10 Native American Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

If you're someone who likes names with meanings to match, Native American names are right up your alley. All of their names have very intentional meanings that were (and sometimes still are) widely known throughout the tribes. There are thousands of wonderful Native American names from tribes all over the country, but I chose ten I think would work on girls of all cultures. As always, let me know your favorites (and names you wish I'd featured) in the comments.

Aylen- Aylen is a name from the Mapuche tribe that means "happiness." Even though she has ancient roots, Aylen features a contemporary sound that would fit in seamlessly with other children's names of today.

Citlali- Citlali is absolutely stunning. She means "star," and comes from Nahautl culture. Citlali had a brief run in the top 1000 from 2001-2006, peaking in 2005 at #915.

Galilahi- This Native American name may seem very similar to the faith-based names Galilea and Galilee, but they share no connection. Galilahi means "gentle and attractive" in Cherokee. Gala and Lila would make cute nicknames.

Lilakai- Lilakai is a name that I can see becoming embraced by people of all cultures, a la Leilani. The Navajo name feels upbeat and youthful--a quality coveted by my parents. Plus, with easy-access nicknames like Lily and Kai, Lilakai is hard to argue with.

Maiara- Maiara comes from the Tupí tribe. Despite her Native American roots, she's most popular in Portugal. Maiara made it into their top 100 for the first time in 2014, coming in at #81. I'm not sure if she could become as equally popular in America, but I do believe Maiara could make it into the top 1000 one day if she got some publicity 

Miski- Miski means "honey" and "sweet" in the Quechua language. She has a old-school sound a la Misti and Missy, but Miski is still wearable for a 21st century baby.

Nayeli- Nayeli comes from the Zapotec tribe, where she means "I love you." She is most common  among Latino families, and has been at a relatively steady ranking around #400 for the past ten years. Nayeli peaked at #175 in 2001.

Siaska- Need an uncommon way to get to Sia? Take a look at Siaska. She is a name from the Ho-Chunk tribe, which is native to Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Uki- It's not often that I recommend a U name, so I was thrilled to find the charming and likable Uki. She's an Inuit name that means "survivor." She's pronounced the same was as the Japanese name Yuki, which could lead to some confusion.

Zyanya- Like Nayeli, Zyanya comes from the Zapotec tribe. She means "forever and always," which I'm sure many parents would find delightful.

Night Names

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Last Friday I talked about Day Names, so today, I've got to talk about Night. This is my favorite of the two lists--night names are a little more mysterious.

Dream--I've never heard her used before, but I think Dream would make a very sweet name for a girl. My preference for obscure word names is to put them in the middle, but if you like it as a first, go for it.

Evening--Eve, Evie, and Evangeline are all currently trendy, so Evening seems like a logical progression. Plus, if you're baby is born after 5 o'clock, her name would be a nod to her time of birth.

Glow--Glow is a precious, ethereal name with ties to the night sky. Rubyellen of Cakies gave it to her youngest daughter, and I find it absolutely darling.

Leila--Leila means "night" in Arabic, so she's the perfect subtle pick for a night time baby girl. Layla is the more dominant spelling (#30 vs. #215), but Leila is the original.

Lila--Lila shares the same roots as Leila, but is not quite as popular. She currently ranks at #192, but is on a slow and steady slide downwards after she peaked in 2010.

Luna--Luna is such a magical name. She's mystical and feminine. Any girl named Luna is bound to be a stunner.

Moon--Moon is one of my guilty pleasure names. She's understated and gorgeous--Moon makes a great middle or first name.

Noir--Talk about mysterious and elegant names. Noir is just that. It could be used for a girl or a boy, though my preference is girl.

Stella--Stella means "star," so she's well-suited for a daughter born on a clear, bright night. If Stella is too trendy for you, try the vintage Estella or Estelle.

Story--Why not name your child after a favorite bedtime ritual? Story is super cute--on her own, or as a nickname for Astoria.

Twila--If your baby is born in the twilight hours, there's no better name for her than Twila. She's sultry and smooth, as well as an update to the old favorite Tyra.

10 J Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Finally, no more I names. J is an easy letter to work with, there are so many names that begin with it. If you're looking for something a little more offbeat, I suggest you try this list. We've got an interesting group today.

Jacinta- Pronounced with an H sound as opposed to a J, Jacinta is the Spanish word for hyacinth.

Jalila- A cute and unique way to get to the nickname Lila.

Janna- You could pronounce her (YAH-nuh) or (JAN-uh), but if you choose the former be prepared for some confusion. If you happen to like that pronunciation, Iana gets the point across more clearly.

Jean- I get it, she seems dated. But if everyone's going gaga over Jane, it's not unreasonable to think Jean would be the next step. It feels refreshing on a baby girl.

Jemsa- She sounds very British to my ear. Half Gemma, half Elsa, how can you go wrong?

Jetta- Jette is pretty stylish as a nickname, but if you don't like Juliette, what are you to do? Jetta sounds a bit more tough but can still be called Jette, so it's perfect.

Jocasta- She's one of the few Jo- names that sounds super fresh. Perfect for honoring Aunt Joanna or Grandma Joan.

Joss- Yes, Joss can be a girl name, too. You could use her as a nickname for Jocelyn, but I'm also fond of her by herself.

Jules- Much spunkier than Julia or Juliet.

July- July has been snubbed as a month name. She's fun, quirky, and perfect for any time of the year.

Catalog Names: Anthropologie Spring 2014

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Anthropologie is my all time favorite store. I love when their catalog comes in the mail, it's always so beautiful. Many of their Spring clothes have interesting names, so I thought I'd list them here. Tell me what you think.

Expected:
Brooke
Daisy
Eden
Flora
Isla
Lila
Lily
Tessa
Willow

Unique:
Aralia
Calliope
Ciel
Cleo
Fleur
Galen 
Glenna
Halsey
Majorelle
Mandala
Poesy
Stevie

Unheard of:
Ancora
Camia
Laelia
Lolanthe
Tippi
Tisana
Tonnelle

Lily's Full Names

Everybody loves Lily. She stands at a popular 15 on the U.S. charts. Even though you could go right ahead and use Lily (or Lili, Lillie, or Lilly) She has some great longer appellations.

Lileas- Also spelt Lillias, this Scottish version of Lily is extremely unique and beautiful.

Lilia- Lilia is super sweet and girly, and has two built in nicknames.

Liliana- Even though she is originally from Spain, Liliana is catching on with many an American parent.

Lillian- Not far behind Lily at 22, Lillian is a lovely choice for parents that want a modest , well-liked full name for their Lily.

Lilith- Lilith is a charming choice for parents that aren't spooked by her meaning of "night monster".

Lilla- A bit of a mouthful, but Lilla seems like the right choice for parents struggling between Lila and Lily.