Unique Middle Names You Didn't Even Know Were Names
Unique middle names today can be anything you want them to be. The last couple of years have seen celebrities use middle names that we didn’t even know could be names, such as Easy, Antarctica, Wildflower, and Zeppelin.
But it’s not just celebs and influencers doing it. Parents everywhere, including many of our own lovely readers (Berries), are using the middle name spot as a safe space to let their imagination and creativity run wild.
Quirky words as middle names are fun, and can balance out a more mainstream first name — think of the difference between Emily Rose and Emily Nightingale, or Thomas James versus Thomas Blaze — but they can stay hidden if needed. As they’ve been little-used as names before, they tend to be gender neutral names.
Be inspired by some of the best bold middle names from celebrities and Nameberry readers. We’ve left out the better-known ones, classics like Rose and modern favorites like Gray. We’re talking here about word names with wow factor. And of course, any of them could also be a first name, if you dare!
Animal and Bird Middle Names
Nowadays, several once-wild animal names and bird baby names like Wolf, Fox, Bear, and Wren have become, if not exactly common, no longer eyebrow-raising. But beyond these, there's a whole animal kingdom of possibility, from the cuddly to the ferocious.
Wildlife middle names used by real parents include...
Starbabies
Scottie Bee (Allison Kuch & Isaac Rochell)
Mirabella Bunny (born on Easter Friday; Bryan Adams & Alicia Grimaldi)
Paige Cricket (Amy Locane & Mark Bovenizer)
Daisy Dove (Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom)
Scout Falcon & Ryder Falcon (Rodney & Rose Atkins, née Falcon)
Colette Koala (Macklemore & Tricia Davis)
Wesley Koy (Colleen Ballinger & Erik Stocklin)
Osian Lark Elliot (Milla Jovovich & Paul W.S. Anderson)
Jack Lion (Amy Lee & Josh Hartzler)
Ripley Nightingale (Kiley Casciano & Matthew Davis)
Elsie Otter and Charlie Wolf (Zooey Deschanel & Jacob Pechenik)
Babyberries
Birdie Bee
Nikolai William Excalibur Crow
Oliver Dove
Wilhelmina Fawn
Jago Gregory Finch
Bruno Hummingbird
Peter Nightingale
Juniper Owl Owendell
Lyra Rosemary Rabbit
Zinnia Rhiannon Rook
Susannah Sparrow
Plant-Based Middle Names
Beyond well-used Rose, parents are now turning to fresh botanical names like Sage and Briar as middles (as well as first names). But some Berry parents have gone one step further, and we've seen many gorgeous flower and tree middle names over the years, as well as fruit and spice names good enough to eat. We also love gender-crossing nature names that are more common on girls, used for boys.
Starbabies
Oscar Holly (Robin Tunney & Nicky Marmet)
Dorothy Lavender (Kiley Casciano & Matthew Davis)
Ida Lupine (Jenny Slate & Ben Shattuck)
Edith Pepper (Abby Elliott & Billy Kennedy)
Raddix Chloe Wildflower (Cameron Diaz & Benji Madden)
Babyberries
Emmet Amaranth
Coraline Amaryllis Saffron
Norah Bloom
Pomeline Bluebell
Levi Cedar & Brynn Aspen
Oliviana Clove
Verity Eilidh Clover
Frost Cameron Evergreen
James Heather
Victor Huckleberry
Beatrice Cecily Lilac
McKinley Mahogany Ivy
Maria Marigold
Sabina Mayflower
Louise Mimosa
Larissa Orchid Celeste
Theodora Plum
Beatrice Sophie Primrose
Lee Sorrel
Vincent Thyme
Frida Tulip
Sylvie Wildrose
Rupert Willow
Color Middle Names
Gray (or Grey) and Blue have established themselves as stylish, flowing middle names. But there are plenty of other color names available — in fact, we'd love to see more on this list!
Starbabies
Max Red (Casey Wilson & David Caspe)
Babyberries
Finnick Black
Layla Blue
Gus Gold
Alfred Harley Green
Thomas Indigo James
Mabel Emilia Lavender
Adelaide Plum
Terms of Endearment Middle Names
If cute is your style, what could be cuter than using an affectionate nickname as a middle name? Sometimes these are in-utero nicknames that stuck, or they could be fortunate family surnames. In any case, they instantly make any name significantly more adorable.
Starbabies
Poppy Honey Rosie & Daisy Boo Pamela (Jamie & Jools Oliver)
Mia Love (Robin Thicke & April Love)
Ivy Love (Daisy Lowe & Jordan Saul)
Legendary Love (Bre Tiesi & Nick Cannon)
Ruby Sweetheart (Tobey Maguire & Jennifer Meyer)
Babyberries
Roscoe Buddy Isaac
Antonia Darling (her parents love Peter Pan)
Wilhelmina Darling Rachel (a family middle name)
Isabelle Honey
Royal Middle Names
Names with royal meanings like King and Royalty have risen from obscurity to become a huge trend, and Reign in particular is now a well-used middle name. Lil’ Kim probably helped to accelerate things when she named her daughter Royal Reign in 2014. Below are a few more celebrity examples from recent years.
Starbabies
Ezekiel Czar (Tisha Campbell & Duane Martin)
Zillion Heir (Abby De La Rosa & Nick Cannon)
Jason King (Jena Frumes & Jason Derulo)
Amora Princess (Ciara & Russell Wilson)
Sienna Princess (Ciara Princess Harris & Russell Wilson)
Powerful Queen (Brittany Bell & Nick Cannon)
Outdoorsy Middle Names
Woodsy names that celebrate the great outdoors, like Wilder and Forrest, are a big trend right now. Beyond plant and tree names, these also include names inspired by weather and the sky, geographic features, and all things exploration and adventure. Here are some that work beautifully both with traditional and unusual first names.
Starbabies
Levi Blaze (Sean Paul & Jodi “Jinx” Stewart Henriques)
Onyx Ice (LaNisha Cole & Nick Cannon)
Ode Mountain (Jena Malone & Ethan De Lorenzo)
Cypress Night (Jack Huston & Shannan Click)
Petal Blossom Rainbow (Jamie Oliver & Jools Oliver)
Zuma Nesta Rock (Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale)
Tupelo Storm (Riley Keough & Ben Smith-Peterson)
Babyberries
Caspian Sage Adventure
Lorian Cloud
Rune Vala Evenstar
Rowan Frost
Tane Harbor
Emrys Ocean
Niko Flint & Devlin Quill
Sonata Lune & Mirella Soleil
Elowen Snow
Leo Stone
Leo Sylvanus
Venus Marigold Moon
Derek Night
Viggo Madsen North
Cora Sunshine
Aurora Tempest
Eero James Twilight
Dramatic, Creative Middle Names
If you're looking for a middle name that packs a punch, the combinations below prove that the only limit is your imagination. You could a word that's musical or mythical, a number or a vehicle, or something even more edgy.
Starbabies
Exa Dark Sideræl (Grimes & Elon Musk)
Slim Easy (Nara Pellman & Lucky Blue Smith)
Slash Electric Alexander (Amber Rose & Alexander Edwards)
Beatrice Danger (Jess Weixler & Hamish Brocklebank)
Olympia Lightning (Kasi Bennett & Usain Bolt)
Rise Messiah (Brittany Bell & Nick Cannon)
Callum Michael Rebel (Jenna Dewan & Steve Kazee)
River Rocket Blue Dallas (Jamie & Jools Oliver)
Cashmere Saint (Cam Newton & Kia Proctor)
Harper Seven (Victoria & David Beckham)
Dakota Song (Brenda Song & Macaulay Culkin)
Lovely Symphani (Diamond & Chris Brown)
Rocky Thirteen (Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker)
Sunny Bebop (Michael “Flea” Balzary & Frankie Rayder)
Beautiful Zeppelin (Abby De La Rosa & Nick Cannon)
Babyberries
Emerson Banjo
Eliza Hero
Felix Alistair Knight
Osiris Mercury James
Rosalind October
Noble Matthew Pendragon
Otis Spike Alan
Molly Maeve Tuesday
Irie Wednesday
Positive Middle Names
We love these unexpected pops of positivity in the middle name position, whether they're cozy and gentle, virtuous, or powerfully optimistic.
Starbabies
Buddy Dessert (Brie Bella & Bryan Danielson)
Winter Mercy (Alanis Morissette & Mario "Souleye" Treadway)
Eureka Muse (Amanda Knox & Christopher Robinson)
Brooklyn Praise (Kendra & Joseph Duggar)
Lula Rosylea (Bryan Adams & Alicia Grimaldi)
Babyberries
Morag Blessing
Lenora Bliss
Mai Ingrid Fable
Clementine Happy
Clementine Clara Honesty
Rosalee Honor
Zara Liberty
Light Alifair Loveday
Harriet Marvel
Josephine Myrtle Peace
Hugo Prosperity
Corinna Beatrice Truth
Violet Whimsy
Place Name Middle Names
Some place names for babies, like Brooklyn and Camden, are common enough not to raise any eyebrows. But if you're considering a place name that's rarer and more extravagant, whether it's a meaningful location or you just like the sound, the middle spot could be the perfect place for it.
Starbabies
Lyra Antarctica (Cherry Seaborn & Ed Sheeran)
Champie Arizona (Ty Haney & Mark Wystrach)
Lillie Carolina (Lauren Akins & Thomas Rhett)
Grace Ethiopia (Maya Haile & Marcus Samuelsson)
Navy Rome (Jason Aldean & Brittany Kerr)
Babyberries
Jasper Anduin
Mya Arizona
Beatrix Astoria
Eden Europa
Lucinda Galilee
Molly Louisiana
Bernadette Rome
Bluma Sicily
These unique middle names may seem eccentric now, but who knows, one of them could be the next Maverick and appear on a name rankings list – or playground – near you.
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