10 UNUSUAL GIRLS NAMES
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Astrid
Meaning of Astrid: 'Divinely beautiful'
Nameberry says: "Astrid has been a Scandinavian royal name since the tenth century - and more recently in Belgium - but has never really assimilated into our culture the way Ingrid did."
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Brio
Meaning of Brio: 'Vivacity, zest'
Nameberry says: "Brio is a musical term with great verve and energy"
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Cleo
Meaning of Cleo: 'Glory'
Nameberry says: "Cleo, one of the few girls' names to boast the cool-yet-lively o ending, is of course short for Cleopatra, the name of one of the most powerful women in history."
4. Eulalia
Meaning of Eulalia: 'Sweet-speaking'
Nameberry says: "Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double 'l's."
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Hero
Meaning of Hero: 'Demi-god'
Nameberry says: "In Greek legend young Leander swam across dangerous waters every night to court his beloved Hero."
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Isadora
Meaning of Isadora: 'Gift of Isis'
Nameberry says: "Isidora would be an alternative [to Isabelle], just as proper but not quite as charming spelling - the one used as the spelling of a fourth century saint's name.
"Another plus is Isadora's connection to Isis, the mythological goddess of fertility and birth."
READ: THE TOP BABY NAMES OF 2014 - AND THEIR MEANINGS
7. Liv
Meaning of Liv: 'Life'
Nameberry says: "Liv combines the succinct charm of a nickname - people might assume it's short for Olivia - with the solidity of being a classic stand-alone Scandinavian name with a life-force meaning."
8. Lois
Meaning of Lois: 'Most desirable'
Nameberry says: "The eternal fiancee of Superman, Lois is actually a New Testament name."
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Ramona
Meaning of Ramona: 'Wise protector'
Nameberry says: "Ramona came into prominence in the 1880's via the beautiful half Native American heroine of the best-selling eponymous romance novel by Helen Hunt Jackson, played on screen by Loretta Young. and others."
READ: THE BEST AND WEIRDEST CELEBRITY BABY NAMES
10. Violetta
Meaning of Violetta: 'Purple'
Nameberry says: "Violetta is a more vibrantly colored, feminissima form of Violet. "
10 UNUSUAL BOY NAMES
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Bertram
Meaning of Bertram: 'Bright raven'
Nameberry says: "The Normans introduced this name to England. Shakespeare used it in his play 'All's Well That Ends Well'"
2. Byron
Meaning of Byron: 'Barn for cows'
Nameberry says: "For centuries, this name had a romantic, windswept image due to its strong connection to the poet Lord Byron, who inspired its use as a first name."
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Cassius
Meaning of Cassius: 'Hollow'
Nameberry says: "Cassius is a Shakespearean name with the feel of antiquity that is coming into fashion."
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Jules
Meaning of Jules: 'Youthful'
Nameberry says: "Though Jules hasn't been on the U.S. popularity list in fifty years, it is a current hit in its native France - where it's currently Number 6 - and we can definitely see it making a comeback here, being far more romantic than, say, Jim."
5. Langdon
Meaning of Langdon: 'Long hill'
Nameberry says: "Classy-sounding surname name usually bypassed in favour of the simpler Landon.
6. Nemo
Meaning of Nemo: 'From the glen'
Nameberry says: "The original Nemo was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, while the more familiar modern one is the animated little fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name well worth considering."
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Ray
Meaning of Ray: 'Wise protector'
Nameberry says: "Ray, still and forever, is one of the all-time hippest names, with its jazzy Ray Charles biopic overtones. It makes a cool middle name (as Rae does for girls), but works perfectly fine as a first."
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Sylvester
Meaning of Sylvester: 'Wood, forest'
Nameberry says: "This name of three early popes has been associated in recent years with a cocky cartoon cat and the Italian Stallion hero of the Rocky and Rambo movies (who was born Michael)--and yet we think it just might be ready to move further back into the mainstream."
9. Thierry
Meaning of Thierry: 'Ruler of the people'
Nameberry says: "Thierry, which is very popular in France, would make an interesting import; it's somewhat familiar through designer Thierry Mugler and international soccer star Thierry Henry."
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Xander
Meaning of Xander: 'Defending men'
Nameberry says: "One of the newer short forms of Alexander, Xander is a spelling that first saw the spotlight via Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and then as Vin Diesel's character in XXX."