One-of-a-Kind Names for Girls
- Faithful
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"faithful"Description:
Faith is a classic virtue name, but Faithful is more modern, having only been in the charts since 2003, and somehow more word-like.
- Umbria
Origin:
Italian place name, from the Umbri, one of the chief tribes settling the Italian nationDescription:
Umbria is a lovely, virtually unused Italian name for girls, reflecting the beautiful rolling hills of the area's countryside. And since it's right next door to Tuscany, in which Siena resides, maybe Umbria could be a follow-up to the popular Siena-Sienna.
- Devri
Origin:
Greek, variation of Devra, HebrewMeaning:
"bee"Description:
Devri derived both as a variant of the Hebrew name Devra, related to Deborah, and as an independent Greek name. With Deborah and Debbie firmly in grandma territory, Devri would be a lovely and modern honorific.
- Caridad
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"Charity"Description:
Caridad is a theological Virgin name, representing Our Lady of Charity, and a popular saint's name in Cuba. Would make an interesting choice, in the manner of the more familiar Soledad, Our Lady of Solitude.
- Selby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the willow farm"Description:
Selby, a rarely heard British surname, feels sleeker and more distinctive than Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.
- 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.
- Lozen
Origin:
Apache, Native AmericanMeaning:
"one who steals horses"Description:
Lozen is the name of a female Apache warrior and medicine woman who fought with Geronimo in the 19th century. The sister of the warrior called Victorio, Lozen was the name chosen by soccer star Hope Solo and football player Jerramy Stevens for their daughter, Lozen Orianna Judith, twin of Vittorio Genghis.
- Nuray
Origin:
TurkishMeaning:
"bright moon"Description:
Nuray is one of the most popular girls' names in the Middle East though it's largely unknown and unused in the Western World. The meaning, related to the more familiar Noor, adds appeal.
- Jumelle
Origin:
French word nameMeaning:
"twin or binoculars"Description:
The French word for "twin," often used to refer to items found in pairs. Its plural form, jumelles, is the word for binoculars.
- Sheherazade
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"noble lineage"Description:
The tale-spinning heroine of The Thousand and One Nights, Sheherazade is an extravagantly elaborate name for a little girl. Too extravagantly elaborate? It's lovely and beguiling, and with the rise of such evocative monikers as Persephone and Ophelia, Sheherazade may have a chance in the modern baby name world. Another accepted spelling is Scheherazade. While the origin of this name is Persian, there are also modern Arabic forms of the name.
- Dancer
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"someone who dances"Description:
A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.
- Romary
Origin:
French variation of Romaric, German, and Scottish surnameMeaning:
"famously strong"Description:
Romy lovers, here's a new one for you! Romary is a surname with French and Scottish roots and has historically been a masculine given name in France. It would be a great choice on either sex, but feels slightly more feminine with the -mary ending and Romy nickname.
- Shaili
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my gift"Description:
Derived from the Hebrew words shai, meaning "gift," and li, "mine." The Shaily variation is more common in Israel and the US.
- Effia
Origin:
AkanMeaning:
"born on Friday"Description:
One of the many gorgeous names originally used for children born on a specific day of the week, popular in West African culture. Effia is Akan in origin — the Akan people originate in southern Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
- Carmody
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of Cearmaid"Description:
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cearmada, which is reminiscent of other jaunty Irish surnames like Cassidy and Connolly.
- Jericha
Origin:
Feminine variation of Jericho, Biblical place nameDescription:
Jericho, a Biblical city, has popped in and out of the Top 1000 since 2013, never making it above the 900s. That means it's unlikely that Jericha, a feminization, will break into the mainstream anytime soon — perfect for parents on the hunt for a unique name with religious significance.
- Imonie
Origin:
Spelling variation of Imani, SwahiliMeaning:
"faith"Description:
Imani has rested comfortably in the middle off the US popularity list for 30 years now. Spelling it Imonie makes it more rare, but potentially more confusing.
- Haviland
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"goat estate"Description:
Although it's more commonly seen as a surname, Haviland is occasionally used as a first name, particularly for girls.
- Mignonette
Origin:
Form of Mignon, FrenchMeaning:
"delicate, dainty"Description:
Mignonette is kind of a diminutive of a diminutive. Mignon is the French word for cute, so Mignonette is more or less cutie.
- Onnolee
Origin:
Native American, meaning unknownDescription:
Onnolee is a name immortalized in American legend. She was the last surviving member of the Munsee tribe of Native Americans, native to the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the 14th century, Onnolee was captured by Mickinac, the leader of the Mengnee tribe who slaughtered the Munsees. She stole an unsuspecting Mickinac's knife from his sheath and stabbed him in the heart before fleeing and jumping to her death. Onnolee's ghost is said to haunt the region.