Looking for Exciting, Sophisticated Girl Names Rarer than Eloise

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NAMES LIKE ELOISE THAT AREN’T IN THE TOP 100

Dia writes:

I picked out our daughter’s name before my partner and I even met. We both liked Eloise because it was traditional but not in the Katherine/Elizabeth/Mary category.

While I like that everyone likes her name, I’ve been disappointed to hear so many people say “oh that’s my niece’s name” or “we have another Eloise in the toddler room.”

I’m also surprised that people sometimes ask if we’re calling her Ellie. I don’t think Eloise is all that long or hard to say, so why would we make it shorter?

Our runner-up name was Beatrice, and I do sort of wish we’d used it instead. But I feel like Beatrice is getting more popular, too.

We are due with our second daughter in October and I’m torn about whether to use Beatrice or not. I don’t mind the nickname Bea but I don’t have any plans to call her that.

My partner is not at all bothered by popularity and wants to go with Beatrice.

The girls’ last name sounds like Ross-plus-EE, so that rules out a lot of names I would have liked, including Lucy, Cecily, and pretty much any Rose name. We also wouldn’t use Elodie before, but now it’s also too much like Eloise. They have my last name as their middle so we’re not doing any additional middle names.

Will Beatrice get really popular? Are there names we could use that might be a little more exciting, but still sound strong and sophisticated and appropriate for a grown-up without going for something like Katherine-called-Katie?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

BEATRICE IS THE NAME TO BEAT

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

Popularity is such a conundrum, isn’t it?

Your daughter’s name is easily pronounced and spelled, plus people really like it – all the benefits of a popular name.

But sharing can be hard, especially when you intended to choose something that stood out.

A few things to keep in mind:

• We often live in neighborhoods where we share a lot with our neighbors, like educational backgrounds and hobbies. It’s no surprise that we can appreciate the same names, too. So names repeat at the local playgroup or kindergarten. As our children’s worlds expand, even a popular name might seem much less common in a high school class of 700 compared to a learn-to-swim class of 12.
• Shared sounds complicate the equation. Eloise ranks in the current US Top 100. So do Ella, Ellie, Eliana, Eleanor, and Elena. As a result, an El- name feels a little more familiar than, say, Violet.
• Popularity over times matters, too. Think about a name like Ava. It entered the US Top Ten way back in 2005 and only slipped out in 2025. It’s been a powerfully popular choice for a long time, and there are plenty of college-aged Avas along with toddlers by the name. By comparison, Eloise only entered the US Top 100 in 2022. It’s growing in popularity, but there aren’t as many full-grown Eloises, and that means the name feels fresher.

This is a very long way of saying that Beatrice would probably satisfy.

Yes, Beatrice is rising in use – but even now it’s not quite in the Top 500 in the US. Beatrix doesn’t crack the Top 1000. And while there other B names, Bianca, Blair, and Bella just don’t overlap the way Eloise and Elodie might.

I think I’m Team Beatrice and agree with your partner.

But let’s look at some alternatives, with a focus on names above the current Top 500 in the US.

MORE NAMES LIKE ELOISE and BEATRICE

ANNIKA

An elaborated form of Anna with a pan-global vibe. Really! It’s heard from Sweden to Slovakia to India. All the strength of a classic with a distinctive sound.

DAVINA

A feminine form of David that’s never quite caught on, but fits in nicely with current favorites like Olivia and Evelyn.

GENEVIEVE

Genevieve ranks in the US Top 200, so it might too popular. But just like few names sound like Beatrice, Genevieve is pretty distinctive.

MARIEL

An elaboration of Mary/Marie that retains an air of classic strength, but introduces a fresh sound.

MARINA

A name with a long history of use in several European languages, Marina has never quite caught on in the US.

NOEMI

You’ve pushed most ends-with-ee names off your list, but I do think a three-syllable choice could still work. Noemi is a romance language form of Naomi, and I think it’s worth a second look.

SERENA

Another too-popular name, at least on paper. Serena appears in the US Top 350, but it’s a flowing, time-tested name that hits the traditional-uncommon sweet spot.

VERONICA

Veronica sits just inside the current Top 500. It’s immediately familiar, but surprisingly underused. Vivian or Vivienne might wear beautifully for Eloise’s sister, but they’re far more popular V names.

I’m not sure I’ve topped Beatrice, but I really do want to cheer for Mariel. It’s effortlessly pretty, but with strength and history behind it, too.

Readers, over to you! Can you suggest girl names rarer than Eloise, but with the same vibe?