Animal Names for Girls

This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.

Cymricized version of the English flower/rainbow/goddess name Iris.

A star in the "tail" of the Cygnus constellation.

With so many A-beginning names finding their way into style, Agacia is one unusual choice that could get more attention. It's part Agatha, part Acacia, and quite intriguing.

Brooke variation – or is the other way around? – that makes it more a nature name, less an eighties-style androgynous name.

Amy and all her sisters and cousins was such a popular name that this version was among the Top 1000 girl names in the US until the mid-90s. Last year only 32 baby girls were names Amie.

Accalia was the human foster-mother of twins Romulus and Remus. Her name is even more obscure than theirs.

A rising surname name for girls — it's overwhelmingly feminine, despite the association with Kenny Chesney.

A soft and lovely Hebrew name with an equally lovely meaning. Variations include Ahavah, Ahaba, Ahabah, Ahuva and Ahuvah.

Proof that a name can be too feminine.

A possible addition to the Ava / Ada / Adah collection, with a Jewish twist.

Cerie -- which may be thought of as a variation of Siri or Cherie or Ceri but in fact is related to none of them -- is the name of Liz Lemon's assistant Cerie Xerox on 30 Rock. The gorgeous Cerie's name is pronounced seh-REE. As baby names go, you could do worse. But you could also do a lot better.

Mythical wonderland makes strong, evocative first name.

This ferocious and fuzzy animal name has started to see some use among baby girls, particularly as a middle name. Reporter Katy Tur has a daughter named Eloise Judy Bear.

A top name in Turkey, where it ranks in the Top 30 for baby girls.

The ie ending injects this late 20th century favorite with a bit of late 19th century charm. But not quite enough to make it a good 21st century choice.

Though trendy Arlo is increasingly unisex -- especially since Leighton Meester and Adam Brody gave it to their daughter -- this is a more explicitly female way to spell it. It was one of the fastest-rising girls' names of 2017 and will be among the trendy unique unisex names of the future.

This Puritan virtue name may be unstylish, but it is also sympathetic and appealing in these largely uncomfortable times.