kingfisher', a handsome bird; can easily be shortened to Hal
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.
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.
HUMPHREY: brings to mind Humphrey Bogart. An eccentric classic that would work well today.
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 who died at a young age.
IDA: 'sweet as apple cider' as the old song goes. A pretty old name ready for a comeback.
IGNACIO: A Spanish form of Ignatius, which means 'fire.' Iggy is a cute nickname.
ILONA: meaning 'oak tree,' this is a beautiful modern Hebrew name.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 <i>rishi</i> (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.'
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.
KETURAH: pronounced keh-TOOR-ah, this beautiful name is biblical but uncommon.
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.
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.
KSENIA: This Russian form of Xenia is an exotic, unusual, modern-sounding name.
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.
LALAZAR: used in Persian and Armenian for boys, it means 'garden of tulips.'
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.
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.
LESTER: a long-forgotten 'stuffy' name, this one is ready for a comeback. When it comes to nicknames, Les is more! (har har)
LIADAN: This beautiful, ancient Irish name means 'grey lady.'.
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.
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.'
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!
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.
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.
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.
MARLO: sick of Maggie, Peggy, and Meg? Marlo makes a spunky, unusual nickname for Margaret.
MATEO: Spanish form of Matthew, a nice alternative.
MATTHIAS: a nice biblical name, a good alternative to the hyper-popular Matthew.
MAXIMO: Latin for 'greatest'-- he could always go by Max, if he thought it was too weird.'
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.
MIYUKI: This Japanese name means 'beautiful happiness.'
MORAY: Scottish place name, would make a nice name, despite the eel connotations
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.
MORVEN: definitely unusual, slightly romantic and dramatic.
MORWENNA: an old Cornish saint's name.
MURDOCH: From a Gaelic name meaning 'mariner,' this would make an offbeat choice
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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
NYSSA: This pretty Greek name would make a good alternative to Alyssa/Melissa.
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!
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.
ONYX/ONIX - for either gender, this black gem makes a cool, exotic name. Oni or Nix/Nixi are nifty nicknames.
OPAL - another lovely jewel name ready for a comeback.
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.
OVIYAN- in Tamil, this boys' name means 'painter.'
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.
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 <i>A Winter's Tale.</i>
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!
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.
PRIYA/PRIYANKA - two Sanskrit names coming from the word meaning 'beloved/dear.'
PRUDENCE - so old-fashioned it will sound cutting-edge in a few years. Pru and Rudi make cute nicknames.
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.
QUINN: a nice unisex surname name.
RAELYN: A modern, spunky name.
RAFAEL/Raphael: a little more unusual than Gabriel, Rafe makes a nice nickname.
RAQUEL: This Spanish name is much more unusual than its English form, Rachel.
RENATA pronounced /reh NAH ta/, this name means 're-born' in Latin.
REUBEN: A Biblical name, Reuben is Hebrew for 'behold, a son.' It is a strong, uncommon name.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!'
ROSS: Short, sweet, and relatively uncommon, this name is ready for more widespread discovery.
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.
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'
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.
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.'
SIBYL, SIBYLLA: old-fashioned names are coming back in style. This could be the next Hannah/Isabella!
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)..
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.
SOREN most often associated with the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, Soren is a nice, unusual choice in the USA.
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.
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.
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.
TARKA- not just for otters, this name is as unusual as Tarquin but somehow less pretentious!
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
TSIGE: the name of half the Ethiopian girls I know. Pronounced /TZIG ay/
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.
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.
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!
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.
XARA: a funky spelling of the already-funky name Zara.
XAVIA - a cool, modern-sounding feminine form of Xavier.
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.
YELENA - /yeh LAY na/ - this Russian form of Helen is beautiful and slightly exotic-sounding to English-speaking ears.
YESMINA- derived from the word Jasmine, this is a more exotic sounding than other variants Yasmin or Jazlyn.
YORICK - Shakespearean quotes aside, this form of York is a pleasant-sounding, unusual name.
YSANNE - /ee ZANN/, /ee SONN/ - this soft, lovely name is actually a modern coinage, though it looks older.
ZABEL- tired of Isabel(la) yet? This lovely Armenian form is unusual and has the zippy Z in the beginning.
ZABEL: This is a very old Armenian form of Isabel.
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.
ZANETA: a nice, unusual Z name.
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.
ZELEIA - /zeh LYE a/ - a mythological Greek place name.
ZÉLIE: /zay LEE/ - a cool French alternative to the Kaylee/Shaylee continuum.
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.
ZEV: This zippy Hebrew name has a lot of pizzazz
ZILPAH: a beautiful and underused Old Testament name.
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.
ZURI: 'beautiful' in Arabic.