Unusual baby names are a great way to differentiate your new baby from every John, Chris, Mary and Elizabeth running around these days. Modern baby names run the gamut from mildly unusual to exotic and unique, so consider these options if you’re looking for an original name:

Unusual Girls’ Names

• Aideen: Fire
• Aria: Music for a single voice
• Caireann: Little beloved
• Chiara: Dark
• Ciara: Dark
• Daelyn: Small valley
• Daireann: Fruitful, bountiful
• Elina: Variant of Helen; shining light
• Guila: Pleasant oath
• Grainne: Grain, corn
• Ines: Variation of Agnes; meek, chaste
• Iona: Blessed
• Keziah: Daughter of Job
• Kiba: Protected
• Linnea: Name of a flower
• Maire: Variant of Mary; bitter or sea of bitterness
• Myrna: High-spirited, festive
• Nadia: Hope
• Neala: Female champion
• Oona: Lamb or unity
• Oriana: Blonde
• Orla: Golden princess
• Petal: Flower petal; delicate like a flower
• Sheena: God is gracious
• Shira: Tune
• Solaine: Dignified
• Teagan: Beautiful
• Ursula: Little Bear
• Xyris: Yellow-flowering plant
• Yasmin: Jasmine flower
• Zena: Life or Zeus, depending on heritage

Unusual Boys’ Names and Their Meanings:

• Altair: Bird
• Angelo: Messenger
• Axiom: Truth
• Berrin: Bear
• Calder: Rough waters
• Destin: By the still waters
• Dover: Water
• Elias: God is the Lord
• Emil: Industrious
• Enzo: Variation of Henry; means to rule his household
• Faolan: Little wolf
• Forde: River crossing
• Gannet: Goose
• Granger: Farmer
• Hugo: Thinker
• Jomo: Flaming spear
• Jotham: God is perfect
• Leander: Lion-man
• Lorenzo: Variation of Lawrence; from the city of Laurel trees
• Lucious: Light
• Mikhail: Gift from God
• Nealon: Champion
• Rexton: Lord, king or chieftan
• Seldon: From the river valley
• Tabbart: Brilliant
• Tal: Rain
• Taran: Thunder
• Uri: God is my light
• Varun: Water god
• Welkin: Sky