unisex names
- Anwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"very fair, beautiful"Description:
Anwen is one of the simplest and best of the classic Welsh girls' names, more unusual than Bronwen but with the same serene feel.
- Sky
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Sky may be a bit hippie-ish, but it's bright and sunny nonetheless. Sky rejoined the Top 1000 in 2013 after spending many years off the list. Sky was the choice of magician David Copperfield for his daughter, born in 2010.
- Bo
Origin:
Norse nicknameMeaning:
"to live"Description:
This tiny but punchy name has multiple origins. It stands strong alone, but could be short for numerous names including Bonnie and Bodhi. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
- Kim
Origin:
English diminutive of Kimberly; Vietnamese; Scandinavian diminutive of Joachima; Soviet nameDescription:
Kim was the coolest name... of the 1960s. Kim was popularized by actress Kim Novak, and its energy is still maintained by rapper Lil' Kim, but it holds lil' or no appeal for new babies. Parents who like Kim's short, sweet sound might look to a choice such as Sam, Lou, or Belle.
- Crimson
Origin:
Color nameMeaning:
"rich deep red"Description:
Crimson could be a possible competitor for Scarlett's success, though it's lacking that Johansson charm.
- Leigh
Origin:
English variation of LeeMeaning:
"pasture, meadow"Description:
This spelling adds a little more femininity to the neutral Lee. Leigh and sister Lee were quite popular in the 1960s and 1970s among the first cool wave of unisex names for girls, but now have vanished from the Top 1000. The Biblical Leah is preferred.
- Henley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"high meadow"Description:
The name of a British town on the Thames that hosts a famous regatta, so it could be an appropriate middle name for the son of boat-lovers.
- Lake
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would make a particularly cool and refreshing middle name, as Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady did for daughter Vivian.
- Aiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beloved child"Description:
Aiko is a very common Japanese name with a lovely meaning that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.
- Ali
Origin:
Short form of Alison or Alice or ArabicMeaning:
"supreme, exalted"Description:
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own.
- Sidney
Origin:
English from FrenchMeaning:
"Saint Denis"Description:
While Sidney in this spelling has a long history as a girls' name, it fell off the Top 1000 from the early 50s until 1990. Then it reemerged as one of the newly chic androgynous names for girls, rising into the Top 300 before falling off the Top 1000 list again in 2016. Sydney is now the more fashionable form.
- October
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"month name"Description:
What is so rare as a month named June? October – and November and December – are a lot rarer. Brisk and substantial, they're so much more memorable and modern than April or May. October got its name via being the eighth month in the old Roman calendar. Some related, more feminine variations are Octavia and Ottavia.
- Bristol
Origin:
Place-nameMeaning:
"the site of the bridge"Description:
Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, grabbed her own share of headlines after her pregnancy and having appearing on Dancing With The Stars. She subsequently (almost) single-handedly propelled her distinctive name, derived from the name of a city in England, into the Top 1000 and up the charts.
- Kay
Origin:
English, diminutive of Katherine, GreekMeaning:
"pure"Description:
Kay, a cigarette-smoking, nightclubbing name of the 1930's, could be ready for a comeback along with cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae.
- Nicola
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Nicola may be more familiar as a female name in English-speaking countries, but it's a popular classic choice for Italian baby boys – currently just outside the Top 50 there. A historic bearer is Nicola Pisano, a renowned and influential thirteenth century sculptor.
- Madigan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little dog"Description:
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
- Auden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old friend"Description:
A softly poetic surname name, associated with poet W.H., Auden is enjoying quiet but marked fashion status. It was chosen for his daughter by Noah Wyle and is definitely one to watch.
- Iman
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"faith"Description:
One of the best-known African names in the Western World because of the Somali-born model and wife of the late David Bowie.
- Patience
Origin:
Latin virtue nameMeaning:
"ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"Description:
Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's and 2000s, having been absent for a century.
- Loran
Description:
Loran is a versatile masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Latin 'Laurentius' meaning 'from Laurentum' or 'crowned with laurel,' or it might be an anglicized form of the Irish name Labhrán. The name also has connections to LORAN (Long Range Navigation), a radio navigation system. In some European contexts, it appears as a variant of Laurent or Lorenzo. Loran strikes a balance between familiar and distinctive, with a strong, straightforward sound. While never extremely common, it saw modest usage in the United States during the mid-20th century. The name carries connotations of strength and clarity, perhaps influenced by its navigational associations.
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