Unique Names from History

This ancient Egyptian queen's name would be best saved for a cat.

A name with considerable history, as the celebrated sultan of Egypt and Syria in the time of the Crusades.

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.

A name with a rich history in Ancient Greece and Rome, Agrippina was the sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls. The name Agrippina arose in ancient times to further distinguish it as a feminine form of Agrippa.

Ovid is the English form of the Roman family name Ovidius, which possibly comes from the word for sheep. It is the usual English name for the first-century poet Publius Ovidius Naso.

An interesting name despite the pronunciation challenge. It has literary roots, both in the classical poetry of Horace, and as a character in John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman. Appealing nicknames are Lalla and Lally.

Sounds like a variant of Heidi or Hailey, but Haidee is actually a separate name with a literary history, used in Byron's epic poem Don Juan.

Innogen is the Shakespearean name that never was. Most sources will tell you that Shakespeare intended to use Innogen for a character in Cymbeline, but his printer mistook the twos Ns for an M, thus inventing Imogen. This may or may not be true — Imogen seems to have existed before his time, and Shakespeare may have changed the spelling on purpose — but nevertheless, it makes for a great name story.

The first bearer of this majestic name was a 12th century prince of Taranto and Antioch, whose father gave him the nickname of Bohemond (after a mythical giant called Buamundus gigas) due to his large size at birth. The name was thereafter used as a given name by his descendants.

Variously spelled Swithun or Swithin, and associated with St. Swithin's day, July 15th, which is famous as a weather predictor a la Groundhog's Day: supposedly, the weather on his feast day will continue for forty days. This would certainly make a unique choice.

Old Testament name of a son of Moses used by the Puritans, and now by Orthodox Jews.

The forerunner of Cynthia is all but unknown these days, but deserving of import and revival.

Sounds like a Hobbit.

Siddhartha Guatama was the real name of Buddha, born in India in the 5th century BC. It has thus become a significant name among Buddhists, who follow Buddha's teachings.

Thurston Howell was the snooty millionaire on Gilligan's Island, but these days such surname names don't have the same elitist air.

The historical Atossa was the daughter of Cyrus the Great of the Persian Empire. Atossa first married her brother Cambyses II, but was later married to Darius I. She gave birth to their son Xerxes I, the next Achaemenid king.

Bearded, fusty name of great old Roman lyric poet; just what the bold vanguard baby namer might be looking for.