Adjective Names
Updated Mon Mar 04 2024
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Adjective names are the latest class of word names to gain traction in the US, as choices like Loyal and Royal rise in the rankings. Adjectives names can be more evocative than noun names, conveying personal qualities and character traits.
Along with Royal and Loyal, other adjective names in the US Top 1000 include August, Christian, Major, Sincere, Sterling, Sunny, Tru, and Wilder. Unique adjective names that may be future favorites include Able, Brave, Saintly, and Serene.
Adjective names have been especially embraced by celebrities. Nick Cannon is the king of adjective names, with children called Moroccan, Golden, Powerful, Legendary, and Beautiful. Other celebrity adjective names include Jessica Hart's son Glorious, Chris Brown's daughter Lovely, and Elle King's baby boy Lucky.
Adjective girl names may be options like Blithe, Graceful, and Precious, which are mostly used among female babies. Adjective boy names may be names such as Cosmic, Earnest, and Handsome, which are mostly given to male babies. But adjectives as names are mostly gender-neutral, working for people of any gender.
See our collection of adjective names below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- August
Origin:
German form of Latin AugustusMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
The name August is at its highest point since the 1890s, when it ranked among the Top 100 boy names in the US – and deservedly so. With its great meaning, historic roots, and cool nicknames, 2024 saw August officially re-enter the Top 100.
- Loyal
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"faithful, loyal"Description:
Loyal is one of the few virtue names suitable for boys, an honorable and principled Boy Scout-esque appellation with a surprisingly long and distinguished history.
- Royal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"royal"Description:
Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name shot up the popularity charts in 2013, the same year young Prince George was born and the craze for all things royal (and Royal) began. Today, it's a leading boys' name on Nameberry's own popularity charts.
- Wilder
Origin:
Surname or word nameMeaning:
"wild, untamed, uncontrolled"Description:
Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.
- Sterling
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the highest quality"Description:
A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling has several recent TV associations, with characters Roger Sterling (on Mad Men) and Sterling Archer (on Archer), and actor Sterling K. Brown (on This is Us).
- Christian
Origin:
Greek or English from LatinMeaning:
"anointed one or follower of Christ"Description:
The name Christian has fallen a bit from its 90's and 00's heights, but it's still quite popular. Once considered overly pious, Christian is now seen as making a bold statement of faith by some, while also having secular appeal for others. Christian's enduring popularity may be influenced by such celebrities as Christian Slater and Christian Bale, not to mention the fashion world's Dior, Lacroix, Louboutin and Audigier.
- Sunny
Origin:
Nickname nameDescription:
Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile, along with its soundalike Sonny.
- Frank
Origin:
Diminutive of Francis or FranklinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"Description:
A Top 10 name from the 1880s until the 1920s, Frank has been falling for decades but last year reversed course for the first time in a century, edging up the popularity list a few notches. And Frank still has a certain warm, friendly real-guy grandpa flavor that could come back into style, like other such choices as Jake and Jack.
- Sunny
Origin:
English nicknameDescription:
Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile. You might want to use it as a short form for a more "serious" name such as Sunniva, but Sunny is undeniably, well, sunny.
- Royal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"royal"Description:
A superlative word name along the lines of Saint, King, Princess, and Chosen, Royal was mostly used for boys — as in Wes Anderson's anti-hero Royal Tennenbaum — until Lil' Kim named her daughter Royal. Reign in 2014. While it was Reign that really took off for girls, Royal also got a boost and entered the Top 1000 in 2015.
- Lucky
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"having good fortune"Description:
Recently chosen by singer Elle King for her son. Lucky is a name that could see a considerable rise in the near future, as word names continue to heat up.
- Ever
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"always, constantly, eternally"Description:
Similar in sound to Evan and Everett, Ever is an evocative word name that's currently on the rise. Used by Alanis Morissette and Souleye back in 2010, Ever was given to more than 200 boys in 2024, compared to 115 girls.
- Suede
Origin:
French, word nameMeaning:
"Swedish"Description:
In the nineties there was a "One Life to Live" soap opera character named Suede, but few fans picked up on it. Now however, parents may be reconsidering Suede, given its similarity in sound to Sage, Wade, and Zade and the recent interest in Denim, and unique word names more generally.
- Rusty
Origin:
Short form of RussellDescription:
Though as a formal name Rusty is a little, well, rusty, it spent half a century among the Top 1000, departing only in 1995. Only 45 baby boys received the name in the US in one recent year and it's difficult to imagine it as the winning choice of many modern parents. Whether you want an informal name or a spin on a traditional name or even a word name or a name that means red, there are simply too many better options.
- Unique
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"one of a kind"Description:
Finding a really distinctive name is probably a better way to make sure your child stands out, but then again, is choosing Unique really any different to parents choosing Saint, Messiah, Chosen, Dream, Miracle, or Blessing?
- August
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"majestic, venerable"Description:
Though associated traditionally (and fashionably) with boys, it has been used occasionally for girls as well – by Garth Brooks, Nicolas Cage, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, for example. But August is used significantly more often for girls these days than traditional feminine variations Augusta and Augustina, and makes for a fresh twist on traditional month names like April and May, as well as an updated spin on season name Autumn.
- Dusty
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"dusty"Description:
Dusty first became popular as a girl's name thanks to singer Dusty Springfield - born Mary. She used her childhood nickname professionally, and many parents embraced Dusty as a name for their daughters, especially in the 1970s.
- Ever
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"always, eternally, constantly"Description:
A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends when he named his now grown-up actress daughter Ever back in the 70s, while more recently, it was used by both Milla Jovovich and Owain Yeoman.
- Hale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"someone who lives in a hollow; strong and hearty"Description:
This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming word hail adds a hint of storminess to the name too.
- Major
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"greater; or, a military rank"Description:
This bold choice soared in popularity from 2008 to 2013, and now seems to have plateaued. But watch out—the character Major Major Major Major in the classic absurdist novel Catch-22 had a terrible time.