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You've combed through the top girl names, asked all your friends and family for inspiration, and just aren't connecting with a name for your baby? Time to dig deep. The following names are all beautiful in their own ways, but have stayed out of the top 500 names in the United States for the past century.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital of and largest city in Germany, as well as an increasingly popular place-inspired baby name. The etymology of this place name is unclear, but it's thought to come from the old West Slavic word birl, meaning "swamp," since Berlin is located in a lowland, on the banks of the River Spree.
Briar
You may associate Sleeping Beauty with the name Aurora, but the story's princess is also known as Briar Rose. An English term for "thorny bush," Briar Rose translates literally to "rose bush." You're not obligated to use Rose as a middle name… but why wouldn't you?
Ciel
Ciel is the French word for sky and heaven. If you're attracted to names like Sky or Skylar but want something less popular, consider Ciel, the Spanish Cielo, or the variations Cielle, Ciela, or Ciella.
Dove
Dove follows in the footsteps of other bird names like Robin and Wren, with the added symbolism of peace. We love Dove's ethereal simplicity. The dove is a religious symbol in Christianity and Buddhism. This beautiful name is increasingly popular, though it still hasn't cracked into the top 1,000 girl names in the United States.
Fleur
Fleur, which rhymes with pure, means "flower" in French. It's a less common alternative to Flora, which ranks in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S. If you're looking for a nature name that you won't hear anywhere else, consider Fleur.
Golden
Give your baby an extra glow with Golden, a dazzling color name. It symbolizes honesty and authenticity and just happens to be the title of a very, very popular song from a certain animated movie. Variations include Gold, Goldie, and Golda.
Guinevere
If the name Guinevere is ringing any bells, it's likely because of the legend of King Arthur; she was his beautiful bride. It actually translates to "white phantom" in Welsh. While names like Gwendolyn, and its diminutive, Gwen, are relatively common in the U.S., Guinevere has never quite cracked the top 500.
Holland
Holland has steadily climbed the charts since the '90s, entering the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S. in 2014, though it's still rare relative to other European place names like London and Paris. Holland, meaning "wooded land" in Dutch, is a region within the Netherlands – though Holland is sometimes used to refer to the whole country.
Imogen
Likely derived from the Gaelic word inghean ("maiden"), Imogen has serious literary roots: Shakespeare used the name (originally spelled Innogen) for a brave, quick-thinking heroine in Cymbeline. Today, it’s especially popular in England and Australia, where it consistently lands in the top 100 for girls – but still feels fresh and underused in the United States.
Juno
You might have thought the success of the 2007 indie film would have boosted Juno at least into the top 500 baby names in the U.S., but you'd be wrong! Despite being a very cute name, this Roman myth-inspired moniker is still rare. (And no, Sabrina Carpenter's 2024 hit hasn't moved the needle, either.)
Lake
Surprisingly rare, Lake follows the flow of water names such as Bay, Ocean, River, and Brook. It comes from the Latin word lacus, meaning, somewhat plainly, "inland body of water." But this placid, nature-inspired name conjures serenity, wildness, and life simplified.
Lavender
Lavender, with its fragrant purple flowers, is an unexpected twist on floral names like Rose, Lily, and Iris. A few famous literary characters are named Lavender – the best friend in Roald Dahl's Matilda and Lavender Brown, a witch in the Harry Potter series. Lavender is also a beautiful color and beloved scent.
Lux
Lux, Latin for "light," sounds decidedly feminine to our American ears, but it's actually the most popular as a name in the Netherlands, for boys. This is a bit of a deep-cut reference, but you might recognize it as the name of Kirsten Dunst's character in Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides. We like it because it's similar to Lucy, but without the trendiness.
Moxie
Moxie means "spirited and determined," both worthy qualities to wish on your baby. The word came into American vocabularies in the 1930s when the beverage Moxie, one of the first mass-produced sodas, was marketed with the slogan "build up your nerve." As a baby name, Moxie has old-fashioned charm.
Oceana
Oceana, meaning "ocean," is a lyrical name of Greek origin that's reminiscent of mermaids and myths. It's considered to be the feminine version of Oceanus, a mythical Greek Titan who rules over the sea, all rivers, and water nymphs.
Philippa
Far more popular in the U.K. than the U.S., Philippa is the feminine version of Philip, which comes from Greek and translates to "friend of horses." If you see a stable in your girl's future, this would be a prophetic name.
Rebel
Rebel is a gutsy, modern baby name that suits boys and girls equally (though it is slightly more popular for girls). If you want your kid to have the edgiest name on the playground, Rebel is a good pick.
Seraphina
Nothing against Sarah, but isn't Seraphina more charming and whimsical? Adapted from the Hebrew word seraphim, it translates to "fiery ones" and is also the name of an order of angels in the Bible. If you ask us, Seraphina is a truly underrated name for girls.
Tallulah
A Choctaw word meaning "leaping waters," Tallulah is a beautiful nod to Indigenous culture. There's a city in northeast Louisiana that bears the name, along with a town in Georgia: Tallulah Falls. (Makes sense, given the translation!)
"I love Tallulah," one BabyCenter Community mom wrote on our message boards. "So feminine and pretty. It also has so many different nickname options."
Zen
Are you hoping for a chill baby? Consider Zen, which is a school of Buddhism that originated in China. The word itself is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese transliteration for the Sanskrit word for meditation. Zen Buddhism emphasizes meditation, intuition, and altruism.
Still scrolling for the one? The BabyCenter app makes it way easier (and honestly, more fun). Save your favorite names, see what’s trending right now, and get real opinions from parents who’ve been there.
