Inside: Looking for cute, uncommon baby girl names that will set your little girl apart from the crowd? Or at least from the rest of the kids in her class… Check out this list of 60 uncommon girl names, complete with meanings and notable namesakes to help you decide.
It’s no small thing to choose a name for your sweet little baby girl on the way.
Shakespeare said in Romeo and Juliet,
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.
Shakespeare
True as that may be, a name is still a big deal, and as moms, we want to get it right. We want the name we choose for our precious little girl to be as unique as she is!
Though popular names are … um… popular, that doesn’t always make them the best choices.
Sometimes a name that’s a little uncommon (cute, but uncommon), a little more individual, can be just the beginning of our girl being set apart.
And if we can land on one where the meaning, origin, and feel of it all align, well, then, jackpot, right?
Here are 60 uncommon girl names that I think will give you a push in the right direction.
You may fall in love with one of these unique names, or it may give you the inspiration you need to find one that’s a little closer to the name of your dreams.
As you’re trying to straddle the line between one-of-a-kind and too-far-out-there, I hope you come across a baby girl name you love!
Related: 55+ Adorable Classic Girl Names with Meanings
60 Cute, Uncommon Baby Girl Names
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1. Adele
This is a name of French and German origin, meaning “nobility, noble.”
Adele is the name of a saint as well as a royal name, and it has recently been made popular again by the British singer Adele.
2. Addilyn
This is a variation of the name Adeline, which came over to England from the Normans around the 11th century. Like Adele, it also means “nobility.”
3. Adriana
A feminine version of Adrian, it has Latin origins and means “man of Adria,” a city in northern Italy. Shakespeare used this name for one of his characters in The Comedy of Errors.
4. Arwen
A Welsh name meaning “noble maiden,” Arwen rose in popularity after the production of The Lord of the Rings movies. Arwen was the beautiful elf princess played by Liv Tyler.
5. Baily
This pretty name is most commonly spelled Bailey, and it means “law enforcement, bailiff.”
It was made popular in the ’70s due to the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati, with the female character of the same name.
Stella McCartney and Scott Baio also chose this baby girl name for their respective daughters.
6. Beatrix
This Latin name has a wonderful meaning: “she who brings happiness, blessed.”
The most famous women with this name are Beatrix Potter, author of Peter Rabbit, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
7. Bianca
Meaning “white,” this Italian name has been used by Shakespeare in his plays Othello and The Taming of the Shrew.
Singer Mick Jagger’s wife was also named Bianca.
8. Blake
A unisex name, it was most notable in recent times due to actress Blake Lively, it has English roots and means “fair-haired, dark.”
9. Bree
Often thought of as a nickname for Brianna or Gabrielle, Bree has come into circulation as a name all its own.
It’s of Irish origins and means “strength, exalted one.”
10. Callie
A Greek name that means “beautiful,” Cali is also another popular spelling of this name.
This is also a nickname for another unusual girl’s name Calliope.
11. Camilla
This is a Latin name that means “young ceremonial attendant.” This name appears in Virgil’s Aeneid, as a virgin queen, as well as in Roman mythology.
Camilla was a huntress so fast and agile that she could run through a field without bending a blade of grass.
12. Chloe
A Greek name that means “young green shoot,” you’ll see this name both in Greek mythology as a goddess of fertility as well as in the New Testament.
13. Clarice
This name has Italian roots and means “bright, clear.” Many will recognize it as the name of the girl reindeer in the Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
14. Corinna
A Greek name that means “maiden,” this uncommon baby girl name appears in the English poem, “Corinna’s Going a Maying” by Robert Herrick.
15. Cosette
Most will recognize this name from Les Miserable, the heroine of Victor Hugo’s novel.
It’s a French name that means “little thing.” So cute!
16. Dakota
With Native American roots, this name means “friendly.” In addition to appearing in two American states, young actress Dakota Fanning has also helped make this name noteworthy.
17. Danae
This name appeared in Greek mythology. Danae was the mother of Perseus by Zeus and a goddess of poetry and music.
Denaye is another spelling variation, as seen in Denaye Barahona of Simple Families.
18. Danica
Often synonymous with Venus, this name has Slavic origin and means “Morning Star.” Two famous American women with this name are Danica McKellar, who played Winnie Cooper on TV’s The Wonder Years, and Indy race car driver Danica Patrick, the first woman to win.
“Dani” would make an adorable nickname!
19. Edie
This is an English name that means “prosperous in war.”
There have been several famous women with this name including Singer Edie Brickell and actress Edie Falco. Actress Keira Knightly also chose this name for her daughter.
20. Elayne
A variation of the name Elaine, it has French and Scottish roots and means “bright, shining light.”
This name is well-known as the Sir Lancelot’s love in the Arthurian legends as well as the sharp-witted character on TV’s Seinfeld.
Nicknames could include “Ellie” or “El”.
21. Elisha
A Hebrew name meaning “God is my salvation,” it’s often seen as a variant of Alicia or Elysia.
22. Elle
This is a French name that means “she.”
It came back in the spotlight with supermodel Elle McPherson and the loveable character Elle Woods in the movie Legally Blonde.
23. Elodie
Meaning “foreign riches,” this name has French roots. It rhymes with “Melody,” and it’s also the name of an Italian singer as well as a character in Emile Zola’s novel The Earth.
24. Enya
Most famously attributed to the Irish singer with the hauntingly beautiful voice, this Irish name means “fire.”
25. Eowyn
This Old English’s girl’s name means ‘horse lover,’ and it was made famous due to J.R.R.Tolkien’s character in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the noblewoman of Rohan.
26. Fleur
A French girl’s name that means flower, it’s a delicate choice for a sweet little one.
27. Gilly
This name has made appearances as a nickname for Gillian as well as the name of a Swiss town.
It recently has become popular due to the character on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
28. Greta
A German name that means “pearl,” it’s most well-known for the glamour actress Greta Garbo.
It’s a popular choice among celebrities, including Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline.
29. Guinevere
This Welsh name meaning “white wave, white shadow.” It’s best known for King Arthur’s wife in the Camelot tales.
30. Haley
This is an English name that means “hayfield.” Although spelled differently, the most popular name recognition is Halley’s Comet and actress Halley Mills.
31. Haven
This uncommon girl name of English origins came to be as a reference to its definition, a safe harbor. It’s a pretty choice and is the name of author Haven Kimmel and skater Haven Denney.
32. Hestia
Another name taken from Greek mythology, this was the goddess of the home, hearth, and chastity. It means “hearth, fireside.”
33. Hope
One of the virtue names (along with Faith and Charity), this Christian name was first used among the Puritans in the 17th century. It’s classic, pure, and yet modern.
34. Idella
A variation of Ida, this German name means “industrious.”
Idella is very popular in Scandinavia right now, and it appears in both Greek and Hindu mythology.
35. Iliana
If you have more bohemian leanings, you may like this Greek name that means “from Ilium or Troy.”
Ilium is the poetic name for Troy and has an exotic feel.
36. Imri
If you want a truly unique and rare name, this Hebrew name is a rare biblical one.
Imri was from the tribe of Judah and his son helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Exile.
37. Isla
This name is the Spanish word for “island” and is also a Scottish River.
Actress Isla Fisher has made this name popular, and it’s also used in the Harry Potter books.
38. Jade
A name with Spanish roots, it means “stone of the side.” As this precious gem is said to stand for clarity, justice, modesty, wisdom, and courage, the name is rich with significance.
Superchef Giada de Laurentiis picked this name as an English translation of her own.
39. Kaia
This name has Hawaiian, Latin, and Scandinavian origins, and it means “to rejoice.” Supermodel Cindy Crawford picked this name for her daughter.
40. Katniss
Made popular from The Hunger Games trilogy, this name has come to represent bravery, leadership, and individuality. It is also a botanical name if that’s more to your liking.
41. Kinsley
An English name that means “king’s meadow,” it has a classy and high society feel to it.
It’s also similar-sounding to the name Kinsey, a heroine in Sue Grafton’s mystery novels.
42. Lana
Another English name, this one means “rock or handsome.” Singer Lana Del Rey has helped to make this one a trending baby girl name choice, although it still qualifies as uncommon, coming in at #224.
43. Lela
This name is a variation of Leila, which has Persian and Arabic roots and means “night.” The poet Lord Byron used Leila in his epic Don Juan.
Spelled “Layla,” this choice is more popular in America these days.
44. Liana
This French name means “to climb like a vine.” It’s a more modern alternative to “Diana” and is sometimes used as a nickname for Juliana or Eliana.
45. Maia
A name with origins in Greek mythology, this name means “mother.” In the legends, Maia was Atlas’ daughter and gave birth to Zeus’ son Hermes.
She was the earth mother and goddess of the spring, and it’s where we get our name for May.
46. Margot
This French name means “pearl,” and it’s often used as a nickname for the longer name Marguerite.
Fun Fact: Margaux Hemingway was originally named Margot, but she changed the spelling to represent the wine that her parents were drinking on the night she was conceived.
47. Myra
A common literary name, it has origins in the Greek and means “a sweet-smelling oil.”
Myra is a main character in novels such as Sinclair Lewis’ Babbit and Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy as well as used among poets.
48. Naya
Related to both Nia and Naia, it’s popular in the U.S.
Many will recognize this name due to actress Naya Rivera, known for her role in TV’s Glee.
49. Nevada
This Spanish name means “covered with snow” and is relatively unique among state names.
50. Odessa (Adessa)
Inspired by Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Catherine the Great of Russia gave this name to a port city in Ukraine.
This is an uncommon girl name with an exotic flair.
51. Paislee
This Scottish name means “church, cemetery.” More commonly spelled Paisley, for the Scottish town of the same name, this unique spelling is a growing trend.
Country singer Brad Paisley has helped with its popularity.
52. Quinn
An Irish name meaning “descendant of Conn,” this name has risen in popularity which may be attributed to TV drama Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and cheerleader Quinn Fabray on the TV show Glee.
53. Remi
This French name means “oarsman” and has been growing in popularity.
Though this can be a unisex name, many parents prefer this spelling to “Remy” to give it a more feminine feel.
54. Rene
This variation of the French name Renee means “reborn” and has Latin roots.
This spelling is often chosen as it makes the name more distinct.
55. Sabina
With Latin roots, this is an ancient Roman tribal name. It has other variations such as Sabine, Sabrina, and Serena.
Sabina is a character in Thornton Wilder’s play The Skin of Our Teeth.
56. Shea
An Irish name that means “stately, dauntless one,” it also is a surname.
Kevin James named his daughter Shea, and NY Met fans may choose this due to nostalgia for the beloved Shea Stadium.
57. Tess
An offshoot of Teresa, this English name means “to harvest.” Its most famous appearance is in Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
Some parents also like Tessa and Tessie.
58. Thea
Meaning “goddess, godly,” this Greek name has a variety of meanings and associations.
Another spelling variation, Theia was the goddess of light, Titan of sight, and mother of the moon. It’s also a nickname for Dorothea and Althea, two more vintage girl names.
Related: 50+ Vintage Girl Names for an Old-Fashioned Choice
59. Tyra
This Scandinavian name is the female version of the Indo-European god Tyr. It is most commonly associated with supermodel Tyra Banks.
60. Zina
With African roots, Zina means “guest”. This uncommon girl name also has Russian connections related to Zeus.
61. Myquillyn
If you’re even a bit into home decor, you’ve probably heard of Myquillyn Smith, “The Nester”. There isn’t a name meaning for this one – even if you search it! But it’s a pretty, very uncommon girl name.
If you need pronunciation help, it’s pronounced “Jacqueline with Mike at the beginning”.
You Will Find the Perfect Baby Girl Name: Promise
Baby names. It’s a lot to think about, right? And it can feel overwhelming at times.
There’s so much pressure to pick just the perfect name, even if it’s just pressure we put on ourselves.
Either way, your girl, as Shakespeare reminds us, will be just as lovely and sweet whatever name you choose.
But I know you’ll find that perfect name sets her apart – an uncommon, unique, one-of-a-kind lady in the making.
Read Next: 75+ Cute and Unique Baby Names (Different, but not Weird)
Kate is a former high school English teacher and current SAHM to her 5-year-old twin boys. A lifetime New Yorker recently transplanted in Tennessee, she keeps busy by learning her new way of life in the South, doing home decor and DIY projects, blogging at A Hundred Affections, substitute teaching, and figuring out how to survive in a house outnumbered by boys. And she loves Jesus very much.