Distant Relatives

A unisex Hebrew name sometimes given in Israel to kids born under the goat sign of Capricorn; it's also spelled Yael/Ya'el.

Jotham is an Old Testament name that today would certainly be the only one in his class, having something of an urban feel via its similarity to the word 'gotham'. In the Bible one Jotham is the sole surviving son of Gideon after the massacre of his brothers, the other is a king of Judah who was an enthusiastic builder. Jotham Riddle is a character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Pioneers, while Jotham Powell appears in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome.

Keturah, the Old Testament name of Abraham's second wife, is a possibility for anyone seeking a truly unusual and interesting biblical name; certainly a lot more distinctive than that of Abraham's first wife, Sarah.

This lively Old Testament nature name (belonging to one of the three beautiful daughters of Job) may be missing from the current US Top 1000 list, but it ranks highly here on Nameberry — making it one to watch!

The additional syllable makes Lark a masculine surname name, borne by poet Philip Larkin.

Launa is the Hawaiian verb meaning "to meet," but many will hear this as Lana with a New Jersey accent, or Lorna with a stuffy nose.

This is the French form of Lazarus, which recently has been rising from the dead – it's popular on Nameberry, and was used for his son by musician Trent Reznor. Lazare might be familiar to some via the Gare Saint-Lazare train station in Paris.

Livona is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from Livonia, a historical Baltic region encompassing parts of modern Latvia and Estonia, giving it geographic significance. Alternatively, it could be a variant of Lavona or Levona, names with Hebrew roots meaning 'white' or 'moon-like.' The name has classical overtones similar to names like Livonia or Lavinia from Roman history. Livona remains quite rare in English-speaking countries, making it an uncommon choice with an elegant, melodic quality. Its three syllables flow gracefully with soft consonants. The name carries an air of antiquity and sophistication while remaining accessible in pronunciation, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet not completely unfamiliar in structure.

Llewellyn/Llywelyn is a common patriotic first name in Wales, with its distinctive Welsh double LL's; in the U.S. Llewellyn would make a daring choice, though with the chance that some might find the ellen sound slightly feminine.