Unusual Names
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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.
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Badass Princess Names
Badass princess is an image that not only appeals to contemporary little girls but to their parents when choosing a name; They are appealing 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 Blue or Bellamy.
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Best Cool Unusual Boys' Names
Here is a list of 100 cool and unusual boy's names with the most potential---they have genuine roots, are attractive, and work in the modern world. Best of all, they're still widely underused! You can also skip directly to our full menu of boys' names or unusual baby names.
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Best Cool Unusual Girls' Names
This is a list of the best, cool unusual girls' names---those that have deep roots, are attractive, and can fit into contemporary life, yet are not on the brink of widespread discovery. And by unusual girls’ names, we mean those used for 25 or fewer baby girls last year. To see more, here is our full menu of girls' names and uinusual names.
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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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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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Boy Names from Africa
African baby names for boys from a range of cultures and tribes include the choices here. For our full list of African baby names, click here.
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Celebrity Surnames as Firsts
Inspired by a fascinating discussion thread started by our own creative berries, here are some celebrity surnames that work well as firsts:
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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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Colonial Names for Boys
Many of the baby names that were widely used during colonial times have fallen out of favor for long enough now to sound fresh and even cool again. If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian and biblical choices we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. The only caveat: The choices are much wider and more appealing for boys than for girls.
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Colonial Names for Girls
Many colonial names have fallen out of favor for long enough now to sound fresh and even cool again. If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian and biblical baby names we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. The only caveat: The choices are much wider and more appealing for boys than for girls.
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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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Cool Baby Names That Start With U
U may be the most underused first initial of the baby naming alphabet. But yes, there are some cool baby names that start with U. Namely:
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Cool Baby Names That Start With Z
Z may be the zippiest, zestiest first initial for baby names around. Here, the wide selection of cool baby names that begin with Z.
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Cool Bible Baby Names
Cool Bible Baby Names are those that move beyond the biblical baby names that have been popular for several decades now. Such previously off-limits Bible names as Moses and Noah are now completely baby-worthy and ever-more-obscure baby names from the Bible are being revived all the time. For more popular Bible names, check the Biblical Baby Names: Most Popular list. Here are the top cool baby names from the Bible.
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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. 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.
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Cool Classic Boys’ Names — 100+ below the Top 1000
These classic boys’ names include choices from ancient cultures and the Bible, names sailing out of style along with those heading in.
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Cool Classic Girls’ Names — 100+ below the Top 1000
Classic baby names are not always popular names. These classic girls' names are also unusual, hiding below the Top 1000.
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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, that make unique baby names for girls.
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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. And 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, Unique Unisex Names
Unisex baby names are both popular and stylish, true, but there are also hundreds of names that work equally well for boys and girls that are also cool and unusual. Here, some of our favorite cool, unique unisex baby names.
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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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Crazy Celebrity Baby Names
Crazy celebrity baby names have been around for a long time, since the Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa era. But now there's a whole new generation of crazy celebrity baby names. These are some of the most outrageous.
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Creative Baby Names: Inspired by Artists
Creative baby names can be found by looking at the names of artists (and architects and designers). These baby names capture the artists' creative spirit, give your child an international role model, and are cool all at the same time. The following list encompasses both first (JASPER Johns) and last (Alexander CALDER) names, which have been drawn from all over the aesthetic map.
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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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Designer Baby Names
Designer kids' clothes these days often have adorable brand names--names that would be equally stylish baby names on your own little boy or girl. Here's a selection of some of the best designer baby names from Agatha to Zella.
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Disney Baby Names
Baby names from Disney films can summon up positive memories. For some of us, watching The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Lady and the Tramp shaped our childhoods. Here is a list of baby names from the classic Disney films of our time:
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Early African-American Names
Early American slave rolls are filled with classical and biblical names designed to show off the slave-owners' education and not normally used for whites; variations of African day names and place-names; along with other unusual names more closely identified over the years with black than white American culture. Some of the most notable:
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Fictional Princess Names
Fictional princess names -- from fairy tales to modern cartoons -- are well-known to little girls, most of whom would be delighted to have one for her very own. Here, the wide range of fictional princess names.
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Film Noir Baby Names
Baby names drawn from film noir or "black film," the genre of Hollywood crime dramas that capture the suspenseful happenings of private eyes in distinct black and white form, tend to be dramatic and rooted in an earlier era. Here, our collection of film noir baby names.
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Finnish Baby Names
Finnish names may look simple, but those double vowels are undeniably exotic to native English speakers. Some prime Finnish baby name examples:
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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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Geezer Names for Girls
Blame it on Sidney. This name, which conjures up images of thick glasses, a snowfall of dandruff on shoulders, and plaid polyester pants pulled up to the sternum, sounds (strangely enough) nothing less than charming, nothing short of cool when applied to a little girl. And so too can the other geezer names here. Caution: Most of these names should not be bestowed on a boy. The world is not yet ready for another generation of male Seymours and Sheldons, although keep in mind that among the hottest boys' names in the UK now are Harvey and Leon.
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Girl Baby Names That End With A
A may be the most fashionable beginning letter for names today, but it's also a hit at the end, especially with girl baby names. From top choices Isabella and Sophia and Olivia to more obscure names, the letter a has feminine appeal. Here, some out-of-the-box a-ending ideas.
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Girl Names from Africa
African names for baby girls hail from all around the continent and offer an exotic yet usable complement of choices. While these are some of our favorites, for even more African baby girl names, go to Supersearch and search by origin.
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Goddess Baby Names
Goddess names, the names of mythological figures from all over the world, seem more baby appropriate now that ever, with the rise of ancient Roman names and the discovery of many antique choices. Baby names for your own little goddess might include the following.
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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. Here are some names that, for a range of reasons, might be considered Gothic. Baby appropriate? In a dark sort of way....
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Hunger Games Baby Names
The Hunger Games trilogy has inspired a post-Harry Potter generation of original baby names. These characters' names, which include elements from ancient history and sci fi, might be right for your literary baby.
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Invented Baby Names
Some parents attempt to come up with a cool name by inventing one of their own. They may alter a too-ordinary name, vary a spelling or a pronunciation, or cobble together several euphonic but previously unrelated syllables. We have heard of a few such invented baby names that may hold some appeal -- a short list follows.
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Italian Baby Girl Names Beyond Rosa & Rosetta
Looking for Italian baby names for a daughter? Here are some fresh choices for your little signorina.
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Jazz Baby Names
The list of jazz baby names, a special subset of musician baby names for both girls and boys, is full of old-school cool.
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Literary Baby Names Inspired by Authors
Literary baby names can be inspired the characters in books or, in the case of the baby names on this list, by the first and last names of authors ranging from Edgar Allan Poe to Zadie Smith. In this category, as always, feel free to look to your personal favorite writers for your baby names inspiration.
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Literary Names for Boys
These literary baby names for boys are derived from characters in books from all genres and periods. Here, a selection of the most distinctive baby names from books. In the literary names category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favorites.
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Literary Names for Girls
These literary baby names for girls are derived from characters in books from all genres and periods. Here, a list of the most distinctive literary baby names for girls. In the literary baby names category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favorites.
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Military Baby Names
Military ranks and weapons--everything is fair game in the struggle to find the right baby name.
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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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Movie Character Names
Movie character names may be the only names cooler than the names of the stars that play them. In fact, with the exception of Jack, which has long seemed to be the name of the male character in every other movie and TV adventure show, characters' names veer from the unusual to the outlandish. A few, such as Trinity from The Matrix, jumped right onto the popularity charts.
For more ideas, check out our lists of TV Character Names and Celebrity-Inspired Baby Names.
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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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Mythological Baby Names for Boys
Baby names inspired by mythological figures are on the rise, inspired by the use of mythological names for boys in the Hunger Games series. The pantheon of Greek and Roman deities and other classical mythological figures can provide an abundant source of audacious baby names, all combining deep history with not-heard-in-a-long-time freshness. Mythological names that might sound right for modern baby boys include:
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Mythological Baby Names for Girls
Mythological baby names for girls can impart both tradition and strength to a child. The pantheon of Greek and Roman deities and other classical mythological figures can provide an abundant source of audacious options, all combining deep history with not-heard-in-a-long-time freshness.
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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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Names from Harry Potter
The names from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are among the most inventive and inspired in literature since Charles Dickens created Pip and Oliver Twist. From Draco Malfoy to Severus Snape, from Hermione to Harry himself, Harry Potter names often hail from history and might inspire names for your modern baby.
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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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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.
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Operatic Baby Names
You don’t have to be an opera buff to appreciate the rich variety of baby names found in the classic repertoire. It’s an especially appealing category because it contains such an interesting mix of languages: there are frilly French female names, unusual Italian mens’ names, as well as some usable German and Russian character names. These range from leads such as Aida and Tristan, to featured players to those with minor roles. So, omitting common names like Amelia, Norma and Susanna, and the more uber-the-top names like Brunhilde, here are some lyrical opera baby names:
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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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Pixar Baby Names
Pixar has a knack for developing characters you can't help but love, Mike Wazowski anyone? Not only does Pixar create some unforgettable characters, but Pixar names can be lovable as baby names too! Here's a list of some of the more interesting character names from Pixar films:
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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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Poet Baby Names
The great poets can provide naming inspiration for both girl and boy babies. Here, some poet baby names to consider.
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Rocker and Rapper Kids' Names
If you call yourself Ludacris or Slash or Flea, chances are you're not gonna name your kid Matthew or Martha or Mike. In fact, rock-and-roll and hip-hop musicians are probably the most imaginative (or outrageous, depending on your point of view) baby namers around, honoring their musical heroes (Thelonious, Lennon, Hendrix), using words as names (Million, Dream, Zeppelin), or just letting their fantasies fly. To wit:
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Roman Names for Boys
Names from Ancient Rome are enjoying a major style revival. Among the Roman choices for boys are the following, all at home in the modern world.
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Roman Names for Girls
Names from Ancient Rome are enjoying a major style revival. Among the Roman choices for girls are the following, all at home in the modern world.
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Russian Baby Boy Names
Russian baby names for boys from the Nameberry database include the choices here. Russian baby names are becoming more international, especially favored in Italy.
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Saints' Names For Boys
It is tradition in the Roman Catholic Church for a child receiving baptism to be given a saints' name. However, even parents who don't find themselves particularly religious have begun to take interest in the rare, uplifting, and sometimes unheard-of names of saints' for their sons and daughters. This list includes the likes of saints' names for boys.
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Saints' Names for Girls
Saints' names are still required for a Roman Catholic baptism, but beyond religious strictures, you might be interested in saints as inspirational namesakes or as a source of unusual ancient names. This list includes a range of saints' names for girls, from the classic to the cool to the rarely-heard.
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Sci-Fi Baby Names
Sci-fi baby names come from the most popular Science Fiction movies, books and television shows. From Star Wars to Blade Runner, here's a list of unique sci-fi baby names.
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Scottish Names for Boys
Scottish names for boys in the Nameberry database include the choices here.
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Scottish Names for Girls
Scottish names for girls found in the Nameberry database include the choices here.
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Shakespearean Names
Shakespearean names were drawn by the Bard from a range of ancient and modern cultures. Many have survived through the ages and are ripe for modern play. Among the Shakespearean names we recommend are the following.
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Soap Opera Baby Names
Baby names from soap operas, inspired by melodramatic characters, often appear on the popularity charts. If you're expecting a dramatic little one, a "soap" name may be right up your alley. Soap opera writers tend to choose names some may consider a bit over the top.
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Spanish Word Names
The parent in search of truly distinctiveSpanish 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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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. Here, some spiritual names that might be right for your baby.
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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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Steampunk Baby Names
The steampunk movement has been inspired by literature and cinema, blending futuristic themes with 19th century Victorian style. Think alternate history meets science fiction entwined with elements of steam power and clockwork. Here is a list of baby names incorporating this unique style.
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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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Supermodel Baby Names
It's not enough that supermodels are skinny, gorgeous, world-revered millionaires. They've got babies, too, and not just ordinary babies, but babies with incredibly cool names. Here is the recent crop of supermodel baby names:
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Supermodel Names
Supermodels provide a real international smorgasbord (excuse the expression, girls) of beautiful baby girl names.
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There's Only One Oprah
There are some celebrity names so singular that the celebrity in question barely needs a last name -- and often doesn't even use one. While a handful of these names start out as one-of-a-kind only to spawn a legion of little namesakes (case in point: Elvis), others remain indelibly linked to the personages who inspired them. Our picks for this distinctive group;
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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 Boy Names
Unique baby names for boys are more widely used now than ever before. Fifty years ago, the Top 20 boys' names represented 41% of all male children; by contrast in 2015, the Top 20 boys' names represented only 14% of all baby boys. Ironically, the greater variety of names being used today means that unique boy names are more likely to be accepted at school or in the workplace. There are lots of ways for names to be unique, from spelling to new creations, but here at Nameberry we're often most inspired by those names which are at once unusual and yet filled with history and meaning. Here is a selection of our current favorite unique names for boys, from A to Z. For even more choices, see our full list of unique baby names.
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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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Unique Baby Names from History
Unique baby names aren't only the new and the invented; there are also many highly unusual names with deep historic roots. Read more about this topic in our blog on unique baby names from history. Here's a selection of the most intriguing.
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Unique Irish Baby Names
Unique baby names and Irish baby names are two groups with plenty of style power, so what happens when you mix the two? Although Irish baby names have become much more popular in the US in recent years, there are still plenty of unique Irish names waiting to be discovered. We nominate these choices for parents looking for baby names that are both Irish and unique, especially in the US.
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Unique Middle Names for Boys
Unique middle names may be a way to add character and distinction to a son's name, especially if his first name is a more traditional name or a conservative family choice. Unique middle names can include word names, place names, surname names, names of heroes from history or the arts. Some unique middle names that work for boys:
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Unique Middle Names for Girls
Unique middle names for girls appeal to even more conservative parents, who may look for an unusual middle name to set their little Emma or Elizabeth apart. Unique middle names may be unusual first names or can also be nature, word, or surname-names. When sifting through unique name choices for the middle, try to find one with personal meaning. If you want even more to choose from, see our full list of unique baby names.
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Unique Vintage Baby Names for Girls
Unique baby names don't have to be new and invented: They can also be vintage names revived from either the near or distant past. These unique vintage baby names for girls all lie outside the Top 1000 but have deep roots and rich histories. In case you're wondering how unique is unique, these names were given to 260 or fewer girls in the US in 2015. Check current statistics to make sure the name you like hasn't hopped back on the list.
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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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Unusual Biblical Baby Names
The Bible is full of names, many of them having grown more popular as baby names over recent years but hundreds of others still unusual. Unusual biblical baby names for boys and girls from both the Old and New Testaments include the following.
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Unusual International Baby Girl Names
There are hundreds of unusual international baby girl names throughout this site. Here's a handful of the most appealing.
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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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Vampire Baby Names
Vampire baby names from the world of books, television, and movies are hot right now. Whether you're a vampire fan or just looking to have some fun, here are some vampire baby names you might find inspirational.
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Werewolf Baby Names
Interested in a werewolf name for your little, um, monster? Check out our blog on werewolf baby names or consult the list here.
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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.
