Nature, Place and Word Names
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American Baby Names
American baby names come from a range of sources, just like Americans themselves. There are Native American baby names, American place names for babies, names important in American history and namesakes for American heroes and artists, and baby names invented by Americans and used primarily in the US. Here, a selection of what might be thought of as American baby names.
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Baby Names with Animal Meanings
Animal baby names, a subset of the ever-more-popular nature names, sometimes come out and state themselves clearly -- Fox, Lark -- and sometimes are only revealed via their root meaning. This list of animal baby names contains both types. Also note: We're light on bird names since we include the complete variety in their own list.
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Biblical Place Names
Biblical place names relate not to the people in the Bible but the physical places. Can these ancient place names work as contemporary baby names? We say yes.
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Big Apple Baby Names
These baby names capture everything that is New York. From New York landmarks and streets to notable New Yorkers, get inspired by these big time picks from the most populous city in the US.
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Bird Baby Names
One of the hottest of the hot nature categories is the Bird Baby Names, all the way from Birdie to Wren.
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Celestial Baby Names
Celestial baby names include those of planets and their satellites, constellations and single stars. That adds up to a whole galaxy of celestial baby names to choose from. For even more ideas, read our blog on celestial names.
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Christmas Baby Names
Expecting a Christmas baby, or just want a name that connotes the magical season? Here, our collection of Christmas baby names. See our blog for even more Christmas baby names.
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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:
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Color Names for Babies
Using color names for babies started with Amber, then Rose drove the point home. Now color names have exploded beyond these once cool favorites to include hues from the obvious -- Violet and Scarlett -- to the most exotic, from Azure to Zinc. The full spectrum:
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Coolest Baby Names That Aren't Really Names
The coolest baby names sometimes aren't names at all. 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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Day Names
The ancient tradition of day-naming -- choosing a name from the day of the week, the month, the season or holiday, or even a time of day -- feels fresh again now. Here, examples of day names that could work as modern baby names,.
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Easter Baby Names
Expecting an Easter baby? These baby names refer to the springtime holiday, including international names for Easter, Easter flowers, biblical personages connected with the holiday, or Easter's symbolism of rebirth.
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Flower Names for Girls
Flower names for girls were first popular around the turn of the last century and have started to bloom again as modern baby names. Flower names that work for babies range from the exotic from Amaryllis to Zinnia to the everyday, such as Daisy, Lily, and Rose. Flower baby names can suit every taste and sensibility, from the vintage to the modern, the unique to the familiar. Here, a large collection of flower names for girls.
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French Word Names
The parent in search of truly distinctive baby names has to move farther than ever away from the established roster. One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward international word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for French, Italian, and Spanish words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive baby names, and here are some French choices. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.
Here, some French baby names fashioned from French words for your consideration:
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Fruit Baby Names
Fruit baby names have come to the fore as a new species of nature names thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow's little Apple Martin. Exploring further, here are some of today's possible fruit baby names.
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Inspirational Baby Names
Baby names with inspirational meanings or from spiritual sources strike an uplifting chord. Inspirational baby names include:
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Italian Word Names
One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward foreign-word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for Italian words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive Italian baby names. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.
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Jewel Baby Names
Jewel names were popular a century ago and they're back in style now as baby names. Among the jewel names you might want to consider for your little gem, er, girl, are:
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Mineral & Metal Baby Boy Names
Mineral and metal baby boy names are hard-edged choices that impart a new brand of masculinity.
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Musical Baby Names
Musical baby names can be soothing, lyrical, rhythmic, rousing, and melodious. Here, some musical baby names you might want to consider.
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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. Click on individual names for more information on what makes them mystical!
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Names for Autumn Babies
For those expecting a fall baby, there are a flurry of colorful autumn-inspired choices. Here are some of the most inspired picks for autumn baby names:
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Nature Baby Names
Nature baby names come from several categories: flower names, tree names, water, weather, and animal names. The popularity of nature names has risen along with the green movement, which has made us more appreciative of all things connected with nature. We have also seen a rise in nature baby names as parents look for names beyond the usual first name boundaries. Here are some of the coolest nature baby names for girls and boys today.
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New York Neighborhood Names
Brooklyn is, of course, the most widely used of these choices, but Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz recently added baby name Bronx to the mix and there are lots of other intriguing New York-themed baby names here.
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Occupational Baby Names
Occupational baby names, most of them originally surnames to describe the person's job, have taken on significant style value over the past years and are destined to rise even further. Think of them as the surname-names or place-names of the future. Most of these baby names work best for boys, but can cross over to the girls' side.
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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.
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Place Names for Babies
Place names for babies come from all over the globe and can include city, state, country, even mountain and ocean names. Here, the most popular place names from around the world used for both girls and boys. For more exotic choices, see our list of Place Names Off The Map.
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Place Names Off The Map
The coolest place names are those that are undiscovered. Some place names can be used for boys, but most of the cool place names work best for baby girls. Here are some choices on (and off) the map.
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Precious Baby Names
These baby names drawn from gems and other precious materials might be right for your little treasure.
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Southern Baby Names
There's something about the South that says charm, hospitality and courtesy. This list of Dixie baby names may inspire a choice for your southern belle or gentleman.
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Spanish Word Names
The parent in search of truly distinctive baby names has to move farther than ever away from the established roster. One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward foreign-word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for French, Italian, and Spanish words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive baby names, and here are some Spanish ideas. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.
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Spice (& Other Food) Baby Names
Apple launched the trend toward food-oriented baby names, with lots of tasty names joining the menu.
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Spring Baby Names
Spring has sprung in the world of baby names. For your springtime baby, or just to represent the season's lively qualities, consider these baby names that mean or relate to spring.
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State Capital Baby Names
Baby names that reference state capitals might make your little girl or boy feel extra important and one-of-a-kind. The state capital baby names include:
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Summer Baby Names
Summer is one of the nicest times of year to have a baby, the warm weather and slow pace making it that much easier to relax into new motherhood. Here is a list of baby names that summon the season, from nature to the ocean to the gemstones of summer months:
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Tree Baby Names
Tree baby names are just one branch of the nature names growing in popularity, with many original choices, especially for boys.
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Unique Baby Names
Unique baby names are literally one-of-a-kind, but a unique name may also mean one that is unusual, cool, and distinctive. In fact, when people refer to unique baby names today, they usually mean a name that stands out from the crowd, that departs from tradition and that may have a unique spelling or pronunciation. But unique names for babies can also be place names, word names, 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. Nameberry offers thousands of unique names: Here are some of the best to get you started.
Want more more more unique names for your baby? See all the lists of unique baby names.
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Unusual Nature Baby Names
A few nature baby names are mainstream, like Lily and RIver, but many more lie off the beaten track. Here, some of the most unusual baby names drawn from nature.
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Virtue Names
Virtue names, favored by the Puritans, represent qualities we should embody or at least aspire to. Virtue names that can work as modern baby names include:
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Water Baby Names
Nature baby names are hot in general; water names are cool and refreshing.
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Weather Baby Names
Weather baby names are a branch of nature names that reference the -- well, the weather! Some have direct weather meanings while others have a more subtle connection to the weather -- Eira, for instance, is a Welsh name that means snow, and Makani is Hawaiian for wind. Here are some weather baby names for you to consider.
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Winter Baby Names
Here, inspirational winter baby names for the child born when the snow is falling and the weather is chill. Along with Winter itself, you might consider these winter baby names:
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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, we gather some of the most intriguing here.
