classic and unusual character names for Women

Cool tropical Latin word name.

There are several fine Ben-beginning boy's names, such as BENJAMIN and BENEDICT, but girls names like this and BENJAMINA don't fare as well.

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.

A name with a surprising amount of history--it was the name of the wife of Ptolemy I of Egypt, occurs in the New Testament, and belonged to a fourth century saint. In the US, it has long been spelled and pronounced Bernice. Nicknames include Bernie, Berry, Binnie and Bunny.

A Beretta is a gun, so named because of the Italian firearms manufacturer that makes it. And now Beretta is also a badass baby name, used in the middle for daughter Breeze by Bristol Palin baby daddy Levi Johnston. What a Tripp.

A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.

A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot.

Blondell is a feminine name that originated as a medieval diminutive surname meaning "little blonde one" or "fair-haired." With French and Old German linguistic roots, it was historically given to people with light-colored hair. The name gained some recognition in America during the 1930s-40s through actress Joan Blondell. As a first name, Blondell peaked in popularity during the mid-20th century but remains quite rare today. The name carries a vintage charm with its distinctive '-ell' ending, making it stand out from more common names while still being recognizable. Blondell offers a unique option for parents seeking an uncommon name with a touch of retro sophistication and a built-in reference to fair or golden qualities.

Bluebell is one flower name that is used very quietly. Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell joined her former Spice Sisters in creative baby-naming with this adventurous — some might say outlandish — choice. Andie MacDowell has a granddaughter named Bluebell Coyote through her daughter Rainey Qualley.

Though it sounds modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, and the name of a historic seaport in the Western Netherlands, also known as Brill. Today, it is used more widely as a nickname for Gabrielle and as a stand-alone name that fits in easily with Isabelle, Briana, and Brinley. In a recent year, it appeared in the US Top 200, ranking above the longer form and used nearly four times as often.

In Greek mythology, Briseis is a princess captured by Achilles during the Trojan War, who later becomes the object of the dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon which drives the plot of Homer’s Iliad. The name is a patronymic, meaning daughter of Briseus, which itself is a Greek name of unknown meaning.

Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an all-purpose nickname now buried in a mid-century time capsule.

Bunny may be adorable, but is it really enough of a name for your daughter? Plus if Buffy is fluffy, what would that make Bunny?

Fluttery and flighty. But there are a couple of names that mean butterfly you might consider, such as Yara and Farasha.

If you love Calliope and Callista, you'll love Calanthe, which combines the trendiness of the Greek 'cal' names with the equally fashionable "the" ending (like Xanthe and Evanthe) and a connection to the beautiful Christmas Orchid. Color Calantha one of the more unusual and captivating names for Christmas babies.

Calista Flockhart may have made her variation of this beautiful Greek name familiar to modern Americans, but the even-edgier x version was the name of an earlier feminist heroine: a character in Kate Chopin's The Storm.

An extremely rare name of Ancient Greek origin which could be a novel way to Callie. There is a minor Harry Potter character by the name: Callidora Black (later Longbottom).

A floral name, used in Romania and popular in Moldova too. Camellia is the English form, while Camélia is used in France. The flower itself is named after botanist George Josef Kamel.

Cantarah is an uncommon feminine name with possible Arabic or Hebraic origins, though its exact etymology remains somewhat obscure. It may be related to words meaning 'to sing' or 'to chant,' suggesting musical qualities. The name has a melodic, flowing sound that contributes to its exotic appeal. Cantarah remains extremely rare in most parts of the world, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking uniqueness. The name's rhythmic pronunciation and unusual letter combinations give it a mysterious, almost mystical quality. While lacking widespread historical usage or cultural recognition, Cantarah appeals to those drawn to names with an artistic, unconventional character. Its rarity means most bearers would rarely encounter others sharing their name.