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Classic Baby Names with a Twist

Classic baby names with a twist are exactly what they sound like — alternatives to traditional, historically common names that are just a little bit funky. If Alexander is too predictable, try Alessandro or Lysander. If Sarah isn’t interesting enough, go for Sarai or Zadie.

Along with Alessandro and Sarai, other twists on classic baby names in the US Top 600 include Amalia, Francesca, Hendrix, Jameson, Matthias, Nico, Willa, and Zara. If you’re really looking to get creative, consider a highly rare twist on a classic, such as Benno, Eluned, Jessamine, or Maxfield.

If you love classic baby names but want something more original, or if you're looking to honor a relative but want to spin their traditional name a bit differently, a classic baby name with a twist could be the answer. Without getting into too-crazy spelling variations or too-easy international forms, here some twists on classic baby names.

Classic Baby Names with a Twist

Maroochy

Meaning: black swan

Origin:Aboriginal Australian
6018
Meera

Meaning: prosperous

Origin:; Sanskrit
1202
Machiko

Meaning: fortunate child

Origin:Japanese
7795
Myosotis

Meaning: mouse's ear; forget-me-not

Origin:Flower name, from Greek
6025
Maiara

Meaning: wise person

Origin:Tupi
3598
Mango Conventionally, Mango is derived from Portug...
Origin:Fruit name
3998
Minuet The name Minuet comes from a predominantly F...
Origin:French, dance term
3604
Marimba Marimba is a name most often christened for ...
Origin:Spanish, Music name
9732
Maraca Maraca is a music instrument obtained throug...
Origin:Musical name
13375
Margarita

Meaning: pearl, daisy

Origin:Spanish, Russian, Greek
1531
Mandolin The meaning of Mandolin is ‘musical Instrume...
Origin:French, musical intrument
7799
Madonna

Meaning: my lady

Origin:Latin
3521
Mocha Mocha is a baby name of Arabic origin. The m...
Origin:English, color and coffee name
3301
Origin:English word name
5710
Mie

Meaning: bitter; beauty; three

Origin:Danish, Norwegian diminutive of Marie, Japanese
4209
Mia

Meaning: mine or bitter

Origin:Italian word name or Scandinavian short form of Maria
94
Max

Meaning: greatest

Origin:Latin
1362
Matilda

Meaning: battle-mighty

Origin:German
14
Millie

Meaning: gentle strength; strong in work

Origin:Diminutive of Mildred or Millicent
123
Molly

Meaning: bitter

Origin:Diminutive of Mary, Hebrew
99