Nature, Place and Word Names · Cool Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 11 pages
of 11
English word name
"bright"
Bright is a rare yet intriguing word name used for a female character in Ann Patchett's novel The Dutch House.
word name
Hallow is a word meaning sacred or holy. As the root word for Halloween (orginally All Hallows' Eve), this name might be an evocative choice for a baby born on or near October 31st. It could work…
"intelligent"
Smart choice given to a handful of baby boys each year.
"extremely angry"
A very small number of boys are given this intense and aggressive name each year, but that could increase given that Rowdy is now in the Top 1000.
"reserved, timid"
Not the most aspirational word names you could give to a child, although it does work as a nickname. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's daughter Chicago is often called Chi, pronounced "shy." Model…
"relating to Great Britain"
An adjective name that probably won't be used for a baby born in the UK. Short-form Brit is reminiscent of the late 20th-century favorite, Brittany.
"greater, greatest"
Unashamedly grandiose word name.
"winning"
If Victor isn't quite enough, this superlative word name is another option.
"relating to Ireland"
As Ireland becomes fashionable as a place name, bouncing on and off of the US girls charts thanks to Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin choosing it for their daughter, some parents may start to consider…
"of legend"
A fast-rising word name, along with its more popular siblings Legend and Legacy.
Word name
In 2014, six little girls in the US were given the name Starlit. Starlit has a sweeter meaning than the similar Starlet, and a better ring than Starlight.
English
"windy"
And her sisters, Stormy and Sunny.
" very bright and radiant; clever or talented"
This English word name meaning bright, clever, talented, and radiant, may be a lot to live up to. Brilliant would make a unique and offbeat virtue name for a parent with big dreams for their little…
Otherworldly. The word -- which connote a spirit-like lightness and perfection -- originally referred to objects that were literally from the "ether," the uppermost region of space. The modern,…
"faithful"
Faith is a classic virtue name, but Faithful is more modern, having only been in the charts since 2003, and somehow more word-like.
"joyful"
Modern update to midcentury favorite Joy.
"family; connectedness"
This unusual English word name and surname was the middle name of American sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick, after his mother's maiden name. Its striking sound and appealing meaning make it a promising…
Lyric is a name given to over 1000 boys and girls each year in the US. Could the more feminine Lyrical (given to only 20 girls each year) become more popular as parents look to find less common…
A name that's appeared out of thin air, in the same vein as such mystical favorites as Destiny and Nevaeh.
"without fault"
A surefire way to give your child a perfectionism complex.
