Can you think of an unusual, but pretty name for a baby girl?

United States
June 11, 2008 11:00am CST
A friend of mine is having a baby and she asked for suggestions on baby girl names. I've suggested Cayley (Gaelic) or Leotie (Native American). Both have rich symbolic meaning. And, she's looking for something with a flourish that is also meaningful. When I was naming my baby, I was just as selective. I went through hundreds of potential name combinations (first and middle name). I had the first name almost immediately. It's sort of a family name. But, the middle name was harder. And, then one day, her middle name simply popped into my head while I was watching a TV show. There was noone on that show with the same name. It was just there, as if by magic. It was simply perfect! Now, her middle name is her preferred name. I'm glad that I didn't just pick any old middle name. How did you come up with your baby's name? Did it take a long time? Did you choose a family name or one that had special meaning? Please share.
6 people like this
18 responses
• Philippines
11 Jun 08
I also was very selective when we were deciding on a name for our baby. My husband and I wanted her and our next baby/ies to have our initials as the first letter of their first and middle names. Anyway, I really like the name Athena. I remember her to be the goddess of wisdom in Greek literature.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jun 08
I love the name Athena. = )
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jun 08
What a beautiful name. We need more smart women in the world. Though I believe we already have many! Thanks for the suggestion.
@SGTJOMAR (175)
• Philippines
11 Jun 08
i want to share with you a beautiful name which i want to name if i have a baby girl but i dont have. so this is it... CAMILLE JOY. IF YOU CALL HER IN SHORT CJ.
1 person likes this
@miryam (6505)
• Italy
11 Jun 08
i'm like a strange name good cayley, i'm like i ever think mirkala, but i not have a sun, for a male aimenito, aime....... in italy are strange name......... myryam
• United States
13 Jun 08
Mirkala is a fine name!
@miryam (6505)
• Italy
13 Jun 08
mircala are espain name......bye myryam
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I like the name Cayley that you recommended to your friend. Most people assume that my son's name is a family name. It is a classic (sometimes referred to as old fashioned) name that is not heard very often these days. We chose it for that reason to go with our very common last name. We gave him his daddy's middle name that went with the first name beautifully and was also is grandfathers name as well. It is good that your friend has started out knowing exactly what she wants out of a name. She will know it when the right one comes along.
• United States
13 Jun 08
I believe that too!
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I don't have any children but all of my friends do, they all gave thought to the names of their children and most are really unique yet nice. I worked in a hospital for years and have heard every stupid thing that parents name their kids thinking it's "original/unique/cute" and then it end up being a nightmare for the child. So I would suggest that your friend think back to her grade school and high school days and imagine having that name. Then imagine ways to make fun of it before deciding on that name. I hated my name until a few years ago and I'm 26! Kids are cruel and some names are cool adult names but suck when you're a kid and some names are cute kid names but suck as an adult. That should all be taken into account. Also have your friend not jump on the current star trend of naming their children random words. Like Apple, I mean really wtf was that woman thinking? Will this child go through an identity crisis in kindergarden when she learns that A is for Apple and apples are fruits? I forgot which star just gave birth and named her child Honour. It's nice until some boys in school start saying "Yeah, I'm going to get on the ON HER roll behind the bleachers".
• United States
13 Jun 08
What about Demi Moore, didn't she give her children unusual names, too? She was one of the first, I think. I think Gwenneth Paltrow named hers Apple or some kind of fruit. I was so thankful she was more sensible on the second one.
• Philippines
13 Jun 08
Here's a very nice baby girl name.. I came up with it when i was pregnant because i thought im having a baby girl! Hannaicah Naiona :)
• United States
13 Jun 08
That is such a beautiful name. I was very close to naming my own daughter Hanna, which is similar to yours. What an intricate name. I'll bet it has special meaning too.
@emskoneko (805)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Leotie sounds beautiful. If I ever have a little girl, I would name her Phina. I'm not sure about a boy. My parents chose my name by picking a girl name that sounded close to my father's.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
11 Jun 08
Cayley and Leotie are indeed unique and prosperous names. :) If I have a daughter next time, I'll probably name her Sakura. It's a Japanese word and it's the name for the Cherry Blossoms. It's a very beautiful flower. Another girl name I really like is Giselle. I do not think these names are very unique but they are pretty (in my opinion). :)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I was checking into Japanese names, as well. They have such deep meanings!
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I've got a good one (in my opinion)... Kotonoha Promiste is another one. One name I got from experience, the other I chanced upon. There are also plenty of other names I've sent to other discussions here.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I have two daughters. My 7 year old's name is Justice Victoria and my 2 year old is Millanah Devin. I wanted her to be Millanah Aubrielle but my husband chose her middle name because I picked her first name. We call her Mimi.
• United States
13 Jun 08
Those are beautiful names! I have heard of Aubrielle, but not Millanah. Two lovely choices. I will keep those as possibilities for my next one!
@May2008 (179)
• China
12 Jun 08
Oh, I am afraid I can not give you any advice on it. The naming system in your country is quite different from that in our country. But I can share it with you. We have a family name that is the first name and a given name that is the second name. When we choose the given name, we will choose the words with beautiful meaning, such as lovely, smart, good future, etc. I don't mean lovely this kind of words to be used as the name, but the words carry the meaning of that. Let's take one name for example. Li Long. Li is the family name, while Long is a given name. The corresponding meaning in English refers to Dragon. I know that dragon is usually considered to be evil and bad things in the west. On the controry, here it stands for dignity, noble. People chose that word as the name with a hope that they wish their children be a successful man in the future just as the name suggests.
@kissie34 (2294)
• Philippines
12 Jun 08
Hi... Actually, I am not yet a mother so it means I don't have yet a child.. Maybe soon... But even though I am not yet a mother, I am thinking already what will be the best name for my child/children... Just this site there are plenty of names and each names have its own meaning... Just try to look at this site, maybe you can find or your friend can find the best name for her baby... http://www.babyhold.com/
• United States
11 Jun 08
I named my daughter Kyrstie Lynn,Kyrstie I got from kirstie alley,she was very popular back then.I just thought she was so beautiful and funny,and a wonderful actress.I loved her named and just spelled it differently with a Y instead of an I .and Lynn I though went well with it.I call her Kyrstie now but for many years growing up I called her sunshine,and then sunny became like a nick name for her until she got too old and complained it was embarrassing her. Jas
• United States
13 Jun 08
Sunshine! What a beautiful nickname. My daughter's nickname is a variation of her middle name. She prefers her middle name and nickname. She claims those are her only names! Kids are so funny.
• India
13 Jun 08
i love the name "EMMA".
@Kaeli72 (1229)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I don't know about pretty, but definately unusual: Bennu: AKA Phoenix...Egyptian god Pleiades: Seven sisters...constellation Kylia: just something different
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
11 Jun 08
I always said if I had a child (which I decided not to) I would name her Sunev pronounced (SUN-EV). It is my name backwards (Venus) and it also has the Sun in it- which I think is cool- because without the sun- nothing would survive :)
@wayou90 (25)
• China
12 Jun 08
AS parents, when giving baby name, we always leave some desire not to be realized on us for our child!
11 Jun 08
I am having a baby girl as well... we decided on Caitriona, it is gaelic for catherine.