Surprising, Rare, and Quirky Girl Names

Let’s talk about quirky girl names. 

Quirky comes in plenty of forms. They’re names that feel a little offbeat, kind of indie. They range from classic quirky to quirky-cool. 

Some of these are rare, even unique baby girl names. Others feel far more familiar.

It’s an elusive quality, to be sure. Some might call Top 100 favorites like Chloe or Aurora quirky, if only because those names weren’t popular for a little girl fifty years ago. Today, though? They’re mainstream favorites.

Some names feel like quirky classics. They’ve been in use for centuries, even longer. But they’re not royal or super traditional, somehow. They’re the names that we think of only after we’ve exhausted Katherine, Elizabeth, and Jane.

If you’re after a baby name that bridges the slightly different and the truly unique, this list of quirky girl names might be exactly what you need.

ACACIA, ACADIA, ARCADIA (unranked)

Acacia tree name like Aspen or Rowan. National Park Acadia in Maine shares its name with a former French colony in North America, stretching from Quebec to Louisiana. And Arcadia comes from an ancient Greek name, referring to a place but ultimately meaning bear.

All three marry an unexpected sound with the flowing, romantic appeal of Sophia or Amelia.

ANOUK (unranked)

In Dutch and French-speaking countries, Anouk is as familiar as Annie. The Ann- diminutive has a long history of use elsewhere, but in the US, it remains rare. It sounds like ah-NUK, rhymes with Luke. That’s pretty darn quirky. Famous bearers include French actress Anouk Aimee – born Nicole Dreyfus – and Dutch singer Anouk, who uses only her first name. On Bravo television series The Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, it was the name of free-spirited Phoebe’s daughter.

ANYA (#443)

Like Anouk, Anya is another form of Ann. It can also be short for Anastasia – anyone who grew up with the 1997 animated movie about the lost Russian princess might think of that first. Now it’s actress Anya Taylor-Joy that comes to mind for many. If Annie is a traditional favorite, Anya feels a little different and surprising.

ARDEN (unranked)

Arden sounds like ardent, from the Latin word ardentem, meaning fiery or passionate. But Arden comes from a place name and surname with a Celtic root, meaning high. And it’s famous as the Forest of Arden. It’s a real place, but Shakespeare made it a romantic, even magical place, in As You Like It.  

ASTRID (#399)

Few names appear as steadily in pop culture as Astrid has over the last twenty years. In 2008, it’s the name of the baby in The Office. Maybe she’s Michael Scott’s daughter … or not. The would-be dad insists that Astrid means “Viking princess.” In 2010, we met an animated Astrid in How to Train Your Dragon. She was an aspiring Viking warrior, and Astrid has continued to appear in the successful franchise since. Now it’s the name of Lydia Deetz’ daughter in the new Beetlejuice movie. It remains a Scandinavian heritage pick with an offbeat vibe, and maybe a little bit of a Goth undercurrent, too.

BERNADETTE (unranked)

Plenty of names are recognized by everyone, even if no one is using them for their children now. That’s Bernadette, exactly. Traditional, enduring, surprisngly rare. The Big Bang Theory’s Bernadette makes this name feel quirky – and smart, too.

BIRDIE (#701)

When it comes to unique names, those borrowed from animals often top the list. Except if Wren and Raven and Robin are so popular, is Birdie really that different? It’s one-part bird, two-parts sparky retro nickname name. What can Birdie be short for? Anything from evergreen Elizabeth to less expected choices, like Barbara or Bernadette. (Bernadette called Birdie seems like a double-dose of amazing, offbeat energy.)

BLOSSOM (unranked)

You might remember the 1990s sitcom about the ultimate quirky girl archetype, New York City teenager Blossom Russo – a very young Mayim Bialik. We eventually learned her character was named for jazz singer Blossm Dearie. It was a great backstory, but it took nothing away from this pan-botanical rarity.

CALLIOPE (#492)

Few names sound anything like Calliope. Okay, well, maybe Penelope. For years, Penelope was queen of the quirky girl names. There’s a reason that the Bridgerton series revolves around the surprising, never-quite-fitting-in Penelope Featherington. Or why Christina Ricci’s offbeat modern fairyale from 2006 was titled Penelope. Now, though? Penelope is a chart-topping favorite and we’ve moved on to Calliope. Not only does it share the same roots in ancient Greece, but a calliope is a steam-powered organ used on riverboats and by circuses during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Callie is a blends-in nickname, but Calliope is the star of the Big Top, a daring adventurer, a bold and unforgettable choice.

CLEMENTINE (#543)

Charlotte is a chart-topping favorite. Constance is a buttoned-up antique. Clementine falls somewhere in the middle, a spirited choice that makes us sing “Oh My Darlin'” even as we know the name’s roots go deeper. Winston Churchill’s wife was an aristocratic Clementine.

CLEO, CLIO (#608; unranked)

In Greek mythology, Clio is one of the Nine Muses. She’s the goddess responsible for history, known for carrying a scroll. Her fellow Muses also provide inspiration to artists, story-tellers, and other creative types from the ancient world. We tend to associate Cleo with the legendary ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra. The E spelling of the name has long been more popular in the English-speaking world. Both seem perfectly Bohemian.

CRICKET (unranked)

Cricket long served as a sometimes-heard peppy nickname, and very occasionally, as a given name. The Young and the Restless gave us Christine “Cricket” Blair in 1983. In the early 1960s, detective series Hawaiian Eye also included a Cricket, this time short for the equally unusual Chryseis. I’ve found quite a few more, suggesting that this nature name might be more wearable than you might think. Busy Philipps named her younger daughter Cricket Pearl in 2013. It’s retro and modern, a BFF for Lula.

DARBY (unranked)

Not every surname name reads quirky. Most of them don’t. Kinsley and Haisley and Marlowe and Hatton range from familiar to rare, but they all feel mainstream. Darby, though, with the strong D and B sound, strikes a different note.

DOMINO (unranked)

Van Morrison’s “Domino” charted in 1970. The song paid homage to the legendary Fats Domino. But something about sounds like it could be a girl’s name. And it sometimes is – Ian Fleming used it as a nickname for Dominique; in the US, girls have received the name in small numbers since 1983, when Fleming’s character appeared in James Bond movie Never Say Never Again. It’s also the name of a French actress and a British bounty hunter played by Keira Knightly in a 2005 movie. I think this one reads quirky – and cool, too.

EDIE (unranked)

Eden is a mainstream favorite. Edith feels more like a stylish antique. Edie takes the name in a different direction. Maybe that’s about the eccentric – and ulimately tragic – mother-daughter socialites, both named Edie Bouvier Beale. Profiled in documentary Grey Gardens, their story isn’t likely to inspire parents. But it does center Edie as a glam name from the earlier half of the twentieth century, one that’s nearly ready for a comeback – but still unexpected and a little offbeat.

ELODIE (#738)

This is a French form of a Spanish name with Visigothic roots. How’s that for a whisper-down-the-alley origin story? Elodie is a cousin to Otto, meaning riches or wealth. It’s incredibly pretty, but also delightfully unexpected. In a world filled with girls called Ella and Avery, Elodie fits in but stands out, too.

ELOWEN, ELOWYN (unranked; #693)

Elowen routinely appears on the most popular Appellation Mountain name lists, even though few parents choose it in real life. The sound is lovely, even haunting. It could shorten to fits-in Ellie, but it comes from Cornish, where it means “elm tree” – and it is as novel in Cornwall as Aspen is in English. A note on spelling: while the -EN ending is feminine in Cornish and lots of similar languages, American parents tend to read -EN as masculine and -YN as feminine. Think Gwendolyn. So it’s no surprise that Elowyn is the more popular pick.

ELSBETH, ELSPETH (unranked)

Elsbeth and Elspeth share a meaning with evergreen Elizabeth: my god is an oath. This Scottish variation is traditionally spelled with a P, but Elsbeth has been used over the years, too. A quick-witted lawyer, first introduced on The Good Wife, makes the case for Elsbeth as a name that’s both appealing and undeniably quirky, too.

EVOLET (unranked)

Evolet fits with so many rare Ev- names on the rise. It was invented for a forgettable movie, but thanks to the Eva-Violet mash-up sound, it might outlast the film. 2008’s 10,000 BC gave the name to the blue-eyed female lead. Word is that her name was based on “the love” – as in the love interest, though the movie suggests it means “the promise of life.” It’s an appealing meaning, an on-trend sound, and an unusual, but very wearable, option.

FABLE (unranked)

Literary word names have plenty of appeal. Fable blends the best of Mabel and Faye, a name-like noun that works beautifully for a daughter. But it’s also magical and rare, bringing to mind illustrated storybooks full of fairies from an earlier era.

FREYA (#136)

Freya may soon be far too popular to retain its outsider status. For now, though, it works. We’ve taken plenty of Greek and Roman mythological names into the Top 100, but American parents have been slower to consider Norse gods and goddesses. Freya means lady; in Norse mythology, she’s associated with love, beauty … and death. It trended in the UK before catching on in the US.

GAIA (unranked)

Maya and Maia, with their Sanskrit roots meaning magic, or Hebrew meaning water or Greek myth meaning mother, is one of those names that feels like a twenty-first century classic. That opens the door for the far-less expected Gaia. The primordial earth goddess of the Greek pantheon, her name is pronounced with a hard G. It’s a little bit modern hippie, but also easy to wear in our Maya/Leah/Kaia moment.

GWEN, GWENDOLYN (#815; #380)

Like several names on this list, Gwen and Gwendolyn balance the traditional and the quirky. They come from the Welsh gwen, meaning fair or blessed. Maybe any name beginning with “gw” seems unconventional.

HERO (unranked)

Is Hero too much to live up to? Almost certainly. But Hero is also a name borrowed from Greek legend, one whose love story ended in tragedy. There’s also a Hero in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. While the latter Hero suffers, too, she ends happily. The ties to romance and literature should redeem this name, but because Hero is just such a big, imposing sound, it ends up remaining rare – and, yes, quirky.

HILDIE, HILDY (unranked)

Hildegarde seems like a lot of name, but Hildie or Hildy? The unexepcted sound hits a sweet spot, midway between the expected and the outlandish. The name means battle and is tied to medieval saints and queens, but fell out of use well before we learned the Earth revolves around the Sun.

IMOGEN (unranked)

This name wouldn’t feel especially surprising in the UK, or elsewhere in the English-speaking world. But American parents have never really warned to Imogen. Something about the rhythm and sound remains distinctive.

INDIGO (#964)

Color names top the charts. There’s Scarlett and Ruby and Hazel, too. Indigo, a gender-neutral option, is far more out-of-the-ordinary. Maybe it just comes down to the O ending. Or maybe it’s because “Indie” is the logical nickname. Or perhaps it’s because names inspired by the color blue, from Navy to Skye to, well, Blue, remain less popular, at least for now.

JEANNE, JEANNIE (unranked)

The French feminine form of John should appear on a list of classics, shouldn’t it? Maybe. Except Jeanne and Jeannie have become linked to figures like David Bowie’s “Blue Jean” and 1960s television’s I Dream of Jeannie. Instead of a classic currently out of use, something about this name feels delightfully different.

JEWEL (unranked)

Yes to Ruby and Pearl. But why not Jewel? It’s all of the gemstones. The singer Jewel – also known for the reality series about her family’s life in Alaska – put it on the list of possibilities, but it’s never quite caught on.

JUNO (unranked)

As bright and high energy as a name can be, this Roman goddess name has never caught on – even as Juniper and June have risen in use. One more thing that cements Juno’s status as a quirky girl favorite? 2007 smash hit indie flick Juno, the movie that launched Elliot Page’s career.

KAHLO (unranked)

Confession: the first Kahlo I met was canine. But it’s a great name for a girl. It fits with fellow o-enders, like Willow and Margot, and K names are considered stylish, from classic Katherine to modern Kylie. Legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo ranks among the best known painters of the twentieth century, and her self-portraits immortalized her unique style. The Victoria & Albert Museum is mounted an exhibit all about her wardrobe in 2018. It makes for a powerfully creative possibility.

KEMPER (unranked)

K surnames from Kelly to Kennedy to Kinsley have caught on with our daughters over the years. Kemper seems like it has potential, thanks to actress Ellie Kemper, as well as the name’s two meaning: field or fighter.

KIT (unranked)

A long-time nickname, Kit is associated with Christopher, as well as Katherine. That makes it spare, traditional, and traditionally unisex, too. As a given name, it would be very rare, a little bit Kit Carson, maybe more Kit Kittredege.

LOLA (#263)

From Miley Cyrus’ BFF on Hannah Montana to Lola from The Loud House, this name is often given to fictional characters who feel bold and a little offbeat, too. If Kate is the name you give to a character to show she’s a sensible, down-to-earth everywoman, I think Lola is the daring best friend. Mainstream quirky at its best.

LUELLA (#930)

A Louisa-adjacent Lou name, Luella blends two popular sounds. Together, it feels fresh and unexpected, vintage and a little edgy.

LULA (unranked)

Take Lola and Lucy and Luna, mix, and you’ll arrive at Lula. But even though this name feels like a modern invention, it qualifies as a genuine vintage pick, popular into the 1910s. With all of the Lu/Lou names making a comeback, surely Lula will join them. Liv Tyler gave the name to her youngest in 2016. Pitbull sings the name in his Spanglish remix of “El Taxi,” too – though that’s not the most G-rated reference. If you love short, retro girl names, Lula makes for a less popular pick than, say, Ava or Daisy.

LYRA (#481)

Lyra has the makings of a hit. Anything borrowed from a constellation in the night sky has the potential to feel quirky and cool – just ask Luna. Lyra comes from Orpheus’ lyre, a stringed instrument. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran chose the musical name for his daughter in 2020. It benefits from our love of L names, but feels fresh and new compared to favorites like Lily, Lyla, and Lucy.

MARIGOLD (#714)

In an age of bold botanicals, Marigold fits in beautifully. And yet, it still makes for a surprising choice. A Downton Abbey daughter boosted this name’s profile. It also has strong spiritual ties, thanks to the name’s origins: Mary’s Gold, often associated with legends about the mother of Jesus. Years after the flower but before the period piece, “Marigold” was the name of a Nirvana song. If you’re in love with Daisy and Rose, but want something distinctively different, this name belongs on your shortlist.

MATILDA (#437)

In Roald Dahl’s story Matilda, the lead character is kind, loving, and incredibly smart. Surely that’s part of the appeal of this unconventional choice. The name’s bouncing rhythm, sparky nicknames, and mix of history all factor in to Matilda’s delightful style, too.

MILLICENT (unranked)

Millie caught on in the UK first, then quickly trended in the US, too. It’s a successor to both Ellie and Molly. But Millicent remains a quirky, unconventional choice. It sounds like the name of an animated mouse or a ballerina child, but it means vigorous and strong.

OPAL (#488)

Most jewel box names wouldn’t fit on this list. But somehow Opal does. Maybe it’s because the stone itself is so interesting – while it comes in many colors, it’s best known for its iridescence or play-of-color. The shimmering stone stands out, as does this name.

ORIANA (unranked)

We went wild for Ariana not so long ago, partially thanks to powerhouse singer Ariana Grande. But golden Oriana is a Latin name, from the word aurum, gold. Aurelia retains the AU spelling, but Oriana borrows the O of romance language words like or in French and oro in Spanish. It’s also the name of a princess in a medieval romance.

OTTILIE (unranked)

Like Elodie, Ottilie begins with the Germanic oda – wealth. Particularly in an American accent, Ottilie sounds, well, odd. Our Ds and Ts are quite similar. Despite that challenge, this is an edgy, interesting name, rarer than even Elodie or Otis.

PERIDOT (unranked)

Another gemstone name, pretty green Peridot is seldom heard as a first. But it could be, with fun short forms including Peri and Dot. Or Doe, or possibly even Dolly. Pronouncing it with either a -dot or -doe ending is acceptable. That makes it quirkier still.

PHOEBE (#191)

The ultimate quirky girl choice, as proven by Friends. When the series debuted in 1994, Phoebe Buffay was an aspiring musician. With roots in Greek myth and the New Testament, and a powerful meaning – bright or pure – Phoebe is among the offbeat classics. It would’ve been very rare for the Friends character, but today it’s increasingly a mainstream pick.

PIPPA (unranked)

Philip is a classic, traditional choice for a son. Philippa, the feminine form, has always been less popular. But just as names like Penelope and Poppy were racing up the charts, the world met Pippa Middleton, sister to the future Queen of England, Kate. That might make Pippa feel posh and aristocratic and maybe there’s a hint of that. Except it sounds like a grown-up version of children’s book heroine Pippi Longstocking, a quintessential quirky girl. And so Pippa belongs on this list.

PRAIRIE (unranked)

Meadow made it into the US Top 1000 after we met television mobster Tony Soprano’s daughter. You can argue that Prairie succeeds for the same reasons – it’s a nature name that feels just right for a daughter. Long-time minor Muppet Prairie Dawn reinforces that idea. In sparing use since the 1970s, Prairie makes a great under-the-radar nature name for parents after something rarer than River or Wren.

PRIMROSE (unranked)

So many Rose names have been popular in the US. There’s Rosa and Rosalind, Rosemary and Rosalie. Primrose refers to an early spring flower. To fans of the Hunger Games series, Primrose is Prim Everdeen, younger sister to the hero Katniss. It’s a pretty, refined name, and yet it feels curious and unexpected, too – in the best possible way.

PRUDENCE (unranked)

The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” transformed this Puritan name from a starchy virtuous choice to a psychedelic, even dreamy one. Prudence almost feels like a classic, a name we expect to read in the history books. (Indeed there are some fun, feisty, and world-changing Prudences, both fictional and real, across the years.)

RAMONA (#795)

Any kid who has ever been to a library in the US almost certainly knows Ramona. Beverly Cleary wrote eight stories about Ramona Quimby, an imaginative, daring girl. It’s the Spanish form of Germanic-meets-Norman Raymond. That could make it rather romantic and dramatic, but the enduring fictional figure brings it back down to earth.

SARAI (#407)

You might know that Sarah is a Hebrew name meaning lady or princess. Before she was Sarah, she was Sarai. Think Kai and Zakai and other names ending with appealing -AI letter combination. The name is equally ancient and new, a winning combination.

SWAN (unranked)

A handful of children have been named Swan in the US over the last century or so. But even as nature names like Raven and Hawk gain in use, Swan seems likely to stay in the shadows. It could make a spectacular middle, and modern heroines like Elizabeth Swann from the Pirates movies keep it on parents’ minds. If you like the graceful, powerful image of the bird, but doubt the name’s wearability, I’ve got a list of names inspired by swans, too. One more intriguing fact: Swann is trending in France for boys. The reason? Marcel Proust’s 1913 novel In Search of Lost Time, which became the 1984 movie Un amour de Swann. The main character is Charles Swann.

SYBIL (unranked)

It seemed like Downton Abbey might revive Sybil. In ancient Greece and Rome, sibyls were prophets. Christians came to believe that they foretold the coming of Christ, so rather than reject the name, they embraced it. Despite the success of the television series, Sybil remains under-the-radar in the US, a name with an appealing rebellious streak, just like Sybil Crawley. (If you’ve never seen the show, the arisocratic youngest daughter of the Crawley family wears pants, advocates for women’s suffrage, learns to drive a car, and marries the chauffeur – for love.)

TABITHA (unranked)

During the 1960s, supernatural sitcom Bewitched introduced a list of surprising, quirky choices to American parents. The witch at the center of the story, Samantha, helped make her once-rare name a Top 100 favorite. Samantha’s daughter, Tabitha, also inspired parents. While Tabitha appears in the New Testament, a name that means gazelle in Aramaic, it only caught on in the decades following the television series’ success.

TALLULAH (#817)

For years, Tallulah was cited as cuckoo-bananas kind of name. Maybe that’s because celebrated actress Tallulah Bankhead seemed like unlikely inspiration for a child’s name. Or maybe it was because, years ago, a New Zealand judge intervened over a child named Tallulah Does the Hula from Hawaii. But really, it’s a name with at least two separate and appealing origin stories, and a cool, current sound – one that feels right at home on this list.

THEODORA (#772)

The name Theodora means “gift of God.” While it’s the feminine form of Top Ten Theodore, Theodora seems like a more daring choice. Nicknames like Thea might make it more of a blends-in option. Another possibility? Cousin names Dorothea and Dorothy.

THORA (unranked)

Nora, Cora, and Flora all rank in the current US Top 1000. There’s Aurora, too. Rhyming name Thora shares the popular -ora sound and Aurora’s mythological pedigree. It sounds a little like Thea, too – and yet, despite all of these reasons Thora could be a fast-rising favorite, it’s surprisingly undiscovered.

VERITY (unranked)

This name means truth, from the Latin word verus – real. Names like Felicity seem like gentle, Puritan-tinted virtue names. There’s a little more muscle to Verity, mabye thanks to the initial V.

VERONICA (#410)

This is the name that defines classic quirky for me. It’s been around for ages, has a great meaning and a story to tell. But it’s not a royal name, not even a particularly common choice across the years. It’s the kind of name we choose for fictional heroines like Veronica Speedwell or the central figure in an Elvis Costello song. It’s strong and interesting and timeless, but not in the expected Katherine/Elizabeth/Mary kind of way.

VESPER (unranked)

Night sky names for girls are having a moment, with choices like Luna and Stella near the top of the popularity charts. Vesper fits with all of those r-ending names, like Harper and Piper, too. And yet, it remains outside the mainstream. Maybe that’s because it started as a Bond girl name. (She’s loosely based on a real-life World War II spy author Ian Fleming admired.) It means evening, and also brings to mind vespers or evensong, a prayer service held at dusk.

WINIFRED (#967)

Many a vintage name on the edge of revival reads quirky at first. Think of Sadie, Hazel, or Penelope. Before they hit the Top 100, there was a point where they felt unexpected, even offbeat. Winifred could be poised at that same place now. With history galore, easy nickname Winnie, and a familiar-but-rare sound, no doubt Winifred will appeal to many. For now, the name remains nicely under-the-radar, and yes, a little quirky.

ZELDA (#705)

Depending on your reference point, Zelda might be a video game name – or it could refer to Zelda Fitzgerald, the fascinating Jazz Age figure often known for her marriage to author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Her story is bigger than that, though, and in recent years, it’s Zelda featured in biopics.

ZOSIA (unranked)

Girls alum Zosia Mamet rhymes her name with Sasha, but this Polish nickname for Sophia takes a slightly different vowel sound, closer to an ‘o’ or an ‘aw’ in the original. The name’s rise in use mirrors Mamet’s career, suggesting that most parents probably favor an -asha pronunciation for this name, too. It makes for an intriguing Slavic import boosted by that oh-so-stylish letter Z.

ZUZU (unranked)

Susan and company belong with the traditional choices, names with long histories. Zuzu strikes a different note. This Susan nickname by way of eastern Europe claims one very famous bearer – the youngest daughter in holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s a whole backstory to Zuzu’s name. Today it feels like an unconventional way to honor a Susan, or maybe the perfect name for a Christmas-born daughter.

Would you consider any of these quirky girl names for a daughter? What would you add to this list?

This post was first published on September 8, 2017 and revised on September 21, 2024.

The Original List of Quirky Girl Names from 2017

• Alifair
• Anouk
• Aveline
• Cricket
• Domino
• Edelweiss
• Elowen
• Elska
• Evolet
• Kahlo
• Lula
• Lumi
• Lazuli
• Marigold
• Phryne
• Pomeline
• Prairie
• Rumi
• Swan
• Vesper
• Winifred
• Zosia
• Zuzu