Androgynous Fairy Tale Names
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Knights errant, lush moss, dark waters, high towers, and ripe goblin fruit. These names have it all.
- Finn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fair or white"Description:
Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity.
- Robin
Origin:
Bird name; or English, diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 boys names in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.
- Everett
Origin:
English variation of the German EberhardMeaning:
"brave as a wild boar"Description:
Everett is a preppy but outdoorsy name, with wintery New England vibes. In the last decade, it’s had a leap in popularity, perhaps because of its similarity to trendy girls’ names like Ava and Scarlett, or perhaps because it offers a fresh alternative to 90’s style Evan and Brett.
- Wren
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"small bird"Description:
Wren may not be as time-honored a bird name choice as Robin or even Lark, but it's more fashionable and fresh, with a gentle and earthy vibe.
- Ambrose
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
Gentle but grandiose and beloved by British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose was a fast rising name in 2022. Entering the UK Top 1000 for the first time and proving popular among Nameberry users, its elegance, softness, and vintage style means it fits in with popular Theodore, Sebastian, and Jeremiah.
- Arden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley of the eagle; high"Description:
Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In recent US statistics, 51 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.
- Gael
Origin:
BretonMeaning:
"Gaelic"Description:
This cross-cultural name, found in Wales, Brittany, and Spain, is a surprise star in the U.S in recent years, largely thanks to actor Gael Garcia Bernal. Also written as Gaël, it's a popular choice across Spain, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and France, and as of 2024, it ranks in the US Top 100.
- Valerian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"strength, health"Description:
This name of a Roman emperor and of a sedating plant is still used quietly, given to about a dozen baby boys in the US last year. It has a strong, rhythmic sound and could make a modern-feeling honor name for grandma Valerie.
- Aster
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"star"Description:
The name of the Aster flower, named by the English, was derived from the Greek word for star. Like many floral names, Aster is much more popular among baby girls.
- Astor
Origin:
Provençal; IcelandicMeaning:
"hawk; thunder god"Description:
Similar to the floral name Aster, this spelling derives separately from Old Provençal astur "hawk") and from the Icelandic name elements as ("god") and þor ("thunder").
- Seren
Origin:
PolishMeaning:
"serene"Description:
Seren, meaning "star", is one of the top girls' names 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.
- Tarian
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"shield"Description:
Country singer Travis Tritt is partial to the letter T for his children's names: he has a Tyler, a Tristan, and a son named Tarian. Tarian is a unisex Welsh name which, though used more for girls in Wales, would be perfectly acceptable here for a boy.
- Altair
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"falcon"Description:
The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
- Auberon
Origin:
English, French, GermanMeaning:
"elf ruler, bright elf; noble bear"Description:
Rarely heard in the US, Auberon has a gentle autumnal feel rare in a male name. A Shakespeare-adjacent choice, Auberon started out as as a pet form of Auberi, the French form of German Alberich.
- Penrose
Origin:
Cornish and Welsh place name and surnameMeaning:
"top of the heath"Description:
Penrose – an ancient locational surname derived from several villages in Cornwall, Wales, and the Welsh border country of England – might work as a first name, although the "Rose" syllable might lead the uninitiated to assume it's a female name. As a middle name, however, it would make for a surprising and distinguished choice. A male Penrose could be called Pen/Penn, Ross or Roe for short.
- Sable
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"animal name"Description:
Sable is often associated with the Dynsaty soap opera, but it is actually a type of animal historically hunted for its fur. Sable is also used as a word for a warm, rich black color. Both associations carry hints of luxury.
- Aram
Origin:
Hebrew, Kurdish, Armenian, ThaiMeaning:
"high elevated, fortress; calm; child of the sun; glittering, temple"Description:
Aram is a popular Armenian name with a pleasing sound that became known in this country through the works of William Saroyan, namely the 1940 book of short stories, My Name in Aram, centering on Aram Garoghlanian, a boy of Armenian descent growing up in Fresno, California. Saroyan also named his son Aram.
- Tamerlane
Origin:
Turkic, MongolMeaning:
"iron"Description:
This Westernized form of the name of an ancient Mongol warrior, remembered primarily today through the works of Christopher Marlowe and Edgar Allan Poe, runs the risk of sounding pompous and pretentious.
- Aegis
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"young goat"Description:
Often found as a brand name in the hi-tech and industrial worlds.
- Auster
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"oyster"Description:
Fans of writer Paul Auster might consider this a worthy alternative to the trendy Austin.