Nature, Place and Word Names · Unisex Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 24 pages
of 24
English diminutive of Aminta and Araminta, Greek
"defender"
Minty isn't a fresh word name — it's an old-fashioned nickname for Araminta, the romantic smoosh name coined by playwright William Congreve in 1693.
Russian from Greek
"purple dye"
A rare Russian name derived from the Greek porphyra , referring to a purple dye. More familiar is the Italian and Spanish Porfirio, from the same origins, which hopped in and out of the Top 1000 at…
English word name
"pumpkin"
A common name for orange-colored cats. Fun fact: the word pumpkin is derived from the Greek pepōn , translating to "large melon."
A pet name, literally and figuratively. The word pumpkin is derived from the Greek pepōn , meaning large melon."
Spanish
"the red one"
St Quiteria was a second-century virgin martyr who was killed after refusing to renounce her Christian faith in order to marry. She was born in what is now Portugual, and her name is sometimes used…
French
Quitterie is a quirky saint’s name which is considered très chic in France at the moment. St Quiteria was a 5th century virgin martyr who was killed after refusing to renounce her Christian faith in…
English
"red cliff"
Harvard's sibling.
English word name or diminutive of Araminta, English from Greek and Latin
"mint; defender; yielding to prayer"
You may be tempted to scoff at Mint as another wacky celebrity baby name — it was used by Dutch model Romee Strijd for her daughter in 2020 — but it's a far more legitimate choice than many would…
Mapuche, Chilean
"golden flower"
A melodic and glowing name, derived from Mapuche, the language of the Indigenous people of central Chile, Millaray means "golden flower". It ranked in the Chilean Top 100 in the 2010s and remains a…
Cree
"red feather"
Colorful name still used among Cree people today.
"son of the red-haired"
Inventive way to honor a redheaded ancestor, though most people would mispronounce it reeding, making it sound to some kids like a school assignment: Redding is a preferable spelling.
Japanese
"green valley"
Surname of My Hero Academia character Izuku Midoriya. It debuted on the charts in 2021 when it was used for seven baby boys.
"green; beautiful bird"
In Japan, color names are used to symbolize human qualities, and the green hues of Midori name are said to represent fame. While it is a unisex choice in its native Japan, Midori is predominantly…
"green or my gift"
A highly unusual Dora name that may be a spin on the Japanese name Midori, meaning "green," or a combination of Mia "my" plus Dora "gift."
English, word name
A mystical word name, most often reserved for black cats, Midnight conjures up darkness and the liminal space between the end of one day and the beginning of the next. It has seen some use as a baby…
"twelve o'clock at night"
A dark, mystical choice, most often used for black cats, Midnight is a relatively new addition to the baby pool. It was used as a middle name by Nicole Richie and Joel Madden for their son in 2009,…
Greek
"having the color of quince"
In Greek Mythology, Melinoe was the daughter of Persephone, and fathered by both Zeus and Hades. She was one of two moon goddess, the other being Hecate, but was thought to be the bringer of…
Hungarian
"having copper-colored hair"
A beyond unusual choice for a little redhead.
"violet-colored"
Mauve is an offbeat color name whose soft and sentimental Victorian spirit is conveyed by the name. One of the newer color names like Blue, Gray and Plum that are increasingly being used as novel…
Italian
"roan"
A color name with an Italian accent.
