Word names — basically, words used as names — are a growing class as parents rush to find truly unique baby names for their children. Now, formerly one-of-a-kind names such as Maverick and Serenity can be found in Kindergarten classrooms around the country! But don't worry — there are still plenty of undiscovered choices.
 
Along with Serenity and Maverick, other word names in the US Top 500 Include Crew, Genesis, Major, Meadow, Baker, Sage, Melody, and Ember. Cool, one-of-a-kind word names used for fewer than 5 babies at last count include Whimsy, Ballad, Reader, and Flair.
 
While you'll find word names among nature names and day names and occupational names and color names and spiritual names, most of those collected on this list don't fit neatly into any category. You'll find even more word names in our lists of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/329/Nature-Baby-Names">Nature Names</a>, <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/334/Place-Names-for-Babies">Place Names</a>, and many other lists in the category <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-name-lists/category/nature-place-word-names">Nature, Place, and Word Names</a>.
 
Finally, a word on gender: English words are not gendered and so most of these word names can work for both boys and girls, even if we have only one gender noted here.
 
<h2>Word Names for Babies</h2>

Word Names for Babies

Make that bird name, and while it does work for both genders, it's far more popular for girls, via Raven Symone. 

Raven

Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/r">girls' names starting with the letter R</a>.

 American filmmaker Robert Rodriguez gave the name Rebel to one of his four sons (a brother to Rocket, Racer, Rogue, and daughter Rhiannon).

Rebel

The list of occupational boys' names continues to expand, and this is one of the latest to ride onto the range. With a hint of cowboy and Western, a sprinkle of preppy surname, an outdoorsy, nature-connected vibe, and a soft-but-strong sound, Ranger has a lot going for it. More than doubling in use over the last decade, it was given to 115 boys in 2024. 
 
Associated with forest preservation, Dungeons & Dragons, the armed armed forces, and a number of sports teams, Ranger could appeal to a wide range of people and offer up the nicknames Ray and Rain. Plus, it's similar enough to the increasingly (and scarily) heard Danger that it could make a more usable alternative, while still allowing for the (possibly) risky nickname. 
 
 Canadian actor AJ Buckley used Ranger Joseph for his son in 2018, as a brother to Willow Phoenix and Bodhi Robert.

Ranger

Chosen by one musician, Todd Rundgren, for his son, but unlikely to be emulated by others. 

Rebop

She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">names for Christmas babies</a>.

Merry

Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.
 'The Lark' was used as a nickname for Cosette in Les Miserables; Lark Voorhees was a star of Saved by the Bell, and Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany used Lark as the middle name of their daughter Agnes.
 
The expression "happy as a lark" gives this songbird name a cheery image, as well as a 'lark' being a synonym for a merry time..
 Larkin is a pretty extension, as is Skylark, which is rich in cultural associations: there's the Percy Bysshe Shelley ode To a Skylark and the jazz classic Skylark written by Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael..

Lark

Justice is a fashionable word name, used for both girls and boys. Justice has the distinction of being a virtue name without the religious implications of Faith or Grace. It still feels more male than female, perhaps partly due to the classic Roman name Justus, but Justice has become a more common pick for girls in recent years. 

Justice

The Rainy spelling puts this name firmly in word name territory, an appealing option following the rise of Stormi. Rainey is the most popular spelling of the name, given to about 50 girls last year, with half as many called Rainy and a quarter named Rainie, the spelling used by Andie MacDowell for her now-grown daughter.

Rainy

Reignbow

Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.

Rainbow