Unusual Girl Names

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning.

An early African-American name, along with variation Eartha.

North and West are easier on the ear, but this works fine if it has some significance for your family. Could be lengthened to Easton.

The definition of quirky.

Echo, the pretty, resonant name of a legendary nymph, was the heroine of Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse. Nick Hexum, of the band 311, named his daughter Echo Love.

Ever since Little Egypt practically invented the belly dance in the 1890s, this name has had a suggestive aura. Astonishingly, Egypt is now among the Top 1000 names for girls in the US. Cairo is a related option.

So airy, it's almost not there.

This Welsh nature name that can be pronounced exactly like the male Ira. Or, to avoid confusion, you could just name her Snow.

A modern Welsh name that will be misunderstood as Irene.

Less electric and melodramatic, more serene, than Electra. Isabella Rossellini's daughter (and Ingrid Bernman's granddaughter) is named Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann.

If Erykah Badu can name her son Seven, why can't you name your daughter (or son) this? Eleven has recently gotten a lot of attention via the character on the TV show Stranger Things.

Slimmed down spelling is well-established and makes an old name more modern, for better and worse. Katie Couric spells her Elinor's name this way.

Elixevetta is part Elizabeth and part Alexandra, and thoroughly confusing.

In the past few years Ellery has gone from middle-aged male detective to a plausible girls' name, a la Hillary.

For tree huggers.

The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. It's a uncommon member of the trending El- family of names, which includes Ella, Eloise, and Eleanor.

If you want to give your child the gift of...gab.