Cool Baby Names
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Attitude Names for Boys
Attitude names for boys take the idea of cool baby names one step further: they're a little bit badass, a little bit distinctive, and a lot cool. Cool attitude boy names include animal names like Bear and Fox, in-your-face word names like Danger and Rebel, and "I dare you to make fun of my name" names like Waldo and Thelonious. The cool, creative baby names for boys here are some that we think have swagger, sass, and attitude.
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Attitude Names for Girls
Attitude names are cool baby names that project sass, spunk, and confidence. These cool-kid qualities may appeal for both girl and boy babies and are increasingly desirable for parents. Attitude names for girls may be inspired by amazing heroines, an unusual letter or sound, or simply a badass image, such as Luna and Scarlett.
Along with Luna and Scarlett, other attitude names for girls in the US Top 1000 include Eloise, Freya, Monroe, Ophelia, Presley Scout, Winter, and Xiomara. Many word names for girls come with attitude; among them, Blue, Hero, Love, and Story.
If you want your daughter to possess moxie and sparkle, an attitude name is a good place to start. The cool names here are some of the best girls' names with attitude. -
Baby Names Everyone Thinks Are Cool
Cool baby names are a matter of opinion....sometimes. But there are baby names that most people consider cool. Here is a collection of universally-cool baby names.
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Badass Baby Names
Badass baby names carry a cool, macho image that works for either gender. These badass names, such as Ace and Axel, suggest the person who rides a motorcycle and sings in a rock band, who can carry a hikers' pack but would never carry a briefcase.
Along with Ace and Axel, other badass baby names in the US Top 1000 include Blaze, Dash, Fox, Harley, Jagger, Justice, Ryker, and Wilder. Many badass names are also impressive occupations, among them Hunter, Pilot, Ranger, and Sargent.
Badass names are cool names with extra attitude, and they kick butt in every sense of the term. The badass baby names for girls and boys include: -
Best British Boy Names
by Emma Waterhouse British baby names have a style all their own, and fashionable English names are often a step or two ahead of American baby names. Some of the hottest baby boy names in England, Scotland, and Wales are still cool and underused choices in the U.S., as seen below. Other boys' names make this list because they're classic British choices that have emigrated to the US along with other parts of the world: Among these are Felix, Hugh, and Leo. Along with Felix and Leo, other British boy names in the US Top 1000 are Duncan, Ellis, Harvey, Jasper, Lewis, Luca, Rex, and Trevor. Other, more uniquely British names that may sound a bit too posh to American ears at the present moment include Barnaby, Crispin, Giles, and Tarquin. If you're looking for a distinctly British-sounding name for your baby boy, consider the following distinctive selection. You might also want to check out our masterlist of English names for boys.
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Best British Girl Names
by Emma Waterhouse Do British baby girl names have a distinct style? You bet, and often the style of English names is a step or two ahead of the style of American names. Along with longtime top name Amelia, girl names that rank among Britain's Top 100 include Poppy, Freya, Phoebe, Elsie, Imogen, Harriet, Nancy, and Florence. Olivia, Sophia, and Charlotte are popular in both the UK and the US. Along with Sophia and Charlotte, other British girl names in the US Top 1000 include Alice, Annabel, Clementine, Esme, Gracie, Matilda, Ruby, and Zara. British parents are more likely to use nicknames as proper names for their daughters, with names like Evie, Hattie, Millie, and Rosie widely used on their own for girls in England and Wales. Here, some of the most intriguing British baby names for girls. You might also want to consult our master list of English names for girls.
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Boy Names for Girls
Some of the coolest baby girl names are not girls' names at all but boys' names -- many of which have officially become unisex names. We're seeing more and more fomerly 100% boy names being used for girls, from nicknames like Sam and Charlie (now 50-50 by gender!), to occupational or surnames such as Sawyer or McKinley to formerly masculine names such as Quincy and Jude that have become truly unisex. Here, some boy names that can work for girls.
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Boy Names Kids Consider Cool
What are the cool boy names from the point of view of other kids? Choosing a name that other kids consider cool may be more important than one you think is cool yourself.
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Cool Boy Names From Ancient Cultures
Cool boy names are the order of the day, yet why invent a unique name when there are so many ancient names -- from Rome and Byzantium, from Olde England and Germany -- that deserve to be unearthed in the interest of cool? Here's a selection of worthy ancient choices, from a range of eras and places, that make cool unique baby names for boys.
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Cool Boy Names From Around the World
Cool boy names from Italy and Ireland, Scandinavia to the Middle East and beyond include a wide variety of choices. Some of these names, such as Cruz and Orion, are cool in the US and abroad, but many have yet to be discovered by American parents.
Along with Orion and Cruz, other cool boy names from around the world in the US Top 1000 include Aarav, Gunnar, Joaquin, Luciano, Mateo, Roman, Santiago, and Soren. Aurelio, Laszlo, Elio, and Wolf are among the more unique choices that we expect to be hearing on more American babies in the coming years.
You may want to choose a boys' name that reflects your family's ethnic heritage or represents a culture you love. Or you may simply be looking for unique boys' names and want to consider international names as one source. Here, a selection of cool boy names from around the world. -
Cool Classic Boy Names — 100+ below the Top 1000
These classic boy names include choices from ancient cultures and the Bible, names sailing out of style along with those heading in. How can a name be cool and classic at the same time? It's deeply rooted in history, but it's also unusual, and these boys' names qualify on both counts. Our list of uncommon classic boys’ names includes such treasures as Amias, Rockwell, and Edmund. If you're looking for cool classic names for a baby boy, check out these 100+ options.
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Cool Classic Girl Names — 100+ below the Top 1000
Classic baby names are not always popular names. These classic classic girl names are also unusual, hiding below the Top 1000. For a name to be cool and classic, it has to be both out-of-the-ordinary and used over centuries, and the 100+ girls' names here qualify on both counts. Our list of uncommon classic girls’ names includes gems like Echo, Delphine, and Sybil. If you'd like to give your baby girl a name with deep roots that also stands out from the crowd, one of these classic-but-distinctive names for girls could be the right choice for you.
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Cool Cowboy Baby Names
Cool baby names that say cowboy boots and stirrups are as hot in Brooklyn as they are in Bozeman. The romanticized image of a cowboy and all that it stands for – heroism, adventure, and dashing good-looks – has inspired parents to seek out names that embody those ideals. Names for cowboys are rugged, casual, and handsome, such as Wyatt and Luke. Along with Wyatt and Luke, cowboy names ranking in the US Top 100 include Levi, Colton, Dylan, Wilder, Sawyer, Silas, Austin, and Maverick. Unique cowboy names gaining attention – especially in the Western states – include Ryder, Gunner, and, well, West. The appeal: Cowboy names are decidedly masculine without being formal or traditional. Browse our entire posse of cowboy names for baby boys here.
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Cool Girl Names
Cool girl names come from a range of sources and styles, from ancient to modern, classic to newly created. Along with Top 10 name Ava, cool girl names in the US Top 100 include Mila, Aria, Luna, Layla, Hazel, Aurora, Nova, Willow, Ruby, Isla, Quinn, Sadie, and Delilah. And there are thousands more cool names for girls as you move down the list to more unusual choices. Cool girl names might be goddess names from antique cultures or badass word names. You can fashion cool girl names from ancestral surnames or from spiritual beliefs. Cool names for girls might push gender boundaries and revive forgotten names from the past. They might be one-of-a-kind names invented by you or vintage names discovered on a family tree. The list of cool names for girls is limited in scope only by your imagination, with new cool names minted every day. This list of cool girl names is nowhere close to comprehensive, but consider it your starter kit.
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Cool Girl Names from Ancient Cultures
There are so many ancient names for girls -- from Rome and Byzantium, from Olde England and Germany -- that deserve to be unearthed in the interest of cool. Here's a selection of worthy ancient names, from a range of eras and places.
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Cool Girl Names From Around the World
Cool names for girls from a range of cultures and countries are ripe for the picking no matter where you live. As the world becomes a smaller place, baby names become more international, with names like Lucy and Jenna being swapped for Luciana and Gemma. Along with Luciana and Gemma, other cool girls’ names from across the globe in the US Top 1000 include Antonella, Carmen, Ingrid, Maeve, Malia, Noemi, Paloma, Sylvie. Names that are cool in other countries but remain undiscovered in the US include Anoush, Fiorella, Kalindi, and Xanthe. If you're looking for a cool unusual name for your baby girl, choosing one from another country can be a way to combine tradition with innovation. Consider these cool girl names from around the world.
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Cool Guy Names
Many of us name babies based on who we want them to grow up to be, and all of these names nudge your son toward cool guy status. Many of us name babies based on who we want them to grow up to be, and all of these names nudge your son toward cool guy status. It’s hard to picture a man named Dash or Rhett as being anything but exceptionally rad, and that’s exactly the point.
Along with Dash and Rhett, other cool guy names in the US Top 1000 include Chase, Finn, Levi, Luke, Miles, Otis, Ryder, and Wyatt. Many cool guy names are also word names, such as Chance, King, Ransom, and West.
These are the cool names of the guys who are good-looking but not pretty, tough but also tender, bad boys but in the best possible way. If this is your prime criteria for a name, forget name style (though many of these are stylish) and focus on names that convey the cool guy image. -
Cool Midcentury Baby Names
Cool baby names from the middle of the 20th century are coming into style on the heels of midcentury houses and furniture. True, some baby names popular from the 1940s through the 60s may feel like dowdy, overplayed Baby Boomer names just heading into retirement and not due back in style for another generation or two. But some cool guy and girl midcentury names, with their sleek lines and no-nonsense feel, are starting to feel fresh again to the adventurous baby namer.
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Cool Middle Names
Hello, cool middle names, and bye-bye to the bland connectives of generations past, the ubiquitous Ann that almost sounded like and, because the middle name has now taken on a much more active part in the naming process. It's a place to honor the family, be creative or whimsical, use a name you're not quite brave enough to try as a first. Here, some cool names that are perfect for middle place, mostly for girls but a handful for boys. Or explore beyond cool with our master list of more than 900 middle names of all kinds.
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Cool Unique Unisex Names
Unisex baby names are both popular and stylish, true, but there are also hundreds of cool names that work equally well for boys and girls. Along with Nico and True, other cool unique unisex names ranking in the US Top 1000 include River, Justice, Bowie, and Scout. Other cool unique baby names used more for both boys and girls include Story, Indigo, and Royal. Here, some of our favorite unique baby names that are gender neutral.
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Cool Vintage Baby Names
Vintage baby names are very cool these days....and cool vintage names are very Nameberry. So does that mean that all vintage baby names are cool names? Not exactly. Elmer and Eunice are certainly vintage, but they don’t possess that cool-factor. We’ll take Emmett and Elsie instead. Along with Emmett and Elsie, other cool vintage baby names in the US Top 500 include Ada, Calvin, Georgia, Hazel, Otto, Roman, Ruby, and Walter. More unique vintage names for babies that fall outside of the popularity charts include Barnaby, Tess, Leopold, and Winifred. Coolness can be fleeting – maybe one day Elmer and Eunice will become fashionable again. Here are some of the coolest vintage names for babies – at least by popular agreement – right now.
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Coolest Baby Names That Aren't Really Names
The coolest baby names sometimes aren't names at all, as the mostly unisex baby names on this list attest. There are an uncountable number of words turned cool baby names, beyond the scope of any one source. The only limits are your reference books, your imagination, and your taste. Here are some of the coolest and most evocative of the group.
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Favorite Names on Nameberry
Nameberry visitors are more intelligent and sophisticated and have more style than the average baby namer -- of course we do -- and the names we love often become future favorites on the official popularity lists. Many of the baby names beloved on Nameberry are also popular among the rest of the country, but the names here are loved significantly more on Nameberry. These Nameberry favorite baby names are destined for more widespread appreciation.
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Geek Chic Names for Boys
By Emma Waterhouse Cool names for boys come in all shapes, sizes and styles. There are some evergreen classic boys' names which never go out of style: think traditional mainstays of the US (and UK, NZ, and Austalian) Top 100 boy names, like James, William, and Joseph. Other cool boys' names — like thick black-rimmed spectacles and heavy oxfords — are so out they're in. These are the clunky, old-school vintage boys' names that are starting to feel fresh, funky and a little bit daring, but still rooted in tradition. A few of these geek chic names for boys are now heading into the mainstream, like Arthur, Hugo and Franklin, which all rank in the US Top 500 baby names for boys. Others, like Alfred, Harvey and Louis, have already caught on in a big way across the pond in England & Wales, where they rank in the current Top 100 boy names. But most of these edgy, uncommon vintage baby boy names are still waiting to be revived, and would make a great choice for parents who want a unique baby name with a rich history. Browse our list of unusual vintage and retro baby names for boys here, or see our pick of the best Geek Chic Names for Girls for even more inspiration.
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Geek Chic Names for Girls
By Emma Waterhouse Cool names for girls come in all shapes, sizes and styles. There are some evergreen classic girls' names which — like the little black dress — never go out of style: think traditional mainstays of the US (and UK, NZ, and Austalian) Top 200 girl names, like Elizabeth, Katherine, and Hannah. Other cool girls' names — like thick black-rimmed spectacles and heavy oxfords — are so out they're in. These are the clunky, old-school vintage girls' names that are starting to feel fresh, funky and a little bit daring, but still rooted in tradition. A few of these geek chic names for girls are now heading into the mainstream, like Vivian, Olive and Matilda, which all rank in the US Top 500 baby names for girls. Others, like Elsie, Imogen and Florence, have already caught on in a big way across the pond in England & Wales, where they rank in the top 50 girl names. But most of these cool, uncommon vintage baby girl names are still waiting to be revived, and would make a great choice for parents who want a unique baby name with a rich history. Browse our list of unusual vintage and retro baby names for girls here, or see our pick of the best Geek Chic Names for Boys for even more inspiration.
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Hipster Baby Names
Hipster baby names are names that are favored by hip, stylish parents, none of whom want to be accused of using hipster names for their children. That makes hipster names a moving target -- as soon as a name becomes identifiably hipster, hip parents start to avoid it. What qualities are shared by hipster names? They're usually conventional names but not popular ones. They might be quirky and edgy but may also have deep roots. Old-fashioned nickname-names often strike a hipster vibe, as do mythological names and boys' names used for girls. The letters O, Q, X, and Z are often found in hipster names. The hipster baby names most often heard around Brooklyn, Austin and Madison these days (though we can't resist pointing out that the names Brooklyn, Austin and Madison are nowhere among them).
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Hipster British Baby Names for Boys
By Emma Waterhouse Hipster British baby names for boys feel fresher and funkier than the classic royal names most often associated with the British Isles. These quirky British boy names are popular — though, naturally, not *too* popular! — with hipster parents from London to Liverpool. There are some clear trends to be seen here: lively -o and -ee ending sounds are big with the Brits, old man chic is most definitely in, and nicknames as given names are everywhere. If you're looking for a great British baby boy name beyond James or George, you'll find a wealth of wonderful options in this list — no matter whether your taste leans more toward Milo or Marmaduke!
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Hipster British Baby Names for Girls
by Emma Waterhouse Hipster British baby names for girls are an exotic and eclectic bunch! From sweet vintage nicknames like Peggy and Posy, to elaborate choices like Pandora and Pollyanna, the Brits are renowned for bestowing quirky baby girl names on their daughters. All of these beautiful British girl names have serious style cred in London right now, but they hit the hipster sweet spot in terms of popularity — none rank in the Top 100 baby girl names in England & Wales, and most sit much lower down the list. If you're looking for a cool British girl name beyond Emma or Elizabeth, here are some of our favorite hipster picks!
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Modern Hero Baby Names
Modern hero baby names might be inspired by stars of screen or sports or literature or politics. Modern hero names might also honor heroes and heroines of the past who still inspire us today. Cool modern hero names are usually surnames used as firsts, but they can be first names too, especially if they're distinctive. Here are some of the top modern hero baby names.
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Names All Your Friends Will Think Are Cool
By Emma Waterhouse Cool baby names can be cool for a number of reasons: they might contain fashionable sounds, like V, X or Z; they might have a cool pop culture connection; or they might just be a little bit edgy and hipster. Many of the cool baby names in our list are outside of the US Top 1000. Celebrity parents are the masters of cool and unique baby names, from edgy word names for boys like Fox and Bear, to cute and quirky names for girls, like Clementine and Tallulah. If you're looking for a super cool baby name that all your friends will wish they'd thought of first, our list of awesome eye-catching baby names for boys and girls is a great place to start!
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Names No Girl May Be Cool Enough For
You have to be pretty darn cool to name your kid Hortense, cool in that I-like-it-and-I-don't-care-what-the-world-thinks kind of way. Except you're not the one who's going to have to deal with having the name Hortense when you play soccer. You're not the one who's going to have to introduce yourself as Hortense to boys at parties. In fact, if you think it's so cool, maybe you should change your own name to Hortense rather than laying it on a poor little kid. The point: While we can appreciate the contrarian cool inherent in these clunky names, we fear that few children at this point in time are cool enough actually to live with them.
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Old Lady Names
by Pamela Redmond Old lady names are cool by virtue of their very disdain for fashion. These kind of old school girls' names are connected to tradition rather than modernity and gloss. What gets confusing is whether stylish vintage names like Adeline or Cora really qualify as Old Lady Names anymore, or if a name needs to be a bit dusty and unfashionable to qualify as Old Lady. Along with Adeline and Cora, other old lady names in the US Top 500 include Clara, Elsie, Evelyn, Iris, Mabel, Miriam, Ruth, and Vera. If you prefer the clunky-cool variety of old lady names, consider adding Cornelia, Dorothea, Geraldine, or Henrietta to your list. We've tried to make this list inclusive, pulling in all types of Old Lady Names. For more on the If you're interested in learning even more about these kinds of vintage names check out our original blog on Old Lady Names for more commentary and ideas.
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Old Man Names
by Pamela Redmond Old man names have been used for so long now that they've morphed into popular baby names: Henry and Samuel rank among the top names in the US, while in the UK, Harry, Leo, and Oscar are all among their most popular baby names. But don't worry, there are plenty more where those came from. To qualify as a cool old man name, a name has to feel both classic and slightly moth-eaten, like the perfect vintage suit. Along with Henry and Samuel, other old man names in the US Top 500 include Arthur, Cyrus, Theodore, Otto, Silas, Harvey, Victor, and Frederick. Old man names more common in the UK than in the US include Albert, Ralph, Stanley, and Wilfred. Like Biblical boy names, old man names are constantly being revived by parents. Today's newest choices include such relics as Herbert, Harold, and Clyde. Here are the names for boys we consider Old Man Names.
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Too-Cool Baby Names
Maybe you can't be too rich or too thin, but if you're a baby name, it just may be possible to be too cool. While the line of what constitutes a too-cool baby name seems to get redrawn every day, these choices will probably be on the wrong side of it for a long time to come:
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Unique Baby Names: Unusual and Rare
Unique baby names are literally one-of-a-kind, but unique names may also mean names that are unusual and rare, with individual flair.
Unique names for babies can be unusual place names, uncommon word names, rare surname names, international names, nature names, or traditional names that come from other cultures or that have been buried in the attic for decades or even centuries, such as Dominica and Osgood.
Along with Dominica and Osgood, other unique names worth considering include Amias, Blythe, Caspian, Gable, Harbor, Lilou, Lumi, and Walden. Names that are unique in the US but common elsewhere include Elodie, Florian, Linnea, and Pim.
Nameberry offers thousands upon thousands of unique, unusual, and rare names: Here are some of the best unique for girls and boys, from A to Z, to get you started.
Want more more more unique names for your baby? Explore all the lists of unique baby names. -
Unique Girl Names: Unusual and Rare
by Pamela Redmond Unique girl names come in many varieties, from ancient to modern, traditional to invented. The best 2019 unique names for girls are those unusual and rare choices that have deep roots, are attractive, and can fit into contemporary life. By rare, unusual and unique girl names, we mean those used for 25 or fewer baby girls, which makes these names uncommon no matter where you live. Still, some unique names seem more destined than others for future popularity. Unique names with nature ties seem to be especially primed for popularity. Along with Bay and Bee, unique nature names for girls we may see taking off include Fleur, Garnet, Lilac, Marine, Petal, and Solstice. Unique girl names with celebrity ties also have a better-than-average chance of becoming, well, less unique. These include Blue, Banks, Eleven, Tilda, and Winslet. Of course, there are thousands upon thousands of unique names for baby girls. The unique names for girls listed here are some top picks from A to Z to get you started.
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Unusual Baby Names
Unusual baby names come from a range of categories, from ethnic names to place names to word names to surnames used as first names. The best unusual names are distinctive without being strange, seem unique yet are also easy to understand. Of the thousands of unusual baby names on nameberry, here are some of our favorites.
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Vintage Nicknames for Girls
There's a group of vintage nicknames for girls that were used in the distant past and are all but forgotten now. The following might be worth a fresh look. Check our larger Nicknames for Girls list for more choices. And if it's adorable you're after, check out this list of cute baby names, which includes lots of nickname-names.
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Wonderful Word Names
Word names -- basically, words used as names -- are a growing class as parents rush to find truly unique baby names for their children. 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 Nature Names, Place Names, and many other lists in the category Nature, Place, and Word Names. 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.
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X Factor Baby Names
The letter X seems to all by itself create cool baby names. Some of the best baby names with the X factor: