

A name isn’t just a label — it’s a unique identifier that carries a story. Rare ones are also a window into cultural heritage, a family legacy passed down through generations, or a tribute to a cherished story.
Below, we explore the origin behind some of the rarest female names in the U.S. and how you can trace your lineage using your ancestor’s name.
» Start looking for rare female names with MyHeritage family history search
Rare female names: Why are they essential in genealogy?
In the early colonial days, people mostly took inspiration from European royalty and religious figures for their kids’ names. The top 10 most used in the 1700s were:
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Ann(e)
- Sarah
- Jane
- Margaret
- Susan
- Martha
- Hannah
- Catherine
What do these names have in common? None of them are unique. I find that the further people traveled from the East Coast, the rarer they were. In the 1690s in Maryland, my ancestors named their baby girls Mary or Elizabeth. But after moving westward to Ohio, there was no one local to sway them and no rich people to impress. That’s when they became more expressive.
» Learn more about the American West
The first girl with a unique name, Keturah, showed up in my tree in 1717. Keturah was Abraham’s second wife. Seeing this name for the first time was special. It had me thinking: How common is it in my family tree?
Because these rare female names stick out, the research was simple. If I saw it in any document in the area where my ancestors lived at the time, I looked for a connection. Finally, I found that they passed it down over 100 years — which helped me easily track my lineage during that period.
» Check out these popular girl names over the past 100 years
What influences unique girl names?
My ancestors, who were parents at the turn of the century, wished to be creative, so they used the Biblical Keturah. But, it was only in the late 1800s that I started seeing more cases of them using obscure female names. The first one is my aunt of the period, Abyrella. It might’ve been a blend of Abiela and Abrielle, which means “God is my Father” in Hebrew.
If you look for that name, you won’t find it spelled that way. Literacy was an issue during the pioneer period, which may have been the case with my aunt’s parents. Maybe they heard a preacher say it one time and spelled it the best they could. There are many possibilities.
» Find out more about names in genealogical research
In the modern age, anything goes. When Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, and Michael Jackson named his son Blanket, it caused a lot of stir — even though we already had the example of Frank Zappa and his daughter Moon Unit. People are becoming more creative as years go by, which means we have more unique baby girl names.
One of the more recent ancestors in my family that sticks out is Happy Dean. She was my great-grandmother who died before I was born, and whose name origin I’m yet to discover.
» Discover this bizarre women’s fitness advice from early 1900s newspapers
7 rare female names in the U.S.
1. Roxelana
Roxelana is a rare female Turkish name from the 16th century that has become Roksana, Rosana, Roxanne, or Roxanna. It appears in the play Cyrano de Bergerac and the song by the band Police, but it’s still not one you often get to see.
The original Roxelana was a slave of the Ottoman Empire who married married the Sultan Suleiman. The two are famous for their love letters that survived the period.
According to the Social Security Website, Roxanne isn’t among the top 1000 baby girl names for 2020–2023.
» Trace the roots of Jewish immigration to the Ottoman Empire
2. Sophrona
Originally meant for men, Sophrona is a unique Greek girl name that means “wise” or “sensible.” It’s pretty rare in its original form. It appears in records from the mid-to-late 1800s in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Iowa. But another version of it — Sophia — is well-known in the U.S.
On the Social Security website, Sophia consistently ranks as the fifth most popular name in the U.S. from 2020.
» Learn more about Greek surnames
3. Jimella
Jimella comes from Spanish Ximena, a form of the Hebrew Simon that means “listen.” It first showed up in Mississippi, Texas, California, and Alabama at the turn of the 20th century.
The modern version is Simone, which ranked 927th place in 2023. It’s not really popular at the moment, but who knows? Maybe the U.S. gymnast Simone Biles will make it famous after winning a medal at the Olympics this year.
» Explore the basics of Spanish naming conventions
4. Myrtle
Myrtle is the English version of the Greek word Myrtus, which comes from a plant represents happy marriage. Its spelling has stayed the same since people started using it in the U.S.
This name was popular during the early 1900s. The reason? Silent screen actress Myrtle Stedman’s debut in 1913 and the character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) could’ve both influenced its use. Whatever the case, it ranked well below 100th place up until the 1940s, when it took a nose dive and dropped from the top 1000 baby girl names.
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5. Mahola
Mahola was a famous girl name in the 1800s in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Tennessee. It comes from the Native American word “dance.” Some also say its origin is Hebrew, as it appears in the Old Testament.
Its spelling didn’t change much over the years, but there are some variations, like Mahala. Currently, it isn’t in the top 1000 baby girl names in the Social Security rankings for any year.
» Learn more about Native American genealogy
6. Deliverance
Deliverance is tied to religion. It was common in the 1700s, specifically in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Some genealogists think that short forms of this name are “Liv” or “Livy,” but these usually relate to Olivia. It isn’t in the top 1000 baby girl names in the Social Security rankings for any year at the moment.
Puritan settlers often chose names with biblical connotations, and Deliverance likely held a special significance — a reminder of God’s help during hard times.
» Explore the ins and outs of baptism records
7. Honora
Honora is a name with Irish heritage that was popular in the 1800s and early 1900s. It comes from the Latin word for “honor.” In Ireland, some people dropped the “h” and went with Onora, although it also shows up as a last name Hanora.
As immigrants and their children became part of American society, some parents changed it to Nora to make it easier to pronounce. This form has remained in the top 30 popular girl’s names since 2017.
» Find out all you have to know about the Irish Potato Famine that triggered mass immigration to the U.S.
How to find female ancestors with unique names
1. Find the correct spelling
Look for the correct spelling of your ancestor’s name. In the 1910 census records, my great-grandmother Happy was “Happa,” and my grandmother Beulah was Bula. Compare all the documents you can find to determine the correct version.
I often settle on the one that shows up the most in records while noting any alternate versions. Names of close relatives also help, as I can use them to narrow the search.
Additionally, most online platforms like MyHeritage can accept name variations. You can use an asterisk (*) to swap 0–5 letters and a question mark (?) for one.
2. Check across generations
As I’ve mentioned, my family passed down the name Keturah for over 100 years. Look in multiple census records and wills to find the one you’re looking for across generations.
I’m still looking for a grandmother six generations back. I know that her husband was Stephen Ford. The two had a daughter named Leah Aletha Ford. I know that his mother was Leah, so it’s possible that the wife’s mother was Aletha. As a potential solution, I’ll use the possibility of Aletha being a family name to extend my research.
The rare female name may even be in another branch of the family tree. The Price line in my own held the name Aletha for some time, passing it to the Coles.
» Learn how to create your unique family tree
3. Look into middle names
Some parents decide to pass down the rare name as a middle and vice versa. My first and second cousins are named Ruth and Martha Aletha. They still honor the family tradition by pairing Aletha with a common first name.
It’s also possible that your ancestor has a common middle name they went by. These cases are harder to find, so I usually look for any middle initial that shows up. It usually stands for the rare first name they’re not using. To confirm, look for the oldest records you can find for that person because you might find the timeframe when the change happened.
» Discover how to trace the origin of your last name
4. Research combinations
Sometimes, you won’t find a connection to a given name. One of my friends — Gayline — got her’s when her parents combined parts of their first names. Her father and mother were named Gaylon and Jeannine.
It helped that I already knew who Gayline’s parents were, but it’s possible to figure it out even if you don’t. Are there possible combinations? Start by listing any family names that use parts of first names. You should also look into those of grandparents, aunts, and uncles in the generations before.
Because these types of rare girl names could also be combinations of special friends or other community members, it could be almost impossible to find out their origin for sure. But looking through what you do know could land you on the right path.
» Find out the reason behind your name not showing up in searches
Unique girl names: Celebrating the uncommon
Unique girl names show your family’s past. The fact that my great-great-grandparents named their daughter Happy Dean brought a part of their personality to life.
The fact that Aletha and Keturah persisted for generations also shows how they valued tradition. If nothing else, they made it easier for me to find my ancestors and build a family tree.
While your research may include misspellings and limited information, online genealogy platforms make it easier. MyHeritage has a vast collection of historical records, including census data, immigration documents, and digitized family photos.
The smart matching feature can also help you connect the dots, even if a name is misspelled or recorded phonetically. This way, you can build a complete and fascinating family tree.