Names that sound more like words

  1. Tempest
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "turbulent, stormy"
    • Description:

      Tempest is one of those names that could go either way. Cool, evocative modern word name? Or asking for trouble? Your call, but if you decide the former image is dominant, be warned that some people will see it as the latter.
  2. Breaker
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      One of the aggressive new boys' names, ala Tracker and Heller, that have become fashionable among parents who are courting trouble.
  3. Bay
    • Origin:

      English word, Old English
    • Meaning:

      "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
    • Description:

      Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"
  4. Abacus
    • Origin:

      Greek word name
    • Description:

      A mathematical possibility, but the odds are against it.
  5. Charity
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "charity"
    • Description:

      Charity is one of the Big Three abstract virtue names, along with Hope and Faith, though far less widely used than the others. But as Faith, Grace and Hope grow more common, some parents are beginning to look at the more unusual three-syllable choices like Verity, Amity, Clarity and Charity, which sound much fresher and also have that pleasingly rhythmic 'y'-ending sound.
  6. Tuesday
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "Tiu's Day,"
    • Description:

      When actress Susan Ker Weld changed her name to Tuesday, she opened up a whole calendar of possibilities. This was decades before the arrival of Sunday Rose Urban.
  7. Mercy
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "compassion"
    • Description:

      The quality of mercy makes this lovely Puritan virtue name a quiet favorite today. Although it was most popular in the late nineteenth century, Mercy is on its way to a comeback -- it rose 143 spots between 2012 and 2013, making it one of the year's fastest-rising names. Right now, it's still stylish and distinctive, a rare and wonderful combination.
  8. Rogue
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "independent, uncontrolled"
    • Description:

      Now that names like Cannon and Gunner, fit for comic book heroes, are rising up, Rogue may fit right in.
  9. Tiger
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "animal name"
    • Description:

      Other wild animals like Fox, Wolf and Bear are catching on as baby names, and Tiger is a rarer option with several famous namesakes, including golf champ Tiger Woods, who was born Eldrick. Other famous Tigers include Indian actor Tiger Shroff, born Jai, and British actor Tyger Drew-Honey, who spells his name with a Y.
  10. Crash
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "colliding violently; sudden loud sound"
    • Description:

      Crash is a particularly calamitous entry in the badass boys' name category, taking Wilder and Maverick one -- or maybe a dozen -- steps further. But we can think of at least a dozen reasons you shouldn't name your baby Crash: crash test dummies, car crashes, economic crash, crashing out, just to name a few
  11. Diamond
    • Origin:

      Word name, English from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "diamond"
    • Description:

      Diamond sparkled all through the nineties--reaching as high as Number 150 in 1999. Although its shine has diminished quite a bit, it remains in use.
  12. Ocean
    • Origin:

      English, nature name
    • Description:

      Ocean is a nature name that comes right out and states its meaning and association. Full of power and depth, Ocean is one of the fastest-rising baby names for both girls and boys, making the US Top 1000 for both genders in 2021. Oceane, the version that's trendy in France, was used for only 11 baby girls in the US in the same year. Ocean-lovers who want to be less obvious can choose such subtler names that mean ocean as Jennifer or Marissa, but coming right out and using Ocean is a perfectly valid way to go.
  13. Princess
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      Part of the trend for formerly canine royal names; this is one a little girl might love—up till the age of eight.
  14. Patience
    • Origin:

      Latin virtue name
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  15. Clemency
    • Origin:

      English feminine variation of Clement, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "mild, merciful"
    • Description:

      One of the rarest of virtue names, Clemency could come back along with the more familiar Puritan virtue names such as Hope and Faith. It has a rhythmic three-syllable sound, and offers a more virtuous alternative to the more popular Clementine.
  16. Prince
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "chief, prince"
    • Description:

      Prince rose to its highest ranking in a century in 2015, and the tragic death of its most famous bearer in April 2016 propelled it even higher. The Purple Rain legend isn't its only tie to pop royalty: Michael Jackson chose it for not one but two of his sons. Royal names such as King and Prince, once thought of as canine, have begun to be used by human non-royals for their sons.
  17. Mahogany
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "rich, strong"
    • Description:

      Dark, woody name that's brings to mind rich panelling, beautiful colors and luxury.
  18. Shooter
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "person who fires a gun; member of a sports team who scores goals"
    • Description:

      More than 300 babies have been named Shooter in the US since 2002, which, depending on who you ask, is arguably about 300 too many. One of the violent names for boys that have gained traction in recent years, the most optimistic view perhaps is that parents were thinking about sports or honoring a family connection to the militiary when choosing this name.
  19. Dancer
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "someone who dances"
    • Description:

      A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.
  20. Spring
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Spring doesn't sound half as contemporary as Winter, which has become the cool season name.

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