Name of the licorice plant, this spice comes in the shape of a star, giving this name an extra level of sweetness.

There is a whole new species of bird names open to the baby namer, from the light and feminine Lark to the sleek and powerful Falcon.

Marble is an unusual male given name derived from the English word for the smooth, hard metamorphic rock used in sculpture and architecture. As a name, it falls into the category of object or substance names that occasionally appear as given names. Marble has never been common as a first name, with virtually no presence in naming statistics or historical records for widespread use. It may be chosen for its associations with durability, smoothness, beauty, and value. The name also evokes classical art and architecture, perhaps suggesting refinement and timelessness. As with many uncommon object names, Marble might be seen as a distinctive, modern choice that stands out from traditional naming conventions, though its rarity means it lacks established naming traditions or cultural significance.

Fruit associated with prosperity, fertility, and marriage in many cultures.

Pomme or Pomeline are more name-worthy.

Has the offbeat quality and macho feel -- like Stone and Flint -- that appeals to increasing numbers of modern parents.

Divorces Aspen from its nature and ski resort associations. Aspyn first broke into the Top 1000 in 2020.

An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too. For girls, it might be associated with Mina Murray (later, Mina Harker) from Bram Stoker's Dracula and its many adaptations.

Groves has yet to secure a place on the baby name charts, but we could see that changing very soon. Groves combines surname style with a nature meaning and a hotter-than-hot S ending. It's a recipe for success — just ask Banks, Brooks, and Wells.

Tree is an ultimate nature name, made famous by longtime Taylor Swift publicist Tree Paine, born Trina Snyder.

Feisty floral name that would work better as a middle name than as a first, so called because of the flower's resemblance to a dragon's open mouth.

Mesa is both the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table", and the Thai variation of April.

This Hawaiian name gracefully celebrates the force of nature, paying tribute to the ocean. If you're looking for unique names that mean ocean, this should be on your short list.

Known in America via the wife of Soviet head Mikhail Gorbachev; a possibility for parents of Eastern-European descent wanting to move beyond Natasha and Nadia or for parents from the Middle East looking for a name that works in both cultures.

Briar is a rising nature name for both girls and boys and Bryars is a spin introduced as the middle name of one of the Waldrop sextuplets, Layke Bryars, who happens to be a boy. But the name works just as well for girls.

Orchid is a hothouse bloom that has not been plucked by many modern baby namers — yet. In the language of flowers, orchids symbolize love, beauty, and sophistication.

More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.

Gardener is surely one of the most pleasant and evocative of the occupational options, calling up images of green grass and budding blooms. The name can also be spelled without the first 'e', as in Gardner (born George Cadogan Gardner) McCay, a hunky TV heartthrob of the 1950s and 60s. Gardner is a much more common surname spelling, associated with screen legend Ava, mystery writer Erle Stanley and art collector and patron Isabella Stewart, founder of Boston's Gardner Museum.

An uncommon surname name with that energetic -er ending. Might appeal especially to baseball fans.

Begonia is a pretty flower named for French administrator and amateur horticulturalist Michel Bégon, who was an avid naturalist but also a proponent of slavery. A rare floral choice which has never really caught on as a baby name, Begonia would certainly stand out from the Lilys and Roses.

Strong, solid surname name. For many this name will be inextricably linked with former Vice President Dick Cheney - a hinderance or a virtue, depending on your political leanings.