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Invented Baby Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Sun Jun 21 2026
Invented Baby Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Invented baby names are the most creative around. Some parents attempt to come up with a cool name by inventing one of their own. They may alter a too-ordinary name, vary a spelling or pronunciation, or cobble together several euphonic but previously unrelated syllables.

This quest to be unique can sometimes backfire — create too cool of a made-up baby name and it might catch on (we're talking to you, Miley, Meilani, and Maxon).

Along with Miley and Meilani, other invented baby names in the US Top 1000 include Aubrielle, Brylee, Cason, Dalary, Jaxon, Kyler, Nevaeh, and Oaklynn. Names you may not realize were invented include Elianna, Melba, Tevin, and Yalitza.

Many made-up baby names feature on-trend prefixes and suffixes, such as Bray- and Ren-, -ley and -son. The following invented baby names hold some appeal, but fair warning — some of these made-up names have already become mainstream.

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  1. Kinsley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "king's meadow"

    • Description:

      Light and glittery, but with plenty of spirit, Kinsley has risen quickly into the US Top 100. Balanced between preppy and cutesy, it feels like a fresh alternative to Kelly, Kaitlyn, or Kimberly.
  2. Jaxon

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Jackson

    • Meaning:

      "son of Jack"

    • Description:

      Jaxon has been mostly climbing in popularity since it entered the Top 1000 in 1997, proving that many parents have decided to rev up the cool factor of Jackson by giving it this streamlined spelling. (Though we still prefer the original.)
  3. Raelynn

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      What do you get when you cross two out-of-style, mid-century favorites together?
  4. Kayden

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      This member of the aden/ayden extended family is a popular choice not only in the US but across the pond in England, Wales and Scotland as well. Angie Everhart has a son named Kayden Bobby.
  5. Brielle

    • Origin:

      Short form of Gabrielle, French, Cajun, Hebrew, Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "god is my strength; hunting grounds"

    • Description:

      Though it sounds modern, Brielle is, among other things, a traditional Cajun contraction of Gabrielle, and the name of a historic seaport in the Western Netherlands, also known as Brill. Today, it is used more widely as a nickname for Gabrielle and as a stand-alone name that fits in easily with Isabelle, Briana, and Brinley. In a recent year, it appeared in the US Top 200, ranking above the longer form and used nearly four times as often.
  6. Greyson

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of the steward"

    • Description:

      Greyson and Grayson, nephews of Jason, are both on the fast track. Both variations have made their way all the way up to the Top 100 since 2016. Gray/Grey makes a nice nickname. The name of the child in The Nanny Diaries is Grayer, and actor Tyler Christopher opted for the unusual spelling of Greysun for his son. Some parents are considering Grayson -- or Gracen or Gracyn -- for girls as an androgynous spin on Grace.
  7. Bryson

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of Brice"

    • Description:

      A surname name that can transition to first -- it entered the Top 1000 in 1980 and is now firmly in the Top 100. Actress NeNe Leakes chose it for her son. R&B singer Bryson Tiller's popularity may have played a part in accelerating Bryson's rise.
  8. Oaklynn

    • Origin:

      American invented name

    • Meaning:

      "oak lake"

    • Description:

      Many names relating to oak as in the tree are becoming more popular for baby girls, including Oaklynn, more popular than twin Oaklyn three to one. About 1800 baby girls were named Oaklynn versus 600 spelled Oaklyn.
  9. Jaxson

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jackson, English

    • Meaning:

      "son of Jack"

    • Description:

      One of several phonetic spellings of Jackson moving up the charts, Jaxson entered the Top 100 in 2013 and has remained there since. It's also picking up steam in England and Wales.. Actor Eric Mabius used it as his son Rylan's middle name.
  10. Wrenley

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, English

    • Meaning:

      "small songbird; wren's meadow"

    • Description:

      Inspired by the sweet but solid bird name Wren, this longer form has been storming up the charts since 2018. Given to just 13 girls back in 2014, a decade later in 2024, it ranked in the Top 150 and was chosen for more than 1900 girls. It's initial appearance in the stats back in 2013 may have been inspired by the character Renly in Game of Thrones but it has since become a name with its own identity,
  11. Nevaeh

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      Nevaeh: an already bold word name with the unusual twist of being spelled backwards; a nightmare for those who love traditional, classic names; a divisive option on name forums across the internet; and a spelling and pronunciation that aren’t quite intuitive at first glance.
  12. Jayce

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Meaning:

      "to heal"

    • Description:

      Jayce, which probably started out as an abbreviation of names like Jason, with the 'y' borrowed from Jayden, now has a life of its own, making a strong showing on the popularity lists. It is currently in the US Top 200 and features in the charts in the UK and The Netherlands.
  13. Jaziel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God apportions"

    • Description:

      Jaziel and spelling variation Jahziel are unique baby names from the Bible—he was the son of Nephtali and a grandson of Jacob and Leah—that are being rediscovered by a new generation of parents in search of names that are both unusual and traditional. And that middle z adds zest and cool. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.
  14. Zayden

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "growth, increase"

    • Description:

      Used by parents who love that Z initial, Zayden is also part of the Rhymes-with-Aiden-Clan. This particular for form ranks in the US Top 300 and the UK Top 600, outranking spelling variations Zaiden and Zaden.
  15. Elianna

    • Origin:

      Variation of Eliana, Hebrew, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "my God has answered; sun"

    • Description:

      Eliana and her spelling variations are multicultural favorites that have been rising across the English-speaking world since the turn of the 21st century. Popular in Netherlands, the UK, Canada, France, and Brazil, Eliana and sisters come with in-built nicknames Ellie, Elle and Ana which makes them versatile and appealing
  16. Brayden

    • Origin:

      English or Irish

    • Meaning:

      "broad hill or salmon"

    • Description:

      Brayden is the top spelling of one of the epidemically popular rhyming cousins of Aiden, hitting the Top 100 in 2005.. It has dipped a bit recently, but is still widely used. Other popular spellings include Braden, Braeden, Braydon, Braiden, Braedon and Bradyn. Take your pick.
  17. Nyla

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit, Irish, modern invention

    • Meaning:

      "winner, one who achieves; hero; cloud; wind, air; dark blue"

    • Description:

      Bright, spirited, and playful, Nyla shares sounds with the popular Isla, Lila, Layla, and Delilah, making it feel fresh and in style. A name with a number of possible origins, it made a brief, anomalous appearance on the US charts in 1941, before disappearing again for the next 60 years. It has been back in the US Top 1000 since 2001, and is currently on the rise, given to around 1230 girls each year.
  18. Kaiden

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Kaden, modern invented name

    • Description:

      This version of Kaden is also a popular choice and one of the many boys' names starting with k that can also start with a C, as in Caiden, Cayden et al.. Kaiden Alenko is a character in the video game Mass Effect.
  19. Brynlee

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Brinley, combination of Brynn and Lee

    • Meaning:

      "burnt clearing; hill + meadow"

    • Description:

      This variation of Brinley is currently the most popular of the plethora of alterative spellings. Ranking in the US Top 250 and given to 1300 girls in 2024, it is twice as popular as the traditional Brinley.
  20. Kyrie

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Lord"

    • Description:

      Kyrie may be a name of God used widely in the ancient church refrain Kyrie Elieson, or Lord, have mercy, but it's rising in popularity for boys in the US on the strength of basketball star Kyrie Irving. Irving pronounces the first syllable of Kyrie to rhyme with my, whereas with the religious word it rhymes with fear.

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