Wild Word Names Parents are Actually Using

Havoc may be viewed in two ways: a violent boy name associated with widespread destruction and devastation, or a more playful choice, associated with mayhem and mischief, a more gentle kind of chaos. Appearing in the US stats since 2008 (and yet to be give to more than 20 boys in a single year), a recent count saw 13 boys given the name. Still, with Rowdy and Wilder in style, and actor Rory Culkin choosing it for his daughter in 2026, this name could be one to keep an eye on.  


Havoc

Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.

Rainbow

Unusual word names with a strong, sometimes last-name feel are on the rise, from Chosen to Valor, to Wilder, Ford, and Ledger. With similar sounds to Jake and Waylon, and with a stirring meaning, could Wake be one more parents turn to in coming years?
 
Deriving from the Old English wōc and wacian, Wake is associated with rising from sleep, with gaining awareness, and with rousing or stirring something up in another person. This could give it subtle spiritual ties or feel symbolic of gaining knowledge and understanding.
 
As a name, Wake could come from Waca, an Old English nickname given to someone who was watchful and vigilant, or someone who had to be on watch and keep an eye on danger.
 
A perhaps more morbid association is that Wake also evokes the party after a funeral or a vigil kept by the body of the dead. This may well put people off from using it, or it could lend it a slightly darker edge.
 
Given to 16 boys in a recent year, Wake is rare but quietly used.

Wake

Acre feels at home with other modern, fresh word names like Rumor, Snow and Ace. But with the feeling of wide open spaces and nature, Acre also offers a softer, earthier tone that will appeal to those seeking a unique name with a distinctly Americana feel.

Acre

A musical word name with a lot of strength behind it, Anthem is used to describe both an uplifting song connected to a particular belief or group, or a form of a religious text, performed by a church choir. As such, the name may be considered spiritual, motivational, patriotic, or simply musical.
 
Anthem entered the US stats for boys back in 2008 and is now given to a small handful of babies each year, with 15 boys and 5 girls receiving the name in a recent year. It was chosen by YouTubers Savannah Jean and Josh Alexander (Sav&Josh) for their son born in 2026, which may encourage others to use it.

Anthem

With its lively, happy-go-lucky meaning, Chipper could be fun and jaunty nickname – and may work especially well for those looking for more unique options for names like Christopher, Charles, Chandler, and Phillip. 
 
Chipper has been quietly appearing in the US data since the 1940s, but has been used more frequently – and consistently – since around 2011. Its current peak was back in 2021 when 24 boys were called Chipper, while in the latest count, 12 boys were given the name.

Chipper

A kestrel is a bird of prey. It has good potential as a strong girls' name, similar to Falcon for boys.

Kestrel

Topper is seen as both a surname — referring to one who either takes the top off or puts it on, like a barber, thatcher, or a roofer — and a nickname. Famous contemporary bearers include Nicholas "Topper" Headon, drummer of The Clash, and Robert Livingston "Topper" Mortimer, great-nephew of Babe Paley and ex-husband of socialite Tinsley Mortimer.
 
Topper might also be associated with a machine that cuts the heads off weeds, a protective cover for a mattress or a pick up truck, an old British term for something excellent, a top hat, or a short form of "chart topper". Alternatively, it may make others think of cake decorations or a variety of innuendoes. 
 
As such, it might work best as a nickname developed naturally, and chosen by the bearer, rather than as a given name.

Topper

The Spanish word for the number three, not to be confused with the French très (tray) meaning "very", Tres has been used as a boy name in the US since the late 1950s. Given to a small handful of babies each year, it recently had a small spike in use when it was given to 18 boys in a single year.
 
An alternative perhaps for Trey or Tripp, Tres might work as a nickname for boys with III after their name, for a third son, or as a nickname to the ancient Tertius, or more current choices like Terrence, Atreus, Trevor, Travis, or Tristan.

Tres

Inspired by Taylor Swift's 2020 album Evermore, seven sets of parents chose this name for their daughters in 2022. With a poetic meaning of "forever" or "always", this is one that we could see gaining traction outside of the Swiftiverse. Accessible nicknames Ever and Evie are always an option if Evermore feels too bold for everyday use.

Evermore

This ephemeral name of the loving angels surrounding the throne of God is all but unheard of in the US, although its feminine forms Seraphine and Seraphina are catching on. In Russia, it's long been in use, spelled Серафим (Serafim).

Seraphim

An unusual word name, associated with beginnings and, more literally standing up, parents may be using this with the phrase "He has risen" in mind, in reference to Jesus. As such, it makes a spiritual choice, given to five boys in a recent year. 

Arise

You might view this one as an anti-virtue name, associated with conceit, pride, and a shallow obsession with one's own appearance. Add to that its second meaning, which connects it to futility and uselessness (as in, to try in vain), Vanity is probably not what most would want for their child.
 
And yet, more than 1800 babies in the US have received the name since the 80s, with 1988 seeing it given to a record 116 girls. For context, that meant it ranked alongside Skylar, Dani, Lois, and Juliette that year, while today it would be an equivalent to Amberley, Solene, Junie, Tamara, and Marielle.
 
While it has since declined, it did see more uptake in the late 2000s, when more than 50 girls were called Vanity in 2009 and 2010, and it was given to just shy of 20 girls in a recent count. It's appeal may well lie in the trendy -ty ending (think Serenity, Royalty, Felicity) and with the fashionable association to the magazine, Vanity Fair.
 
In fact, its original rise to fame coincided with the revival of the magazine in 1983, and may be the the reason for its continued use. Another possibility is that Vanity is being seen as a way to reclaim and celebrate self-love, and that parents are connecting it to vanity tables, make-up, and glamor.

Vanity

This old short form might be seen as a little dubious by some, though it could make for a fun pet name, honor name, on update on the still-stodgy Roger. 
In a recent film, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Steve Carell's character is named Dodge, seen by one critic as symbolizing his risk-averse personality. In the UK, Roger the Dodger is a character from the long-running comic The Beano, who likes to use 'dodges' to get out doing most things. 
 
In 2023, Dodge was given to 16 babies in the US, while 2022 saw it given to 28. It peaked in 2010 though, when a surprising 37 babies received the name.

Dodge

Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, but in the US data for last year was starting to lean more female, given to 29 girls and 11 boys. Harvest can be seen as pleasantly archaic, rich and ripe, fitting in with <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular baby names</a> like Harper and Harry, and is also a fresh take on names like Autumn and August and one of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/351/names-for-autumn-babies">names for autumn babies</a>.

Harvest

Peach is one of those names that, a generation ago, would have been placed in the wacky celebrity baby name category. But now with the proliferation of word, nature, and yes, food names, Peach sounds adorably baby-ready.

Peach

Comparatively modest in an age of Saints, Messiahs, and Chosens, Rookie has a sporty, energetic feel about it. Associated with being new to something, particularly in relation to the army, police, or a sports team, the word came into common usage in the late 19th century, perhaps inspired by the phrase "new recruit."
 
While this meaning could give the name a humble feel and celebrate the idea that people are always learning in life, it does bring with it the negative connotations of the "rookie mistake", suggestive of inexperience and poor judgement. To get around this, you could always consider it as a nickname for names such as Roscoe, Roderick Rockwell, or Frederick. 
 
Given to 9 boys in 2023 — the first year it featured in the US stats — and another 9 in 2024, Rookie remains a rare choice for now.

Rookie

Velvet is a name that couldn't possibly be softer or more luxuriant. Many people have fond memories of it via the character of Velvet Brown, played by the young Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, an intrepid young woman willing to masquerade as a boy to race her horse in a dangerous steeplechase.
 Velvet actually had a brief sojourn on the Social Security list, from 1961 to 1964. Now, double trending as both a 'V' name and a word name might give Velvet a boost.

Velvet

A distinctive word name or a short form of the Italian Bonaventura, Venture could make a bold choice, similar in style to Knight, Worthy, Brave, Truth, and Valor. It has been given to around 10 boys each year since 2020.

Venture

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 6)