Unusual Girl Names
- Willow
Origin:
English nature nameMeaning:
"willow tree"Description:
An ancient tree that figures in literature from Shakespeare to Harry Potter and is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely name, as graceful as its inspiration.
- Winter
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Fresher, brisker and, yes, cooler than Summer or Autumn or Spring, Winter is now a full-fledged female choice, especially since Nicole Richie and Joel Madden used it for daughter Harlow's middle name, and Gretchen Mol picked it as her daughter's first, as did media mogul Sean Parker. Winter continues to be the preferred spelling and has risen in popularity significantly over the past few years.
- Wintr
- Wynter
Origin:
Spelling variation of WinterDescription:
Less month, more trendy, more times needing to spell it to people. This spelling variation entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013—and doesn't appear to be going anywhere any time soon.
- Whisper
- Xandi
- Xanthene
Origin:
Color nameDescription:
A yellowish chemical compound that produces fluorescent dyes ranging from bright yellow to hot pink to flaming red -- but as a name sounds glaringly sci-fi.
- Xiamara
Origin:
Feminine variation of Guiomar, Spanish, PortugueseMeaning:
"famous in battle"Description:
The longer form of Xia is more rhythmic but also more problematic.
- Yesenia
Origin:
Spanish tree nameMeaning:
"floral"Description:
This unique girls' name is a Latinx favorite popularized by a character on a Spanish-language soap opera. Jessenia is another variation. The name is drawn from the name of a tree in South America.
- Zabel
Origin:
Armenian form of Isabel, a form of Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
The dashing Zabel -- or its Frenchified variation Zabelle -- was the name of a 13th century ruling queen of Armenia. In this modern era ruled again by the name Isabella and Isabel, Zabel provides a fresh and lively spin.
- Zabelle
Origin:
Spelling variation of Zabel, form of Isabel which is a form of Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Zabelle and Zabel are fresh (to us) and ancient forms of Isabel, making zippy variations for modern lovers of that ancient name who feel the original is overexposed.
- Zadie
Origin:
English variation of SadieMeaning:
"princess"Description:
When aspiring British writer Sadie Smith decided to change her name to the more distinctive and zippy Zadie at the age of fourteen, this attention-magnet name was born. But though it might sound like a modern initial-switch, Zadie was actually Number 539 in 1881, remaining in the Top 1000 for almost thirty years.
- Zailie
- Zaltana
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"high mountain"Description:
Has an evocative feel, unusual to the Western ear without being identified with any particular culture.
- Zenaida
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"the life of Zeus"Description:
This name of a daughter of Zeus has an intriguing air of antiquity.
- Zerynthia
Origin:
Greek, place nameDescription:
Zerynthia is one of the alternate names of Hecate, deriving from one of the caves in which she appeared. Zerynthia is also the name of a set of strikingly-coloured Spanish butterflies. This is one name that deserves more attention.
- Zixi
Origin:
Literary characterDescription:
Name of the imaginary Queen of Ix created by L. Frank Baum for one of his Oz books.
- Éadaoin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"jealousy"Description:
Modern Irish form of the mythological name Étaín.