It’s official, you are expecting a girl. You have been to all the scans; you are eating healthy(ish) and getting regular (read some) exercise. The main thing standing between you and the birth is picking the name. (Well apart from getting the baby room ready, attempting baby yoga, buying lots of complicated-sounding baby equipment, and more but, for the sake of brevity, we won’t get into that here.)
While, from the outset, picking a name seems to be one of the best bits about giving birth, it’s also one of the hardest. You’re not just naming a baby; you’re labeling an adult too. With this responsibility in mind, many parents-to-be find it hard to settle, let alone agree, on the right name. It’s a good thing you have 9 months to think about it, as it can be a lengthy (and sometimes testy) process.
To help you along, we have found names from around the world that are unique but not weird. We have chosen them based on their meanings so your daughter can really cherish her name when she’s older. If you’re looking for unique names that mean strength, blessing, miracle, love, or beautiful, then stay tuned. We have even thrown in a few literary baby girl names for good measure.
Unique baby girl names with a literary meaning
1. Imogen
Innogen was a legendary queen in early British history, married to King Brutus. It is suggested that Shakespeare tweaked Innogen either by accident or on purpose when he coined Imogen as the name of a British princess in the play Cymbeline. Whatever his reasoning, we will never know, but that was the first recorded use of Imogen as a name.
Meaning: Its meaning is not entirely clear, but it’s possibly ’maiden’ or ‘girl’.
Popularity: Imogen ranks in the late fifties in Australia and England and has climbed to the 69th position in Scotland. But it hasn’t reached the top 1000 in the US, making this a rare but lovely baby name for your daughter if you live stateside.
2. Posy
(Mary) Noel Streatfeild wrote her first children’s book and instant classic Ballet Shoes: A Story of Three Children on the Stage in 1936. Her sister Ruth Gervis provided the beautiful illustrations, and it was published by Dent. The book is tragic but uplifting read about three adopted sisters, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy. Each girl is discovered as a baby by Great uncle Matthew (Gum) during his travels around the world. He sends them home to his great-niece and her childhood nanny called Nana. Then the story unfolds.
Meaning: flower
Popularity: fitting in with the flower trend, but nowhere to be seen in the US top 1000, the top 100 of England, Scotland, and Australia, Posy is not just cute but also distinctive. If you love vintage names and if you have been searching for a baby girl name from the 1930s, then Posy is the one.
3. Estella
Who doesn’t love Charles Dickens? In his Great Expectations, character Estella is an orphan. The wealthy and eccentric Miss Havisham takes pity on her and raises her to become a lady in her upper-class world.
Meaning: derived from Latin, Estella means shining star.
Popularity: Estella is only ranking in the 700’s in the US, and doesn’t appear in the English, Scottish, or even Aussie top 100. So this could be a perfect unique name-ending with an A- for your own little bundle of uniqueness.
Unique baby girl names meaning beautiful
4. Fiona
A popular name in Scotland, Ireland & England, the name Fiona was first found in James McPherson’s Ossian poems. William Sharpe made it more accessible in the late 1800s when he used it as a pseudonym.
Meaning: Fiona means fair, white, beautiful.
Popularity: Perhaps, it’s something do with Princess Fiona, but the name has experienced a bit of an upsurge in recent years.
If you’re in the market for a well-known name-that is still unique, Fione could be the one. It’s only ranked in the 200’s in the US, so there’s no chance it will be too popular any time soon. Popular in Germany and Liechtenstein (who knew?), Fiona is excellent if you or your partner are from German descent.
5. Caoimhe
Pronunciation: Qwee-va
Caoimhe, or the Northern Irish Keeva, is derived from the Irish Caomh. Caoimhe shares the same Irish language root Caomh as the boys’ name Caoimhin (Kevin).
Meaning: beautiful, gentle, or precious.
Popularity: the name Caoimhe is mainly popular in Ireland. If you are looking for a name, meaning beautiful, then Caoimhe is an excellent option. While it might be challenging to spell for non-Irish, it’s a lovely and straightforward Irish name with a gentle sound.
6. Astrid
This name ticks a few boxes. While meaning ‘divinely beautiful,’ it can also be classed as a literary name, thanks to her famous Swedish literary namesake Astrid Lindgren of Pippi Longstocking. If you’re into all things royal, then Astrid might tickle your fancy, shared by the Norwegian Princess Astrid and the tragic Belgian Queen Astrid. It’s undoubtedly a majestic name.
Meaning: divinely beautiful
Popularity: while quite common in its native Sweden, ranking in the top 10 in 2017, Astrid doesn’t rank in England, Scotland, or Australia. It does seem to be gaining some traction in the US, edging its way to the 600’s in the last few years. If you have been considering a Scandinavian name meaning beautiful, this is it.
Unique baby girl names meaning blessing
7. Beatrix
We found another name that ticks a few boxes. Shared by the former queen of the Netherlands and the English natural scientist, illustrator & writer of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, Beatrix is a royal and literary name. Depending on where you are from, there are different versions of this name: Béatrice in France, Beatriz in Spain & Portugal, Beatrice in the UK, and Beata in Polish and Swedish.
Meaning: a name with Latin roots (beatus) meaning blessed.
Popularity: Not ranking in the US, UK or Australia, Beatrix is a great choice if you’re after a unique name ending with an X
8. Jane
First used in England in the 16th century, Jane is an English form of the French Jehanne, a feminine form of Johannes. Seen as more glamorous than its dowdy sister Joan, Jane was used by aristocrats to name their daughters.
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: While we might associate the name with plain, it’s anything but. A simple, stylish name, it’s totally unique as it doesn’t enter the UK, Australian, or the Irish top 100. It has crept up to 291 in the US top 1000, so, while it’s on the rise, it can still be considered a niche name. Easy to pronounce, Jane works well if you’d love your daughter to have a unique but classic name
Unique baby girl names meaning love
9. Esme
Of French and Persian origin, Esme started out as a masculine name but had tipped by the mid-twentieth century. In Spain, Esme is short for Esmeralda, meaning emerald.
Meaning: beloved and esteemed
Popularity: thanks to her appearance in the Twilight series, Esme has stormed the charts out of nowhere, climbing to the 500’s in just a few short years. While featuring in the Dutch top 10 as Esmee, it doesn’t appear in the UK, Australian, or Irish top 100, making this a great choice if you prefer a unique name with a continental flavor.
10. Freya
If you’re intrigued by anything Scandi, this might be the name for your own little Viking. Freya is an essential figure in Norse mythology, a beautiful blond, blue-eyed goddess of love and fertility.
In Viking literature, Freya-a mother of two daughters- owns a cloak of falcon feathers, wears a Brisingamen (containing jewels and gold) necklace and rides a chariot pulled by two felines. Ancient lore associates her with love, bringing people together, and resolving conflicts.
Meaning: Goddess of love, fertility, and beauty
Popularity:
this stunning but straightforward name has captured parents-to-be around the world. It’sIt’s currently at 66 in the Australian charts, while climbing to 20 in England & Wales, even reaching a high 15th spot in Scotland. Only managing a 266th spot in the States, you can be confident that while the name is ascending, it hasn’t reached peak popularity yet.
Other versions include Freyia, and Freja.
Unique baby girl names meaning miracle
11. Miriam
If your daughter is a longed-for miracle baby, you can pay tribute to your blessing by calling her Miriam (see meaning). Prophetess Miriam was the sister of Moses in the Book of Exodus.
Meaning: wished-for child in Hebrew.
Popularity: a steady favorite in France and England, Miriam resides at only 303 in the US.
If you love the meaning, but prefer something a little different, then Mira, Myriam, Mimi, and Mirjam are common variants of this name.
12. Sachi
Sachi- short for Sachiko- stems from Japan.
Meaning: “miracle, blessed, lucky.”
Popularity: widespread in Japan, it’s a slow burner abroad; Sachi was given to only 25 girls in the United States over the last years. Sachi is a unique, but lovely and international sounding name for your own little miracle.
Unique baby girl names meaning strength
13. Valerie
Made famous by the Amy Whinehouse song, this is a classic name in its country of birth. Valerie is an excellent choice if you are a Francophile, or if you have French roots. The masculine form is Valéry.
Meaning: strong, brave, fierce and healthy in Latin
Popularity: classic, but not overly used, the appeal of this timeless choice continues- currently ranking at 196 in the US.
14. Marcella
This Italian name comes from Latin- and the feminine version of Marcel.
Meaning: strong and martial, but can also be interpreted as a young warrior.
Popularity: coming in at the high nine hundreds in the US, but nowhere to be seen in the UK and Scottish charts. Marcella could be for you if you’re looking for a unique name that conveys strength.
15. Matilda
Rooted in Germany, this name is a superb choice for anyone who wants to raise a strong, independent-minded girl. With her literary namesake dreamed up by Roald Dahl, how could a girl with this name not be intelligent and strong-willed? Currently positioned in the twenties in England, Wales and Australia, this name is winning over parents-to-be with its positive connotations.
Meaning: power, might, or battle,
Popularity: while widely given in Europe (also coming in at 70 in Sweden), it’s only achieving the 489th place in the US. Thus making this a good option if you live stateside and in the market for a unique and literary name for your own bundle of strength.
Final words
Still not sure? Did nothing jump out of you in our round-up of unique baby girl names? Maybe our round-up of royal girl names might tickle your fancy.
