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Athletic Baby Names

If you're a sports fan, you may find baby name inspiration while watching a football game or a tennis match. While the legendary stars of sports history usually had regular guy names like Joe and Jimmy and Michael and Mickey (not to mention Billie Jean), some of the newer luminaries, as well as the surnames of classic athletes, offer options for baby names that go beyond the perimeters of that limited playing field.

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.

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.

Baby Names Headed for Harvard

Some baby names sound so intelligent, so serious, so destined for success that we can just see them on the Harvard acceptance letter. Here, examples of conservative cool baby names.

Baby Names So Far In They're Out

One of the cornerstones of our work reinventing the way people look at baby names is our list of So Far In They're Out Names. These are trendy names, those that are very in today (or this decade) but are likely to be very out tomorrow. Being popular is not enough to land a name on this list: Names such as Emma and Noah, Charlotte and James may move in and out of fashion but they're hardly trendy. Names here are those that are very very in....until they're very very out.

The up side of trendy names: Kids usually like having names that help them fit in with the crowd, they're easy to understand, they're perfectly in style. The downside: They tend to move out as precipitously as they came in and to linked forever more to this era. Examples of past names that were so far in they were out include Jennifer and Jason, Jessica and Joshua, Ava and Aiden, Katelyn and Kevin. Names that are So Far In They're Out today might include:

Baby Names Sure to Shock Grandma

The unusual and unique baby names on your list are likely to shock Grandma, especially since she probably thinks you should name the baby Helen, after her. But even if she's more open-minded than that, the following rare baby names will probably render her speechless—which may be the effect you're after.

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.

Badass Princess Names

Badass princess is an image that appeals not only to contemporary little girls but to their parents when choosing a name. These unusual girls' names are attractive not so much because of their sound or their style but because of the complicated image they convey. These are rare baby girl names that are both decidedly feminine and rooted in tradition, but are not at all conventional or conservative. They’re creative and edgy, but not invented or unorthodox like Aurelia and Magnolia.

Beautiful Bohemian Names for Girls

Bohemian names for girls might be inspired by free-spirited heroines of the arts or politics, by the natural world, or by international cultures. While Bohemian names are by their very nature unique, some Bohemian girl names are finding new popularity.

Bohemian Baby Names

Bohemian baby names carry a lot of attractive qualities. They're both creative and earthy, relaxed yet distinctive. Bohemian or hippie names may reference heroes from the arts or politics, real or imagined: think Dylan and Ophelia. Some bohemian names are antique or vintage, while others are inspired by nature or spiritual qualities such as Peace or Justice. This list includes the best bohemian names today for both girls and boys: For even more choices, see our lists of Bohemian Names for Girls and Bohemian Names for Boys.

Bold Bohemian Names for Boys

Bohemian names for boys may reference artistic or political heroes, inspiration spiritual qualities, or the natural world. Bohemian boy names might be antique or modern, traditional or invented. But to qualify as bohemian, these names, such as Felix and Fox, definitely have an indie feel.

College Baby Names

When you're on the prowl for the perfect name, anything can be an inspiration. Colleges around the country provide an endless possibilities for noteworthy baby names. Check out this list of baby names, each derived from the name of a college or university:

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.

Cool Cowgirl Names

Cowgirl names for baby girls, Western names with a bronco-busting outdoorsy feel, are pretty much always in style. Cowgirl names might be vintage, like Bonnie and Lula or newly-minted, such as Blaze and River. Additionally, they might be conventionally feminine or gender neutral.

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.

Cool Names That Mean Blond

Blond baby names include names for boys and girls meaning white, fair, golden, or blond. Along with popular blond (or blonde) baby names in the US Top 1000, like Aubrey, Blake and Finn, you can find many more unusual names meaning blond on this list, like Fenella (which is more popular in England), Flavia and Finnian. If your baby has blond hair -- or you're expecting a little towhead -- here's a selection of the best boy, girl, and gender-neutral baby names that mean fair or blond.

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.

Country Boy Baby Names

Country boy baby names are favorites on the US popularity list. Along with such classic country boy names as Wyatt and Levi, other country names in the US Top 100 for boys include Jackson and Hunter, Landon and Maverick.

Creative Baby Names

Creative baby names can be drawn from the worlds of art, music, design, fashion, or literature.

Cute Baby Names

Cute baby names might be on board for your doll, your pet, your bump, or maybe even your baby. What makes a name cute? Nickname-names often qualify as cute, as do names that end in o or the ee sound. The biggest concern: That your adorable baby will outgrow his or her cute name. But cute baby names often come complete with buttoned-up formal versions. Or...you can just embrace the cute! Here are some prime examples of cute baby names that are in style today. For more information and many more names, check out our complete guide to cute names for boys and girls.

Cute Baby Names for Boys

Cute baby names mix up the informal and the unexpected. They're names sometimes found on pets and comic strip characters, but most of them would wear well on a real boy, too. Formal name options can make these even more wearable for the long haul. For more information and many more names, check out our complete guide to cute names for boys and girls.

Cute Baby Names for Girls

Babies are darling, so no wonder some parents opt for the cutest of cute baby names when it comes to naming their daughters. Some of these cute names, such as Annie and Sophie, do wear well, even into adulthood. Other cute baby names might be better as nicknames for formal names—or reserved for kittens and doll babies.

Exotic Lite Baby Names

Maybe you want an exotic name for your baby....but not too exotic. Something international, yet recognizable to most Americans. Your category? Could be the Exotic Lite baby names here, from a range of cultures.

Fancy Boy Names

Fancy boy names are those that sound posh, elegant, sophisticated, rich -- you know, fancy. Boy names that sound fancy might have an aristocratic connection or an upscale feel. If you find some of these fancy boy names a bit much, you would be right: Fancy often means elaborate, effete, unique, over the top. Whether you want a fancy name for your son or want to steer clear of fancy names, these are the boy names with a fancy feel today.

Fancy Girl Names

Fancy girl names are names that feel posh, aristocratic, elaborate, elegant -- unique in an upscale way. Many fancy girl names are a whole lotta name. Too much name? That's for you to decide. If you're looking for a sophisticated girl name that will definitely set your daughter apart from the crowd, consider one of the oh-so-fancy names for girls.

Fancy, Elegant, Sophisticated Baby Names

Fancy baby names are those elegant, sophisticated choices that have a posh, upscale feel. Fancy names are those that go beyond the merely long and elaborate. Fancy baby names are rare, precious, almost too dressed-up for everyday use. And true, the modern Antonina might be better known as Toni while Ozymandias would inevitably be called Oz. But perhaps you love the idea of giving your baby an elaborate fancy name on the birth certificate, to keep in reserve in case one ever finds oneself meeting royalty. Here is our complete collection of fancy names for boys and girls, many of them with more down-to-earth short forms.

Forever Geeky Names

Some baby names just seem irredeemably geeky, on a permanent no list for the modern child. The baby names here qualify for now on the boys' side -- though we've learned in the world of baby naming, to paraphrase Heidi Klum, one day you're out, and the next day you may be very very in.

Girls' Names With Gravity

For many parents, girls' names (and boys' names too) should carry more than an attractive sound and appealing image; they should have real history behind them. These names relate to a range of impressive personages, real and imagined, and also have both breadth and depth in terms of the meaning they convey. Inspired by a fascinating discussion on our forums, here are some girls' names with history and weight.

Girly Girl Baby Names

Girly girl baby names are the most elaborately feminine of baby names. They have become newly fashionable, as today’s brave parents are not intimidated by names that go beyond three syllables. Some girly girl baby names, such as Cassandra and Isabella, have been in use for decades. Others, including Valentina and Luciana, have more recently been discovered by American parents.

Gothic Baby Names

Gothic baby names relate to the culture that combines horror with romanticism. Gothic can refer to the medieval or the modern; Gothic style encompasses music and architecture, literature and fashion. Names inspired by goth culture are a little shadowy and a lot mysterious, such as Damien and Ophelia.

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).

Midcentury Baby Names

Midcentury furniture may be in, but midcentury baby names, not so much. These are the names of the Baby Boomers, new or about-to-be grandmas and grandpas of today, and their names feel middle-aged to young parents. Wait a generation or two, and given the hundred year rule, you might look for these midcentury names to make a comeback as baby names in the 2040s and 2050s.

Mystical Names

Mystical names summon figures of mythology and legend, of magic and mystery. The mystical names here hail from a range of different cultures and stories. Some names, such as Lilith and Phoenix, remain strongly tied to their myth of origin. Others, like Jason and Maya, are so far removed that many may be unaware they are mythological names.

Names All Your Friends Will Think Are Cool

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.

Names No Boy May Be Cool Enough For

You have to be pretty damn cool to name your kid Elmer, 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 Elmer when you play Little League. You're not the one who's going to have to introduce yourself as Elmer to girls at parties. In fact, if you think it's so cool, maybe you should change your own name to Elmer 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.

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.

Names That Mean Beautiful

Baby names that mean beautiful come from a range of cultures and represent a variety of styles. Beautiful baby names might literally mean beauty or beautiful, such as Astrid and Bella, but also includes those with meanings like handsome and fair.

Names That Mean Dark

Expecting a baby with dark hair, or eyes, or skin, or simply looking for a name that means (or suggests) darkness? You could search for names that literally mean black, dark, or night. Or you might prefer to browse for names that suggest dark things, such as Jett or Raven.

Names That Mean Handsome

Baby names that mean handsome can help your little boy's self-image. A number of names imply good looks, from Keeley and Keefe to Bello and Beau. Names for good-looking babies come from many cultures, including Japan, Ireland, and Hawaii. Any of the names on this list would be appropriate for your beautiful baby boy. Handsome baby names for boys include:

Names That Mean Luck

Baby names meaning luck may not be enough on their own to bless your child with good fortune, but as they say, it couldn't hurt. Names meaning luck or lucky or fortunate include a wide range of different styles and include names with luck-related meanings as well as word-names that literally mean luck, such as Asher and Felicity.

Names That Mean Red or Redhead

Expecting a little redhead? Or maybe you love the color red or are expecting a baby born under one of the fire signs of the zodiac.

Names That Mean Ruler or Royal

Names with royal meanings are not necessarily actual royal baby names, such as George and Charlotte, but names that mean king, prince, queen, royal, or ruler. Choosing a baby name with a royal meaning is one of the many positive ways you can give your child a name to live up to. There are names that mean ruler or royal in every style, from a range of cultures, for girls and for boys. A complete list of our names that mean royal or ruler is here.

Names That Mean Strong

Baby names that mean strong may help arm your boy or girl for whatever lies ahead. Strength-related name meanings have become more popular to parents in recent years, as they prepare their children for challenging times. Names for strong babies come from a variety of different cultures and encompass many different styles, from succinct, no-nonsense names like Drew and Zeke to long and romantic names like Gabriella and Valentino.

Offbeat Baby Names

Offbeat baby names are those that are just a little bit quirky, a tiny bit unusual, off the beaten track. Here are some offbeat baby names you might want to consider today.

Old Lady Names

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.

Old Man Names

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.

Old People Names

Old people names -- or rather, #oldpeoplenames -- is a Twitter phenomenon, whereby people contribute their ideas of which baby names are, you guessed it, old people names. Some of the ideas that pop up on Twitter, from Marvin to Myrtle, are good ones, while others miss the mark. True old people names still carry the whiff of the nursing home, even if they're newly considered fit for babies.

Here, the names we consider Old People Names.

Patriotic Baby Names

Baby names with a patriotic flavor honor the land of the free and the home of the brave. Whether you're having a fourth of July baby, or you're just a proud American, here is a list of patriotic baby names sure to pay tribute to America.

Posh Baby Names

The following names are the names most indicative of the upper class in Britain over the last thirty years based on peerage birth announcements compared with national statistics. In other words, these names are uncommon choices in Britain except for among the upper class where they are well used.

Pretty Girl Names

Pretty girl names are pretty—attractive, feminine, sometimes frilly—in themselves. They also conjure the image of a pretty girl. And some of these names literally mean pretty or beautiful, such as Jolie and Belle.

Prince Names

The prince names here are those chosen by royal families around the world for their little boys over the past decade or so. Your idea of prince names can be expanded to include those used over past generations—Charles and William, say—and to extend to fictional princes such as Phillip or...well, maybe not Charming.

Princess Names

The princess names for girls here are those chosen by royal families around the world over the past decade or so. Your idea of princess names can be expanded to include those used over past generations—Anne and Elizabeth and even Diana, say— and to extend to fictional princesses such as Ariel and Aurora.

Relaxed Baby Boy Names

These are baby boy names that are casual, laid back and friendly.

Romantic Baby Names for Girls

There has been an upturn in the use of romantic baby names for girls in recent years -- think Isabella and Sophia. Some of these romantic baby names are classic, some are popular, but we're also including several names here that are more unusual. Here's a list of girls' names that have a romantic image and feel.

Royal Baby Names

Royal baby names on this list are those used by royal families in recent years. Along with the traditional George, Charlotte, and Louis, other royal names making news range from the down-to-earth Archie to the fashionable Leonore to the popular Emma. The royal boy and girl names here include those used by British royal parents as well as those from other countries throughout Europe, including Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Rustic Baby Names

Rustic baby names with that down-home country feeling can be drawn from nature names, Western names, earthy names -- many different sources. Names we'd call country or rustic include both classic and unique names, from Levi to Leaf, Hazel to Huck.

Serious Names for Boys and Girls

Serious names used to be favored for boys but recently it's been serious names for girls that have gotten more attention, as parents try to do everything they can to help their daughters succeed in a serious world.

Serious names are easiest to define by what they're not: They're not invented, not nicknames, not celebrity influenced (unless that celebrity is the Notorious RBG), not creative or fanciful in any way. They probably do not start with or even contain an X, a Z, or a Q. Serious names are somber, straightforward, buttoned-up, ready for a future as a lawyer, an accountant, or maybe President.
Serious names for boys and girls include the following.

Short & Strong Girl Names

Looking for girl names that are unfussy and straightforward? Here are some choice baby girl names that are both short and strong. If you're having a boy, check out our post on strong boy names

Southern Baby Names

Southern baby names are drawn from the people, places, and natural features of the American South.

Space Baby Names

There are cool star names like Uma and Bono, and then there are the even more extreme astronomical star and constellation names, which might appeal to parents looking for baby boy or girl names that are unique and celestial—in other words, a heavenly name.

Spiritual Baby Names

Spiritual baby names suggest qualities we'd all like our children to aspire to and fit our new definition of cool. While they seem as if they can work for both genders, most spiritual baby names have been veering toward the feminine side. A few, such as Trinity, Destiny, Sky, and Genesis, are already staples on the girls' popularity lists.

Strong Boy Names That Mean Power

Powerful boy names might be those that literally mean power or strength, such as Andrew and Ethan, or those that simply sound macho: Rock is an exaggerated example.

Superhero Names

Superhero baby names take their inspiration from the superheroes of the large and small screen and the pages of comic books. You are probably not going to name your baby Black Panther or Spiderwoman, but you may want to use some of the names of superheroes used in their "real" lives. And lest you think all superhero names are dramatic and outrageous like Flash and Belladonna, there are plenty of superheroes with more conventional names, such as Aurora and Luke.

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:

Unique High-Energy Baby Names

Energetic baby names are bright, bold, brave names with a real sense of mischief and fun! Along with names with dynamic meanings, like Dart, Dash and Moxie, there are also plenty of cool baby names which simply sound charged full of energy, like Calypso, Maximus, Oona and Bellamy.

Urban Prairie Names

Urban Prairie is the hottest new style on the fashion runways, and one that translates perfectly to baby names. These names are a little bit city and a little bit country, sophisticated yet artless, traditional yet edgy, so far out they're very very in.

Yupster Baby Names for Boys

Yupsters -- a blend of yuppies and hipsters -- prefer baby names that are to the left of the most popular list but far to the right of most choices on this site. The Yupster Baby Names are classic as well as cool, embodying style along with history. The only problem is that you may hear them far more than you want to in the years to come.

Yupster Baby Names for Girls

Yupsters -- a blend of yuppies and hipsters -- prefer baby names that are to the left of the most popular list but far to the right of most choices on this site. The Yupster Baby Names are classic as well as cool, embodying style along with history. The only problem is that you may hear them far more than you want to in the years to come.