By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 143 pages
of 143
Word name
"correct, appropriate, genuine, real"
Part virtuous, part preppy, part surname-y, part prim, part wild, Proper is a bold word choice, notably used as a unisex name in Zimbabwe, though it leans predominantly masculine in the US, Nigeria,…
Does Proper count as a virtue name, a posh name, a surname, or just a wild word name? Associated with correctness and truth and with what's established and genuine, Proper does have something preppy…
"pride, being proud, self-esteem"
Pryde, a creative respelling of the English word Pride, may be viewed in two ways. On one hand, it has the positive associations of being proud of yourself and of celebrating your own achievements,…
"forcible hit with a fist; impactful"
Punch covers three trends in one hit: wild words, short, punchy choices, and rough and ready boy names. Associated with boxing, fighting, and more generally with something that makes an impression or…
English
"pretty"
An old-fashioned feeling nickname, based on a colloquial pronunciation of the word "pretty", Purdy (also spelled Purdie and Purdey) could be used as a short form of Perdita, as a nickname for…
Irish, English
"lion; scribe, writer with a quill pen"
A writerly choice, Quill first entered the US stats for boys back in 2013 and for girls in 2017. It has since been used sporadically and quietly as a girl name, fitting in with choices such as Poet,…
Diminutive of Quinn, English, Irish
"chief, leader, intelligence"
Unisex Quinn meets vintage nickname Queenie. Rarely used as a given name, it may be more commonly heard as an affectionate pet name for a Quinn. Six girls where nevertheless called Quinnie back in…
English word name
"mischievous, cheeky"
Sassy and energetic, Rascal is used affectionately as a nickname for a cheeky but loveable person, or, as a given name for a pet with the same mischievous quality. While etymologically it may relate…
"rattlesnake; rickety, rattling"
Rattler joins the likes of Wrangler, Thrasher, Stunner, and Gunner as a boy name with a macho, rough-round-the-edges feel and a touch of violence. Associated with rattlesnakes, ricket cars, passenger…
Spelling variation of Raven, English bird name
Less than 10 percent of the babies named Raven are boys, and none of those with the Ravyn spelling are male. But there's nothing intrinsically gender-identified about the name. The early 2000s show…
English surname
"rough hill"
Rawdon as a first name is closely associated with the literary character Colonel Rawdon Crawley from Thackeray's Vanity Fair . The Rawdon character, who has a son named after him and called Rawdy,…
"shelter, safety"
In tune with Harbor, Haven, Truce, Shepherd, and Shiloh, Refuge is a bold name choice relating to safety and protection from danger. While it is unlikely to catch on in the way other peaceful names…
Peaceful names associated with safety, such as Harbor, Haven, Truce, and Cove, have been on the rise in the 2020s, and now, this unlikely option has joined the name-bank. Referring to a place or…
Short form of Lorenza or Lorenz, Latin
"from Laurentum; bay laurel"
A playful nickname style name with a hint of Kenzie, Wren, Reign, and Reese, Renz is a short form of Lorenz, Lorenzo, or Lorenza. Rarely used as a given name, it was chosen by the influencer Tre…
"fashionably old-fashioned"
A term associated with bygone fashions and styles, differing from vintage in that it's usually related to the more recent past — think 70s and 80s. As a word name, its got those cool, jaunty sounds…
"revealing, making known; communicating divine truth"
A spiritual word name in the style of Halo, Hallelujah, and Epiphany, Revelation is likely to be considered in reference to divine revelation: the discovery of truth or knowledge via communication…
Diminutive of Rhodes, English, Greek
"rose"
Stylish Rhodes meets popular Brodie and Bodhi in this rare alternative, that could make an undiscovered but familiar choice in coming years. Derived ultimately from Greek to mean "rose", it has also…
Variation of Rhodes or Rody, English, Greek, Germanic
"rose; famous"
Rhodie blends the cool sounds of Rhodes, Rory, Brodie, and Bodhi into one, into this easy-going choice. Possibly a diminutive of Rhodes (also used as a short form of Rhoda), it could equally be a…
"dominant ruler + beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"
An extremely rare name, used predominantly in the town of Bury in North Western England, Richmal is most notably borne by writer Richmal Crompton, known for her Just William novels. The exact origins…
English, Norwegia, Danish, Japanese
"move upward, ascend; mighty, distinguished; lapis lazuli + celestial"
A multicultural choice with a range of meanings, this name boomed in the 1940s and 50s thanks to the glamorous singer Risë (pronounced REE-sa) Stevens, who inherited her name from her Norwegian…
