Amelia,Antonia,Aurelia,Achaia,

Alexia, Alia, Alexandria,Cornelia,Cassia,

Cassiopeia,Catia,Celestia,Claudia, Clelia,

Cloelia,Calithyia,Caelia,Cacalia,Caesaria,Celia,

Cordelia,Castalia,Cecelia,Dahlia,Dulcia,Elysia,

Eulalia,Eucryphia,Fabia,Floria,Fidelia,Fernilia,

Gaia, Grazia, GraciliaHestia,Harmonia,Hersilia,Ismilia,

Ignatica, Italia,Imperia,Izelia,Jahlia,Keelia, Karmia,Kilia,

Kaylia,Kezia,,Lampetia,Livia,Lycia,Lucia,Laelia,

Lucelia,Lila,Lucretia,Lakia, Lydia, Lexia,Mia,

Mercia,Mahalia, Makania, Melia,Nicia,Nakeia,

Natalia,Noellia,Naia,Nahia, Nicosia,Ophelia,

Olympia,Olyvia,Octavia,Ottilia,Orla,Oralia,Orthia,

Pia,Phelia,Philominia,Persia,Pascasia,Plumenia,Phylicia,

Pellonia,Peolpia,Ria, Rakaia, Samaia,Seraphia,

Saskia,Samaria,Sophronia, Sophia,Takia,Tilia,

Tahlia, Tovia,Tullia,Thoia,Vivia,Virginina,

Wisteria,Xylia,Xanthia,Yulia,Zahlia,

Zia,Zakia,Zavia,Zinovia,Zelphia,

Today’s choice is an intriguing Italian moniker perfect for parents who love Francesca or Adriana, but crave something truly distinctive.

Thanks to Christina for suggesting our Name of the Day: Cloelia.

To be accurate, Christina suggested Clelia as the Name of the Day.  It appears that Clelia is simply a contracted form of the original.  Both are quite rare.  While we find Cloelia and Clelia in US census records in the 19th and early 20th centuries, neither has ever charted in the US Top 1000.  As for modern day Italians, some are still called Clelia, but the older form of the name appears to have fallen out of use entirely.

Nonetheless, Cloelia’s story is an appealing one.  It’s told several places, including Livy’s history of Rome, but whether it is fact, fiction or somewhere in between is difficult to say. 

The tale goes like this: once upon a time hostages were routinely demanded as part of international relations.  Unlucky Cloelia was one of several young Roman women handed over to an Etruscan king in exchange for a peace treaty.  While en route to his lands, she gave her captors the slip, taking along some of her fellow hostages.  Their escape required a swim in the Tiber.  Her daring and bravery ultimately won her the admiration of the Etruscans.  In fact, they agreed to uphold the treaty and release all of the hostages – quite a coup for a young woman in the 6th century BC.

The Romans eventually erected a statue of Cloelia in the Via Sacra.  We can’t confirm if she’s still there.  (Which likely means that she’s no longer standing.)  There are a few variations on the tale, some of which end less happily.  

A few years back author Jane Louise Curry published a children’s book about the heroine.  The girl had gumption, and that lends a rather frilly feminine moniker some strength.

We’re a bit uncertain of the exact pronunciation.  We favor the four-syllable klo EL ee ah.  But there’s also klow EE lee ah and the softer three-syalble klo EL yah to consider.  It’s tough to pin this one down, as the name’s origins are obscure.  Some have linked Cloelia to the Latin for key – clavis – but the evidence is limited.

Opt to say the first syllable klo and you’ll reserve the option of referring to your daughter as Chloe.  It makes for a nice compromise.  At #16 and rising, Chloe is quite common, giving your child both an unusual appellation and an easy nickname.  Variant spelling Cloe also appears in the US Top 1000.  (As does Khloe.)

She’s rare, she’s heroic and there’s at least one appealing short form built in.  What’s not to love?

As for Clelia, you’ll sacrifice the use of Chloe, but still have a highly wearable and distinctive moniker for your daughter.