By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Word name
Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R , you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and…
Mande from Arabic
"captivating, a woman who abstains"
A West African version of the Arabic name Fatima, also used by diaspora communities, e.g. in France. The name of the fruit soda brand was created by the German branch of Coca-Cola in 1940. It derives…
Talk about pressure! Too much name for any little girl to bear.
Latin
"light-bearer"
Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and…
For basketball fans, in honor of Magic Johnson. Or anyone who believes in magic.
American variation of Lyric, Greek
"lyre"
Lyrica has a nice, melodious sound — which is exactly what Pfizer thought when coming up with their trade name for the drug Pregabalin.
Ancient Iranian, via Greek and Latin
A name with pleasant associations on a par with Eden and Heaven. It has been in low but steady use since the 1990s.
Hebrew
"exaltation or little dwelling"
An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb. Pike's Peak was named for Zebulon Pike, the best known bearer of the name. In…
English, contraction of Dennison
This could be a possible replacement for the overused Tyson, though it has something of a commercial feel related to the brand of vacuum cleaners.
Greek
"superior; the best purpose"
The great philosopher's name is commonly used in Greek families, and is one that could work for daring, philosophical American ones. With user friendly nicknames such as Ari, Aris, Artie, and Ris,…
"of India"
The calming variety of marijuana, used as a baby name every year since 1992. As a name, Indica is more than four times more popular than Sativa.
English and Italian from Arabic and Sanskrit
"void"
Zero has been documented as a given name before, but it's largely familiar as a stage name (such as Zero Mostel, born Samuel Joel Mostel) and comic book and anime characters. Nevertheless, fourteen…
Modern nickname
An old-fashioned nickname in the Bud/Buzz/Biff mold; this one's kind of belligerent. Michelle Hicks and Jonny Lee Miller moved outside the box when they used it for their son--given the safer middle…
"God be praised"
This bold musical word name is given to just a handful of baby girls per year in the US, but it has a very contemporary sound. Hallie and Lou/Lulu would make for more mainstream nicknames. Lovers of…
"rich"
The Roman god of the underworld, the former ninth planet, a cartoon dog...but not a baby.
English
"large curl"
Though Davy Crockett is a childhood hero, a frontiersman, soldier, politician, congressman and prolific storyteller. But be aware that "crock" is American slang for a lot of nonsense or something…
Power is one of the new crop -- Justice, Liberty, Peace -- of strong, clear-cut, declarative choices, though this one carries more assertiveness than virtue.
"wanderer"
Gypsy, long associated with the intellectual stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and the musical that was made about her life, was used by Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings as the middle name of their daughter…
English nature name
"apple"
When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her…
English word name
Remove a letter from Holly and you get a religious virtue name. It first appeared on the charts in the 1970s, but more consistently in the 2010s.
