Invented Baby Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Roselynn is one of the smoosh baby names most popular a generation or two ago.

Strange amalgam with little appeal.

Synthetic name on the Top 1,000 list.

One of many distinctive names in the show and book series Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris -- and one of very few girl's names that start with the letter X.

Brilie combines elements of the megapopular Briana and Riley to form a pleasant merger. Some would call Brilie a Smoosh Name.

A pretty name with echoes of Ana, Ava and Olivia — and the option of Navy as a middle name — brought to public attention by Olympic sprinter Anavia Battle. Her siblings have equally cool names: Mintoria, Antoine and Montel.

See JALEN.

Famed track and field sprinter Wyomia Tyus's name never caught on after her multiple gold medals in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.

Anelma derived from the Finnish word anella, meaning "to beg." It was invented in 1906 by a lawyer named Edla Kojonen.

Chibiusa was created as a name for the Sailor Moon franchise. It's the nickname of Purinsesu Usagi Sumōru Redi Sereniti (Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity). Usagi, which is also her mother's name, means "rabbit of the moon."

Several hundred parents last year chose Jakayla, an elaboration of Kayla, or hybrid of Jacqueline and Makayla.

With Henley and Kinsley two of the most popular new ley-ending baby names for girls, why not Hensley? We can think of several reasons, but if you like this style of name, Hensley is as attractive as any.

Updates the tired Derek or Eric.

A current creation used far more for boys at this point.

You could either see this as a smoosh of Cara + Lena (or any name ending in -lena), or a variation on Carolina. Either way, it's a pretty, melodious name that first appeared on the US charts in 2008, and has been used sparingly ever since.

Braylynn is a modern feminine name that exemplifies contemporary American naming trends combining popular sounds and elements. Created by blending the popular prefix "Bray-" (found in names like Braylon) with the fashionable suffix "-lynn" (as in Brooklyn or Katelynn), it represents the creative naming approach popular since the 1990s. The name has a distinctly contemporary feel without specific historical roots, though it echoes traditional names like Lynn. Braylynn began appearing in American naming records in the early 2000s, gaining modest usage as parents sought unique yet familiar-sounding options. The name offers a balance between uniqueness and recognizability, with a soft, feminine sound and memorable construction that feels fresh without being difficult to pronounce or spell.

Metaria was created for Queen Metaria of the Sailor Moon franchise. Her name is derived from the word "metal" — all Sailor Moon villains have metal or mineral names.

Laniya is a feminine given name that appears to be a modern coinage combining popular phonetic elements. The prefix 'La-' has been common in American naming practices (as in names like Latoya or Layla), while the '-niya' ending evokes names like Aniya or Saniya, which may have connections to Arabic origins meaning 'caring' or 'concerned.' Alternatively, it could be viewed as a variant of names like Alania or Lania. Laniya gained noticeable popularity in the United States primarily in the early 2000s and has continued to be used in the following decades. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing vowel sounds and three-syllable structure. Laniya exemplifies contemporary naming trends that favor distinctive, euphonic names with rhythmic sound patterns and a modern aesthetic appeal.

Ziana could be used as a Xiana variant or nickname for Luziana or Graziana, but fair warning — it's also the name of prescription acne medication.