An early day name worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name. 

Afternoon

Once the most popular month names, April has been overtaken by June (for girls) and August (for boys), as well as the charmingly old-fashioned May. Literary reference: the heroine of the book and movie Revolutionary Road, and there have been Aprils on Parks and Recreation, Glee, and The Vampire Diaries. Trivia note: comedian Ralphie May named his daughter April June May.

April

The name August is at its highest point since the 1890s, when it ranked among the Top 100 boy names in the US. And deservedly so, given its great meaning, historic roots, and cool nicknames.
THE celebrity baby name of the moment, August was chosen by both Princess Eugenie and Mandy Moore for their baby boys in early 2021. Before that, August had been heating up in Hollywood – used by Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann, Lena Olin, Dave Matthews and Jeanne Tripplehorn for their sons
August is the only truly popular month name for boys. The month of August was named after the Emperor Augustus.
 August has two august literary namesakes: the Swedish playwright August Strindberg (it has always been a popular name in Scandinavia), and August Wilson, as well as photographer August Sander.
 The French version is Auguste (ow-GOOST), as in Edgar Allan Poe's clever detective Auguste Dupin and famed sculptor Auguste Rodin.

August

Though associated traditionally (and fashionably) with boys, it has been used occasionally for girls as well – by Garth Brooks, Nicolas Cage, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, for example. But August is used significantly more often for girls these days than traditional feminine variations Augusta and Augustina, and makes for a fresh twist on traditional month names like April and May, as well as an updated spin on season name Autumn.

Crisp and colorful, Autumn is the most popular season name now -- the only one in the Top 100 in recent years -- with Autumn's coolness only surpassed by Winter. Jennifer Love Hewitt named her daughter Autumn James.

Autumn is one of those unusual names that's been popular for many years without ever becoming wildly overused, which can be a real plus if you're looking for a name that's familiar without being too trendy. It entered the UK Top 100 for the first time in 2023.

Autumn

A bright and optimistic middle name choice. 

Although this month name was used only for girls in a recent year, there's no reason it can't work for both genders. For a holiday baby, more original than Noel and more universal than Christmas.

December

Cooler than April, May, or June, but also a tad icy. December gets its name from the number ten as the old Roman calendar only had ten months, and as now, December was the last.


Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day.   Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best.

Early

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning. 

A dramatic nature-inspired possibility for either sex.

Equinox

Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too?  It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a perfect addition to this newly stylish group.

Evening

Similar in sound to Evan and Everett, Ever is an evocative word name that's currently on the rise. Used by Alanis Morissette and Souleye back in 2010, Ever was given to more than 200 boys in 2023, compared to 125 girls. 
 
As an English word name, it feels fresh and on trend, but Ever also have its roots in the Hebrew name Eber, meaning "the region beyond" and to the Germanic Eberhard, the source of Everett, meaning "wild as a boar".

Ever

A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends when he named his now grown-up actress daughter Ever back in the 70s, while more recently, it was used by both Milla Jovovich and Owain Yeoman. 
 
A unisex name, currently used slightly more often for boys, Ever is on the rise across the board. Given to around 125 girls and 200 boys in 2023, Ever is a whimsical name that's grounded by its familiar, name-y sounds, and its ties to the Hebrew name Eber and to the Germanic Eberhard, the source of Everett.

If January, April and August are useable and fashionable, why not February? February as a word derives from the Latin februa, which was the name of a purification feast coming at the end of winter, to prepare for the coming spring.

For our part, we like February along with December and January as <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a>; we also like the possibility of Airy and Rue as nicknames.

A possible stumbling block, however, is that clumsy "bruary" sound in the middle that no one ever quite gets right.

February

Friday became famous as a name via the sidekick character in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, morphing into a generic term for an all-around professional assistant, as in "girl Friday." As a word for the day of the week, Friday is associated with the old English goddess Frigg and the Roman goddess Venus, though the character makes Friday more of a male name.

Friday

Cooler than the older month names like April and May, and a highly unusual and eye-catching choice. The most famous real-life January is female – January Jones – but the month is named for the Roman god Janus, who presided over doors and new beginnings.

January

Thanks to two cultural influences, January has joined March, April, June and August as a plausible month name.
 The first was a character named January Wayne in a bestselling 1973 Jacqueline Susann novel, Once is Not Enough, which was later made into a movie. Then, five years later, the mother-to-be of January Jones – future Mad Men star – was inspired by that character to give the name to her baby daughter, as did enough other parents in 1978 to bring January to Number 639 on the list.
 So if you're looking for a cool namesake for an aunt Janet or Janice, January might be the perfect alternative. January, along with Snow and Frost, are also perfect <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a>.

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and seven boys were named July in 2013, putting this month name into the class of <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">gender neutral names</a>.

July

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and seven boys were named July in 2013, putting this month name into the class of <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">gender neutral names</a>.

 In the 21st century, July feels – literally and figuratively – hotter than June.

June

June, a sweetly old-fashioned month name derived from the goddess Juno, was long locked in a time capsule with June Allyson (born Ella) and June Cleaver, but is rising again especially as a middle name. 
 June was a Top 100 name from 1915 to 1941, peaking in 1925 at Number 39. It fell off the U.S. Top 1000 in 1987 and returned in 2008 after a two-decade hiatus. Now, we'd call it one of the vintage girls' names starting with J due for a comeback. Balthazar Getty has a daughter named June and Amanda Peet used it as her daughter Molly's middle name.
 Juni is the Scandinavian version; other related choices are Junia, Juno, Juna and Djuna.

Along with August, March is one of the month names perfectly suited to boys. This brisk single-syllable name – which derives from the name of Mars, the Roman god of war – is worth considering as either a first or middle option. As a surname, it brings warm memories of the girls of Little Women, and of twentieth century actor Fredric.

March

March has never been popular as a month name, possibly because of its slightly abrupt sound. But with all kinds of month (and season, day, and holiday) names, from January to December, Sunday to Easter, Winter to Midnight, coming to the fore, March is beginning to seem eminently baby-ready.

 An added bonus of lovers of classic literature: March is the surname of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Mars is a name with interesting potential, ticking the boxes as a mythological name, a space name, and a single syllable choice ending in -s. For parents wanting something unexpected, Mars could work as an alternative to popular Brooks, Max, Atlas, or Miles - and given to around 150 boys - and 35 girls - in a recent year, it is unusual but recognisable. 
 
In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, whose name likely relates to the Latin maris meaning "male". He is often seen as the less cold and less ruthless counterpart of the Greek god Ares (Ares being a fast rising Top 500 choice). While the war aspect might put people off, Mars was also the god of agriculture, giving it a more down to earth meaning, and was considered the father of Rome.
 
Used as the name of "The Red Planet", one of the brightest objects in the sky, and for the month of March, Mars could work for anyone looking for something space-related, or for anyone hoping to honor the month in some way.
 
Soul singer Erykah Badu helped to make this name feel more grounded when she gave it to her daughter, while musicians Thomas Mars and Bruno Mars have leant it a modern and stylish edge. 
 
If you love Mars but find it a little too outer-space (or too associated with the chocolate bar), it would also make a cool middle option, or an unexpected nickname for Marcus or Marshall.

Mars

Men may be from Mars as the saying goes, and the name may derive from the Latin maris meaning male, but soul singer Erykah Badu and Workaholics star Blake Anderson have given it potential as a unisex name after they both used it for their daughters. 
 
Ticking the boxes as a mythological name and as a space-related choice, Mars first appeared in the US stats for girls in 2016. Chosen for 36 girls in 2023, it has been quietly gaining more attention, though it does remain 4 times more popular for boys at last count.
 
Connected to the month of March and to one of the brightest objects in the sky - The Red Planet - Mars could fit in with the likes of Mae and Winter, Luna and Nova, Juno and Freya, Sloane and Quinn.

May is a sweet old-fashioned name that hasn't been on the national charts in several decades, but is definitely sounding fresh and springlike. Parents are beginning to see it once more as one of the prettiest middle name options. May was as high on the list as Number 57 in the 1880s; it's now 228 on Nameberry.
 May started as one of the innumerable pet forms of Mary and Margaret, as well as a springtime month name along with April and June. She's represented in literature by May Bartram in Henry James's The Beast in the Jungle and May Welland in Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence. 
 Actresses Emily Morton and Madeline Stowe named their daughters May, and Eric Clapton and Jodie Sweetin used it in middle place for theirs.

Not most people's favorite day, but a pretty name. 

Monday

There are many lovely day/month/seasonal names -- and this is one of the most intriguing. 

Morning

An ubercool and mysterious name, brought to you by director M. Night Shyamalan. 

Night

Dark and enigmatic. A baby named Night would follow in the African tradition of day naming—naming a child based on the day of the week, time of day, or season in which he or she was born.

Potential middle name for a baby born midday.

Noon

November is one of a growing list of month names that can work for a baby boy, and is also one of the ideal <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/605/names-for-november-babies">names for November babies</a>.

November

The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical November nicknames include Nova, Novi, or Ember, making this a natural (if adventurous) choice for a baby girl. November is also, obviously, one of the perfect <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/605/names-for-november-babies">names for November babies</a>.

In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, but when spoken, its negative meaning can't be ignored. 

What is so rare as a month named June? October – and November and December – are a lot rarer. Brisk and substantial, they're so much more memorable and modern than April or May. October got its name via being the eighth month in the old Roman calendar. 

 Some related, more romantic variations are Octavio and Ottavio. Otto or Toby would make for fashionable short forms.

October

What is so rare as a month named June? October – and November and December – are a lot rarer. Brisk and substantial, they're so much more memorable and modern than April or May. October got its name via being the eighth month in the old Roman calendar. Some related, more feminine variations are Octavia and Ottavia.
 October was chosen by innovative author/editor Dave Eggers and wife Vendela Vida for their daughter. And Neil Gaiman wrote a story personifying the month in his collection Fragile Things entitled October in the Chair.

Perennia

Saturday derives from Saturn, so with day names and mythological names both gaining wider acceptance, we may see some babies named for this relaxing day of the week.

Saturday

Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases. 

Season

Parents are beginning to turn away from springtime months like April and June and are moving toward the cooler and crisper three-syllable September, October, November, and December. 

September

Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021, and it was last on the charts for boys in 2018, when six baby boys got the name.

The word solstice is derived from the Old French and Latin term meaning "point at which the sun seems to stand still." There are pagan celebrations around the time of the winter and summer solstices, June 21 and December 21, the longest and shortest days of the year, which makes Solstice one of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for babies born in December</a> or June.

Solstice

Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).

The word solstice is derived from the Old French and Latin term meaning "point at which the sun seems to stand still." There are pagan celebrations around the time of the winter and summer solstices, June 21 and December 21, the longest and shortest days of the year, which makes Solstice one of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for babies born in December</a> or June.

Spring doesn't sound half as contemporary as Winter, which has become the cool season name. 

Spring

The temperature is definitely rising for this popular seasonal name, which began being used in the seventies, and has been heard consistently ever since. 
 Summers have popped up all over the big and small screens: it was Zooey Deschanel's character in (500) Days of Summer and made featured appearances in Napoleon Dynamite, Baywatch, The O.C., and The Mentalist.

Summer

Sunday is among the most usable of the day names with its sunny first syllable, its sweet sound, and its potential to be both a sassy or a spiritual choice. The name initially made headlines in 2008 when Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban chose it for their daughter, Sunday Rose. Although it had been widely written that Kidman and Urban named their baby after art patron Sunday Reed, Kidman says this was a myth, they just liked the name.
 
And they certainly aren't the only ones. Influencer and YouTube family The LaBrants named their daughter Sunday in 2022, while actor Mike Meyers, model Ferne McCann, and actress Janet Montgomery have all used the name. Looking beyond the celebrity world, Sunday is currently in the UK Top 1000, while in the US, it was given to almost 180 girls (and 10 boys) in a recent count. 
 
A subtly spiritual name, Sunday is the day of rest and worship in Christianity, placing the name alongside other <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/769/modern-christian-baby-names">modern Christian choices</a>, like Shepherd, Cruz, and Dove, that aren't directly Biblical, but more quietly give a nod to faith.
 
The name itself derives from Hellenistic astrology, in which each day of the week was attributed the name of what were then known as the seven planets - Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon. In modern English, only 2 days retain their "planet" name besides Sunday, Monday (Moon day) and Saturday (Saturn Day)
 
In the popular "Mondays Child" rhyme, Sunday's child is said to be "bonny and blithe and good and gay", while Sunday is also associated with a day off work (for some), Sunday Roasts, Period dramas and older-skewing TV shows, Easter, larger newspapers, baseball, and the sweet dessert Sundae. 
 
Currently just slightly ahead of Wednesday in terms of popularity, Sunday could make a meaningful and happy feeling choice.

Sunday

Thursday is named after the god Thor, itself becoming a popular baby name (who would have thought?). So why not Thursday?

Thursday

When actress Susan Ker Weld changed her name to Tuesday, she opened up a whole calendar of possibilities. This was decades before the arrival of Sunday Rose Urban.

Tuesday

Made famous by the iconic and macabre character Wednesday Addams, this name has the spooky and Halloween-inspired feel that some parents might be looking for. The character has appeared in various adaptations of The Addams Family over the years, but the 2022 television series starring Jenna Ortega has given the name an unexpected boost in popularity. 
 
Wednesday originates from the Anglo-Saxon times, when it was known as Wōdnesdæg, or Woden's Day -- Woden being the English equivalent to the Norse god Odin -- who is also linked to the Roman god Mercury. Cartoonist Charles Addams who created the character of Wednesday Addams however chose her name based on the popular Monday's Child rhyme, in which "Wednesday's child is full of woe."
 
A choice that is gloomy, offbeat, quirky, wordy and celestial all at once, Wednesday has been quietly climbing up the charts since the 60s, but has been gaining increasing momentum. Not only has the newest adaptation made it feel more familiar, but actors Rupert Grint and Georgia Groome chose if for their daughter in 2020,making it feel more usable for everyone else. 
 
Given to 152 girls in the US in 2023, it's not quite so popular as the sunny Sunday yet, but it is on the rise. 
 Vintage nicknames Wendy and Winnie might make it feel more approachable, or, if you love it but find it a bit much as a given name, Gwendolyn Daisy "Wednesday" perhaps?

Wednesday

The girls have dibs on Spring, Summer, and Autumn, leaving this name evocative of snowy landscapes as the one possible seasonal choice for boys. And naturally, it's one of the most obvious <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a>.

Winter

Fresher, brisker and, yes, cooler than Summer or Autumn or Spring, Winter is now a full-fledged female choice, especially since Nicole Richie and Joel Madden used it for daughter Harlow's middle name, and Gretchen Mol picked it as her daughter's first, as did media mogul Sean Parker. Winter continues to be the preferred spelling and has risen in popularity significantly over the past few years.
 Although Winter entered the U.S. Top 1000 in 1978, it was been used as a first name as early as the seventeenth century.
 Some interesting international words for winter: Aeneva (Cheyenne, Native American), Cole (Chinook, Native American), Hima (Sanskrit), Jara (Hindi), Saradi (Hindi), Vandi (Kashmiri), Zaya (Old Persian) and Zima (Russian, Bulgarian). Here's a more complete look at <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">winter baby names</a>.

Finn's list "Temporal Names List by Finn" of 54 great name ideas: Afternoon - Winter!

Temporal Names List by Finn

Names with temporal meanings, mostly in English. May add more in other languages, or make an additional list.