Controversial Names 

Fox is a fast-rising name for boys, initially popularized by the character Fox Mulder on The X Files, and recently resurged by the TV show's revival. It was reported that the TV character's first name was not a tribute to the Fox network which aired The X-Files, as often assumed. Show creator Chris Carter said he had a childhood friend named Fox. Fox ranked on the Top 1000 for boys from 2016 through 2021, though no baby girls were named Fox were named Fox last year. But on a baby of any gender, Fox makes a tailored and fiery choice.

Is there only one Elvis? Not anymore. Controversial YouTuber Trisha Paytas brought Elvis over to the girls' side when she used it for her daughter born in 2024. When she announced her pregnancy, Paytas said she would use the name Elvis regardless of her child's sex.
 
The exact origins of Elvis are unknown, but it may be related to a surname derived from Eloise. Elvis is also used as the Anglicized form of the unisex Irish name Ailbhe.

Elvis

Phylis is a variant spelling of the more common Phyllis, a name with ancient Greek origins derived from 'phyllon,' meaning 'leaf.' In Greek mythology, Phyllis was a Thracian princess who was transformed into an almond tree after dying of a broken heart. This alternate spelling peaked in popularity in the early to mid-20th century but has since become uncommon. The simplified spelling removes the double 'l' but maintains the traditional pronunciation. While less popular than its classical counterpart, Phylis retains the elegant, nature-inspired associations of the original. The name evokes a vintage charm reminiscent of the 1920s-1950s era and might appeal to parents seeking a subtly distinctive variation on a classic name.

Phylis

While this name came into being as a Norman-French nickname for a man with whiskers, the name was quickly embraced as a true name by the Victorians and is likely most familiar to you as the name of Oscar Wilde's fabulous character in The Importance of being Earnest . However, Algernon is not confined to the fictional world of satire; many real world namesakes exist including US footballer Algernon Crumpler (aka Alge Crumpler), British impressionist painter Algernon Talmage, and Canadian astrophysicist Joseph Algernon Pearce, who discovered many thinks about the Milky Way. Plus, who can go past the adorable nickname Algie?
 
Also appearing on the Telegraph Announcements more frequently than it may do elsewhere, it may additionally remind people of the mouse in Daniel Keyes' novel Flowers for Algernon.

Algernon

You know who Beyonce is. One of the most famous people in the world. When she was born, her name was truly unique; it was a riff on her mom's maiden name, Biyence, with an accent over the final E.
 
Though we traditionally think of beloved celebrities boosting the popularity of their names, outlandish mononyms like Rihanna and Madonna often do the exact opposite, because they become so closely associated with their bearer that they sound strange on anyone else.
 
Yet in this category, as in so many others, Beyonce is an unusual case. When she first rose to fame in Destiny's Child, she inspired many imitators — 353 baby girls born in the U.S. in 2001 were named Beyonce, enough to make it the 700th most popular name that year. But that was the peak. As Beyonce's star rose (and once she started dropping her last name, Knowles), her name started to lose favor with parents. In 2016, just six newborns in the U.S. were named Beyonce. And the following year, the name dropped off the popularity list altogether, meaning it was given to fewer than five children. There's only room for one.
 
Major Beyonce fans who want to honor their favorite artist with a baby name might want to consider her middle name, Giselle, her sister's name, Solange, or even her sometime nom de guerre Sasha.

Beyonce

Handsome young actor Armie Hammer put this name on the map in 2010, when he rose to national attention for playing the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher's "The Social Network." His full name is Armand, after his great grandfather, wealthy Los Angeles businessman Armand Hammer. Though it's unlikely to top the popularity charts anytime soon, it's not necessarily a one-man name. It somehow feels both sturdy and sprightly, and has just the kind of retro, midcentury vibe that's coming into fashion right now.

Armie

A mythological name, borne by a princess and sorceress who helped Jason gain the Golden Fleece. In some versions of the myth, she and Jason marry, but he later abandons her to remarry. In revenge, Medea kills her own sons with Jason and his new bride. 
 
Similar in sound to Amadea, Maddy, and Mireya, Medea remains a rare choice, likely due to the myth that surrounds it. It is used more notably in Georgia, however, where her name is associated with the term "medicine" and has been borne by actress Medea Japaridze and opera singer Medea Amiranashvili.
 
It may very occasionally be used as an alternative transcription of the Arabic Madiha ("to praise").

Medea

Slightly rugged and windswept, Hindley notably appears in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, borne by the elder son of the Earnshaw family. The name of two English towns, it combines the Old English elements leah and hind meaning "meadow, clearing" and "female deer" respectively. 
 
While it could appeal as an alternative to Linden, Hadley, Hartley, and Harley, in the UK at least, it would be heavily associated with the infamous Myra Hindley, one of the Moors Murderers.

Hindley

The misspelling that created an indelibly one-person name. And we mean that literally: Despite Oprah Winfrey's fame and appeal, there were no baby girls named Oprah last year, OR Orpah.

The Biblical Orpah was the daughter-in-law of Naomi.

Oprah

This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related names, Kitty is sounding cute and cuddly again&mdash;she's already jumped back onto the U.K. list, at number 199.
 Kitty was one of the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice and was a character in Dickens's Bleak House; Ginger Rogers won an Oscar for her performance in Kitty Foyle, and vintage TV fans might remember the alluring Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke. Since then there have been pop culture Kittys galore, including Calista Flockhart's character on Brothers and Sisters, a mom on That 70's Show and Kitty Pryde, one of the X-Men.
 Singer Kitty Carlisle was born Catherine, country singer Kitty Wells grew up as Muriel, and Presidential candidate's wife Kitty Dukakis was born Katharine.
 A historical reference is Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers performed their aeronautical experiments. 
 Short form Kit has been used in recent years for several strong-willed movie heroines and may prove a lively alternative to Kate.

Kitty

Disney will forever be associated with The Walt Disney Company, bringing to mind classic animated movies, Mickey Mouse, the Disneyland castle, Disney Channel, theme parks, and the likes of Frozen, The Avengers, Moana, and Toy Story. The multinational, mass media company has plenty of massive fans, a number of whom have honored their love for Disney by bestowing it on their daughters. It first appeared in the US charts back in 1989 and has been given to a small number of girls most years since then.
 
The name Disney itself is a surname, derived from the French d'Isigny, referring to someone from the Norman town of Isigny. Isigny may be etymologically related to the Germanic name Iso, possibly meaning "ice" or "iron".
 
Given to 6 girls in a recent year, influencer Aubree Jones, known for her out-there baby name choices (Trendy, Eclair, Truly), selected Disney Mae for her daughter, born in 2025, which may just encourage other Disney-loving parents to go for it too.

Disney

Trendy names often include modern inventions, new-fangled word names, stylish revivals, briefly popular choices, alternative spellings, and sudden, fast rising options, but this one is, well, literally Trendy. Joining the ranks of declarative and descriptive names (think Unique, Chosen, Blessing), Trendy was selected by content creator Aubree Jones for her eldest daughter, Trendy Chanelle.
 
On the subject of the unusual name, Aubree Jones has explained she wants her children to stand out, and that Trendy was a name she'd loved before her internet fame, before meeting her husband even. She hopes it will inspire her daughter to start her own trends and do her own thing, 
 
While Trendy has yet to enter the US stats, Jones's other children's names, Sunny, Zaylee, Truly, Journey, and Rocky, are all on-trend choices, in varying extents.

Trendy

Toni Morrison, the modern master of literary names, made this one famous as the title character of a novel. But things didn't work out so well for that Beloved. 

Beloved

Derived from J. R.R. Tolkien's fictional language of Sindarin, Legolas is a nature name and a literary creation, borne by an elf in The Lord of the Rings. A member of the Fellowship and an excellent bowman, his name hasn't caught on in the same way Arwen, Eowyn, Peregrin, Theoden, amd Elanor have. 
 
Nevertheless, it has ranked in the US stats three times, in 2003, 2015, and 2018 and has been received by at least 18 babies.

Legolas

Slim may be too on-the-nose for the child of two beautiful models, but it's the name Nara Pellman and Lucky Blue Smith chose for their son, Slim Easy. Smith, who has daughters named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey, is known for choosing outrageous word names. But Slim — when pronounced as "SLEEM" — can also be a short form of the Arabic name Slimane. This origin is shared with Pellman's middle name, Aziza.
 
Slim is primarily used as a given name among Muslims, and historically has been a nickname in the US. Photographer Slim Aarons was born George Allen. Slim has been the nickname of several professional baseball players, including Slims Jones, Harriss, Love, and Sallee. Other pop cultural references include the song The Real Slim Shady by rapper Eminem and the musican Fatboy Slim.

The name also appears in John Steibeck's classic novella, Of Mice and Men, worn by the calm, skilled, and thoughtful laborer, known as "the prince of the ranch".
 
If you like Slim but don't have Arabic heritage and aren't a celeb, we'd suggest keeping it a potential nickname, perhaps for one of these <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/448/cowboy-baby-names"> cool cowboy names</a> or if you'd prefer something more direct, Solomon, Simeon , and Samuel might fit the bill.

Slim

Name of the 7th century BC Greek lyric poet born on the island of Lesbos, whose name has been synonymous with lesbian love.  Though this name is rarely used today, it certainly could be and, some might say, SHOULD be revived.

Sappho

Akuma

A superhero in DC comics who left a lasting impression. Now a modern (and wacky) celebrity baby name. Controversial YouTuber Trisha Paytas named her son, born in 2025, Aquaman Moses. 

Aquaman

Could join such up-and-comers as Miller and Gardener, though the "potty" and Harry Potter associations are strong and potentially unappealing these days.

Potter

One familiar name never used for real people, for obvious reasons. Read more about Cinderella and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> in our featured blog.

Cinderella

are names that might cause you and your child some trouble.

From cringing and eyerolls to questions about your morals and values, the names on this list may be viewed as controversial for different reasons and to very different degrees. As such, a name might be considered divisive because some see it as

), whereas others might be divisive because they’re politically and historically loaded (let’s go with the obvious: 

), names associated with racial stereotyping (

),  names of controversial or unpleasant figures in history (

), names of contemporary criminals and creeps (

), names associated with tragedies or hurricanes (

),  names with sounds that might cause teasing (

Does that mean all of these names are off limits? Not necessarily. It heavily depends on where you are in the world, your culture and heritage, and whether you mind others not liking your child’s name. And while we’d definitely advise against some of the names on this list, you might even like the associations or style that would put others off.  More to the point, there is a big difference between using a name others may find too old fashioned or too nickname-y to using a name with heavy, negative, and historical associations.  

So if you do find one of your favorites on this list, we’re not saying you have to rule it out. It might just be worth considering its history and evaluating what others may think on hearing it — and if this could impact you and your child (or not!)

Controversial Names are names with that might cause you trouble. Divisive and controversial names include food names, names associated with bad figures from history, food names, celebrity baby names, names of contemporary criminals, demon names, very religious names, violent names, modern names, and made up names. Whether a name is controrversial depends on where you are in the world.  (Page 15)