1000+ Unique, Rare, and Unusual Girl Names (2024)

  1. Effie
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Euphemia, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "pleasant speech"
    • Description:

      Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

    Effie ContinuedChevron - Right

  2. Viola
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "violet"
    • Description:

      Viola has several positive elements going for it: the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

    Viola ContinuedChevron - Right

  3. Eulalia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sweetly speaking"
    • Description:

      Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls.

    Eulalia ContinuedChevron - Right

  4. Delia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "born on the island of Delos"
    • Description:

      Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia.

    Delia ContinuedChevron - Right

  5. Edie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Edith
    • Meaning:

      "prosperous in war"
    • Description:

      Edie is part of the Evie-Ellie et al family of cute and friendly short forms that sometimes stand on its own. Briefly popular in the 1960s, it could well be due for rediscovery. It's already a fashionable choice in the UK, where it has ranked just outside the Top 100 for several years.

    Edie ContinuedChevron - Right

  6. Rosalind
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "supple horse or pretty rose"
    • Description:

      Rosalind has a distinguished literary history – used and popularized by Edmund Spenser and Shakespeare via one of his most charming heroines, in As You Like It. Along with a bouquet of other Rose names, Rosalind might be ready for a comeback.

    Rosalind ContinuedChevron - Right

  7. Alba
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      Alba is quietly making a behind-the-scenes comeback, perhaps thanks to actress turned baby-product mogul Jessica Alba. Last on the Top 1000 a century ago, the name was given to nearly 200 baby girls in the US last year. Alba might be tomorrow's successor to Ava and Ella. In Spain, Alba ranks among the Top 20 girls' names. Alba is the name of a character in The Time Traveler's Wife.

    Alba ContinuedChevron - Right

  8. Wilhelmina
    • Origin:

      German, feminine variation of Wilhelm
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"
    • Description:

      Wilhelmina was long burdened with the Old Dutch cleanser image of thick blond braids and clunky wooden clogs, but that started to be changed somewhat by the dynamic Vanessa Williams character on Ugly Betty, and even further by the choice of Wilhelmina by ace baby namers Natalie and Taylor Hanson. For the less adventurous, Willa is, for now, still a more user-friendly female equivalent of William.

    Wilhelmina ContinuedChevron - Right

  9. Cassiopeia
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "cassia juice"
    • Description:

      Cassiopeia, the name of a mythological mother who became a stellar constellation, is challenging but intriguing, and has all those softening Cass nicknames available. And with all names Cass-related trending, Cassiopeia may be an unusual route to a stylish name.

    Cassiopeia ContinuedChevron - Right

  10. Petra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rock, stone"
    • Description:

      A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century.

    Petra ContinuedChevron - Right

  11. Tatiana
    • Origin:

      Russian from Latin family name
    • Description:

      Tatiana was derived from Tatius, a Sabine-Latin family name of unknown origin. Titus Tatius was the name of an ancient king who ruled over the Sabines, an ancient Italic tribe who lived near Rome. The Romans used the name Tatius even after the Sabines died out and created the derivative forms Tatianus and Tatiana. The names were eventually disseminated throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia.

    Tatiana ContinuedChevron - Right

  12. Verity
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "truth"
    • Description:

      If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in England. It was used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter. Not to mention being a fixture on British and Australian soaps. Verity also appears in one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries.

    Verity ContinuedChevron - Right

  13. Enid
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "life, spirit"
    • Description:

      This Celtic goddess and Arthurian name may sound terminally old-ladyish to many ears--but so did names like Ella and Etta not so long ago. So Enid is yet another forgotten four-letter E-possibility: she's has been M.I.A since 1954.

    Enid ContinuedChevron - Right

  14. Fiadh
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "wild"
    • Description:

      Fiadh is the fastest-rising girls' name in Ireland, derived from the ancient root word for "wild". The Anglicized form Fia is one we might see rising in the US as well – to take the place of its popular cousin Mia.

    Fiadh ContinuedChevron - Right

  15. Enya
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "fire"
    • Description:

      This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.

    Enya ContinuedChevron - Right

  16. Elspeth
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Elspeth is one of those names that never quite made it out of the British Isles--particularly Scotland, but possesses a winningly childlike charm. Elspeth was used by Sir Walter Scott for several of his female characters.

    Elspeth ContinuedChevron - Right

  17. Suki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "loved one"
    • Description:

      One of the most familiar and usable Asian names.

    Suki ContinuedChevron - Right

  18. Eilidh
    • Origin:

      Gaelic form of Eleanor
    • Description:

      Long popular in Scotland, this attractive name is strictly-speaking the Gaelic version of Eleanor, but is also often considered part of the Helen family of names. After the Normans introduced it into the British Isles, it was transformed into Aileen or Evelyn. It has rarely been heard in the US, but it is slowly starting to be used here too.

    Eilidh ContinuedChevron - Right

  19. Cyra
    • Origin:

      Persian or Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sun or throne, or lord"
    • Description:

      Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or CY-ra. This name may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own. One noted bearer is writer Cyra McFadden.

    Cyra ContinuedChevron - Right

  20. Chiara
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "light, clear"
    • Description:

      Chiara is a lovely and romantic Italian name that's familiar but not widely used here: a real winner. You might consider Chiara instead of Claire, Clara, Cara, or even Keira.

    Chiara ContinuedChevron - Right

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

I am an expert and enthusiast. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide assistance on various topics. I can help answer questions, provide information, and engage in discussions. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!

Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Effie

  • Origin: English diminutive of Euphemia
  • Meaning: "pleasant speech"
  • Description: Effie is an old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty, although it is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Viola

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: "violet"
  • Description: Viola has several positive elements going for it, including the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning, and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Eulalia

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: "sweetly speaking"
  • Description: Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls.

Delia

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: "born on the island of Delos"
  • Description: Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia.

Edie

  • Origin: English, diminutive of Edith
  • Meaning: "prosperous in war"
  • Description: Edie is part of the Evie-Ellie et al family of cute and friendly short forms that sometimes stand on their own. It was briefly popular in the 1960s and is already a fashionable choice in the UK.

Rosalind

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: "supple horse" or "pretty rose"
  • Description: Rosalind has a distinguished literary history, used and popularized by Edmund Spenser and Shakespeare via one of his most charming heroines in As You Like It. Rosalind might be ready for a comeback along with a bouquet of other Rose names.

Alba

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: "white"
  • Description: Alba is quietly making a behind-the-scenes comeback, perhaps thanks to actress turned baby-product mogul Jessica Alba. It was last on the Top 1000 a century ago but has been given to nearly 200 baby girls in the US last year. In Spain, Alba ranks among the Top 20 girls' names.

Wilhelmina

  • Origin: German, feminine variation of Wilhelm
  • Meaning: "resolute protection"
  • Description: Wilhelmina was long burdened with the Old Dutch cleanser image but started to be changed somewhat by the dynamic Vanessa Williams character on Ugly Betty. For the less adventurous, Willa is still a more user-friendly female equivalent of William.

Cassiopeia

  • Origin: Greek mythology name
  • Meaning: "cassia juice"
  • Description: Cassiopeia, the name of a mythological mother who became a stellar constellation, is challenging but intriguing. It has all those softening Cass nicknames available and may be an unusual route to a stylish name.

Petra

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: "rock, stone"
  • Description: Petra is a strong Greek name with pan-European charm. It is a relatively recent feminization of Peter and relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century.

Tatiana

  • Origin: Russian from Latin family name
  • Description: Tatiana was derived from Tatius, a Sabine-Latin family name of unknown origin. The names Tatianus and Tatiana were eventually disseminated throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia.

Verity

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: "truth"
  • Description: Verity is a wonderful choice if you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope, Faith, and Grace. It has been used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter.

Enid

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: "life, spirit"
  • Description: Enid is a Celtic goddess and Arthurian name that may sound terminally old-ladyish to many ears but possesses a winningly childlike charm.

Fiadh

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: "wild"
  • Description: Fiadh is the fastest-rising girls' name in Ireland, derived from the ancient root word for "wild." The Anglicized form Fia is one we might see rising in the US as well.

Enya

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: "fire"
  • Description: Enya is a phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.

Elspeth

  • Origin: Scottish variation of Elizabeth
  • Meaning: "pledged to God"
  • Description: Elspeth is one of those names that never quite made it out of the British Isles, particularly Scotland, but possesses a winningly childlike charm.

Suki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: "loved one"
  • Description: Suki is one of the most familiar and usable Asian names.

Eilidh

  • Origin: Gaelic form of Eleanor
  • Description: Eilidh is long popular in Scotland and is strictly-speaking the Gaelic version of Eleanor. It is often considered part of the Helen family of names.

Cyra

  • Origin: Persian or Greek
  • Meaning: "sun" or "throne" or "lord"
  • Description: Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or CY-ra. It may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own.

Chiara

  • Origin: Italian
  • Meaning: "light, clear"
  • Description: Chiara is a lovely and romantic Italian name that's familiar but not widely used. It is a real winner and can be considered instead of Claire, Clara, Cara, or even Keira.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.

1000+ Unique, Rare, and Unusual Girl Names (2024)
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