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Baby Names Sure to Shock Grandma
Across 6 pages
of 6
Golden
Word name
"gold colored"
Like Silver, Golden is a shimmering, metallic color name, similar enough to the likes of Arden, Eden, and Gwendolyn that it might not over dazzle. It could work as an unexpected route to the vintage…
Grande
Italian
"large"
For your Starbucks order, not your baby.
Gypsy
English
"wanderer"
Gypsy, long associated with the intellectual stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and the musical that was made about her life, was used by Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings as the middle name of their daughter…
Heavynlie
Heavynlie is an unusual feminine name that appears to be a creative elaboration of 'Heavenly.' This distinctively spelled name reflects the modern trend of virtue names with unique orthography. The…
Hooker
English occupational name
"shepherd's hook"
fuhgeddaboutit.
Ingaborg
Ingaborg is a feminine name with Germanic origins, derived from the Old Norse name Ingibjörg, composed of 'Ing' (a Norse god) and 'bjǫrg' meaning 'help, protection, salvation.' It's a variant of…
Jantzen
Scandinavian, variation of Janson, Jansen
"Jan's son"
Jansen is an intriguing way to honor an ancestral John; Jantzen is a brand of swimwear.
Jezebel
Hebrew
"not exalted"
Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a…
Jussi
Jussi is a Finnish male name that functions as a familiar form of Johannes, the Finnish variant of John. With roots in Hebrew, the original name Yochanan means 'God is gracious.' Jussi has been…
Kalyb
Kalyb is a masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly a modern variant of Caleb. The biblical name Caleb comes from Hebrew meaning 'faithful' or 'devoted to God,' though this spelling variation…
Kodiak
Alutiiq, Native American,"island"
"island"
Kodiak Island, off the coast of Alaska, is the second largest island in the US as well as a baby name getting some attention, especially for boys and especially in Washington State.
Lolita
Spanish, diminutive of Lola and Dolores, Spanish
"lady of sorrows"
In Nabokov's notorious novel, Lolita is the pet name given by the pedophilic narrator, Humbert Humbert, to his victim: a young girl called Dolores and nicknamed Lola or Lo by her mother. Still, it…
Lucida
Latin
"lucid, clear"
Pretty, delicate and crystal clear, with the readymade nickname of Lucy.
Lucifer
Latin
"light-bearer"
Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and…
Lyncoln
Lyncoln is a creative modern variant of Lincoln, which originated as an English surname derived from the Roman settlement Lindum Colonia (now Lincoln, England). This alternative spelling maintains…
Macen
English, feminine variation of Mason
"worker in stone"
Rather than going with a yooneek spelling like Macen (or Maysen or Masyn), we'd suggest sticking with the original Mason, as Kelsey Grammer did for his daughter.
Mars
Roman mythology
"god of war; male; red planet"
Mars is a name with interesting potential, ticking the boxes as a mythological name, a space name, and a single syllable choice ending in -s. For parents wanting something unexpected, Mars could work…
Merrigan
Irish surname, related to the sea
A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.
Minty
English diminutive of Aminta and Araminta, Greek
"defender"
Minty isn't a fresh word name — it's an old-fashioned nickname for Araminta, the romantic smoosh name coined by playwright William Congreve in 1693.
Moxie
English slang
"aggressive energy, know-how"
Like Penn Jillette, you can have your own little brash babe.