Updated October 2026
Across 180 pages
of 180
English and French surname derived from a place-name, Gerville
Randall Jarrell was an important mid-20th century poet; his surname makes a pleasingly soft name for a girl.
English literary name
"kite"
Keats is both poetic and easier to pronounce (it's keets) than Yeats (which is yates).
English
"gates"
Yeats, the strong name of the great Irish poet, would work better for a boy. Also has possible pronunciation problem with people who might think it rhymes with Keats. Yeats rhymes with the word from…
English surname and place-name
A rather formal British surname that originated as a place name in the county of Lancashire.
English nature name
Soft and creative update of Marsha.
"at the river crossing"
An established male name that might cross over to the girls' side -- though if it's a water name you're after, there are so many prettier choices.
"blond"
Place name and surname that sounds a tad snooty.
"rocky water"
One art name that sounds distinctly more masculine. Unless you're a big mobile fan, keep thinking.
English, from French, nature name
"falcon, a bird"
One of the bird names that's more appropriate for a boy, though it works for a girl too.
English word and nature name
"to swindle"
Bird name possibility, rarer than Lark and Wren but with the same short, punchy feel. Only five baby girls were named Finch in the most recent year, and four times as many baby boys.
Latin
"applelike fruit"
'Q' names are hot, and this is an intriguing fruit name that could be used for a girl or boy. The quince often appears in Greek myth, in tales of Aphrodite, Paris and Atalanta. Can also be a nickname…
"winter solstice"
Yule is one Christmas baby name that doesn't sound very festive. We prefer Winter or even Christmas itself.
"beech tree"
If you prefer the woods to the ocean, you'll want to name your son (or daughter) Beech instead of Beach.
English word name
"bird"
The name of the teenaged son on the dear departed television show "Huff."
English, from German
"son of intelligence"
All the Fitz names are hard to carry, but this one has a wonderful meaning and might be a good middle name choice to honor a brilliant lineage.
English from German
"noble, bearlike"
With the growing popularity for girls of such names as Aubrey and Audrey, Auberon feels like a fresh and viable option.
"female goat"
Cheever has a nice, cheery sound, literary ties to novelist and short writer John Cheever and also, sideways, to the Edward Arlington Robinson narrative poem "Miniver Cheevy," as well as a subliminal…
"ash tree farm"
Ashley substitute with a slightly more unisex feel; it was picked for her daughter by TV host Nancy O'Dell.
English surname name
"friendly"
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.
English, variation of Foster
"scissors maker"
Forster, a variation of Foster or potentially even Forester, is associated with British novelist E.M. Forster, author of A Passage to India , Howard's End , and A Room with a View . But if you choose…