Aries inspired names

A short but sophisticated, long-neglected name you might want to consider.

Russian Uncle Vanya becomes niece Vanja in Sweden: an intriguing switch.

Varin was derived from the Germanic tribe name Varni, who took their name from a word meaning "to defend." Varin was used in the Middle Ages, along with the variation Warin.

Many old school girl names are feminine forms of male names. This one gets an exotic twist from being the female version not of Basil but the form used in Eastern Europe and Russia Vasily. This uncommon name would make an interesting and rare V-starting choice.

Literary Indian choice, best known here via acclaimed writer Ved Mehta, who lost his sight at the age of four.

No, not Ben (you'll say a million times), not Van -- Venn. John Venn was a British logician and philosopher famous for introducing the Venn diagram, which is used in several fields, including logic, statistics, and computer science.

This name of a showy, lemony plant makes an unusual entry into the name garden.

Place-name waiting to be discovered.

Variation of Verona.

Feminine, à la Beryl and Merrill.

Vincenza would be a more user-friendly form in this country.

This Shakespearean name is even more out of step than its male counterpart, but it may possibly be so far out it could make its way back in.

The Norwegian word for "honeysuckle" could make for a fresh and vibrant nature-inspired choice.

The Norwegian word for "honeysuckle" could make for a fresh and vibrant nature-inspired choice.

The Germanic tribe known as the Varni took their name from the verb werren, meaning "to defend." The given name Varin derived from the tribe name, meaning "one of the Varni."

Wellington is a tony-sounding English surname turned baby name by pregnancy guru Rosie Pope, who calls her son Wells for short. It's also the middle name of one of the Sweet Home sextuplets, Blu Wellington.

A new entry is the fashionable new occupational name category -- and a jolly job it must be -- with the added attraction of relating to the great early 20th century American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler, of "Whistler's Mother" fame.

Whitten is a stylish patronymic surname derived from Witt and Witte — German and Dutch nicknames-turned-surnames describing people with white-blonde hair or a pale complexion. Cool-guy nickname Whit only adds to the appeal.