Four Syllable Names for Girls

This weighty ancient name could be the perfect fits-in-stands-out choice for fans the increasingly fashionable group of girls' names that both start and end in A.

The title of a Maori poem and also used to reference Mary, mother of Jesus, adapted from the Latin Marian title Stella Maris "star of the sea".

Madelina is the Madeline equivalent used in many European cultures. While it's a simple and melodic name, like its mother name it can lead to lots of spelling and pronunciation problems. The first syllable may be "may" or rhyme with dad; last two syllables pronounce lee-na, though of course some will inevitably say lye-na. Only a handful of girls received this name in the US last year, making it a distinctive and pretty classic, but don't choose it ignoring its very real down side.

Vies with Maximiliana for the title of most obscure Maximilian variant. You could argue that both were made obsolete by Jessica Simpson's use of Maxwell for her daughter.

An ancient Germanic name that's so clunky and contrarian it's actually brilliant. One famous Hermelinda was a medieval queen of the Lombards; another was a Belgian saint.

This spelling makes Julia worldly and distinctive. It is popular in Romania and Moldova, and might also be considered the Hawaiian form too, though Kulia is often used instead.

While this might look like a modern spelling of the classic Isabella, it is also the Hungarian and Polish form, pronounced with an EE sound at the beginning. A Top 50 name in Hungary and a Top 200 name in Poland, this form is also popular in Latvia.

More grown up than Jamie, but never given to more than 13 baby girls in the US per year (and that back in 1968). Modern parents prefer Jamie, Jameson or even James itself, as Blake and Ryan Reynolds chose in 2014.

One of the more widely used combination forms.

In Greek mythology, Eulabeia is a deity associated with caution, discretion, and avoidance. Eulabeia is used as a word some translations of the Bible meaning "reverence toward God."

Soft sound, good nickname potential, but not a good meaning for a child's name.

A lovely variation of classic Margaret, worn by two Olympic medal winners — Marharyta Makhneva and Marharyta Dorozhon.

Salacia was the goddess of the sea in ancient Roman mythology — the divine personification of the calm, sunlit saltwater. She was also a wife of Neptune. Her name derives from sal, Latin for "salt."

Elixyvett is part Elizabeth, part Alexis, part Yvette -- and a total mess. Few people go to such lengths to make a name different. Aren't you glad?