justthinkin's list "Experimental and Unisex Names for Boys" of 20 great name ideas: Rue - Aqua!

Experimental and Unisex Names for Boys

Off-beat and/or not "all-boy" names I see appeal in. Many middles and some wearable firsts.

Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and trending upwards in the US, it is nevertheless still given to a handful of boys each year. It could equally work as a nickname for a Ruben, Rudy, or a Rupert. 

A new unisex word name with a lot of charm, especially appropriate for the child of writers. Soleil Moon Frye named her second baby boy Story and Jenna Elfman called her son Story Elias.


Story

Taurean likely derives from the Latin 'taurus' meaning 'bull,' and relates to the astrological sign Taurus (April 20-May 20). The name emerged in usage primarily in the 1970s and gained modest popularity through the 1990s in the United States. The astrological connection gives the name a cosmic significance that appeals to parents interested in zodiac associations. The suffix '-ean' creates a masculine-sounding name with a classical feel, similar to names like Julian or Adrian. Taurean has a distinctive sound and spelling that set it apart from more common names while remaining relatively straightforward to pronounce. The bull symbolism may also suggest strength and steadfastness, traditional masculine virtues that might add to the name's appeal. While never among the most popular names, Taurean has maintained consistent usage across diverse communities, particularly among those drawn to names with celestial or astrological connections.

Taurean

Also Anglicized as Dara and also spelled Daire in its native form, Darragh has an undeniably rugged appeal. It's used for both girls and boys in Ireland, but it's very popular in particular for boys.

Darragh

Bright and energetic, Neon seems like it would be a modern coinage, borrowed from neon lights. 

Instead, Neon is found way back in Ancient Greece. The lights are named for neon gas, discovered in 1898 and named because it was new. 

Neon was also as recently as the 1940s and 1950s, mostly for boys. 

Today parents would probably opt for Neo or Nova, but Neon feels both vintage and space age - an interesting combination! This may be one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/n">boy names starting with N</a> ripe for discovery.

Neon

Cerulean is just beginning to be heard as a name thanks to its distinctive sounds and the appealing electric-sky-blue it evokes. Reminiscent of Ocean, Aurelian, Cyrus, and Caspian, it was given to just 5 babies in 2024, but that could change in coming years.
 
Made more familiar by T.J Klune's popular novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, the name was also fittingly chosen by fashion and lifestyle blogger Courtney Quinn — known as @colormecourtney and "queen of color". She shared the announcement on social media in 2024, and even took the time to explain her choice, noting that: Cerulean was Pantone's first ever color in the year 2000; features heavily in a favorite movie monologue from The Devil Wears Prada; gives the nicknames Rue, Leon, Sir, and Mr Blue Sky; and has both a sunny and celestial energy to it.
 
Courtney Quinn sells it well and even provides both cute and grounded nicknames, so perhaps this bright and intriguing name might find its way onto more parents' lists.

Cerulean

A fun and confident choice, Holiday is a celebratory name, particularly associated with Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, and New Year, and with rest, leisure, and vacations more generally. Fitting for a winter baby, but totally sunny too, it comes from the Old English hāligdæg meaning "holy day" as it was originally used to mark religious festivals and celebrations.
 
A quietly used option since the 50s, jazz singer Billie Holiday lends the name an element of glamor too, while familiar nickname Holly keeps it grounded. In a recent count, just 21 girls were called Holiday in the US, making this a rare choice that doesn't sound too out there.

Holiday

Succinct and to the point, Joss may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Jude, Jesse, Jem, and Ozzy. Brought into the spotlight by Joss Whedon , creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and various Marvel movies, it has never been hugely popular in the US, given to a small handful of babies each year -- though recent controversy surrounding the filmmaker may put future parents off.
 
Derived from Jocelyn, referring to an Old Germanic tribe, or from the Biblical Joseph, it nevertheless could make a cool, one-syllable option for boys.

Joss

A shimmering day name, with a bit of hippie residue. 

Light

The girls have Apple, Plum, Peaches, Cherry, and Berry: here's one variety of fruit suitable for a boy. 

Quince

If you've rejected all the names on earth, you might move on to the sixth planet from the sun, also the Roman god of agriculture and plenty, and the origin of Saturday.

Saturn

Seren, meaning "star", is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">top girls' names</a> in Wales, but as a boys' name it has a different derivation. It's a rare Polish form of the Latin Serenus, mostly used to refer to the Saint and meaning "serene". It could make for a handsome and almost unknown alternative to rising star Soren.

Seren

Similar to Andrew, but with a refreshingly different origin and meaning, Andri is a charming Icelandic name, derived from an old word for "ski", "skier", or "snowshoe", making it a wonderfully, wintery choice. A notable bearer is footballer Andri Guðjohnsen.
 
It may occasionally be used as a variation of Andriy, Andrea, Andre, Andrew, Andreas, and so on.

Andri

Bliss might once have seemed a far-out choice, but it has been on the rise for girls in recent years, alongside similar options such as Dream, Heaven, Halo, and Blessing. Associated with a state of perfect happiness and with spiritual blessedness, it holds both religious and secular appeal.
 
While the name remains rare for boys in the US, it is beginning to see quiet use, with 9 boys called Bliss in the latest stats. Beyond the US, however, Bliss is used as a masculine or unisex name in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe. 
 
Similar in feel to Halo, Sincere, Truce, and Chosen, it may, for now, be easier for a boy to wear in the middle spot, though this could change in the future.

Bliss

Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).

The word solstice is derived from the Old French and Latin term meaning "point at which the sun seems to stand still." There are pagan celebrations around the time of the winter and summer solstices, June 21 and December 21, the longest and shortest days of the year, which makes Solstice one of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for babies born in December</a> or June.

Solstice

In Welsh, a diminutive of Iorwerth. As a Japanese name, Iori stands alone.

Iori

An unusual name related to the willow family.

Salix

Astrological name retains a hippielike Age of Aquarius feel.

Aquarius

This evocative name of a dramatic tropical Indian fig tree is ready to move west. 

Banyan

One of the new color names that is catching on, invoking a calm, blue-green-sea feeling. 