Animal Names for Girls

Once a traditional Jewish name, Breindel is now unlikely to be revived.

Countessa is not an authentic title of nobility in any language — the closest it comes to is contessa, the Italian translation of "countess." It's been used as a girl name here and there but has never been given to more than five girls in a single year. Countessa could be an interesting way to get to the nickname Tessa or Tess.

A North African and French inspired variation of the Arabic Aisha, Aïcha (and its counterpart Aicha) have skyrocketed in France since 2011. In the last decade, it has shifted from outside the popularity charts to a Top 100 choice. The name may have been popularized by the 1996 song Aïcha by Khaled, which topped the French music charts.

Briar is a rising unique unisex name and Bryars is a spin introduced as the middle name of one of the Waldrop sextuplets, Layke Bryars, who happens to be a boy. But the name works just as well for girls.