​
​
Advanced Search

72 Unisex names that once leaned feminine

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Fri Sep 12 2025
Many contemporary unisex names the US started out as boy names, but that's not to say there aren't any that began as girl names and have since shifted into more unisex choices. Juno and Honor are two examples of this.

Then, there are also those names that have always been unisex, but were, for a time at least, used far more often for girls. In recent stats the distribution has begun to shift and the names are now used more significantly for boys than ever before: see Wren or Vesper as two such examples.

Alternatively, some names appear on this list because they are beginning to swing back towards being neutral options, despite having seen a time of being used mostly for girls. Sidney and Robin fall into this category.

Below is a list of all all of these types of 'once-feminine-leaning' unisex names, however, it is important to note here that the list is based on American statistics and these names may be used very differently across the globe.
  1. Sage

    • Origin:

      Herb name, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wise and knowing"

    • Description:

      Sage is an evocatively fragrant herbal name that also connotes wisdom, giving it a double advantage. It entered the Top 1000 at about the same time for both genders in the early 1990s, but it has pulled ahead for the girls. Toni Collette named her daughter Sage Florence.
  2. Wren

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "small bird"

    • Description:

      Wren may not be as time-honored a bird name choice as Robin or even Lark, but it's more fashionable and fresh, with a gentle and earthy vibe.
  3. Juno

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "queen of the heavens; young"

    • Description:

      Juno is an ancient name that feels as fresh as if it had been minted, well, not yesterday, but in 2007. Since the release of the popular indie film Juno, this lively but strong Roman goddess name has held new potential as a baby name. Currently in the UK Top 500 and used in The Netherlands too, Juno is on the rise in the US - and is 15 times more popular than it was before the release of the film.
  4. Marlowe

    • Origin:

      Variation of Marlow, English

    • Meaning:

      "driftwood"

    • Description:

      Marlowe is very much in the air, with its lovely -o ending and the modern twist it offers on the likes of Margaret, Margot, Martha, and Marlene. But is it Marlowe, Marlow, or Marlo? Well, for a girl in the US at least, it's probably Marlowe, with this spelling the only one to appear in the Top 1000.
  5. Scout

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Chosen for their daughter by Bruce and Demi (inspired by the To Kill a Mockingbirdcharacter), and for her son by Tai Babilonia, an interesting choice for either sex, with overtones of a "good scout" and the upstanding qualities of a Boy/Girl Scout.
  6. Vesper

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "evening star"

    • Description:

      This Latin word used for evening spiritual services was introduced to baby namers by the Eva Greene character Vesper Lynd in the modern James Bond film Casino Royale in 2006, based on the Ian Fleming novel, and is just now beginning to provoke interest among namers, with its spiritual reference and soft, whispery sound.
  7. Nyx

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "night"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, giving this name a dark yet mystical feel. While some may associate too strongly with the word nix (meaning "nothing", "refuse" or "put an end to"), or to the make-up brand Nyx, it was nevertheless chosen for 64 girls (and 26 boys) in the US in a recent year.
  8. Eden

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "place of pleasure, delight"

    • Description:

      This Biblical name was rising dramatically for boys, but has plateaued in recent years. Although it's more popular for girls in the US, it's a delightful unisex choice. Eden is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France, closing in on the Top 10.
  9. Artemis

    • Origin:

      Greek, diminutive of Artemios

    • Meaning:

      "safe; butcher"

    • Description:

      Best known as the the Greek Goddess of the hunt and the moon, Artemis could now be considered one of the few traditionally feminine names that are currently being used for boys. Alternatively though, when pronounced ahr-TEH-mis, it is a valid Greek masculine name – a diminutive of Artemios.
  10. Tatum

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "Tate's homestead"

    • Description:

      Tatum is strong, distinctive, energetic, and recommended, especially if your last name is as congenial as O'Neal. The name is now used for both genders, with the balance running about two to one in favor of the girls.
  11. Shiloh

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "tranquil"

    • Description:

      Haunting biblical and Civil War place-name; now unisex—especially after the mega-high-profile Brangelina couple picked it for their daughter. It debuted in the Top 1000 for boys in 2015.
  12. Robin

    • Origin:

      Bird name, or English, diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      After a 60 year slide down the popularity ladder, Robin made a turnaround in 2020 and began climbing back into favor for baby girls. One reason may be its new status as one of the most evenly-divided gender neutral names.
  13. Aspen

    • Origin:

      Nature and place-name

    • Meaning:

      "a poplar tree that quakes in the breeze"

    • Description:

      Aspen is part of two groups of stylish and unique baby names: nature names and place-names. The name of a graceful tree in the poplar family with heart-shaped leaves so delicate they quiver in the gentlest breeze, Aspen is also the name of a trendy Colorado ski resort. Aspen started as a unisex name possibility but now is much more frequently worn by girls.
  14. Sasha

    • Origin:

      Russian diminutive of Alexander

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      The energetic Russian nickname name Sasha is being used increasingly on its own, though since the prominence of the First Daughter, more than 90% of the American babies named Sasha are girls. Sacha Baron Cohen bears one of the alternate spellings.
  15. Noa

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rest, repose; motion"

    • Description:

      Okay, this might be a little confusing...
  16. Cassidy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "curly-haired"

    • Description:

      Has fallen off its Kathie Lee Gifford inspired peak in the 1990s, but since that notably celebrity baby is now a grownup and out of the limelight, Cassidy may once again reclaim its own Irish charm.
  17. Indigo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Indian dye"

    • Description:

      Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. Color names have joined flower and jewel names -- in a big way -- and Indigo, a deep blue-purple dye from plants native to India, is particularly striking for both girls and boys. Although most people don't think of it like this, Indigo might also be considered among the most stylish Greek baby names in use today. Some cultural references: The Indigo Girls are a folk duo, 'Mood Indigo' is a classic Duke Ellington jazz composition, and there is a 1970's New Age theory that Indigo children possess special, sometimes supernatural abilities. Indigo is the name of a character in the Ntozake Shange novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and was used for his daughter by Lou Diamond Phillips.
  18. Aster

    • Origin:

      English from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      The name of the Aster flower, named by the English, was derived from the Greek word for star. Like many floral names, Aster is much more popular among baby girls.
  19. Reese

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rhys

    • Description:

      An Anglicized spelling of the Welsh Rhys, this traditional boys' name got a big boost for girls in the early 2000s, thanks to the high-profile Ms. Witherspoon (who was actually born Laura Jeanne Reese, her second middle being her mother's maiden name). This spelling has been on the decline for boys since 2003, possibly for the same reason, but remains a strong, simple choice which might pose fewer spelling and pronunciation issues outside of the UK than the Welsh original.
  20. Lux

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.