Summer Baby Names

A word name that has sailed onto birth certificates of both genders, especially since Liv Tyler used it for her son. For boys, Saylor and Sailor are used about equally, but were together given to about 100 baby boys last year....and 1000 baby girls.

"Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera that was transmogrified into the modern play Rent. Boheme means a literary or artistic person who lives outside conventional society.

Junot, which sounds like the goddess and indie movie name "Juno" and the Alaskan place name Juneau, is actually someting completely different. The literati will recognize the unusual name of writer Junot Diaz.

Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"

This spirited Spanish variation of Rosa was familiar in the mid-20th century, but is used more quietly now. Given to around 35 babies in the US each year, it could work as a fresh alternative to Roberta or Rosie.

Navarre is a masculine name derived from a historical region that spans parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. With Basque origins, some scholars suggest it may derive from 'nabar' meaning 'brown' or 'multicolored valley.' The name carries aristocratic associations due to the historic Kingdom of Navarre, which existed from the 9th century until 1620. Though uncommon as a first name, Navarre has seen limited use in France and Spain, and occasionally in English-speaking countries. It appeals to parents seeking names with historical significance and geographic ties. Navarre projects strength and nobility, offering a distinctive alternative to more common place-based names. Its connection to the Pyrenees region gives it a romantic, continental European flair.

This very unusual botanical name refers to flowers that have a second color around the edges, commonly found in tulips and carnations. Thomas Hardy named a character Picotee in his novel The Hand of Ethelberta.

Lively and bright, Savita is among the most popular Hindi names for girls, and one that could easily immigrate.

The last name of Finnish moderne designer/architect makes an original, creative choice with an unexpected water-related meaning.

Solal is a trendy choice in France, where it's primarily a literary name. It featured in an eponymous novel by Albert Cohen published in 1930, as well as two sequels. Another famous French bearer is the singer Solal, born Laurent Morhain, known for his roles in musical comedies. The grandson of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is also named Solal.

Transferred use of the surname Vianney, in reference to French saint Jean-Marie Vianney. It is generally masculine in France, Belgium and French-speaking Africa, but in Latin America it is mainly feminine and sometimes spelt Vianey.

As opposed to the Scandinavian Soren, Sorin derives from the Romanian word for "sun", and is quite common in its native land. For literary cred, Sorin is a character in Chekhov's "The Seagull."

Roque is a distinctive masculine name with Spanish and Portuguese origins, derived from the Germanic element 'hrok' meaning 'rest' or from the medieval Latin 'rocca' meaning 'rock'. In Spanish-speaking countries, it's pronounced 'ROH-keh' and carries connotations of strength and steadfastness. The name gained religious significance through Saint Roch (Roque in Spanish), a 14th-century French nobleman who ministered to plague victims. Roque has maintained consistent usage in Hispanic and Latin American cultures but remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, making it an intriguing cross-cultural option. The name offers a strong, concise sound with international appeal. In chess terminology, 'roque' was once used as an alternative term for castling, adding an intellectual dimension to this name's rich cultural associations.

Unlike the other fruit names that are just coming onto the baby name menu, Peaches is an old-timey nickname previously reserved for spangled showgirls, and now would be considered an outrageous -- verging on hip -- choice. Or perhaps it was, until 2023, when it entered the UK Top 1000, not sounding too out of place beside other 2023 favorites, Honey, Blossom, Sage, Halo, and Dolly.

This Scottish surname and Scottish and Australian place name has a pleasant airy and breezy sound to it. Camden mayor Lara Symkowiak chose the name for her daughter born in 2016.

The name of the second-biggest (and third-most populous) island in Hawaii was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2017. A major factor was surely Dwayne Johnson's character in Moana, the Polynesian demigod named Maui, a mythological trickster who slowed the sun to create the days. (It fell back to normal levels in the following years.)

One of the aggressive new boys' names, ala Tracker and Heller, that have become fashionable among parents who are courting trouble.

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and seven boys were named July in 2013, putting this month name into the class of gender neutral names.

A fun and confident choice, Holiday is a celebratory name, particularly associated with Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, and New Year, and with rest, leisure, and vacations more generally. Fitting for a winter baby, but totally sunny too, it comes from the Old English hāligdæg meaning "holy day" as it was originally used to mark religious festivals and celebrations.

Wave made, well, waves when it was revealed to be the name of Cardi B and Offset's son. Evocative of crashing waves at the beach, large surfing barrels, and tumultuous and stormy seas, Wave is a name with a lot of personalities.