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Celebrities are notorious for giving their baby girls odd and quirky names. The funky celebrity baby name trend started when Gwyneth Paltrow named her baby “Apple”. Since then, famous babies’ names seem to have gotten weirder and weirder. Consider Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s North; Cardi B and Offset’s Kulture Kiari; Marc Silverstein and Busy Philipps’ Birdie Leigh; and Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott’s Stormi.
But should you follow in the footsteps of your favourite celebrities? To help you decide, we list down 50 uncommon girl names and the pros and cons of choosing unusual baby names.
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Why Should You Consider Unusual Girl Names?
There are some pretty obvious advantages to choosing baby names that are rare. Girl names like “Abigail”, “Amelia”, and “Jessica” are tried and tested, but they’re also very common. Name your daughter any of those names and she’s likely to run into another Abby, Amy, and Jess in her lifetime. If you name your girl something unusual she won’t ever experience the confusion of hearing her name called out, only to realise it was directed at someone else!
But while it may seem cute to give your baby an interesting name, there are also downsides to choosing something obscure. First, if the spelling is odd, there’s a higher chance that the name will be misspelled. Sure, a misspelled Starbucks cup is annoying, but think about how much of a hassle it would be to have a misspelled government ID or bank document!
Another problem a lot of kids with “alternative” names encounter? They always have to explain their names. Now, if you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, you’ll see this as a plus, as you’ll always have an interesting conversation starter! However, if the work you do involves meeting new people, it can get tiring explaining your name repeatedly. Some people in this position even opt for “normal” nicknames!
Here are 50 first names for girls that are different, but not weird enough to give their owners too much trouble as they grow older. This list includes (but is not limited to) English names and Aboriginal names.
Our Top 50 Unusual Girls’ Names
A
Araluen
Araluen is Aboriginal in origin. It means “water lilies” or a place where water lilies grow.
Alinta
In South Australia, “alinta” is the Aboriginal word for “flame”. If you’re searching for rare girl names that start with “a”, this is one that is rarely used even in Australia.
B
Bindi
This is is a name with a sweet meaning: In the Nyungar language, it translates to “butterfly”.
Bakari
This name translates to “hope” or “promise” in Swahili.
C
Calliope
In Greek mythology, Calliope is the Muse of epic poetry and eloquence. She is believed to have a beautiful singing voice. If you like the nickname “Callie” this one is a unique first name with a beautiful origin.
Caoimhe
Pronounced kee-vah, this name is Celtic in origin and means “gentle”.
D
Delphine
Delphine is a French name which means “dolphin-like”. Some believe the name is derived from the delphinium flower. If you’ve seen the sci-fi show Orphan Black, you may be familiar with this uncommon name.
Daya
This is another uncommon name popularised by a recent TV show. In Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, Daya is the name of an inmate who, while talented and smart, has fallen on tough times. Daya means “bird of prey” in Hebrew.
E
Elouera
This Aboriginal name means “a pleasant place”.
Elvira
Elvira is a Spanish name meaning “trustworthy”. This name is also often associated with black magic and witchcraft, just like the main character of the film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.
F
Fawn
Fawn is French for “young deer”.
Freya
Freya is the goddess of beauty, love, and fertility in Norse mythology.
G
Gaia
In Greek mythology, Gaia was the goddess of the earth.
Geronima
This name is derived from the ancient Greek name Hieronymus, which means “one with a sacred name”.
H
Honour
This self-explanatory name is synonymous with prestige, glory, and integrity.
Hirkani
This is an Indian name that means “diamond”.
I
Ivalo
Aboriginal in origin, this name means “sinew”.
J
Journey
This is a baby name suited to adventurous parents who love to travel and seek great heights.
Jinora
Fans of the hit animated series The Legend of Korra might be familiar with this one, as it is the name of a skilled and powerful airbender on the show. Some fans speculate that the name is derived from the Chinese word for gold.
K
Koa
In the Aboriginal language of the Kaurna, Koa means “crow”.
Kirra
In the Yugambeh language, Kirra translates to “leaf”.
L
Laniyah
This is an Aboriginal name that means “the light within”.
Lilo
This name is Hawaiian in origin, and means “one who is generous”.
M
Mayumi
In Filipino, Mayumi means “graceful woman”. In Japanese, it means “truth, reason, and beauty”.
Mira
For the Nyungar people, Mira is a person who throws spears.
N
Nevaeh
Neveah is “heaven” spelled backwards.
Nani
Nani is a Hawaiian name which means “beauty” or “glory”.
O
Ocean
This name is perfect for families who love to surf and spend time around water. The ocean also has a lot of positive qualities, as it is the giver of life to all creatures.
P
Phoemela
This is an alternative spelling to the name Pamela, which was invented in the 16th century and derived from the Greek words for “all” and “honey”.
Posey
Posey is a dainty name which means “small bouquet of flowers”.
Q
Querida
This is a Spanish term of endearment akin to “sweetheart” or “dear”.
Quvenzhane
This is a unique name that was coined by the parents of child actress Quvenzhane Wallis. They combined their names Qulyndrei and Venjie, and added the Swahili word “zhane”, which means “fairy”.
R
Rabiah
This Egyptian name means “one born in Spring”.
Rocio
In Spanish, Rocio translates to “dew drop”.
S
Sinag
In Filipino, this word means “sunbeam”. If you want to raise your child to be happy and full of hope, consider this name!
Suki
Suki means “beloved” in Japanese, and is quite a common name over there.
T
Tau
In the Kaurna language, Tau means “twilight”. In Chinese, “tao” pertains to “the way” or the “flow” of the universe.
Tamsin
Tamsin is a diminutive of Thomasina. It means “twin”.
U
Uhura
This name should be familiar for fans of Star Trek! Uhura is derived from the Swahili word “uhuru”, meaning “freedom”.
Ursa
This is the Latin word for “ bear”. Remember the constellation Ursa Minor? The name roughly translates to “little bear”.
V
Valkyrie
With the popularity of Marvel’s Avengers, you might see more Valkyrie babies soon. It helps that the name’s meaning is beautiful too. In Norse mythology, a Valkyrie guides deceased warriors to the heavens.
Vita
Vita is a girl’s name that was popular in the 1950s. It is Latin for “life”.
W
Wren
A wren is a small songbird that symbolises creativity, charisma, and free-spiritedness.
Wisdom
This name is synonymous with intelligence, insight, and good judgment.
X
Xiomara
Fans of the TV series Jane the Virgin should know this one. The Spanish name is a feminine version of Guiomar, which could be interpreted as “warrior”.
Y
Yekaterina
This is the Russian way to spell Katherine. In Greek, Yekaterina translates to “pure” or “purity”.
Yvie
Derived from Eve, this name means “full of life”.
Z
Zoya
Another name of Russian origin, this name translates to “life”. Ironically, the most recent use of this name in pop culture is for the wrestling alter ego of Ruth Wilder on the TV show GLOW. As a wrestler, she goes by the Russian villain Zoya the Destroya.
Zea
This pretty name refers to a kind of ancient grain found in Greece.
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