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Zoey's Cool Middle Names

  1. Moses

    • Origin:

      Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "delivered from the water"

    • Description:

      Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's choice of this white-bearded Old Testament name helped bring it into the modern age, along with brethren Elijah, Isaiah and Isaac. User-friendly nicknames include Moe and Mose.
  2. Noble

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "aristocratic"

    • Description:

      With parents beginning to show an interest in virtue names for boys, this Puritan favorite just might be revived, for what could be more admirable than nobility in terms of having strength of character, dignity, and high moral ideals?
  3. Ocean

    • Origin:

      English, nature name

    • Meaning:

      "ocean"

    • Description:

      Nature names like Ocean and River are flowing back into favor, especially with nature lovers and green-oriented parents.
  4. Pink

    • Origin:

      Color name

    • Description:

      The singer known as Pink (born Alecia) brought this hue onto the name-possibility palette, especially as a middle choice. Could Pink be the next Blue?
  5. Quinn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence"

    • Description:

      Quinn is one of the first popular Irish unisex surnames, a strong and attractive choice on the rise for girls but still popular for boys. Quinn was used for about 3000 baby girls and 700 boys in the US last year.
  6. Rae

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Rachel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ewe"

    • Description:

      All the old ae/ay middle names for girls are back--Kay, Fay, Mae/May, --and Rae is one of the coolest, used as such by celebrities as Mark Wahlberg and Daniel Baldwin.
  7. Reason

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a statement offered in explanation or justification"

    • Description:

      Provocative word name that may strike the right chord for an adventurous baby namer.
  8. River

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.
  9. Romeo

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "pilgrim to Rome, Roman"

    • Description:

      It wasn't so long ago that Romeo was considered as outre for an American baby as Casanova or Cupid. But that really changed when David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002, a path followed by Jon Bon Jovi.
  10. Rose

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "rose, a flower"

    • Description:

      Rose is derived from the Latin rosa, which referred to the flower. There is also evidence to suggest it was a Norman variation of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis, meaning "famous type," and also Hros, "horse". In Old English it was translated as Roese and Rohese.
  11. Sapphire

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Greek, and Latin jewel name

    • Meaning:

      "blue"

    • Description:

      Sapphire goes waaaaay beyond Ruby and Pearl. This September birthstone, occasionally used a century ago, might be worth a reappraisal, perhaps as a Sophie/Sophia alternative. Sapphire is the pseudonym of Romona Lofton, who wrote the book Push, which was turned into the movie Precious. Sapphire entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, and is proving to be one of the freshest gem names for girls. Another intriguing variation is the lovely Sapphira.
  12. Silver

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      This shimmery Age of Aquarius unisex flower child name is making a comeback, along with metal and gem names like Steel, Jade, and Ruby.
  13. Snow

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice.
  14. True

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "true"

    • Description:

      Many parents seeking a return to more basic values and a simpler lifestyle are turning to such virtuous girls' names as Grace, Faith, and Hope, but there are a handful that work just as well on boys, including True.
  15. Tylor

    • Description:

      Tylor is a masculine name that emerged as a variant spelling of Tyler, which originally derived from an Old French occupational surname meaning "tile maker" or "tile layer." This alternative spelling gives the classic name a more distinctive appearance while maintaining the familiar pronunciation. Tylor began gaining modest usage in the late 20th century when parents sought fresh variations on popular names. While never reaching the height of popularity that Tyler enjoyed (particularly during the 1980s and 1990s), Tylor offers a subtly unique option with the same strong, approachable quality. The name projects a contemporary feel with historical roots, appealing to parents who appreciate the sound and strength of Tyler but desire something slightly less common.