Gender Neutral Middle Names

  1. Henley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "high meadow"
    • Description:

      The name of a British town on the Thames that hosts a famous regatta. Henley is one of the English baby names soaring in popularity for both boys and girls in the US, but is now much more popular for girls. In the UK, however, it is almost unused for girls, with just 3 female babies named Henley as recently as 2014.
  2. Golden
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Like Silver, a shimmering metallic color name, that may lean too dazzling for some, but more grounded for others, thanks to its similarity of Alden, Auden, Elden and Gordon. Given to 100 babies in a recent year, Golden is currently a gender neutral choice.
  3. Psalm
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a sacred song or hymn"
    • Description:

      Kanye West and Kim Kardashian added this new word name to the lexicon when they chose it for their second son and fourth child in 2019. It is now 7 times more popular than it was then, given to 120 boys and 40 girls in a recent year.
  4. Tennessee
    • Origin:

      Native American, Cherokee, place-name
    • Meaning:

      "bend in the river or meeting place"
    • Description:

      When playwright Thomas Lanier Williams adopted the pen name of Tennessee, he created a new possibility among American place-names, although it's admittedly a bit bulky in size.
  5. Puck
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      Puck, the mischievous sprite of Shakespeare, is a unisex name given more often to girls in The Netherlands and is also the name of one of the moons of Uranus, discovered in 1985 and named Puck for the Shakespearean figure.
  6. Sloan
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Sloane
    • Description:

      Less popular than the Bueller-inspired Sloane but following on its coattails, this name ranks toward the middle of the Top 1000, but we see both spellings sticking around for years to come.
  7. Reilly
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "courageous"
    • Description:

      This more elaborate but not unfamiliar spelling of Riley feels oddly more feminine. Designer and Beatle daughter Stella McCartney has a daughter named Reilley. Still, Reilly or more common Riley is one name that's remained popular for both boys and girls.
  8. Baylen
    • Description:

      Baylen is a modern masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Old French "baillen" meaning "one who lives in a bailiff's jurisdiction," or function as a variant of Baylor (of English origin meaning "one who delivers goods"). Some consider it a creative modern blend of popular elements like "Bay" and the masculine suffix "-len." The name gained modest attention in American naming trends during the early 2000s, particularly after NFL quarterback Drew Brees chose it for his son in 2008. Baylen appeals to parents seeking a contemporary name with a soft yet masculine quality. Its distinctive sound and spelling provide uniqueness without extreme unconventionality, making it accessible while still standing out.
  9. Sevyn
    • Origin:

      American variation of Seven, number name
    • Meaning:

      "seven"
    • Description:

      2019 was the year of seven, as both Seven (for boys) and Sevyn (for girls) broke into the Top 1000. Sevyn's use may be inspired by Sevyn Streeter, a singer and songwriter. She was born Amber Denise Streeter but chose Sevyn as her stage name — rather appropriately, since her birthday is July 7.
  10. Lyle
    • Origin:

      Scottish and English from French
    • Meaning:

      "someone who lives on an island"
    • Description:

      Though it's used far more often for boys, Lyle has a lot in common with today's trending girl names that share the double L sound: Lila, Layla, and Lola. With its cool island related meaning, derived from the Norman French l'isle, it has been appearing in the US stars for girls since at least the 1880s, given to a small number of girls most years.
  11. Amiri
    • Origin:

      Maori, Arabic, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the East wind; king, ruler; treetop"
    • Description:

      A commonly used name in Māori culture, Amiri refers to the wind that blows from east to west. A 2011 New Zealand film titled Amiri & Aroha is a modern Māori interpretation of Romeo & Juliet.
  12. Indiana
    • Origin:

      American place-name
    • Meaning:

      "land of the Indians"
    • Description:

      Indiana is one of those place-names (think Camden and Trenton) that sounds cooler than the place that inspired it. Its fashionable -ana ending certainly sounds eminently name-like, and Indie/Indy/Indi is one of the hottest nickname names for girls right now.
  13. Raylen
    • Description:

      Raylen is a modern masculine name that has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in the United States. It appears to be a contemporary blend of the popular Ray prefix (meaning 'beam of light' or 'counsel') with the trending -len/-lyn suffix seen in names like Kaylen and Jaylen. The name has a contemporary sound that fits with current naming trends while maintaining a distinctly masculine quality. Raylen may also be viewed as a variation of Raylan, which gained visibility through the character Raylan Givens in the television series 'Justified.' The name carries connotations of brightness and illumination through its 'ray' element. While still relatively uncommon, Raylen has been steadily increasing in usage, appealing to parents seeking a modern-sounding name that balances uniqueness with accessibility.
  14. Jupiter
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "godfather"
    • Description:

      Jupiter may be known as the father of all the gods, but it's baby girls who have claimed his name for their own. Mythological and celestial baby names are hot across the board, so Jupiter was bound to rise in popularity. But the reason it's currently mostly female in the US is thanks to its similarities to the trendy feminine name Juniper.
  15. Harlem
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Meaning:

      "home on a forested dune"
    • Description:

      With Brooklyn, Trenton, and Camden on the rise, Harlem is one to watch out for. It has lingered down the lower end of the US Top 1000 since 2018 but has been trending upwards. It's already been picked by one celebrity, and it certainly has a stronger historical and cultural identity -- and it could work as an alternative to Harvey or Harley.
  16. Slater
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "maker of slates"
    • Description:

      Slater has a more genial, friendly feel than most trade names. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance used it for one of their twins.
  17. Whitley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white meadow"
    • Description:

      Surname style Whitley emerged in the late 1980s as a spin on the (then) mega-popular Whitney, rising dramatically from obscurity to the Top 500 after it featured on a character in the TV sitcom, A Different World. By the mid-90s, it was out of style, but the recent appeal of retro names has saw it return to the US charts in 2018.
  18. Lenox
    • Origin:

      Variation of Lennox, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "elm grove"
    • Description:

      Lennox is one of the hottest unisex names of recent years, and this spelling retains the appealing surname vibe and cool -x ending. This form does distance the name slightly from the literary and boxing associations of the original, linking it instead to a tableware manufacturer, a 17th naval ship, and several American places.
  19. Canyon
    • Origin:

      Spanish word name
    • Description:

      Canyon is a unique baby name evocative of natural splendor and the old Steve Canyon comic-strip heroism, making it an intriguing new word-name possibility.
  20. Starling
    • Origin:

      Bird name
    • Description:

      Unusual choice that was the original name of children's illustrator Tasha Tudor, but is an interesting elaboration of Star, taking it into avian territory.

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