Lucky Names

Bamboo is a plant name that you might want to save for the zoo's name-the-panda contest. It was used for a starbaby in 2000, though, the rapper Big Boi.

Once a cavalier Mississippi gambler type name, Chance has entered the mainstream since being endorsed by such celebrity dads as Larry King and Paul Hogan. Chance the Rapper has also boosted the name's popularity.

A lucky word name that started to rise out of obscurity in the 2010s. Like Dream and True, Charm could be just one celebrity baby away from becoming a big trend. In fact, the Australian YouTube family, The Norris Nuts have a daughter/sister called Charm, born in 2019, after which the number of Charms born in the US increased by 40%. Given to 88 girls in a recent year it is probably more popular than people think.

Clover is a charming, perky choice if you want to move beyond hothouse blooms like Rose and Lily, and it's recently become a new celeb favorite, chosen by both Neal McDonough and Natasha Gregson Wagner, who used it to honor her mother, Natalie Wood, one of whose most iconic films was Inside Daisy Clover.

Strictly for a Vegas baby.

Felicity is as accessible a virtue name as Hope and Faith, but much more feminine -- and dare we say, happier. The hit TV show did a lot to soften and modernize the once buttoned-up image of Felicity, and it got further notice as the red-haired Colonial doll, Felicity Merriman, in the American Girl series. A current bearer is actress Felicity Huffman.

Felix is one of those ancient but nontraditional names for boys that have come into favor over the past few decades, a favorite of parents who want a masculine name with history and heft that breaks ranks with the standard Franks and Freds. Felix is also an international darling, ranking in the Top 100 in several European and English-speaking countries.

The Roman goddess Fortuna personified luck and ruled over fortune and fate. She is often depicted as blindfolded, and remains an important figure in Italian culture today, where a common saying translates to "Luck is blind."

Brimming over with a sense of good fortune. Could make a little girl feel very lucky.

Fortune is a middle name choice designed to generate good luck and prosperity.

A contemporary sounding word name with an ancient history, widely used in the Roman Empire, and based on the mythic goddess of good luck and fertility.

The name of the Hindu elephant-headed god of success and wisdom, son of Shiva and Parvati.

Luxe baby name that could easily fit in among children named Onyx and Emerald. Goldie is a rising choice for girls.

Golde is a feminine name with Yiddish origins that literally means 'gold' or 'golden.' This precious metal association gives the name connotations of value, preciousness, and warmth. Popular in Jewish communities, particularly in Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Golde was often given to girls in hopes they would bring brightness and prosperity to their families. While not widely used in contemporary mainstream culture, it remains valued in traditional Jewish families. The name gained some recognition from the character Golde in the musical 'Fiddler on the Roof,' portraying a strong, traditional matriarch. It carries both historical significance and symbolic beauty.

Goldie is a shimmering new addition to the nickname name lineup, and became one of the fastest rising girl names in 2023. After peaking at Number 114 in 1904-1905, Goldie slid off the list completely in 1958. She re-entered the US Top 1000 again in 2021.

Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.

Often heard in India, this is the name of the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity, the embodiment of grace and charm --lucky omens indeed. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped daily in Hindu homes, and has festivals held in her honor.

Luck is a masculine name that embodies the concept of good fortune and favorable circumstances. Derived from Middle English and Old English roots, it originated as a nickname for someone considered fortunate or blessed with success. While uncommon as a first name throughout history, Luck carries powerful positive connotations related to chance, destiny, and prosperity. In contemporary usage, Luck remains a rare choice for boys, appealing to parents drawn to short, meaningful word-names with optimistic qualities. As a given name, it projects confidence and positivity, suggesting someone destined for good things.

Cedric the Entertainer chose this for his daughter, but most other parents would find it, though optimistic, not exactly substantial.