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Thursday, May 1, 2014

12 World-Class Baby Names You Haven't Considered Yet

We're always adding new baby names to our database, and the latest collection all have international roots. These additions were partially inspired by the update of our baby name popularity page to include Top 100 lists from several countries beyond the U.S. We also thank Nameberry readers who contributed names from their home countries that were new to us. Here, the dozen (plus) newest international baby names on Nameberry.BenteCopenhagen, Denmark Bente, the Danish feminine form of Benedict pronounced ben-tah, is a popular girls' name in both The Netherlands and Denmark though largely unknown in the English-speaking world. It suffers by being a near-homonym of the English word bent, not the best dictionary equivalent for a first name. Still, if you're looking for a girls' name that equates to Ben or Benjamin or Benedict, this may be one of your best bets.DucibellaCinque Terre, Italy Dulcibella is an old name that's fallen into disuse but may rise again with the new wave of fashionable names that end in -bel, -belle, and -bella. Behind the Name says that the medieval form of the name was the Dowsabel, which we definitely do not see making a comeback. But Dulcibel or Dulcibelle could work. The origins of the name are Latin, with dulci meaning sweet and bella meaning pretty.FeddeNetherlands pasture Fedde, a Top 100 boys' name in The Netherlands, is a Frisian short form for names beginning with Frid, which means "peace." As with many names popular in contemporary Holland, this short form stands on its own. Pronunciation is feh-deh. A girl's name with a similar sound and feel also popular in the Netherlands and new on Nameberry is Fenne. FelineThe Netherlands plains This Top 100 name in The Netherlands is unlikely to translate to the U.S., where it would undoubtedly pronounced fee-line and mistaken for the adjective that means cat-like. While the name Feline -- and Felina and Felinus -- do have the same root, the considerably more charming pronunciation in modern-day Europe is fee-LEEN-ah. Some websites mistakenly relate it to Felix and give its meaning as happy or fortunate.FerelithThe Old Man Of Hoy, Scotland Ferelith is an unusual yet deeply-rooted Scottish girl's name, also found in ancient Ireland and drawn from the Gaelic Forbhlaith or Forbflaith. While it went through a period of dormancy after the Middle Ages, there are some modern women named Ferelith, including actress Ferelith Young and Princess of Denmark Anne Ferelith Fenella Bowes-Lyon.LadaWooden house in the Ukraine Lada is the Slavic goddess of youth, merriment, and beauty, usually associated with spring. Her name is referenced in wedding and folk songs in Eastern Europe, but largely unknown in the West.LiekeAmsterdam, Netherlands store front The popular Dutch name Lieke is one of those diminutives, like Lena, that can be short for a range of names such as Angelique ending in its sound -- which, by the way, is the two-syllable LEE-ka. Despite its versatility, we don't see Lieke's popularity translating to English-speaking cultures.MoanaAuckland, New Zealand This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an exotic, evocative choice for a sea lover. Moana is a Polynesian sea god and was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue. Another intriguing Maori girls' name new on Nameberry is Aroha, which means love.OnniBoreal Forest, Finland Onni is the Number 1 boy's name in Finland yet largely unknown in the English-speaking world. Its uplifting meaning -- it means happiness and luck -- makes it a plausible possibility if you want to honor your Nordic heritage.TeunAmsterdam, Netherlands Teun, pronounced like something between ton and tune in English, is one of the most popular boys' names in The Netherlands, consistent with that country's preference for short, simple names. The equivalent of the English Tony, it doesn't travel quite as well as Dutch favorites Sem and Bas do.TryggTromso, NorwaySarah Palin spelled it Trig, as in the nickname for trigonometry, but Trygg is a genuine Norwegian first name for boys. It means "true" and might make an intriguing middle name choice.TychoGrecian Island Tycho and Tychon are Greek names with modern variations such as the Danish Tyge, the Swedish Tyko, and the Dutch Tygo that are popular throughout modern Europe. Tycho was the name of a Greek saint and a Danish astronomer. Its meaning in the original Greek is "hitting the mark." Perfect! Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter | Contact HuffPost Parents

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