Fabric & Textile Names

This flower name was one of the most popular in her class in the seventies and eighties, a fact reflected in the 1989 movie Heathers, in which every snobby girl in the high school clique bears the name. Now, though still pretty and evocative of the Scottish moors, it has faded in favor of other purplish blooms. It fell out of the Top 1000 in 2016 after having been as high as Number 3 in 1975, when it was given to close to 25,000 girls. Across the pond in the UK however, it remains near the latter end of the Top 1000.

In the nineties there was a "One Life to Live" soap opera character named Suede, but few fans picked up on it. Now however, parents may be reconsidering Suede, given its similarity in sound to Sage, Wade, and Zade and the recent interest in Denim, and unique word names more generally.

Originally a feminine of John, Jean was popular in Scotland long before it found favor elsewhere, and had its most shining moment here in the era of Jean Harlow (born Harlean), ultimate symbol of silver screen glamour. Now, though there are many grandmas and even moms with the name, it doesn't seem all that baby-friendly. Though that could change, and Jean could join Jane.

For a name related to a Scottish town, a patterned Indian fabric, and a country singer named Brad, Paisley has seen remarkable success. After appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, it is now an American favorite.

A unique combination of a surname feel and dainty femininity. It's currently associated with actress Lacey Chambert.

As Tyler has begun to recede, a number of parents, including the Wayne Gretzkys, have cut straight to the livelier short form.

Velvet is a name that couldn't possibly be softer or more luxuriant. Many people have fond memories of it via the character of Velvet Brown, played by the young Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, an intrepid young woman willing to masquerade as a boy to race her horse in a dangerous steeplechase.

An established place name, associated with a sunny island in the English Channel, the Garden State in the US, knitted pullovers, reality TV, and a Broadway musical. It peaked in the late 2000s and though it is now in decline, 130 girls and nearly 50 boys received the name in 2023.

-ey meaning "island". Alternative theories suggest it comes from jarl ,meaning "earl" or hjǫr meaning "sword".

A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago.

Cashmere is soft, luxurious -- and way out of the ordinary. One of the unique names found in The Hunger Games series.

The name of a French city famous for its fine lace. Another association: Chantilly cream – a sweetened whipped cream apparently invented there in the 17th century by a chef at the Château de Chantilly. The town probably takes is name from the Gallo-Roman personal name Cantilius, derived from a word for "white".

With Levi in vogue and country names on trend, Denim could fit in among the Waylons, Walkers, Coltons, and Rhetts. As a boys name, it brings to mind the qualities of the fabric: hardworking, cool and versatile. Singer Toni Braxton chose this name for her son in 2001, and parents have been using it for boys and girls ever since.

Nice Scottish sound, but too tied to sweaters and socks.

A name heard in Puritan times -- Cotton Mather was a minister involved in the Salem witchcraft trials -- which really deserves modern consideration as it blends nature and softness into a really trendy and wearable masculine name.

Weaver, which made an appearance as a first name on the U.S. Top 1000 in the late 19th century and then vanished, may rise again along with its occupational brethren, from already-popular choices such as Cooper and Parker to au courant ones like Archer to occupational hotties of the future, including Booker and Sayer.

High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.

Silky is a delicate female name that embodies softness and luxury. Derived from the English word for smooth, lustrous fabric, the name evokes a sense of elegance and refined grace. While uncommon as a traditional first name, Silky has seen occasional use as a nickname or modern given name, particularly in English-speaking countries and parts of India. The name appeals to parents seeking something tactile and sensory with positive connotations of comfort and beauty. Silky's informal, approachable quality gives it a contemporary feel while maintaining its feminine associations with smoothness and refinement.

Sensuous to a fault.

Raschel is a feminine name that appears to be a creative variation of Rachel, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'ewe' or 'female sheep.' This modified spelling may be influenced by the fabric name 'raschel,' a type of knitted material, giving the traditional name a more contemporary feel. While classic Rachel has maintained steady popularity throughout the decades, Raschel remains quite uncommon, offering distinctiveness while still connecting to the biblical heritage of the original name. The unusual spelling creates a subtle difference in pronunciation possibility, potentially emphasizing the second syllable. Parents might choose this variation seeking a familiar name with a unique twist, maintaining the gentle qualities associated with Rachel while standing apart from more common spellings.