!frilly favorites!
- Leotine
Origin:
Variation of Leontine, French from GreekMeaning:
"lion"Description:
A unique form of the already-rare name Leontine. Leotine has been recorded as a name a handful of times throughout history, both as a given name and a surname.
- Lilliana
Origin:
Variation of Lillian or LilianaMeaning:
"lily, a flower"Description:
While Lillian is the English version of this elaborated flower name and Liliana is the authentic Spanish and Portuguese spelling, Lilliana is a familiar and perfectly usable option in the US.
- Lucinda
Origin:
Variation of LuciaMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucinda, an elaboration of Lucia created by Cervantes for his 1605 novel Don Quixote, is a pleasingly pretty alternative to Lucy. It was subsequently used by Moliere in his play The Doctor in Spite of Himself' (1666). More in tune with the times than Linda, Belinda and Melinda, it could be used to honor someone with one of those dated names.
- Lucretia
Origin:
Latin, female form of Lucretius, meaning unknownDescription:
A pretty and plausible Latin name that's gotten a bad rap through the years via a link to Lucrezia Borgia, who, though long considered a demon poisoner, was actually a patron of learning and the arts.
- Luella
Origin:
Spelling variation of LouellaMeaning:
"battle famous fairy maiden"Description:
Luella is a sleeker spelling variant of the girls' name Louella and is now more popular than the original. Sweet, but lively, it was a popular name in the the early 19th century, but fell out of favor in the 50s. Now, after a 60 year absence, it's back in the charts, in the US and the UK.
- Madeleine
Origin:
French variation of MagdalenMeaning:
"woman from Magdala or high tower"Description:
Sophisticated and sweet, delicate but substantial, Madeleine is the classic French variation of Magdalene.
- Magdalena
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"from Magdala"Description:
Magdalena is a pretty name forever associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen; often heard in the Hispanic community. But forward thinking parents are reviving Magdalena along with Magdalene and the unrelated but similar-sounding Marguerite.
- Magnolia
Origin:
Flower name, from French surnameMeaning:
"Magnol's flower"Description:
Magnolia, a sweet-smelling Southern belle of a name made famous via the iconic Edna Ferber novel and musical Showboat, is one of the latest wave of botanical names, along with unexpected blossoms Azalea and Zinnia. It is named for French botanist Pierre Magnol.
- Marcheline
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"warrior"Description:
Marcheline was the first name of Angelina Jolie's late mother, who was part French-Canadian, which Jolie and Brad Pitt used as the middle name for their twin daughter Vivienne. The name is related to the Latin Marcellus and Marcus, which come from Mars, the name of the God of War, and is often spelled Marceline. Jolie's mother's birth name was Marcia Lynne.
- Margery
Origin:
Medieval variation of MargaretMeaning:
"pearl"Description:
An old royal name in England and Scotland that's also spelled Marjorie. Popular in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, it was revived at the end of the 19th century, peaked in 1921 and dropped off the list in 1958, enough time to be reconsidered as a Margaret alternative. The name Margery Daw is familiar via the seesaw nursery rhyme and Margery Williams wrote the children's classic The Velveteen Rabbit..
- Marianna
Origin:
Italian, Polish, EnglishMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"Description:
While Marianna looks like a spelling variation of Mariana, the two names have different etymologies. While the one-N spelling derives from the Roman name Marianus, Marianna is a combination of two classics, Maria and Anna, used in many European languages.
- Melody
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"song"Description:
A melodious choice big in the sixties, Melody is now starting to pick up tempo again. It cracked the Top 150 for the first time ever in 2015. Melody is also the name of Ariel's equally curious and more tom-boyish daughter in The Little Mermaid sequel. Read more about Melody and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.
- Mirabella
Origin:
Italian variation of MirabelleMeaning:
"wonderful"Description:
The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More distinctive than Isabella.
- Meliantha
- Milisande
- Nathalia
Origin:
Portuguese form of NataliaDescription:
The more familiar spelling Natalia currently sits much further up the list and has even made two brief appearances in the Top 100 during the last decade. Nathalia on the other hand has never been a particularly popular choice. The name has floated on and off the Top 1000 charts over the last 2 decades, favored especially by Hispanic and Latin American parents.
- Octavia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"eighth"Description:
Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.
- Odessia
- Olympia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"from Mount Olympus"Description:
With its relation to Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, and to the Olympic games, this name has an athletic, goddess-like aura, making it the perfect Olivia substitute.
- Ondine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"little wave"Description:
Mythological spirit of the waters; spelled Undine, she was an Edith Wharton heroine.