Maybe there are certain kinds of names that you really like–flower or color names, say, or virtue names– but you’re reluctant to use one of the more obvious examples, the epidemically popular ones, attractive though they may be.  Well, there’s no reason you have to limit yourself to those few; more and more parents are digging deeper into those appealing categories and coming up with  newer sounding choices.

　　Take flower names. If you want to move beyond Rose, Daisy, Lily and even Poppy and Violet, you might consider these more exotic blooms that are beginning to come into their own:

　　AMARYLLIS

　　ASTER

　　AZALEA

　　HYACINTH

　　IRIS (not exotic, but long neglected)

　　JONQUIL

　　LILAC

　　LOTUS

　　MARIGOLD

　　PRIMROSE

　　TULIP

　　Similarly with gems–Ruby, Crystal and Jade aren’t the only jewels in the case.  Consider:

　　AMETHYST

　　EMERALD

　　OPAL

　　PEARL

　　SAPPHIRE

　　TOPAZ

　　TURQUOISE

　　And speaking of Turquoise, there are also some richly hued colors beyond Scarlet and Siena:

　　AQUA

　　AUBURN

　　AZURE

　　CITRON

　　FUCHSIA

　　HAZEL

　　INDIGO

　　LAVENDER

　　MAUVE

　　OLIVE

　　RUSSET

　　SILVER

　　TITIAN

　　UMBER

　　Perhaps you like the idea of an avian name, but are tired of Robin and Raven.  How about:

　　ALOUETTE (lark in French)

　　AVIS

　　BIRDIE

　　DOVE

　　LARK

　　ORIOLE

　　TEAL

　　WREN

　　And finally we come to Virtue Names.  Hope, Faith and Grace certainly aren’t the only righteous names out there–also worthy of consideration:

　　AMITY

　　CHARITY

　　CLARITY

　　HONOR

　　JUSTICE

　　MERCY

　　PATIENCE

　　PRUDENCE

　　SERENITY

　　TRUTH/TRUE

　　VERITY