Invented Baby Names

A Scottish surname name, more popular as the Presidential McKinley, meaning "son of the fair hero".

Kinley also feels like a modern invention, ala Kenzie or Kimbry. Kinley peack in 2011-12, when it was in the Top 200, and now has fallen to the lower half of the girls' Top 1000.

If you're looking for a less common girls' name, that may be a plus.

Kinley

Ryatt — which may be a combination of names like Ryan and Wyatt — gives you the sound of Riot without the violent connotations. Naturally, it's almost twice as popular among baby boys than Riot, even cracking the Top 1000 in 2022.

Ryatt

Brayden meets Jalen to make Braylen, another entry in this trendy group of names.

While Braylen is drifting downward now, it's ranked among the Top 1000 boy names in the US for two decades and is sure to stay there for perhaps two more. Over 500 baby boys were named Braylen last year, and 40 baby girls, so while theoretically unisex, it's not really. 

You'll find as many meanings for Braylen online as you'll find name sites, from broad valley to lion strength to gift of God to salmon, but Braylen is an invented name and has no meaning beyond being a combination of fashionable sounds.

Braylen

A tweaked version of Jamir, itself a modern invented name, Jahmir is based on Arabic names Jamal and Amir. Jahmir was amongst the fastest-rising boy names of 2023, and one of the newest additions to the US Top 1000. The Jamir spelling is inching closer to the Top 500, with both variations popular amongst African American parents.

Jahmir

Similar to Kinsley, this modern choice has become much more popular in recent years; it first entered the Top 1000 in 2011. Part of its appeal might be that it sounds reminiscent of the overly-popular McKenzie.

Kensley

Kiana (or more appropriately, Quiana) is the original polyester name, coming into favor in the 1970s but then drifting downward for years before taking a surprise turn back up the charts, perhaps thanks to its resemblance to the popular Keanu.
Kiana Brown is an American singer-songwriter and actress, currently appearing on the MTV series Scream.

Kiana

Brixton, a formerly rough but now cool-and-gentrified area of London, is also gaining notice as a baby name, especially for boys. About 20 baby girls were given the name in the US in the most recent year, vs. about 300 baby boys. Its similarity to the trendy Braxton and the x in the middle place help make it appealing to contemporary parents.

Brixton

X is undoubtedly one of the coolest initials to have, and more parents are agreeing — Xyla entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022. Xyla comes from the Greek xylon, meaning "wood" — the same root that makes up the word xylophone (literally meaning "wood sound"). The subtle musical connection in this name may be an additional appeal, though many parents may just be using it as a twist on Tyla, Zyla, Kyla, and Myla.
 
It may also be worth noting that xylon is used in the Bible to refer to The Cross, giving this a hint of spirituality too, which may draw parents to the name. In a recent year, it was given to 336 babies in the US, placed in in the Top 850.

Xyla

Azari is a rising unisex name invented as a variation of Azariah or Azhari. With its I-ending and prominent Z, we see Azari going places — this is one to watch, especially with Azariah, Azaire, and Azair rising on the boys' side and Azaria and Zariah on the girls'. 
As a variation of Azariah, this name has its origins in Hebrew, and means "helped by God", however, it may also be a form of the Malay Azhari, which ultimately derives from the Arabic Zahra meaning "shining".
 
Currently more popular for girls, it appeared in the latter end of the US Top 1000 in a recent year, when it was chosen for 307 girls compared to 92 boys.

Azari

As a Spanish and Portuguese name, Brayan is a variant of the Celtic Brian, familiar in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Italy and France. As a modern invention, it blends Brayden with Bryan, tying it the to the strong meaning of Brian and the fish-related meaning of Braden. 
 
Whichever origin parents have in mind, Brayan has been in the US Top 1000 since the mid-90s. It peaked in 2006, when it entered the Top 300, and while it has fallen in popularity since then, 2024 did see it rise over 130 places up the charts.

Brayan

Janiyah’s star is definitely fading, but it will likely remain in the Top 1000 for years to come.

Janiyah

Jaxxon

Crew x True = Crue. This on-trend name — short and punchy with popular sounds —is rising for a reason. Crue entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, following in the footsteps of trendy Crew and Cruz. It continued to be a fast rising choice in 2023,when it was given to around 360 babies, making it roughly three times less popular than Crew, but also three times more popular than it was a decade ago. 

Crue

Kai is the it syllable of the moment, spawning this Kai - Jason hybrid. Kaisen made the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, along with similar name Kaizen.

Kaisen

Raylan, one of an uncountable number of two syllable, surname-like <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ names</a> end in n that are in style these days, is inspired by Raylan Givens, the cowboy hat-wearing U.S. Marshall created by writer Elmore Leonard and starring in the television series Justified. The Ray part of the name is of course a traditional choice -- it's usually said to mean "wise" -- but the lan takes it out of Old School Raymond territory. Other variations include Raylen, Raylon, Rayden and so on. The name is also sometimes given to girls, but not nearly as often as it is for boys.

Raylan

The -leigh suffix seems to be losing its luster; several names in this category, including Kayleigh, Kyleigh and Ryleigh, peaked in popularity a few years back but have since lost quite a bit of ground.

Kayleigh

A combination name and an English surname, Brynleigh has trendy sounds and two possible nature meanings. Less popular than its counterparts, Brinley and Brynlee, it is nevertheless still in the US Top 1000. 

Brynleigh

This phonetic spelling of Drew feels particularly distanced from the original classic Andrew. Jrue, along with other phonetic "Jr" names such as Jream, is on the rise in the US — even cracking the Top 1000 in 2022. 

Jrue

While Kayla has been a mainstay in the US Top 1000 list since the 1960s, alternate version Keyla is relatively new, first entering the charts in 2002. While this spelling also has the possibility of being pronounced KEE-lah, it's most likely to cause confusing and frustration in the shadow of the much more popular spelling.
 Keyla was a fast riser in 2022, jumping 84 spots — possibly inspired by actress Keyla Monterroso Mejia from the popular show Abbott Elementary.

Keyla

Rayden is yet another example of the dozens of new boys' names with the 'aden' sound.

Rayden

 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).

 include Aubrielle, Brylee, Cason, Dalary, Jaxon, Kyler, Nevaeh, and Oaklynn. Names you may not realize were invented include Elianna, Melba, Tevin, and Yalitza.

 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.

Invented and made up modern baby names for girls and boys, including history, origin, and popularity. (Page 6)

Invented Baby Names (with Meanings & Popularity)