User-created list
By Cate Juhl · Updated May 2023
Across 4 pages
of 4
Word name
"unfamiliar, not yet known"
Unknown was given to nearly 80 American babies in a recent year, but we can only hope they won't stay as such. Like Baby, Babyboy, and Infantmale, Unknown is probably used as a placeholder by parents…
A bit too self-congratulatory and, understandably, exceedingly rare. Still, if you're looking for a modern virtue name for your daughter, this may be one of the best qualities to exemplify.
English word name
"a statement offered in explanation or justification"
A provocative word name that may strike the right chord for an adventurous baby namer, Reason has begun to sound, well, more reasonable as a name in recent years. While it did first feature in the US…
Not for the faint of the baby-naming heart, Brave has begun to gather more attention in the 2020s, fitting in with a tendency towards wilder word names. Given to 37 boys in a recent year, it would…
Latin
"favorable, prosperous"
In France, pronounced PRO-spare, Prosper is a fairly common name; here it presents a worthy aspirational message for a child. Prosper was the name of several early saints, including a noted fifth…
"peace"
Peace may be an admirable sentiment to convey in a child's name, but the translated and thus more subtle versions, like Pax or Placido, might work better as first names.
Earnest is a masculine name of English origin that developed from the word 'earnest,' meaning 'serious,' 'sincere,' or 'determined.' The name gained popularity during the Victorian era when virtue…
"victory"
A winning unisex word name, fresher than Victoria or Victor. While Victory ranked only once on the US Top 1000, in 1918 at the end of World War I, it's a Top 25 name for girls in France.
"always, eternal, continually"
A bold choice, encompassing ideas of eternal love between parents and children, of promises kept, and infinite time, Forever may also have spiritual or religious ties for some. Grounded by its…
English
"oneness"
Like Verity and Amity, this inclusive virtue name used by the colorful British literary Mitford family is ready to join its more popular peers Hope, Faith, and Grace. The name was embraced by the…
"being good or worthy; deserving of recognition"
Merritt is an English surname but spelled Merit it becomes a word name. Both variations are on the rise.
"bright"
Rare word name that works for either gender.
Word name or spelling variation of Abel
Able takes this name in the direction of the word denoting someone capable and handle, and that is not a bad way to go.
" a supernatural being or essence"
Spiritual word names are becoming more and more popular – think Peace, Bodhi, Zen and Psalm – and Spirit is among the rarer options, given to a couple dozen baby girls each year in the US. It's the…
English virtue name
Honor-related names are climbing in popularity, such as Honesty, Honor, and now Honest.
"the quality or state of being free"
Like Justice and Peace, this word name makes a very strong statement. Ving Rhames chose it for his boy.
"the season for gathering in agricultural crops"
Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, though it tips a bit in the girls' direction in the contemporary US. Given the rise of such…
"recollection"
There's no reason why Memory shouldn't be a name — it sounds like Melody and Mallory, is a pleasant word, and has great nickname options (Rory! Mimi!). Plus, there's that earworm song from Cats .
"enclosure, homestead"
No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
"strength to withstand fear"
A bold, unisex virtue name that first made the charts for boys in 1990 and girls in 2008. Millennials may associate it with the Cartoon Network show Courage the Cowardly Dog , about a timid,…
