Hipster Dog Names

The Hungarian classic Laszlo, with its zippy 'z' middle and energetic 'o' ending, has become something of a hipster option, beginning to be considered by cutting-edge parents.
 
A name with a royal heritage in its native country in the Ladislaus form, it is still among the top Hungarian names for boys. In Hungary, Laszlo is pronounced with a soft S sound.
 
Laszlo is probably most familiar to Americans via the noble Paul Henreid character in Casablanca, who was Czech. There have been other fictional Laszlos in Real Genius and the Doctor Who series, and Laszlo is the name of the Ralph Fiennes character in The English Patient.
 
Real life namesakes include painter Moholy-Nagy and acclaimed cinematographer Kovacs. Two well-known actors who were born with the name Laszlo are Peter Lorre and Leslie Howard.
 
The spelling of the name is sometimes streamlined to Lazlo.

Laszlo

Barnabas, whose birth name was Joseph, was one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem, who undertook missionary journeys with Paul the Apostle, His name is a bit Old World compared to the update Barnaby, but could gain some attention as boys' names ending in 's' are enjoying a comeback.


Barnabas

A new favorite of the bohemian set, brought to light by actress Monet Mazur, daughter of the artist who designed the Rolling Stones' mouth logo. 

Monet

Traditionally a Scottish surname, referring to a barren heath, a bare promontory, or headland, Melrose could also be viewed as a mashup of Melanie, Melissa and Rose, as in the case of model and designer, Melrose Bickerstaff, born Melissa. 
 
The '90s soap opera Melrose Place might once have given it a melodramatic vibe, but the association is fading, leaving Melrose a whimsy yet preppy choice, that could appeal to fans of Primrose and Marigold.
 
Chosen by actress Melinda Shankar for her daughter in 2026, if you do view Melrose as a compound choice, it could have the meanings "honey rose" from Melissa or Melina and "dark rose" from Melanie

Melrose

Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well, providing a ready made nursery theme. In addition, the lilac is symbolic of first love.
 Actor Stephen Moyer was ahead of the curve when he named his daughter Lilac in 2002.

Lilac

With related choices such as Lark and Phoenix gaining popularity, why not Sparrow? Though it's usually thought of as a female name, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden chose it for their son.

Sparrow

Dinah is a charming, underused Old Testament name with a rich literary and musical resume. In the Old Testament, Dinah was the beautiful daughter of Jacob and Leah and while some conflate her with the Biblical Adinah, they are in fact different figures.
 Meaning "God will judge", Dinah is the heroine of the best-selling Anita Diamant novel The Red Tent, and is also a central character in the George Eliot novel Adam Bede, where she acts as a moral center. In the classic film The Philadelphia Story, Dinah is the heroine's sassy kid sister while it also appears in Alice in Wonderland as the name of Alice's kitten. 
 One important thing to note is that "Aunt Dinah" has been used as a racial stereotype, from the character of the cook in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. It may also sound too reminiscent of the American diner in some accents. 
 The name Dinah was adopted by two great singers: Dinah Washington (born Ruth) and Dinah Shore (born Frances).

Dinah

Ethel is a name we once declared as 'So Far Out They'll Probably Always Be Out,' but with the return of other names on that list and with its new starbaby cred via Lily Allen, its soft sound and admirable meaning, we're not so sure.
 At the turn of the last century, when Ethel Barrymore was the belle of Broadway, her first name was wildly popular, a Top 10 name for sixteen years and in the Top 100 until 1939. Other well-known bearers have been musical stars Ethel Merman and Ethel Waters and Robert Kennedy's widow. Not so distinguished: Ethel Mertz on "I Love Lucy".
 Ethel fell away from such Old English appellations as Ethelberta, Ethelreda and Ethelinda. Now THOSE, we think we can safely say, are so far out they'll always be out.

Ethel

Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland.
 
Prairie is derived from the Old French word praierie, which ultimately came from the Latin pratum, meaning "meadow".

Prairie

From the first time we saw the name Saskia attached to a portrait of Rembrandt's wife (her full name was Saakje van Uylenburgh, but she was always called Saskia), we have found it utterly charming and wondered why it hasn't attracted more fans In this country--she's appreciated by the Brits, who have moved her to Number 392. Saskia is one of those names that's been used in Europe since the Middle Ages, but has never crossed the ocean.
 One contemporary bearer is actress Saskia Reeves, who was born to a Dutch mother. Pop artist Red Grooms has a grown daughter named Saskia, and more recently TV's Anne Dudek chose it for her daughter.

Saskia

This is a soft, soignée <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/497/french-names-for-girls">French girls' name</a>that has become familiar here via singer Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce.
 It is also the name of a martyred ninth century saint, a poor shepherdess who came to a tragic end while defending her honor. Among other things, St Solange is a patron saint of rain.
 Solange would make a striking, sophisticated choice, though alternative forms include Solenne, Soline, and Solenn, which are currerntly more popular in France. Pronunciation in French: SAW-LAH(n)ZH, though in English, so-LAHNZH (zh like the z of azure or the g of beige) may be heard.
 
Given to 33 girls in the US in a recent year, Solange coincides with the German word for "so long as".

Solange

Friendlier french form of ancient Germanic royal name Amalric or Emmerich.

Amaury

Sigrid is a distinctly Scandinavian name that is starting to edge out into the wider world, a la cousin Ingrid. Unfortunately, short form Siri is now off the table, but Sigrid is still a possibility.

Sigrid

Vital and vivacious, Vita is stirring back to life along with many of her V-themed sisters -- Vivian, Vivica -- and is becoming a new celebrity baby favorite. 

Vita Sackville-West was a British author and garden designer in the early 20th century, most famous as the friend and lover of Virginia Woolf.

Vita

Few people would have considered the surname of this famous Victorian poet as a first name until Russell Crowe chose it for his son in 2006. But, as a rhythmic three-syllable patronymic, Tennyson has a lot going for it, not least of all the appealing nickname Tenny.
 
Derived from a medieval diminutive of Dennis, ultimately tying it to the Greek god of wine and revelry, Tennyson could equally make a novel choice for anyone trying to honor a Denise or Dennis. First appearing in the US stats back in thr 1910s, a recent year saw it chosen for more than 20 boys (and 8 girls), though its peak was back in 2014, when 48 boys were called Tennsyon.
 
Other options if you want a literary choice: the poet's first name, Alfred, or the name of another esteemed bard, such as Eliot, Poe, Byron, Lowell or Lorca. Alternatives if you're looking to honor a Dennis: Tenny, Dion, Donovan,

Tennyson

Pandora has occasionally been used by the British gentry (for girls with brothers who might be called Peregrine) and is now starting to be heard in the US too: It was given to 34 baby girls last year. 
 Down side: Pandora was the mythological first woman on earth whose curiosity caused her to lift a forbidden box and inadvertently unleash all the evils of the world. But perhaps she's paid the price long enough--Pandora is riding the wave of mythological names used for babies after centuries of being confined to legend.
 Pandora is the eponymous title character of an Anne Rice vampire novel, and appears in the Adrian Mole books. There was a Pandora character on Skins, who was adorably called Panda.

Pandora

This Celtic goddess and Arthurian name may sound terminally old-ladyish to many ears--but so did names like Ella and Etta not so long ago. So Enid is yet another forgotten four-letter E-possibility: she's has been M.I.A since 1954. 
 You might not know it to look at her, but Enid is Welsh, from the word meaning 'life' or 'soul.' Back in the Age of Chivalry, to call a woman 'a second Enid' was the greatest of compliments, as she was a legendary romantic figure, revived in Tennyson's Idyll of the Kings. In more modern times, Enid is the title of a Bare Naked Ladies song and a quirky character in the quirky film Ghost World.

Enid

Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is currently experiencing a revival in France, where ranked at the #250 mark in a recent year.
 The meaning of Thelma is unknown, although it is sometimes claimed to be derived from the Greek thelema "will". Alternative possibilities are that it's spin on Velma or Wilhelmina, meaning "resolute protection", a feminization of the saintly, Germanic Anthelm, meaning "zealous protection", or perhaps a spin on Ethelmary, meaning "noble and beloved" or "noble drop of the sea">.
 
It was extremely rare as a given name until British writer Marie Corelli used it for the Norwegian heroine of her eponymous novel in 1893. It went on to become a popular choice in the early 19th-century before falling out of style in the 80s. 
 In the English-speaking world, Thelma is associated with Geena Davis' character in the iconic female-centred crime movie Thelma and Louise (1991). It was also the birth name of first lady Pat Nixon.

Thelma

Zebedee is an adorable and unusual New Testament name--which may sound like but is not a contradiction in terms. Unlike some of the longer biblical Z-names, Zebedee has a more lighthearted usability, with its gleeful ee-ending. And Zeb makes a fabulous nickname.
 In the New Testament, Zebedee plays the major role of the fisherman father of two disciples, James and John, and was with his sons mending his fishing nets when they were called by Christ.
 The name was popularized in the U.K. by a jack-in-the-box puppet named Zebedee on an early kids' TV show, The Magic Roundabout.
 Zebedee Jones is a contemporary British painter.

Zebedee

A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.

Arrietty

 stand out from the crowd, distinct from all the Lunas, Bellas, Daisys, Chesters, Maxes, and Tobys. They are cool, unique, and creative, inspired by art, future baby name trends, and fashion.

for female dogs include clunky-cool options like Agnes, Dinah, Jemima, and Thelma, along with creative names like Cricket, Bronte, and Kahlo. 

like Cyril, Percival, and Ludo, and cool names like Lorcan, Griffin, and Jethro. 

are Selwyn, Alcott, Amaury, Hebe, and Saga.

Hipster Dog Names stand out from the crowd. They are cool, unique, creative, and arty. Hipster dog names are ahead of the trends, so far out they're in, fashionable, and uexpected.  (Page 7)