Guilty Pleasures :)
- Icarus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames.
- Io
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example. Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter, was in classic myth raped by Zeus and escaped from him by changing herself into a cow.
- Iphigenia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"of royal birth"Description:
In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon -- a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.
- Isabelline
Origin:
Variation of Isabella and color nameDescription:
With the popularity of Isabella, you might think of Isabelline as a further elaboration -- though it would be the definition of gilding the lily. But Isabelline is also a color, an amorphous pale yellow-gray-cream most often seen in horses' coats or birds' plumage.
- Jessamine
Origin:
English from PersianMeaning:
"jasmine"Description:
Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
- Kassia
Origin:
Spelling variation of Cassia, GreekMeaning:
"cinnamon"Description:
Kassia is the k-styled spelling variation of rising star name Cassia, an obscure but attractive botanical choice drawn from the cassia tree, which produces a cinnamon-like spice. The biblical Keziah is related.
- Lafayette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"faith"Description:
Foppish name with a distinguished forebear, French general Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in the American Revolution. It accounts for the L in L. Ron Hubbard. Old-time short form: Fayette or Fate.
- Leontine
Origin:
French female form of Leontios, GreekMeaning:
"lion"Description:
Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price. An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our lion-name-crazed moment.
- Letizia
Origin:
Italian variation of LetitiaMeaning:
"gladness"Description:
Letizia is a pretty Latin variation of Letitia; it's one of those Italian names for girls that makes the more familiar version feel less prissy and more appealing. Letizia was the first name of Napoleon's mother.
- Mab
Origin:
Irish, EnglishMeaning:
"intoxicating"Description:
An Anglicized form of Medb borrowed by both Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley for the of queen of the fairies. Perfect if you want something both adventurous and simple.
- Madoc
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"fortunate, benefactor's son"Description:
Also spelled Madog, which was the name of an early Welshman, Madog ap Owain Gwynedd, reputed to have been the first European to discover North America in 1155. Maddox, the name of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's oldest child, is a stronger and more familiar choice.
- Melisandre
Origin:
French variation of MillicentDescription:
The romantic fairy tale-like name has come to modern attention via the beautiful but terrifying sorceress in Game of Thrones. The character may look as lovely as her name sounds, but it's hard to imagine a parent familiar with the book wanting to use the name for their child. Two alternate directions: Millicent or Melisande.
- Muireann
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"sea white, sea fair"Description:
The popular Irish name Muireann comes from a mythical mermaid who was tranformed into a woman by a saint. Pronunciation is like the surname of the actress Helen Mirren, but with the spin of a w sound after the initial M.
- Muirgen
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"born of the sea"Description:
Muirgen in Irish mythology was turned into a mermaid and then brought back to land after 300 years and transformed back into a woman -- which must have been quite a shock. Muirgen's original name was Liban. Muirgen may also be spelled Muireann or Muirenn.
- Myfanwy
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"my lovely little one"Description:
Intriguing Old Welsh name being revived there, but would have major pronunciation problems here.
- Niara
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"nebula, mist"Description:
More unusual alternative to Tiara.
- Nike
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"victory"Description:
The goddess and personification of victory in Greek mythology – sister to strength, force, and zeal – could make a powerful namesake for a daughter. The goddess would fly a chariot across battlefields rewarding the victors with laurel garlands. Though Nike would make a more unique alternative to her much more popular Roman counterpart, Victoria, be warned that many people’s first association will be the sportswear brand.
- Nova
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"new"Description:
Nova has the feel of both newness, from its meaning, and great energy as an astronomical term for a star that increases suddenly in brightness before fading.
- Obi
Origin:
African, IgboMeaning:
"heart"Description:
Strongly linked in the US to the complex "Star Wars" character, Obi Wan Kenobi, but also popular in Nigeria as a short form of names containing the element Obi "heart".
- Orpheus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"the darkness of the night"Description:
Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.