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155+ Names That Mean Trouble

  1. Acacius
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorny; or, innocent, not evil"
    • Description:

      Acacius is a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Akakios and can be interpreted to relate to the same root as the name Acacia, for the thorn bush, or Akakios which means "not evil." With the modern taste for ancient names that end in "us," this obscure but attractive choice may have a chance of new life. Acacius is the name of three early saints.
  2. Acantha
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorn, prickle"
    • Description:

      Acantha is one of the unique baby names in the stylish mythological category that also might count as a flower name. In Greek mythology, Acantha was a nymph beloved by Apollo. An unusual and attractive choice that could make a creative way to honor a grandma Rose.
  3. Savage
    • Origin:

      English, Irish, or Jewish surname
    • Meaning:

      "wild, untamed; grandfather"
    • Description:

      It doesn't matter if Savage is a surname on your family tree — it's a highly controversial choice for a first name with connections to racism and colonialism. Despite this, over a dozen sets of parents named their sons Savage in a recent year.
  4. Odysseus
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "wrathful"
    • Description:

      The name of the brave, resourceful hero of Homer's epic saga has almost always been considered too weighty for a child to bear, but at this point, some brave, resourceful parents out there might be willing to take it on.
  5. Kassya
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorny"
    • Description:

      Kassya is a unique feminine name with potential roots in several origins. It may be a variant of Kassie or Cassie, which are diminutives of Cassandra, a Greek name meaning 'she who entangles men' or 'prophetess.'
  6. Rekker
    • Origin:

      Variation of Wrecker
    • Meaning:

      "a person or thing that wrecks or damages something"
    • Description:

      Rekker comes to us thanks to actor Cam Gigandet, who gave his son this phonetic spelling of badass word name Wrecker. Use at your own peril.
  7. Sinai
    • Origin:

      Biblical place name, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "hatred"
    • Description:

      A sacred place to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, Mount Sinai is where Moses received the Ten Commandments and also the name of the peninsula on which the mountain stands.
  8. Ryle
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "rye hill; roe deer hill"
    • Description:

      Ryle, rhymes with Kyle, was used by author Colleen Hoover for the neurosurgeon hero of her bestselling novel, It Ends With Us. Twenty-nine baby boys were named Ryle in the US in 2023, with many more named all variations of Riley, along with many spellings of Rylen, Ryler, and Rye.
  9. Akuma
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "devil, demon"
    • Description:

      Nice baby name with a devilish meaning.
  10. Alea
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aleah or Italian word name
    • Meaning:

      "risk"
    • Description:

      Alea is a genuine girls' name as a sleeker variation of Aleah, a name with both Arabic and Persian roots that means exalted or God's being. But in Italian, Alea means risk or hazard, so it can also be considered an Italian word name...but a risky one.
  11. Aleela
    • Origin:

      Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "she cries"
    • Description:

      Lilting African name that translates perfectly into other cultures.
  12. Jessejames
    • Origin:

      Combination of Jesse and James, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God exists and supplanter"
    • Description:

      While still rare, this compound name for boys jumped nearly 3000 places in rank last year, perhaps thanks to its cowboy-core vibe and its bad boy image.
  13. Wrecker
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Wrecker is a new entry to the newly trendy group of badass baby names -- names mostly for boys that sound wild (or Wilder) and summon the kind of kid that races around (Racer), breaking things (Breaker), and yeah, why not, being a Wrecker while he's at it. Actor Cam Gigandet introduced this one, with a more phonetic spelling, when he named his son Rekker.
  14. Arson
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "deliberately setting fire to property"
    • Description:

      Sure, Arson is a crime, but anecdotally, many of the parents who choose this name do so because Arson = "our son."
  15. Asani
    • Origin:

      Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "rebellious"
    • Description:

      Asani is a traditionally masculine Swahili name, although it is used for both boys and girls in the US. Its rebellious meaning makes it perfect for a maverick child.
  16. Ascella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "armpit"
    • Description:

      A star system in Sagittarius, so one of the most appropriate names for December babies.
  17. Atropos
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "inevitable, inflexible"
    • Description:

      Atropos is one of the three Fates of Greek Mythology. She and her sisters determined life from birth to death—Atropos determined how one would die and would cut the thread of life. Her Roman equivalent is Morta.
  18. Axe
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Axe, spelled like this, is used for a handful of baby boys in the US each year. You can see it as one of the new weapon names, along with Dagger and Beretta, or as an abbreviation of the very popular Axel.
  19. Azubah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "desolation"
    • Description:

      Azubah is one of those unique baby names from the Bible that is both uncommon and usable, especially given that trendy letter Z in the middle. Azubah's sad meaning may be a strike against it. There were two figures named Azubah in the Bible, one the wife of Caleb and the other the mother of Jehoshaphat (as in Jumping).
  20. Balbina
    • Origin:

      Roman
    • Meaning:

      "stammerer"
    • Description:

      The Ancient Roman Balbina is the feminine form of Balbus or Balbinus. While certainly unique, it's hard to imagine this name will go far in the modern English-speaking world.

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