Hipster Names for Boys and Girls
Hipster baby names are names that are favored by hip, stylish parents, none of whom want to be accused of using hipster names for their children. That makes hipster names a moving target — as soon as a name becomes identifiably hipster, hip parents start to avoid it.
Hipster boy names finding the most favor today include the literary Ambrose, the quirky Cosmo, and the gender-neutral Kit. Hipster boy names are often off-beat names with lots of history, like Boaz or Phineas, or edgy modern names, like Hopper and Huckleberry.
Hipster girl names often fall along these style lines too. Quirky vintage girl names that qualify as hipster include Agnes, Ida, and Marigold. More contemporary hipster girl names include Nightingale and Nyx.
What qualities are shared by hipster names? They're usually conventional names but never popular ones. They are quirky and edgy but may also have deep roots. Old-fashioned nickname-names, such as Sally and Sonny, often strike a hipster vibe, as do mythological names and boys' names used for girls. The letters O, Q, X, and Z are often found in hipster names, including Opal and Io, Zelma and Ziggy. Along with Opal and Sonny, other hipster names in the US Top 1000 include Cleo, Eugene, Florence, Ira, Langston, Rudy, Stanley, and Zelda. Former hipster names that are now mainstream include Matilda and Clementine for girls, Arlo and Otto for boys. Below, the hipster baby names most often heard around Brooklyn, Austin and Madison these days (though we can't resist pointing out that the names Brooklyn, Austin and Madison are nowhere among them), ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Abner
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father of light."
- Agatha
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"good woman"
- Agnes
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"pure, virginal"
- Alfie
Origin:
Diminutive of Alfred, EnglishMeaning:
"wise counselor"
- Alistair
Origin:
English spelling of Alasdair, Scottish version of AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"
- Ambrose
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"immortal"
- Anahita
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"immaculate"
- Andromeda
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"advising like a man"
- Ansel
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"with divine protection"
- Apolline
Origin:
French form of Apollonia
- Archibald
Origin:
Scottish from GermanMeaning:
"truly brave"
- Arnold
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"ruler, strong as an eagle"
- Arrietty
Origin:
Literary name, variation of Harriet
- Asha
Origin:
Sanskrit; SwahiliMeaning:
"hope; life"
- Auden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old friend"
- Avis
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"bird"
- Barnaby
Origin:
English variation of Barnabas, AramaicMeaning:
"son of consolation"
- Beck
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"small stream"
- Bee
Origin:
Animal name or diminutive of BeatriceMeaning:
"she who brings happiness"
- Bernadette
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave as a bear"
- Bess
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Betty
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Billie
Origin:
English, diminutive of Wilhelmina, WilmaMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Birdie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bird"
- Bloom
Origin:
Word Name
- Blossom
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"to bloom"
- Boaz
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"swiftness"
- Bobbie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame"
- Bowie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"blond"
- Bram
Origin:
Dutch variation of AbrahamMeaning:
"father of multitudes"
- Brando
Origin:
Italian variation of BrandMeaning:
"firebrand, sword"
- Briony
Origin:
Spelling variation of BryonyMeaning:
"to sprout"
- Bronte
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"thunder"
- Butch
Origin:
Nickname name
- Calder
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"rocky water"
- Canyon
Origin:
Spanish word name
- Casper
Origin:
Dutch form of Jasper, PersianMeaning:
"bringer of treasure"
- Cedar
Origin:
English and French from Latin tree nameMeaning:
"cedar tree"
- Chaz
Origin:
Diminutive of Charles
- Chester
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fortress, walled town,"
- Clemence
Origin:
French feminine variation of ClementMeaning:
"mild, merciful"
- Clement
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"mild, merciful"
- Cleo
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"glory"
- Clifford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives near the ford by the cliff"
- Clive
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives near a high cliff"
- Clover
Origin:
Flower name, from Old EnglishMeaning:
"key"
- Coco
Origin:
Spanish and French pet name
- Coltrane
Origin:
Irish surnameMeaning:
"descendant of Coltarán"
- Constance
Origin:
English version of Latin ConstantiaMeaning:
"steadfastness"
- Corentin
Origin:
French, BretonMeaning:
"tempest, hurricane"
- Cornelia
Origin:
Feminine variation of Cornelius, LatinMeaning:
"horn"
- Cornelius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"horn"
- Cosima
Origin:
Italian feminine variation of Cosmo, GreekMeaning:
"order, beauty, universe"
- Cosmo
Origin:
Greek, Italian, EnglishMeaning:
"order, beauty, universe"
- Cricket
Origin:
Nature name
- Didion
- Dinah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God will judge"
- Djuna
Origin:
Invented name
- Dolly
Origin:
English, diminutive of DorothyMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Dorothea
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Dot
Origin:
English, diminutive of Dorothy
- Duarte
Origin:
Portuguese variation of Edward, EnglishMeaning:
"wealthy guardian"
- Eames
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the uncle"
- Edna
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"rejuvenation, delight"
- Eluned
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"idol, image"
- Elvis
Origin:
Meaning unknown
- Enid
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"life, spirit"
- Ennis
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"from the island"
- Eugene
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"
- Fenna
Origin:
Dutch and FrisianMeaning:
"peace"
- Fergus
Origin:
Scottish and IrishMeaning:
"man of force"
- Fern
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"plant name"
- Ferris
Origin:
Irish, EnglishMeaning:
"strong man or ironworker"
- Field
Origin:
Nature name
- Flannery
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of Flannghal"
- Florence
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"flourishing, prosperous"
- Frank
Origin:
Diminutive of Francis or FranklinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"
- Gable
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"triangular feature in architecture"
- Gene
Origin:
Diminutive of Eugene, GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"
- Geraldine
Origin:
German and French, feminine variation of GeraldMeaning:
"ruler with the spear"
- Gertrude
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strength of a spear"
- Gladys
Origin:
Possibly a form or Claudia or WelshMeaning:
"land, nation"
- Goldie
Origin:
Anglicized form of Yiddish Golde or Golda
- Greer
Origin:
Scottish, contraction of surname Gregor; LatinMeaning:
"alert, watchful"
- Grove
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"grove of trees"
- Grover
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives near a grove of trees"
- Gulliver
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"glutton"
- Gus
Origin:
Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, August
- Hank
Origin:
Diminutive of Henry, GermanMeaning:
"estate ruler"
- Harriet
Origin:
English variation of French HenrietteMeaning:
"estate ruler"
- Hawkins
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hawk"
- Hawthorn
Origin:
Spelling variation of Hawthorne
- Henrietta
Origin:
Feminine variation of HenryMeaning:
"estate ruler"
- Herbert
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bright army"
- Hilda
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"battle woman"
- Hodge
Origin:
Variation of Roger, GermanMeaning:
"famous warrior"
- Holiday
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"holy day"
- Homer
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"security, pledge"
- Hopper
Origin:
English or DutchMeaning:
"leaper, dancer; hop grower"
- Huck
Origin:
Diminutive of Huckleberry, word name
- Huckleberry
Origin:
Word name and literary name
- Ida
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"industrious one"
- Iggy
Origin:
Latin, diminutive of IgnatiusMeaning:
"fiery"
- Ike
Origin:
Diminutive of Isaac
- Imogene
- Indigo
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"Indian dye"
- Indre
Origin:
French or SanskritMeaning:
"cave; possessing drops of rain"
- Ines
Origin:
Italian, Portuguese, Slovene and Croatian variation of AgnesMeaning:
"pure, virginal"
- Io
Origin:
Greek mythology name
- Ione
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"violet flower"
- Ira
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"watchful one"
- Irving
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"green river, sea friend"
- Irwin
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"boar friend"
- Isolde
Origin:
Welsh, GermanMeaning:
"ice ruler"
- Jethro
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"excellence"
- Jules
Origin:
French form of Latin JuliusMeaning:
"youthful; soft, downy"
- Kahlo
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bald"
- Kerouac
Origin:
Breton literary name
- Kip
Origin:
American diminution of Christopher
- Kit
Origin:
English, diminutive of ChristopherMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"
- Klaus
Origin:
German variation of Claus, diminutive of Nicolas
- Langston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"tall man's town"
- Lark
Origin:
English bird name
- Lars
Origin:
Scandinavian from Latin LaurentiusMeaning:
"crowned with laurel"
- Laszlo
Origin:
HungarianMeaning:
"glorious ruler"
- Lavender
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"purple flower"
- Lazarus
Origin:
Latinized Greek variation of Hebrew EleazarMeaning:
"God is my helper"
- Leaf
Origin:
Nature name
- Leonora
Origin:
Italian diminutive of Eleonora or Eleanor, meaning unknown
- Leopold
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave people"
- Lester
Origin:
English place-name; phonetic form of Leicester
- Lev
Origin:
Hebrew, RussianMeaning:
"heart; lion"
- Lloyd
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"gray"
- Lois
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"most desirable"
- Loretta
Origin:
English variation of Italian Lauretta; diminutive of LauraMeaning:
"bay laurel"
- Lotta
Origin:
Short form of Charlotta or Carlotta
- Lou
Origin:
Short form of LouiseMeaning:
"renowned warrior"
- Lucinda
Origin:
Variation of LuciaMeaning:
"light"
- Ludovica
Origin:
Italian, feminine variation of LudovicMeaning:
"famous in war"
- Luella
Origin:
Spelling variation of Louella
- Lulu
Origin:
Diminutive of Louise or Lucy, or ArabicMeaning:
"pearl"
- Lyle
Origin:
Scottish and English from FrenchMeaning:
"someone who lives on an island"
- Mamie
Origin:
Diminutive of Mary or Margaret
- Marigold
Origin:
Flower name, from EnglishMeaning:
"golden flower"
- Mars
Origin:
Roman mythology god of war
- Marta
Origin:
Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian, SlavicMeaning:
"lady"
- Martha
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"lady"
- Maude
Origin:
English and French diminutive of Matilda, GermanMeaning:
"battle-mighty"
- Mccoy
Origin:
Irish variation of McKayMeaning:
"fire"
- Mercury
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Roman messenger god"
- Mildred
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"gentle strength"
- Minerva
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the mind, intellect"
- Mingus
Origin:
Scottish, variation of MenziesMeaning:
"tenants of a manor"
- Minnie
Origin:
Diminutive of WilhelminaMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Montgomery
Origin:
NormanMeaning:
"man power"
- Monty
Origin:
Diminutive of Montague, Montgomery
- Mordechai
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"follower of Marduk"
- Moritz
Origin:
German form of MauriceMeaning:
"dark-skinned"
- Moses
Origin:
EgyptianMeaning:
"delivered from the water"
- Moss
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"descendant of Moses"
- Myrtle
Origin:
Greek botanical name
- Nadine
Origin:
French variation of Nadia, RussianMeaning:
"hope"
- Ned
Origin:
English, diminutive of EdwardMeaning:
"wealthy guardian"
- Nigel
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark, black-haired"
- Nightingale
Origin:
Bird name from GermanMeaning:
"night singer"
- Noam
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"pleasantness, charm, tenderness"
- Nyx
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"night"
- Oak
Origin:
English tree nameMeaning:
"tree from the genus Quercus"
- Ocean
Origin:
English, nature nameMeaning:
"ocean"
- Odette
Origin:
French, from GermanMeaning:
"wealthy"
- Opal
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"gem"
- Orson
Origin:
Latin and EnglishMeaning:
"bear cub"
- Oswald
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"divine power"
- Ottilie
Origin:
German, FrenchMeaning:
"prosperous in battle"
- Oz
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"strength, powerful, courageous"
- Ozzy
Origin:
Pet form of Oswald, Osborn and Osmond.
- Pandora
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"all gifted"
- Pepper
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"berry"
- Peregrine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"traveler, pilgrim"
- Petra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"
- Phineas
Origin:
English, EgyptianMeaning:
"the Nubian"
- Pippi
Origin:
Norse variation of PhilippaMeaning:
"lover of horses"
- Pixie
Origin:
Swedish or CornishMeaning:
"fairy"
- Plum
Origin:
Fruit name
- Poe
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"peacock"
- Polly
Origin:
English variation of Molly
- Posy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a bunch of flowers"
- Prairie
Origin:
English nature nameMeaning:
"prairie"
- Prudence
Origin:
Virtue nameMeaning:
"caution"
- Puck
Origin:
Literary name
- Quill
Origin:
Irish, diminutive of Quillan or Quiller; also English word name
- Quince
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"applelike fruit"
- Reef
Origin:
Word name
- Ridge
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"an elevated body part or structure"
- Rohmer
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"pilgrim; fame"
- Romy
Origin:
Diminutive of Rosemary, Roma, Romana, Romilly etc.
- Roscoe
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"deer forest"
- Rudy
Origin:
German, diminutive of RudolphMeaning:
"famous wolf"
- Rufus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"red-head"
- Saffron
Origin:
Spice name
- Saga
Origin:
Swedish word nameMeaning:
"story; seeress"
- Sally
Origin:
Diminutive of SarahMeaning:
"princess"
- Scout
Origin:
Word name
- Seymour
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"marshy land near the sea"
- Sigrid
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"fair victory"
- Solange
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"solemn"
- Soleil
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"sun"
- Sonny
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son"
- Sparrow
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"sparrow, a bird"
- Stanley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"near the stony clearing"
- Stellan
Origin:
Swedish, meaning unknown, possibly "calm"Meaning:
"calm"
- Sybil
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"prophetess"
- Talullah
Origin:
Irish, Anglicized variation of TuilelaithMeaning:
"lady of abundance"
- Tennyson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Dennis"
- Thaddeus
Origin:
Aramaic, meaning unclear, possibly from TheodoreMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Thelma
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"literary name"
- Theodosia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"giving to God"
- Thor
Origin:
Norse and ScandinavianMeaning:
"thunder"
- Thoreau
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"strength of a bull"
- Tilly
Origin:
Diminutive of MatildaMeaning:
"battle-mighty"
- Trixie
Origin:
Diminutive of Beatrix, LatinMeaning:
"she who brings happiness"
- Ulysses
Origin:
Latin variation of the Greek Odysseus
- Una
Origin:
Latin, Irish, or Old NorseMeaning:
"one; lamb; happy"
- Ursula
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"little female bear"
- Vanya
Origin:
Russian, diminutive of John
- Viggo
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"war"
- Virgil
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"staff bearer"
- Waldo
Origin:
German, pet form of names such as WaldemarMeaning:
"to rule"
- Wednesday
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"Woden's day"
- Whistler
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"one who whistles"
- Wilbur
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"resolute, brilliant"
- Wilhelmina
Origin:
German, feminine variation of WilhelmMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Winifred
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed peacemaking"
- Winslow
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"friend's hill or burial mound"
- Wolf
Origin:
Animal name or diminutive of Wolfgang, GermanMeaning:
" traveling wolf"
- Woody
Origin:
Diminutive of Woodrow
- Zadie
Origin:
English variation of SadieMeaning:
"princess"
- Zelda
Origin:
Diminutive of GriseldaMeaning:
"gray fighting maid"
- Zelma
Origin:
German, diminutive of AnselmaMeaning:
"God helmet"
- Zibby
Origin:
Diminutive of Elizabeth
- Ziggy
Origin:
German, diminutive of Siegfried and Sigmund
- Zinnia
Origin:
Flower name, from German surnameMeaning:
"Zinn's flower"
- Zora
Origin:
Serbo-CroatianMeaning:
"dawn"