Wild Word Names Parents are Actually Using

Revere is a word name meaning to admire or esteem, an appealing meaning. In the USA, however, Revere attracts further connotation as the surname of Paul Revere, one of the celebrated patriots of the American Revolution. As a surname, the meaning of Revere might be river or robber.

Six baby boys were named Revere in the US last year.

Revere

The word Invictus is best known via the Invictus Games, a multinational sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick armed service personnel. It's most famous as the venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's romance.
Invictus was first used as a name, as far as we know, by pronatal activists Malcolm and Simone Collins, who named their older daughter Titan Invictus. It didn't enter the US stats until 2024, when it was given to 5 boys.
 
'Invictus' is also the title of a powerful poem by William Ernest Henley, ending with the lines "I am the master of my fate:/I am the captain of my soul."

Invictus

Milady

Used to describe an amazingly beautiful person and a surprisingly good day or event, Stunner also also in the scifi series, Dune as a type of weapon. Similar in vibe to Gunner or Cannon, it was given to five babies in 2024.

Stunner

Given to at least 89 boys since the 1950s, word name Pride might be viewed as either a virtue name or an anti-virtue name, depending on how you look at it.
 
On one hand, it has the positive associations of being proud of yourself and of celebrating your own achievements, qualities and successes. Parents might also refer to their child as their pride and joy: someone that their proud of.
 On the other hand, however, pride is linked to vanity, self-conceit, and feelings of superiority. It is associated with an excessive kind of self-love that turns to arrogance and vanity.
 
We suspect it was the more positive associations parents who chose this name had in mind when they picked it, though there's always the possibility it was family surname too.
 Other things this word name brings to mind include: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the name for a group of lions, and LGBTQ+ Pride, both the celebratory parades and the promotion of rights and equality. 
The name most recently appeared in the charts in 2020, when it was given to 6 boys, though celeb couple KJ Smith and Skyh Black named their daughter Pryde in 2025.

Pride

In Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields was the final resting place of righteous souls. Elysian falls under two current trends — spiritual names and mythological names — and could easily be a hit in years to come.

Elysian

An aspirational and confident word name, Triumph has been given to a small handful of boys each year since 2007, but 2024 saw it make its US debut for girls, when it was given to six. For some, Triumph may feel like a heavy name to live up, though it could be cool in the middle spot, following in the fashion of Wise, Noble, and Valor. 
 
Alternatively, it may feel like an apt and symbolic choice after a difficult pregnancy journey, or, it might make a spiritual name, in the style of Chosen, Glory, and Hallelujah, evoking the idea that new life is representative of God's greatness. 
 
Actors and content creators Lena and Anthony Todd have a daughter called Triumph.

Triumph

A contemporary choice, Pistol entered the stats in the US back in 2010 for boys and then in 2013 for girls too. Given to around 80 babies throughout the 2010s, it has fallen out of favor in the 2020s.
 
While it could be positively spun as a word name for an enterprising and spirited person, most people will only think of the small handheld firearm. For fans of Gunner, Hunter, Thrasher, Blade, and similar, this would be part of the appeal, though it might be worth bearing in mind that Pistol combines a violent (or rugged) image with an unfortunate first syllable.
 
You could alternatively consider a Pistol brand name, like Colt, Remington, Bond, Kimber, or Zenith.

Pistol

With word names, almost anything goes. But maybe not Ghost, unless you're naming a white dog.

Ghost

You've heard of Joy and Sunny; you might have heard of Happy and Lucky being used as names too, but how about this upbeat option? Traditionally a nickname for someone with a smile ever on their face, it may also be considered a surname meaning "small clearing".
 
Used quietly and occasionally for boys in the 20th-century, it entered the US stats for girls for the first time in 2025 when 6 girls (and no boys) were called Smiley. Similar to Miley but perhaps a tricky name to wear on down days, it nevertheless fits in with modern word choices.

Smiley

Five is a number name introduced to the lexicon by famous crazy baby namers The Novogratz Family. Five is, yes, their fifth child, who happens to be a boy, but there's no reason Five -- and Seven and Eleven -- can be <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">unisex baby names</a>.

Five

We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking only Gerard Way could pull that off) undoubtedly owes a debt to occupational cousins from Pilot to Parker.
 
 Snappy and daring though it is, it may be best reserved for celebrity babies, a mischievous pet, or as a fun nickname. While it could work as a generic nickname (like Sonny, Sport, and Chip might), it would be especially fitting with something like Benjamin, Benedict, Brandon, or Bennett. 
 
Nevertheless, celeb choices and animated characters can be influential. Bandit appears in the hit cartoon series Bluey, as the father of the title character, and possibly as a result of this, Bandit appeared in the US stats for the first time in 2024, when it was given to six boys.

Bandit

Recent years have seen bold word names rise up the US charts, with Chosen, Truce, and Halo being notable examples. 

There are plenty more unexpected options appearing in the US stats, from Trophy to Rookie, Coyote to Sparrow, from Starlight to Epiphany, from Rowdy to Saint, 

range from those that are way-out and rarely heard of to those in the Top 1000. 

All names on this list were given to at least 5 babies since the 2010s and 2020s 

so get ready to be surprised by some of these 

Wild Word Names Parents are Actually Using.

Wild Word Names Parents are Actually Using features rare, popular, unique and cool word names, given to at least 5 babies in recent years. The list includes spiritual names, animal names, violent names, nature names, and celebrity baby names.  (Page 10)