Unique Girl Names: Uncommon, Unusual, Cool
- Rigby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ridge farm"Description:
Rigby is a rather stiff British surname, which might call to mind the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" or, from the recent past, Cathy Rigby, the first American woman to win a medal in World Gymnastics competition. The problem with Rigby may be its similarity to the word "rigid."
- Estlin
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
A subtle literary surname choice: Estlin is the second "E" in E.E. Cummings (the first being Edward). Works equally well on both men and women.
- Haviva
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"well loved"Description:
An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.
- Contessa
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"countess"Description:
There's a craze for royal names right now, including Royal itself, so c'mon down, Contessa, and join Prince, King, Duke, Royalty -- the whole blue-blooded gang. Bonus: Short form Tess or Tessa makes this an almost-ordinary name.
- Corsica
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Corsica, the picturesque Mediterrean island birthplace of Napoleon, makes an easy switch from atlas to baby name book, with its delicate, feminine ending. Just don't consider neighboring island Sardinia.
- Taja
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"to mention, to name"Description:
Soft, sultry resonance.
- Atlanta
Origin:
Place nameMeaning:
"Atlantic Ocean"Description:
The capital of Georgia is far from the ocean, but got its name from the Western and Atlantic Railroad which ran through the city. Best known as a hub of industry and transport, and for its roles in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, it has never been popular as a baby name despite sounding like one. Its peak popularity was in 1995, the year before Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.
- Anoki
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"unique"Description:
A sweet Hindi girls' name, a variation of Anokhi, that would wear well in the Western world.
- Enyo
Origin:
GreekDescription:
Enyo is the Greek goddess of war, the female counterpart to the god Ares. Enyo's Roman equivalent in Bellona.
- Bethlehem
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"house of bread"Description:
The Spanish name Belén is a well-established girl name, but parents have been slower to use the English equivalent. It is beginning to come into wider use, along with other New Testament place names like Galilee and Nazareth.
- Drucilla
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"strong"Description:
Pleasingly quaint and dainty New Testament possibility; the nickname Dru modernizes it.
- Jumana
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"silver pearl"Description:
Rare and rhythmic.
- Camber
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"curved inwards"Description:
Part Cameron, part Amber, Camber may be a new name but it feels right for our times. As a word, camber means a slightly arched surface.
- Eaven
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"beautiful sheen"Description:
Anglicized form of the Irish name Aoibheann, which is also in use in Ireland itself. Eavie/Evie would make an adorable short form.
- Jamaica
Origin:
Native American place nameMeaning:
"rich in springs"Description:
Among the least gimmicky, most appealing and colorful of all the names found in the atlas, Jamaica almost sings out the rhythms of the West Indies.
- Vivica
Origin:
Spelling variation of VivecaDescription:
The attractive actress Vivica A. Fox has done a lot to add this version of the name into the mix.
- Estrelle
- Kealoha
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"loved one"Description:
An appealing unisex Hawaiian name (more commonly used for boys) with a lovely meaning and vibrant sound. It derives from the words ke "the" and aloha "love". Keahloha is also a common Hawaiian surname.
- Huntley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of the hunter"Description:
A softer take on Hunter. Huntley is evenly distributed between girls and boys, coming in at 47% female and 53% male at last count.
- Gwenora
Origin:
Cornish form of Guinevere, WelshMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Gwenora teeters on the line between unique gem and modern invention. But it's not a smoosh name fashioned from Gwen and Nora but an old Cornish form of Guinevere, like its much more famous sister Jennifer.