Eastern European Names

Nadya and Nadia are Eastern European short forms -- for the more difficult Nadezhda -- now fully accepted on their own.

As Sophia gets more popular, parents search out more unusual spins, and the Z makes this qualify.

Naming your son Armen is like naming him Roman, or German -- it's the term that denotes a person of Armenian descent. Armen has been used as a first name for centuries and is an unusual yet approachable choice, especially if you want to honor your Armenian heritage.

Bence has been the most popular boy name in Hungary for over a decade — it’s held the top spot since 2003, the year Hungary began releasing its baby name data. Bence is the Hungarian translation of Vincent and is also occasionally used as a nickname for Benedek.

Despite its varied cultural ties, Zizi still sounds like a cancan dancer or a fluffy lapdog.

This spelling adds a touch of the unusual to Veronica.

A floral name, used in Romania and popular in Moldova too. Camellia is the English form, while Camélia is used in France. The flower itself is named after botanist George Josef Kamel.

Strong and appealing Armenian choice, but could be confused with Owen.

Cute nickname but the "gabby" synonym might prove problematic, especially is your daughter is chatty....or not.

Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.

An interesting and appealingly international spin on Barbara, with a lot of charm and energy.

Could be seen as an affectionate Old World take on Kole.

Adds some zest to Rosa.

Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.

Appealing Daniel diminutive, similar to other Russian names like Vanya and Ilya.