User-created list
By Zev Bordowitz · Updated December 2024
Across 12 pages
of 12
Variation or diminutive of Joseph
"Jehovah increases"
Quintessentially sweet and innocent unisex name of the 1960s and 70s, now gone the way of hot pants and disco balls.
Occupational word name
A word name that has sailed onto birth certificates of both genders, especially since Liv Tyler used it for her son. For boys, Saylor and Sailor are used about equally, but were together given to…
English from French
"short nose; courteous, from the court"
This courtly old Southern name has several cool male bearers: NFL player Courtney Brown, British jazz musician Courtney Pine, and Barbados-born economist Courtney Blackman, to name but a few.
Gem name
Diamond was a big hit for girls in the nineties, ultimately making it into the Top 150. It's a relative rarity today for baby girls and boys, for whom the name also peaked in the nineties.
Latin
"godfather"
Jupiter's partner Juno has entered the mainstream, so it's possible that her divine mate could follow. But not necessarily for boys — Jupiter is currently mostly female in the US, thanks to its…
Irish
"rough, fierce"
The additional syllable makes Lark a masculine surname name, borne by poet Philip Larkin.
Variation of Lane
"a small roadway or path"
Unisex Lane is a hit for boys in the last few decades, remaining around the 200s in popularity. Laine may lean a bit more feminine, but still has that unisex feel.
Scottish
"garden of holly"
This Scottish place name and surname was more popular for boys in the US until the mid-1940s; in the UK, the Leslie spelling is predominantly masculine, with Lesley widely used as the feminine…
"son of the fair hero"
New Presidential name, if you're ready to move beyond Lincoln and Jefferson. At the turn of the last century, during the original McKinley's heyday, as a first name it almost reached the Top 100.
Scottish contraction of surname Gregor, Latin
"alert, watchful"
Greer is typically used as a girl name in the US, particularly in this form. The spelling Grier is gender-neutral, given to boys about 43 percent of the time.
English from Latin tree name
"young"
Juniper is a nature name that we really like. While it's trendiest for girls -- about 2500 baby girls were named Juniper in 2022 versus 34 baby boys -- the most notable Juniper in history was the…
Italian
"people of victory"
Nicola may be more familiar as a female name in English-speaking countries, but it's a popular classic choice for Italian baby boys – currently just outside the Top 50 there. A historic bearer is…
English
"dweller near the ash tree meadow"
It may have peaked at #1 for girls in 1991 and 1992 in the US, but Ashley actually has a long history as a male given name, as evidenced by the sensitive Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind . It's…
English, Slavic, Persian Arabic
"from Denmark, gift, or wise"
Baby girl Danas outnumber baby boys with the name nearly ten to one. But Dana is an attractive, sleek name that can certain work for babies of either gender.
English, French, Irish
"from Arcy; dark one"
The ultimate Jane Austen hero name, Darcy makes a handsome, surname style choice. Predominantly used for girls in England and Wales, across the pond in Australia, it is a stylish Top 100 name for…
Nickname
Multipurpose pet name serving Isidore, Isaac, Israel, and -- increasingly -- Isabel.
"the hazelnut tree"
The charming vintage nature and color name Hazel has become popular for girls, but more than 30 baby boys were named Hazel in the US in a recent year. In fact, it's not a new thing for boys to be…
English tree name
"willow tree"
Fresh and surprising on a boy – and how can you not love the cool classic nickname Will?
Cornish variant of George, or diminutive of Jordan
A rarely-used name even in its native Cornwall, Jory nevertheless feels very wearable, thanks to its similarity to familiar picks like Rory, Corey and Joey. Jory Cassel is a minor character in the…
Greek
"lotus flower"
The lotus is a meaningful symbol in many East Asian cultures, where it symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and rebirth. As a name, it's much more common among baby girls, but a small number of boys are…
