Cool Baby Names That Start with Q

An interesting Canadian province and city name that has some literary history as the name of a character in Dickens's Bleak House; could make a distinctive choice for parents with northern roots.

The spoiled only son of the richest family in town in a fifties movie.

A quetzal is a beautiful, brightly-colored bird found in Mexico and Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala, as well as the name of their currency.

Name of a son of the Prophet Muhammad, with a particularly positive meaning.

Quirky and cute.

Mexican place-name famously used by Joan Didion for her daughter, Quintana Roo.

Clint with a glint; used for flinty characters in old TV westerns and soap operas.

Tied to the hero of the classic Spanish novel Don Quixote, likely to produce a quixotic daydreamer.

Quito is a place-name (it's the capital of Ecuador) with lots of lively energy--as long as it's pronounced correctly.

A top 200 name in Catalonia, Spain since 2004. There are several Catalan towns with the name, including Santa Coloma de Queralt and Rocafort de Queralt.

Heard in a sixties spy movie, The Quiller Memorandum, this uncommon occupational name has an offbeat charm.

Strong meaning, sweet but strong sound, fresh and earthy: a winner.

Quiana might be thought of as the first synthetic name. Quiana was popular in the 1970s and 80s, along with the same-named form of polyester.

Adds some salsa to the Latin root.

Quandra is a feminine given name that appears to be a modern creation, possibly emerging in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century. The name's etymology is not definitively established, but it may be related to names like Kendra or Sandra with a distinctive 'Qu-' beginning. Alternatively, it could be connected to the Latin root 'quad-' meaning 'four' or 'square.' The name has remained relatively uncommon in usage statistics, never appearing in the top 1000 names recorded by the Social Security Administration. Quandra has a distinctive sound with the emphasis typically on the first syllable (QUAN-dra). Without clear etymological documentation, it's best understood as part of the trend toward creative, distinctive naming that gained momentum in American naming practices during the late 20th century. The name's uniqueness gives it a special quality for those who bear it.