Name Spellings, Initials and Sounds · Cool Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
English place-name
"from the oxen crossing"
High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.
French feminine form of Axel
"father of peace"
Putting the emphasis on the "elle" softens a name that seems at once futuristic and medieval.
Zulu
"peace"
Traditionally, Xolani is a masculine Zulu name stemming from the word "uxolo", which means peace and goodwill. Beware – in this case, the X is pronounced as a one of the famous Zulu clicking sounds…
Swedish or Cornish
"fairy"
Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally…
Feminine form of Axel, Swedish
"father is peace"
A feminine form of the popular boy name Axel, Axelia shares similar sounds with the likes of Celia, Amelia, Cecilia, and Aliyah but has a cool, spiky X that makes it stand out. It is currently a…
Latin
"voyager"
This Beatrix alternate could make a good choice for globetrotting parents.
Variation of Lucifer, Latin
"light bearer"
Lucifer not cool enough for you? Then you might want to pivot to this arguably badder-boy alternative with the X in the middle. Bonus advantage: Nickname Lux.
Greek
"silk"
A rare Greek name with a distinctly sharp sound, originating from the word metaxi , meaning silk.
Laxmi is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin, representing the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. Also spelled as Lakshmi, it derives from the Sanskrit word 'laksya,' meaning 'goal' or…
Botanical name
Ixora is a type of flowering plant which in tropical climates flower all year round. Ixora is important in Hindu worship. Ixora is also the name of an album by Florida-based band Copeland.
English
"working cattle"
Animal names are booming, but this is one that's never been used — although Boaz, which means "ox" in Hebrew, is starting to see more use. With its connotations of strength, teamwork and…
A cool name, representing the Roman goddess of peace and offering a positive message to bestow upon a child. Pax is one of the most stylish new names that mean peace .
"blond"
If this name makes you think of Victorian novels, it's because Fairfax was part of Mr Rochester's name in Jane Eyre , and the surname of a minor character in Jane Austen's Emma . It has a distinctly…
English word name
"one who explores"
A bold word name choice for the intrepid baby namer who hopes her son will face the world with a sense of discovery.
Word name
Experience was used by the Puritans but probably too joke-worthy for a modern child...or teenager.
Exie is a vintage feminine name that enjoyed modest popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often used as a nickname for names beginning with 'Ex-' or as a…
English place-name and surname
Sex doesn't belong in a baby name.
French feminine variation of Sixtus
"sixth-born"
While Sixtine is a name with ancient roots that's popular in modern-day France, it's hard to imagine it gaining hold in English-speaking lands, given its similarity to the number sixteen and its…
French
"of Evreux; riverbank"
Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the town of Evreux in France and combined with the prefix de- denoting it likely referred to a noble of…
Thaxter is an uncommon masculine name with Anglo-Saxon origins. Historically, it emerged as an occupational surname derived from the Old English word 'þæcstere,' meaning 'thatcher' - someone who…
