Updated October 2026
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Variation of Lane, English
"a small roadway or path"
Currently gender-neutral in the US, although boys have the edge, as they do with Lane. The Y spelling makes it a bit more feminine.
French, feminine diminutive of Paul
"small"
It's interesting how names imported to the US from other countries and cultures have fashion cycles based on their culture of origin. Paulette along with cousins Annette and Claudette were the most…
English
Lane is a unisex name equally accessible to boys and girls. Breezy, cool and contemporary, it might equally put in mind country lanes and banks of wildflowers. As a word name, Lane means "small…
"small bay"
Cove is an up-and-coming nature name whose cool sound and peaceful image saw it rising for both sexes until COVID-19 hit. It decreased slightly for boys in 2020 and remained steading in 2021, but it…
Italian, variation of Paul
Paolo is an irresistibly lush Italian name for boys , worlds more romantic than its spare English equivalent. Among noted bearers of the name are Renaissance painters Uccello and Veronese, architect…
Spanish
"small river"
Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.
Japanese
"small lily"
Variation of Cove, word name
Kove has the beachy feel of Cove, but with a touch of Koa and less of Covid — visually at least. It shot up the charts in 2021 when it more than tripled in popularity, and the following year saw it…
French, feminine variation of Paul
Pauline had its moment of glory a century ago, when movie audiences were thrilling to the silent serial The Perils of Pauline , released in 1914. A Top 50 name in the US between 1908 and 1930, it…
English word name, Irish
"small brood of birds; victorious"
A little like Cory or Cody, with a hint of Murphy and Casey, Covey is both a word name and a surname. As a word, it refers to a "small brood of birds" - or a synonym for a flock or a swarm. As a…
Russian variation of Paul
Pavel may be widespread in the former Soviet Union, but it has a somewhat impoverished image here.
Irish
"small shoe"
Brogan is a cheerful Irish surname that would fit right in with the Logans and Br-starting names now trendy for boys. It's been on the pop list for the past three years, though it's sliding again.…
English word name
"small Christian church"
This rare spiritual word name could see a boost now that Josh Brolin used it for his daughter, born in December of 2020. Like many of the new additions to this category, Chapel is appropriate for a…
Variation of Lane
Unisex Lane is a hit for boys in the last few decades, remaining around the 200s in popularity. Laine may lean a bit more feminine, but still has that unisex feel.
Japanese, Norse
"doctrine or seaweed; north or small person"
Attractive, simple Japanese choice that, while not strictly unisex, could work even better for a girl, especially now that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use it as the nickname for their daughter…
Spiritual word names are a hot trend and ever-expanding category of baby names. Chapel was notably used in 2020 by Josh Brolin for his daughter. He said of her name, "Chapel Grace is, to us, a…
English nature name
"small stream"
Brooke variation – or is the other way around? – that makes it more a nature name, less an eighties-style androgynous name.
Kove has the beachy feel of Ocean, Kai, and Koa, but unlike its more traditionally spelled counterpart, it looks less visually similar to Covid, at least. Associated with nooks and crannies, but…
Variation of Sayomi, Japanese
"small + world, + beautiful"
A variation on the Japanese Sayomi, which can mean "small, beautiful world", "young, midnight, beauty", and "sand, leaf, and fruit", depending on which kanji are used. First entering the US stats in…
"small brood of birds"
This offbeat word name refers to a small brood of birds. Cove has been an up-and-coming unisex nature name in recent years, and a few parents are recognizing Covey as an alternative. Be warned though…