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Unique and cool sounding names

  1. Crosby

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "village with crosses"

    • Description:

      Crosby is an attractively laid-back Irish surname with retro musical associations to Bing and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and with a jaunty air. Crosby Braverman was the name of a character on the TV show Parenthood, played by Dax Shepard.
  2. Marlon

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "little hawk"

    • Description:

      Associated for half a century with Marlon Brando, who inherited the French-inflected name from his father, Marlon has been especially well used by African-Americans, including the Jackson and Wayans families. Though heard much less now than it was in the seventies, this could change as parents look to the names of old Hollywood stars.
  3. Blake

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired, dark"

    • Description:

      The unisex Blake, which indeed has two conflicting meanings, has a briskly efficient image when used for a girl.
  4. Remington

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "place on a riverbank"

    • Description:

      Remington Steele was the perfect name for an upper-crust action hero on 1980s television. Now, Remington is catching fire along with a new generation of predatory baby boy names such as Hunter, Gunner, and Colt. Or you might consider it a unisex namewith a buttoned-up British feel and the friendly short form Rem or Remy.
  5. Wiley

    • Origin:

      Scottish diminutive of William, German, English

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection; from Wylye"

    • Description:

      Wiley is a perfectly appropriate way to spell the Scottish name also known as Wylie. Given all the babies named William and Liam today, Wiley or Wylie can be a wonderful variation that's more distinctive but still honors Grandpa Bill. Wiley might also be considered an Attitude Name, given that its other meaning lends it a lot of sass.
  6. Misha

    • Origin:

      Russian, diminutive of Mikhail

    • Description:

      Misha was a boys' name with a soft feminine sound and vowel ending until actress Mischa Barton turned it to the girls' side. Now Misha, like Sasha, works as well in either spelling for girls and boys. Misha might be a way to update Michelle or Micaela.
  7. Dot

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Dorothy

    • Description:

      Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
  8. Sailor

    • Origin:

      Occupational name

    • Description:

      Supermodel Christie Brinkley launched an entire name genre when she picked this breezy occupational name for her daughter in 1998, and it has become more prevalent in recent decades. The Saylor version, which you might consider a spelling spin or a surname-name, is now among the Top 500 names for girls, given to three times as many baby girls as the Sailor spelling. Counted together, Saylor and Sailor were used for about 1000 baby girls in one recent year in the US, versus about 100 boys.
  9. Emeline

    • Origin:

      French form of German Amelina

    • Meaning:

      "work"

    • Description:

      An old name, with a history separate from Emily and Emma and a different kind of vintage feel, that's a possible alternative to top-of-the-pops names. More common spelling is Emmeline.
  10. Mirabelle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "marvelous"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a fresher belle name than Isabelle, Mirabelle is lovely, and we also like the extra flourish of Mirabella. And if you want a nature tie, Mirabelle is also the name of a delicate French plum.
  11. Rigby

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ridge farm"

    • Description:

      Rigby is a rather stiff British surname, which might call to mind the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" or, from the recent past, Cathy Rigby, the first American woman to win a medal in World Gymnastics competition. The problem with Rigby may be its similarity to the word "rigid."
  12. Rebel

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "rebel"

    • Description:

      Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest girls' names starting with the letter R.
  13. Digby

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "town by the ditch"

    • Description:

      Digby is a place-name in Lincolnshire turned surname turned quirky first name that is starting to get some attention.
  14. Brenner

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "to burn"

    • Description:

      Brenner is an occupational surname for both a charcoal burner and a distiller of spirits. One of the least used of occupational surnames, it has that 'er' ending that definitely adds to its stylishness; a possible successor to Brendan.
  15. Dannika

    • Description:

      Dannika is a feminine name with several possible origins. It's often considered a variation of Danica, which has Slavic roots meaning "morning star" or "Venus." The name also carries connections to the masculine name Dan, with the feminine suffix "-nika" added. The double 'n' spelling gives this version a contemporary feel while maintaining its melodic quality. Dannika strikes a balance between familiarity and uniqueness, recognizable in structure but less common than similar names like Danica or Danielle. The name has gained modest popularity since the late 20th century, particularly appealing to parents seeking a name with Slavic or Eastern European flavor but accessible pronunciation for English speakers. Its connection to the morning star lends it connotations of brightness and hope.