115 unique girl names with origins and meanings

It can be galling, to say the least, to discover that your little cherub is one of three with the same name in their nursery or school class. From a child’s perspective, it can be annoying to share your name with a trillion other kids, as any <ahem> Louise, Sarah or Helen who grew up in the 1980s can testify. 

So it’s understandable if you’re set on choosing an unusual name for your baby girl. But what makes a name unique? For starters, Mumsnetters in our Baby Names forum caution against making up a brand-new name by opting for a unique spelling of a more traditionally used name. The issue is that it may cause future headaches for your child when they have to continually spell out their name to teachers, receptionists and later at job interviews.  

Let’s face it, it’s nice to stand out from a crowd rather than merge into the background and choosing an unusual name for your little one can give them a head start in carving out their own identity. As Mumsnet user Smogtopia says, “The only names really standing out as cool at the moment are names that are underused.”

What makes a baby name unique?

In the early 20th century, Mary was the most popular girl name in England and Wales. In fact, it was so well-used that, in 1911, there were nearly two million Marys in Britain, representing just over 4% of the total population.

But with a much wider range of names being chosen for baby girls by modern parents, even the most popular baby names of today aren’t as commonly used as this. However, if you’re looking for a ‘unique’ name, avoid choosing a name that appears in the official top 100 ‘most popular’ name lists and you may even want to pick a baby name which is much more unusual than that. 

You might be wondering, how unusual is a baby name which is classed as unique, uncommon or rare? Well, to put it into context, the name Chiara - which ranks at number 654 in the official ONS chart for England and Wales - was used a total of 59 times for baby girls in 2021. This means that, if you picked it for your baby, you’d be unlikely to bump into another little Chiara at the local toddler group. 

The short, uncommon baby girl name Bibi, which is at number 1351 in the official rankings, was given to only 23 baby girls in England and Wales in 2021. And the rare name Tove, ranked at 3519, was given to only six baby girls in 2021. 

How we chose the top unique girl names

When conducting research, we referred to the latest baby names list for 2021 (released October 2022) by ONS for names in England and Wales. We checked the Central Statistics Office and Baby Names in Northern Ireland (nisra.gov.uk) for Irish names and the National Records of Scotland for Scottish names.

As we were looking for unusual and rare picks for this article of unique baby names, we avoided using any of the girl names in the official top 100 lists. In fact, we avoided using anything in the top 200. Instead, we focused our search on names which are used much less frequently. 

The first three categories of our list - cute and unique girl names, short and unique girl names and cool and unique girl names - were taken from existing Mumsnet articles. For these sections, we only included names which were ranked between 201 and 1000 in the official ONS rankings for England Wales. 

In the fourth section of our list - uncommon girl names - we selected only names ranked between 1001 and 2000. In the final section of our list - rare girl names - we used names ranked below 2001, with some names not even featuring in the official ONS rankings, meaning less than three babies were given these names in 2021 in England and Wales.

We also made sure to check which unique baby names were popular with Mumsnetters on our Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

So let’s take a look at some unique, common and rare baby names for girls.

Cute and unique girl names

1. Alessia

• Origin: Italian

• Meaning: Defender of mankind

2. Alora

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: My beautiful dream

3. Aubrey (or Aubrie/Aubriee)

• Origin: German

• Meaning: Ruler of the elves

4. Betty

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Consecrated to God

5. Billie

• Origin: German name

• Meaning: High protector

6. Blair

• Origin: Scottish

• Meaning: Field or meadow

7. Chiara 

• Origin: Italian

• Meaning: Bright and luminous

8. Daphne

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Laurel tree

9. Dulcie

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Sweet or pleasant

10. Eleri 

• Origin: Welsh

• Meaning: River in Wales

11. Ember

• Origin: English

• Meaning: The burning remains of a fire 

12. Fleur

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Flower

13. Flora

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Flourishing

14. Gloria

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Glory

15. Honey

• Origin: Old English

• Meaning: Nectar

16. India

• Origin: Sanskrit, Old English

• Meaning: From the river Indus 

 17. Juno

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Youthful

18. Marlowe

• Origin: Old English

• Meaning: Driftwood

19.Monroe

• Origin Scottish, Irish

• Meaning: Mouth of the River Roe,  in Northern Ireland

20. Morgan

• Origin: Welsh

• Meaning: Circling sea, great brightness or bright sea dweller

21. Morven

• Origin: Scottish, Irish

• Meaning: Child of the sea or big peak

22. Nala (or Nahla)

• Origin: African (Swahili), Arabic

• Meaning: Queen

23. Octavia

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Eighth

24. Raine (or Rain)

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Rain or queen

25. Raya

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Friend

26. Sage

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Wise

27. Stevie

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Crown

28. Winnie

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Holy reconciliation 

What Mumsnetters say about cute and unique girl names

“I'm Welsh and a Welsh speaker. Eleri is a very pretty name - not too common in babies or very young children these days.” - Mumsnet user, user1469770863

“I love the name Fallon - it’s gorgeous.” - Mumsnet user, Awwlookatmybabyspider

Short and unique girl names 

29. Coco

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Victorious 

30. Demi

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Half or small 

31. Gaia

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: The Earth

32. Gia

• Origin: Italian

• Meaning: God is gracious

33. Inès (or Inés)

• Origin: Greek, French, Spanish

• Meaning: Pure

34. Joy

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Contentment

35. Leni

• Origin: German

• Meaning: Bright or shining

36. Lula

• Origin: German

• Meaning: Famous in battle 

37. Mara

• Origin: Hebrew, Czech

• Meaning: Bitter

38. Noa

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Motion or movement

39. Rae

• Origin: Old English, Old Scottish, Hebrew (derived from Rachel)

• Meaning: Roe deer, ewe or lamb

40. Raya

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Friend

41. Rita

• Origin: Spanish, Italian

• Meaning: Pearl  

What Mumsnetters say about short and unique girl names

“I love Coco as a name itself. My DD had a friend called Coco. Really suited her.” - Mumsnet user, rambleonplease

“Rita? Love it. Due a comeback, like Gloria.” - Mumsnet user, Mimilamore

Cool and unique girl names 

42. Agnes

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Pure, holy

43. Alma

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Nourishing, kin

44. Anaïs

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Grace

45. Astrid

• Origin: Old Norse

• Meaning: Divinely beautiful 

46. Carmen

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Song or poem

47. Eira

• Origin: Welsh

• Meaning: Snow

48. Elise

• Origin: French

• Meaning: God is my oath

49. Indigo

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Blue dye

50. Luella

• Origin: French, German

• Meaning: Famed warrior

51. Meadow

• Origin: English

• Meaning: A field of grass or wildflowers

52. Pearl

• Origin: Latin, English

• Meaning: Precious

53. Renée (or René)

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Reborn

54. Romy 

• Origin: Latin (diminutive of Rosemary)

• Meaning: Drop or star of the sea

55. Stella

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Star

56. Sylvie

• Origin: French

• Meaning: From the forest

57. Sunday

• Origin: Norse

• Meaning: Of the sun god Sunna

58. Vivienne

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Life

59. Wynter (or Winter)

• Origin: English

• Meaning: The winter season

What Mumsnetters say about cool and unique names:

“Carmen? I adore it. Such a strong, feisty name.” - Mumsnet user, DramaAlpaca

“Vivienne? It's beautiful and different too, you probably won't get one in the same class!” - Mumsnet user, dollym1x

Uncommon girl names 

60. Allie (or Ally)

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Noble

61. Ariadne

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Most holy

62. Aspen (or Aspyn)

• Origin: English origin

• Meaning: The Aspen tree

63. Bibi

• Origin: Irish

• Meaning: The exalted one 

64. Birdie

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Refers to a little bird

65. Bluebell

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Refers to the bluebell flower

66. Bo

• Origin: Old Norse

• Meaning: To live

67. Brontë

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Thunder

68. Coralie

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Coral

69. Hera

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Hero, warrior

70. Emerald

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Rebirth and love (referring to the gemstone) 

71. Jamie (or Jaime)

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Supplanter or one that follows

72. Joanie

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: God is gracious

73. June

• Origin: Latin 

• Meaning: Youthful, derived from the Roman Goddess Juno

74. Kiki

• Origin: French, Spanish

• Meaning: Double happiness or noble

75. Lilou

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Lily

76. Lucille

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Light

77. Lulu

• Origin: German

• Meaning: Famous warrior 

78.  Lumi

• Origin: Finnish

• Meaning: Beauty and purity of snow

79. Lyana

• Origin: French, Latin, Hebrew

• Meaning: God has answered

80. Marianne

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Drop of the sea, bitter, beloved and grace

81. Odette

• Origin: French, German

• Meaning: Wealthy

82. Opal

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Precious gem

83. Petra

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Rock signifying strength and stability

84. Posy

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Flowers

85. Ramona

• Origin: Spanish, German

• Meaning: Wise protector

86. Rumi

• Origin: Japanese 

• Meaning: Peaceful or flow

87. Suki

• Origin: Japanese

• Meaning: Beloved 

88. Safia

• Origin: Arabic

• Meaning: Pure or wise

89. Seraphina

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Ardent, fiery

90. Tiggy

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Poet

91. Zola

• Origin: Italian

• Meaning: Piece of earth

What Mumsnetters say about uncommon girl names

“Love Emerald. Quite like virtue names with it - Emerald Serena, Emerald Constance, Emerald Hope” - Mumsnet user, partyatthepalace

“I looked after a little girl called Seraphina but everyone (including her parents) called her Fina.” - Mumsnet user, MissyB1

Rare girl names

92. Amethyst

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: The precious stone or intoxicate

93. Cressida

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Gold

94. Dinah

• Origin: Hebrew

• Meaning: Vindicated 

95. Dot

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Gift of God

96. Fifer

• Origin: 

• Meaning: 

97. Fifi

• Origin: Hebrew, French

• Meaning: God gives 

98. Hebe

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Youth

99. Kai

• Origin: Hawaiian, Japanese

• Meaning: Sea, ocean or keeper of the keys

100. Katia

• Origin: Russian

• Meaning: Pure

101. Lise

• Origin: French, English, German, Dutch (derived from Elisabeth)

• Meaning: God is my oath

102. Loren

• Origin: Latin origin

• Meaning: Laurel

103. Lux

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Light

104. Malin

• Origin: Old English

• Meaning: Little strong warrior

105. Marigold

• Origin: English

• Meaning: Golden flower

106. Perdita

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Lost

107. Thuli

• Origin: Zulu (South Africa)

• Meaning: Quiet

108. Tove

• Origin: Scandinavian

• Meaning: Beautiful

109. Tula

• Origin: Sanskrit

• Meaning: Balance

110. Valentine

• Origin: French

• Meaning: Strength or health

111. Vita

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Life

112. Vivi

• Origin: Latin

• Meaning: Lively

113. Wynona

• Origin: Native American

• Meaning: Firstborn daughter

114. Zama

• Origin: Zulu/Xhosa (South Africa)

• Meaning: To try

115. Zena

• Origin: Greek

• Meaning: Life or woman

What Mumsnetters say about uncommon baby girl names 

“Unusual/rare girls’ names? Perdita was my first thought.” - Mumsnet user, Whitechocpizza

“Vita would be perfect.” - Mumsnet user, RogueFemale

How to choose a unique girl name

• Get to know the most popular names and then avoid them. Look at ONS for the most popular names in England and Wales, the Central Statistics Office and Baby Names in Northern Ireland (nisra.gov.uk) for Irish names and the National Records of Scotland for Scottish names.

• For more guidance and inspo, read our Mumsnet baby name articles including most popular baby names, boy names and girl names and unusual names.

• Bear in mind that name trends and popularity can vary from region to region and country to country - you can check stats in specific regions including in the ONS info breakdown which discusses names chosen according to mother’s place of residence here. 

• Look at names which are more popular in another country. For inspo, we’ve included some French baby names on this list which may be well-used in France but are less well known in the UK.

• Chat to local parents face to face, as recommended by Mumsnetters. “Do you know anyone IRL you can ask about names they hear at groups/school a lot?” says Mumsnet user, DoucheCanoe. “I ask as I assume you want something that's almost unheard of and this can vary from place to place.” 

• Check out our Mumsnet baby name forum, where parents and parents-to-be chat and discuss rare names for girls.

• Discover how cool and unique names sometimes converge in our cool names for girls and boys article. This will also give you an idea of popular naming trends you might like to follow or avoid. As Mumsnet user Smogtopia says: “The only names really standing out as cool at the moment are names that are underused.”

What is the most unique name for a girl?

The most unique and rare names for girls are so rarely used they don’t even feature in the official ONS rankings. How about the names Thuli and Dot, which both feature in our rare girl names list in this article? 

Neither of these names are ranked in the official ONS stats, meaning that they were each given to less than three baby girls in England and Wales in 2021. They’re amongst the most unique names for girls that you could choose for your little one.

For a cool, unique name, the Finnish name Lumi taps into the current Nordic chic trend and has a sweet meaning - 'beauty' and 'purity of snow.' At number 1569 in the official rankings, it’s an uncommon but delightful choice.

About the author

Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet. 

Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.

Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP. 

For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby. By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.