Three Syllable Girl Names

Tuulikki is a Finnish name meaning "little wind" -- tuuli means wind in Finnish -- and also the name of a forest goddess. Supermodel Else Hosk, whose mother is Finnish, chose this name for her daughter.

The Issoria is a genus of butterflies found in Africa, one of which is known as the African Queen. This name would make a wonderful choice for those looking for a name which subtly honors Africa.

An attractive update to Gladys.

Gladiola is a character in the 1991 novel and 1995 film How to Make an American Quilt

Setsuna was derived from a Buddhist term meaning "split second," originally the Sanskrit word ksana. It is more popular among fictional characters than real babies.

With Ophelia getting so much love these days, could some parents be convinced to go for the much rarer, still elegant Euphelia?

Zenzile derives from the word uzenzile, meaning "you bought this upon yourself." It was the given name of Miriam Makeba, a singer known as Mama Africa. Her mother gave Makeba the name after a difficult delivery because she had previously been warned that she was unlikely to survive the pregnancy.

Its resonant rhythm and positive connotations have led to some popularity with African-American parents, though it tends to have a masculine feel, particularly considering the rise of a certain Barack.

Ayako is a very common feminine name in Japan, where it is the name of Princess Ayako of Takamado (now Ayako Moriya), formerly of the Imperial House of Japan.

With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.

A nice meaning -- congruent with the recent vogue for names like Blessing -- helps offset this Hawaiian name's proximity to overused Makayla and McKenzie.

Corsica, the picturesque Mediterrean island birthplace of Napoleon, makes an easy switch from atlas to baby name book, with its delicate, feminine ending. Just don't consider neighboring island Sardinia.

Astraia -- or Astraea or Asteria -- is the Greek goddess of justice and innocence who became the constellation Virgo. While largely unknown today, this is one of the Greek goddess namesthat may be rediscovered.

Proserpine is the Roman equivalent of the goddess Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld in Greek myth.