Animal Names for Girls

A rarely heard name that was the title of a hugely popular Big Band song in the forties. Amapola, with the emphasis on the third syllable, is one flower name that has not been widely discovered.

This kind of plainspoken nature name (think River and Sunshine) may still carry a whiff of the hippie, but this one has a nice, airy feel.

One art name that sounds distinctly more masculine. Unless you're a big mobile fan, keep thinking.

Meaning "implacable; unceasing", Alecto is the name of one of the three Furies in Greek mythology: deities of the Underworld who were responsible for punishing the crimes of humanity. J. K. Rowling used the name for a Death Eater, Alecto Carrow, in the "Harry Potter" series.

One of the romantic names favored by British pastoral poets, more appealing in its longer form, Araminta.

Popular name in Israel, worth considering for a dark-haired daughter with a bit of a bohemian cast.

The site of Napoleon's exile became the great-great-aunt in the purple hat.

Though this is traditionally a male name, it can work for a girl in our culture. Might also be considered a short form of the Italian Amadea.

A name with various origins, Elmira combines the sounds of multicultural Mira with the popular El- beginning. Despite this, the name is rarely heard in the US, though it does rank in the Top 100 names in Azerbaijan.

Ames is that jewel of a name that's simple and familiar while at the same time being unusual and rare. With gender neutral surname names ending in S trending today -- think Brooks, Wells, Oakes -- Ames can make a perfect update on Amy or Amanda.

Stylish and dramatic, a la Donatella Versace.

Beautiful West African name that could appeal across cultures.

In Germany and Finland, a common short form of names beginning with El-, including Elizabeth, Elina, and Elisa.

Eachna is the name of an Irish goddess renowned for her beauty, brains and stylishness; in early legend, a Connacht princess named Eachna was deemed to be one of the loveliest and cleverest women int he world.

A common Indonesian name that is sometimes (as with Mary here) joined with another, as in 'Ayu' and 'Tyas,' which becomes 'Ayuningtyas' and means beautiful heart.

This charming Turkish name has hit pop culture, thanks to the Telenovela show of the same name.