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155+ Names That Mean Trouble

  1. Rebel

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "rebel"

    • Description:

      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 girls' names starting with the letter R.
  2. Nemo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "nobody"

    • Description:

      One of the best known early Nemos was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, while the more familiar modern one is the animated little orange fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name well worth considering. By the way, there is also a Shakespearean Nemo and one in Dickens's Bleak House. An enchanting early comic strip by Winsor McCay was called Little Nemo.
  3. Stoic

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "enduring adversity without showing one's feelings"

    • Description:

      A sober and detached choice for a son.
  4. Power

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Power is one of the new crop -- Justice, Liberty, Peace -- of strong, clear-cut, declarative choices, though this one carries more assertiveness than virtue.
  5. Warrior

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wage war"

    • Description:

      Could a child named Warrior be anything but fierce and willful? We count Warrior among our Magic Names, those that are chosen for their ability to influence and protect their bearers. We see Warrior rising significantly in the next few years, joining current favorites like Legend, Hero, and Saint.
  6. Atropos

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "inevitable, inflexible"

    • Description:

      Atropos is one of the three Fates of Greek Mythology. She and her sisters determined life from birth to death—Atropos determined how one would die and would cut the thread of life. Her Roman equivalent is Morta.
  7. Talman

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "injured, oppressed"

    • Description:

      Extremely rare yet with an on trend sound, although the meaning may put parents off.
  8. Sabre

    • Description:

      Sabre is a feminine name derived from the word for a type of curved sword, originating from the French "sabre," which came from the Hungarian "szablya." As a name, Sabre projects strength, sharpness, and a cutting edge – qualities that give it a powerful, distinctive character. While uncommon as a given name, it has occasionally been used in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century. The name carries connotations of fierceness and determination, appealing to parents seeking a strong, unusual choice for their daughters. Sabre's military associations give it a certain boldness, while its short, crisp sound makes it memorable and impactful. This rare name might appeal particularly to families with military connections or those drawn to names that convey power and precision.

  9. Striker

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      Striker is one of the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho, even aggressive meaning and image. Other examples include Breaker, Heller, and Wilder. Do the world a favor and desist.
  10. Chilion

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "failing, pining"

    • Description:

      A rare Biblical name, perhaps due to its slightly gloomy meaning, Chilion was one of Naomi's two sons, referred to alongside his brother Mahlon (meaning "sickly"), the husband of Ruth. He was married to Oprah.
  11. Paine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "villager, country-dweller"

    • Description:

      While patriot Thomas Paine is a worthy honoree, the mere association with the word 'pain' knocks this name out of bounds.
  12. Jessejames

    • Origin:

      Combination of Jesse and James, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God exists and supplanter"

    • Description:

      While still rare, this compound name for boys jumped nearly 3000 places in rank last year, perhaps thanks to its cowboy-core vibe and its bad boy image.
  13. Kassya

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "thorny"

    • Description:

      Kassya is a unique feminine name with potential roots in several origins. It may be a variant of Kassie or Cassie, which are diminutives of Cassandra, a Greek name meaning 'she who entangles men' or 'prophetess.'
  14. Axe

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Axe, spelled like this, is used for a handful of baby boys in the US each year. You can see it as one of the new weapon names, along with Dagger and Beretta, or as an abbreviation of the very popular Axel.
  15. Whiskey

    • Origin:

      English from Gaelic

    • Meaning:

      "water of life"

    • Description:

      Whiskey was the name of the badass girlfriend character in Glass Onion, played by Madelyn Cline. Naming your child after any kind of alcoholic drink is not recommended.
  16. Vandal

    • Origin:

      American word or occupational name

    • Description:

      Another bad boy occupational name, joining Bandit, Rogue, and Gunner, though Vandal feels more obviously destructive. The Vandals were a tribe that swept through Europe and North Africa in the sixth century and sacked Rome. Their name is thought to spring from the Germanic word for wandering, but has come to mean senseless destruction.
  17. Terach

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "wild goat, silly old fool"

    • Description:

      A biblical name -- he was the father of Abraham -- but the father's name is much less appealing than the son's, in both sound and meaning.
  18. Letha

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "forgetfulness"

    • Description:

      Letha is taken from Lethe, the mythological River of Oblivion. Letha now sounds as if it's missing a first syllable.
  19. Malala

    • Origin:

      Pashto

    • Meaning:

      "sad, grieved"

    • Description:

      This name has a hauntingly appropriate meaning for its most famous bearer, Pakistani women and children's right activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousefzai. The name itself is derived from the more traditional Malalai, which was the name of a 19th century female Afghan freedom fighter. If you're looking for a soft sounding female name that packs a punch in history and in meaning, Malala is definitely a strong contender.
  20. Shooter

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "person who fires a gun; member of a sports team who scores goals"

    • Description:

      More than 300 babies have been named Shooter in the US since 2002, which, depending on who you ask, is arguably about 300 too many. One of the violent names for boys that have gained traction in recent years, the most optimistic view perhaps is that parents were thinking about sports or honoring a family connection to the militiary when choosing this name.