OC Possibilities
- Petra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"Description:
A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century.
- Pine
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Worthy sibling for Oak, Elm, Juniper, and Spruce.
- Poetry
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
A lyrical choice.
- Prairie
Origin:
English nature nameMeaning:
"prairie"Description:
Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland.
- Primo
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"first"Description:
Primo is number one among the Latin birth-order names--Octavius et al--and the one most likely to be used in these days of smaller families. It has that jaunty 'o' ending and Italian flavor that many modern parents like so much. And what little boy wouldn't appreciate being prime?
- Primula
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"first rose"Description:
Primula is related to Primrose, the name and the flower, and would make a quirky yet charming (or is it charming yet quirky?) botanical name for a first daughter.
- Renata
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"reborn"Description:
Widely used across Europe as a common baptismal name symbolizing spiritual rebirth, Renata, in this country it has an operatic image via Italian-born divas Renata Tebadi and Renata Scotti.
- Reveca
- Rurik
Origin:
Russian variation of Roderick, GermanMeaning:
"famous ruler"Description:
Russian form of Roderick given to a small number of American boys each year.
- Rusalka
Origin:
Slavic mythological nameDescription:
In Slavic mythology, Rusalka is the equivalent of the Little Mermaid — she's a water nymph who falls in love with a land-dwelling man and eventually dies of a broken heart. Her tale was made into an opera of the same name by Dvorak. A good alternative for those who are turned off by the popularity of other fairy tale names like Aurora and Ariel.
- Ruthven
- Saar
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"storm"Description:
With its appealing double-a configuration, this is the name of an Israeli kibbutz on the Galilee beach. For girls, Saar is a popular modern name in the Netherlands, a shortened form of Sarah.
- Salix
Origin:
Latin, botanical nameDescription:
An unusual name related to the willow family.
- Sanne
Origin:
Dutch, diminutive of SusanneMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Sanne is hugely popular in the Netherlands, but almost unknown here; which makes it an interesting prospect for the parent in search of an unusual name. Pronounced sah-na, Sanne is in keeping with the Dutch taste for nicknames plucked from the middle or end of a name vs. the beginning, such as Bas for Sebastien or Bram for Abram.
- Severine
Origin:
French, feminine variation of Severus; LatinMeaning:
"stern"Description:
This long-popular name in France sounds fresh, elegant and unusual here. Severine is the name of the most recent gorgeous James Bond Girl in the film Skyfall. Students of film history will associate the name with the complex character Catherine Deneuve played in the 1967 Bunuel classic, Belle de Jour..
- Shale
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Slate, Stone and Steel are on the rise, so why not Shale?
- Sonnet
Origin:
English from ItalianMeaning:
"little song"Description:
Could there be a more poetic name than Sonnet? Actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to choose it for his daughter.
- Sterling
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the highest quality"Description:
A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling has several recent TV associations, with characters Roger Sterling (on Mad Men) and Sterling Archer (on Archer), and actor Sterling K. Brown (on This is Us).
- Sunniva
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"sun gift"Description:
Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and Sunniva's intact body was found. Sunniva is the patron saint of Western Norway. Her name would make a fascinating and unusual choice for a modern baby girl, and if her story is a bit grim, you can take refuge in the upbeat nickname Sunny or Sunni.
- Teodozji