Controversial Names 

Myka is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variant spelling of Mika, which has roots in several languages including Japanese where it means 'beautiful fragrance,' Hebrew where it's a feminine form of Michael meaning 'who is like God,' or as a short form of Michaela. The name has gained modest popularity in the United States since the early 2000s, appealing to parents seeking a name that feels both modern and distinctive. Myka offers a unique twist on more common names while maintaining an approachable sound and pronunciation. The name received additional recognition through the character Myka Bering in the television series 'Warehouse 13,' helping to introduce it to a wider audience.

Myka

Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/r">girls' names starting with the letter R</a>.

 American filmmaker Robert Rodriguez gave the name Rebel to one of his four sons (a brother to Rocket, Racer, Rogue, and daughter Rhiannon).

Rebel

Hard as it might be to believe, Gladys was the Harper of 1900, emerging almost out of nowhere to take the naming world by storm. It became a favorite among parents — and writers of romantic Edwardian novels, seen as alluring and unusual. One impetus was the 1870 Ouida novel Puck, whose heroine was the idealized beauty, Gladys Gerant.
 Gladys reached as high as Number 11 at the turn of the last century, popular along with other s-ending names such as Doris. Though Gladys hasn't shown any signs of revival yet, some parents might respond to the 'glad'ness of it, and its gladiola-flower feel. 
 It's been associated in the U.S. with singer Gladys Knight.

Gladys

Like Ed, Eddie and Teddy, Ted is rarely used as an independent name – in the US, at least. In the UK, Eddie ranks just outside the Top 200, Teddy ranks just outside the Top 30, and Ted is a Top 200 pick. 

With Theodore rising, Ted may have new life among parents who don't want to use the short form Theo. And TV's Ted Lasso makes it a quintessential nice guy name.

A nickname to Latin Virginia, French Genevieve, Italian Ginevra, English Imogen, and any other name with the 'gin' sound in there, Ginny ranked in the latter end of the US charts in the mid 20th century. Made familiar again in the contemporary world by the show Ginny & Georgia, along with the Harry Potter character, Ginny has seen a small amount of attention in recent years, given to around 50 babies in the latest stats.

Ginny

A straightforward, down-to-earth nickname many Walters, from Whitman to Disney, have chosen to go by. 

Walt

A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound. 

Bethel

Like Silver, Golden is a shimmering, metallic color name, similar enough to the likes of Arden, Eden, and Gwendolyn that it might not over dazzle. It could work as an unexpected route to the vintage nickname Goldie or a less floral alternative to Marigold. 
 Given to not one but two celeb babies in 2025, it was chosen by former soccer player and team owner, Brittany Mahomes, for her daughter Golden Raye (sister to Sterling Skye and Patrick "Bronze" Lavon) and by influencer Nara Smith for her daughter, Fawnie Golden (sister to Rumble Honey, Slim Easy, and Whimsy Lou). 
 
Around 100 babies were called Golden in the latest stats, when it appeared as a gender neutral choice.

Golden

A meeting of two trends — compound names a la Myking and Alegend and money-related -illion names such as Million and Billion.

Amillion

While teasing about names is not as bad as it once was, the possibilities presented by this name would be difficult for any pubescent boy to resist. 

Harden

Jemima, the name of a strong and beautiful Biblical daughter of Job, has long been among the chicest choices of aristocratic Brits, and has since shifted to be used more generally too, replacing Gemma/Jemma as a way to nickname "Jem". In a recent year, it featured in the England and Wales Top 500.
 
Brought into common English usage by the Puritans, alongside her Biblical sister, Keziah, Jemima is often interpreted as meaning "dove", likely from yona. However, it may be more accurate to say it relates to yomam meaning "daytime" or "day-by-day", which are equally bright and lovely. 
 
Some famous (and notably British) namesakes are Beatrix Potter's Jemima Puddle-Duck and characters in Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang, Cats, Thackeray's Vanity Fair, and Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth.
 Jemima was well used by the Puritans, as was that of her sister, Keziah. Some other famous namesakes A real-life bearer is Jemima Kirke, who plays Jessa on Girls(and who happens to have a sister named Domino and a son named Memphis). Jemimah is a variant spelling, as seen in the Antonia Fraser crime series Jemimah Shore Investigates.
 
In the US, however, Jemima is not so well used. Despite its appealing sound and Biblical nature, it is often dismissed due to the problematic association with racial stereotyping, exemplified by the Aunt Jemima brand of pancakes. In a recent year, 54 girls were named Jemima, while Dove was given to nearly 130, and Jemma to 370.

Jemima

The name of one of the branches of the Great Sioux Nation has a very namelike sound, but is not used as a name by the Lakota people themselves, and could be seen as appropriative.

Lakota

Named for its snowcapped mountains, Nevada is a state name which, unlike Carolina, Montana, and Dakota, has been relatively undiscovered. Warning: today's unvisited place-name could become tomorrow's trampled tourist attraction. 

Nevada

Hennessy has attracted some notice as a first name via rapper Cardi B's sister Hennessy Carolina. It certainly has a pretty sound and can hold its own with the new generation of <a href="https://nameberry.com/irish-names">Irish names</a> that originated as surnames, such as Kennedy, McKenna, and Riley. Hennessy is also the brand name of a cognac, which is how Cardi B got her stage name -- her nickname was Bacardi.

Hennessy

In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/a">girl names starting with A</a>.
 One of the most creative sounding of names, Allegra has been associated with the American prima ballerina Allegra Kent, and has been chosen as a first or middle name for their daughters by poets George Gordon, Lord Byron and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as by R. Buckminster Fuller and Donatella Versace.
Caveat: There is that current connection to the allergy medication.

Allegra

Down to earth and versatile, Becky is a popular diminutive of the classic Biblical name, Rebecca. In the US, it was most popular as a stand alone name back in the 60s, while in the UK, it remained in the Top 300 right up until the early 2000s. 

Becky

Khosen

In the Noongar language of Western Australia, Bindi means butterfly. Bindi is usually seen as a girls' name, as seen in Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Steve Irwin.

Bindi

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

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 9)