A mystical new word name for parents in search of witchy baby names.

Alchemy

Alexei could well join the legion of Alex names popular in the US. There are countless opportunities to liven up Alexander, and Alexei (or Alexey) is one of the most straightforward and appealing.

Alexei

Alpenglow

Arabesque

A classic in its native Scandinavia, Axel has a cool rock 'n' roll flavor in the US, thanks to Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose (born William). With its distinctive letter 'x', it has an effortlessly cool vibe about it, and is currently growing in popularity.
 
Axel is the Scandinavian form of the Biblical Absalom, who was a son of King David, and is the name of the title character of William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom. More wearable than its derivation, perhaps, Axel is currently ranks in the Top 100 names for boys in the US, the UK, Sweden, France, Spain, and Norway. 
 In the US, it first entered the popularity charts in 1989, one year after the release of one of Guns N' Roses biggest hits, showing just how influential popular culture can can be.
 More recently, Axel was chosen by Will Ferrell for his third son, and also by Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson for their boys, and it's the middle name of Tiger Woods' boy Charlie. Axel Foley was the character played by Eddie Murphy in the Beverly Hills Cop movies and, going further back again, was the name of an important character in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. 
 
A bit like a updated Alex, Axel was given to 4500 babies in the US in 2023, so if it was an undiscovered gem you were after, you could consider Absalom itself, or perhaps another Scandinavian option, such as Anker, Konrad, Torfinn, or Torkell.

Axel

Axle

Bexley

The name of an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio and a section of Greater London, Bexley is increasingly being coopted by parents looking for a novel name in the Kinsley/AInsley/Paisley family. Bexley debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016 and is definitely one of the trendiest <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/b">girl names starting with B</a>. Think of it as a 21st century Becky.

Luxury baby name associated with Jacques Cartier's eponymous jewelry company.

Cartier

It's a nature name evocative of rushing waterfalls. But also a dishwashing detergent. 

Cascade

Cashmere is soft, luxurious -- and way out of the ordinary. One of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/317/unique-baby-names">unique names</a> found in The Hunger Games series.

Cashmere

Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco. 

Chanel

Trying to imbue your child with charisma at birth involves a certain degree of chutzpah. It was brought into the mix by ex. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress Charisma Carpenter, who was named after an Avon perfume. 

Charisma

A fashionable name that would fit in with cousins Chanel or Dior. Referring to the business of designing, making and selling fashionable custom-made clothing and strongly associated with the chic city of Paris, Couture has a strong feeling of luxury and style.

Couture

A new addition to the name pool in 2020, along with Kurrency.

Currency

Divine seems more proper a name with the rise of Heaven and its turned-around twin Nevaeh.  Though superlative names like Divine -- Unique, say, or Precious -- sometimes seems as if they're trying to hard and protesting too much.

Divine

Could be a sister to Trinity, Genesis, or Heaven. 

Divinity

A bold, powerful word name used for girls since 1981 (when the TV show of the same name first aired), and more recently for boys too.

Dynasty

The Elysian Fields of Greek mythology was the home of the afterlife for the blessed. As spiritual names and mythological names continue to rise, Elysian is a name to watch.

Elysian

Yet another noble name to join King, Prince, Princess, et al.

Empress

A bold word name choice for the intrepid baby namer who hopes her son will face the world with a sense of discovery. 

Explorer

Beware: extremely high pressure, high-expectation name. 

Flair

Flux

Galaxy

Gregarious

Among the children named Heaven are the daughters of TV personality Brooke Burke and rap singer Lil' Mo, who also has a daughter named God'iss Love. Some parents have taken to using Nevaeh instead—Heaven spelled backwards. 

Heaven

A scientific word name that would work wonderfully as a given name, given its similarity to Felix.

Helix

As a personal name, it may not have much history, but it certainly suggests the subject. 

History

Horizon

Huxley is definitely rising as a surname name, with its X that makes almost any name cooler. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015. The modern nicknames Hux and Huck certainly don't hurt.
 Huxley honors writer Aldous, author of Brave New World, and other members of his distinguished family.

Huxley

Extremely attractive color name chosen by some African-American families for its reference to the West African Ivory Coast; more commonly used for girls. 

Ivory

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

Just like Flora is for botanicals, Jewel is the generic gemstone name, not used much since the early twentieth century, when it was seen as a symbol of how precious a daughter could be. The French version, Bijou, feels more modern, as do Pearl and Ruby. 

Jewel

Chemistry has never been used as a baby name before — to our knowledge — but Khemistry appeared on the charts in 2021 and 2022. There was a 1980s band by the name.

Khemistry

Both Currency and Kurrency appeared on the charts in 2020, following the bold trend of money-related names for babies.

Kurrency

Laramie is a Western place-name with French origins that is growing in use for both genders-- it's currently two to one in favor of the female side-- the Laramy spelling is rarely used. There were fewer than five babies of either sex named Laramy in 2020. It might also be considered a smoosh name, a blend of Larry and Amy.

Laramy

Laxmi

One of the boastful, ultra-modern word names soaring in popularity right now. Though it's a bit more popular for girls than boys -- the "cy" ending reads a little feminine -- it's solidly unisex, with over 100 baby boys being named Legacy in 2017. This is one of the many uplifting words that make <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/562/cool-unique-unisex-names">unique unisex names</a>.

Legacy

A fast-rising word name, along with its more popular siblings Legend and Legacy.

Legendary

Lyrical, lively and bold, Leilani is a name that feels fresh, floral, and summery. Sharing sounds with the popular Lillian, Layla and Luna, Leilani is a fairly recent addition to the US Top 100. 
Derived from the Hawaiian elements of lei, meaning “flowers”, and lani, meaning “heavenly”, Leilani can literally be translated as “heavenly flower.” 
Alternatively, it might be interpreted as “royal child” because flower garlands worn round the neck are associated with children in Hawaii, and because lani is linked to majesty, and therefore high-birth and royalty. 
Leilani has been in and out of US Top 1000 since the 1930’s, with Bing Crosby’s song “Sweet Leilani” likely introducing it to many parents and inspiring their choices. 
While it did remain in use across the 20th century, it wasn’t until the mid-90’s that Leilani really began to make a steady but serious rise up the charts. Influenced perhaps by the glamor of American model Leilani Bishop, by Miss Great Britain Leilani Dowding, or by the Basic Instinct actress Leilani Sarelle, the name was in the Top 500 by 2001, and the Top 100 by 2020. 
Particularly popular in Hawaii, New Mexico, and South Carolina, Leilani is given to nearly 4000 babies in the US every year. Across the pond in the UK, it has seen sporadic usage, but recently rose to be within the Top 700. 
Connected to nature and to a place in Hawaii; familiar and well-rooted but with plenty of flair and freshness; musical and princessy with solid sounds and spark, Leilani ticks lots of boxes. With its nickname potential and popular L initial, it may well continue to climb the charts. 
Loving Leilani and want to learn more about Hawaiian names? This <a href=”https://nameberry.com/list/579/hawaiian-baby-names”> wonderful list</a> is a great place to get started, with some highlights including Iolani, Kakalina, Lillinoe and Luana.

Leilani

A rare Finnish name which is used for both sexes, but more often for girls. It is usually found in the middle spot.

Lemmitty

Lennox is an aristocratic and powerful Scottish surname name made truly special by that final x. The worldwide fame of British boxer--World and Olympic champion--Lennox Claudius Lewis brought the name into the spotlight as a first name, while as a last it's tied to Eurythmics singer Annie L.
 The Thane of Lennox appears in Macbeth, Mary Lennox is in The Secret Garden and there are two Agatha Christie characters with the name.
 Lenox is another accepted spelling.

Lennox

Lennox is one of the new breed of surname names on the rise as a <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/472/scottish-names-for-girls">Scottish name for girls</a> as well as boys. The final x makes the name a bit masculine a la Max and Felix, but female inspirations include Eurythmics' Annie Lennox, Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden, and Lennox Scanlon in sitcom Melissa & Joey.

Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.

Lexandra

Lexani

Lexi and Lexie, pixieish offshoots of the prolific Alex family, have come into their own. While it's on a gentle downslope, Lexi still ranks in the US Top 500.

Lexi

Lexin

Lexine

Lexington is trending as a unisex name, used just about evenly for the genders. For Americans, it's got a patriotic feel, given the importance of Lexington, Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Lexington, Kentucky, in horse country, is another well-known city with the name. Short form Lex is user friendly.

Lexington

Lexington is rising as a place name used just about evenly for the genders. For Americans, it's got a patriotic ring, given the importance of Lexington, Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Lexington, Kentucky, in horse country, is another famous place with the name.

Lexique

Lexton

Do you really want to name your baby after a car when there are so many other lex possibilities?

Lexus

Much more common on girls, but this virtue is occasionally given to boys too. It has the option of Bert(ie) as a nickname.

Liberty

Less common than other virtue names, Liberty is nonetheless a name with a long American heritage. Liberty is seeing a level of popularity not seen since the end of the First World War, but its heyday was probably the mid-19th Century when it became popular in the aftermath of the US Civil War, particularly among African-American freedmen. Liberty was also popular following the American War of Independence and even among some Puritan colonies. Some quirky parents may have considered using this name in the wake of the successful film Juno – Juno’s younger sister is called Liberty-Bell.

Lily-may

Love makes an endearing middle name, as in Jennifer Love Hewitt. However, more parents are considering Love as a first name — enough for it to enter the charts for the first time in 2022 as one of the fastest-rising names of the year. Other love-related alternatives include Juliet, Valentina, and Amor.

Love

A loveday in medieval England was a day when people engaged in a dispute would come together and try to resolve their differences amicably. The name was sometimes given to babies, male or female, who were born on such a day. The etymology of Loveday is English, yet historical use was mainly relegated to Cornwall, and it is considered a traditional Cornish name. However, Loveday is rarely used today, however, when it is, it is typically used for baby girls.
 There have been several Cornish politicians called Loveday, as well as characters in novels by Rosamunde Pilcher and Elizabeth Goudge.

Loveday

An English place and surname with a fierce natural meaning. Loxley is a village and river name from Yorkshire, England, famous for being the purported birthplace of Robin Hood. Loxley Chase was an extensive historic forest bordering Sherwood Forest in the Middle Ages.

 Sharing sounds with cool names from Knox and Lux to Lochlan, Locke and Oakley, Loxley is a rare option that packs a modern style punch.

Loxley

An English place and surname with a fierce natural meaning. Loxley is a village and river name from Yorkshire, England, famous for being the purported birthplace of Robin Hood. Loxley Chase was an extensive historic forest bordering Sherwood Forest in the Middle Ages.

 Sharing sounds with cool names from Lily to Lux to Paisley, Loxley is a highly unusual option that packs a modern style punch.

Loyalty is one of the Modern <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/373/virtue-names">Virtue Names</a>on the rise for both genders, but in this case mainly girls. About 85 percent of the babies named Loyalty are female and 15 percent male, but there's no reason this upstanding name can't work equally well for both.

Loyalty

Loyalty is one of the Modern Virtue Names rising precipitously for babies in recent years, used last year for nearly 200 children, about 85 percent of them girls. Loyalty may also owe some of its popularity to trendy sister name Royalty.

Lucchese is a luxury cowboy boot company that was founded in San Antonio by the Lucchese brothers. The Luccheses were Sicilian immigrants, but their surname originally denoted someone from Lucca, a Tuscan city.
 
Lucchese debuted as a baby name in 2022, when it was given to seven baby boys. It fits several current baby name trends, including luxury brand names and cowboy names, not to mention its similarities to the trending boy name Luca. Americans tend to pronounce this name lu-KEES-ee, while the traditional Italian is more like lu-KEH-zeh.

Lucchese

Luce

The French spelling of Lucy feels particularly light and shimmery.

Lucie

Lucinda, an elaboration of Lucia created by Cervantes for his 1605 novel Don Quixote, is a pleasingly pretty alternative to Lucy. It was subsequently used by Moliere in his play The Doctor in Spite of Himself' (1666). More in tune with the times than Linda, Belinda and Melinda, it could be used to honor someone with one of those dated names. 
 Lucinda was a Top 200 name in the late nineteenth century, but hasn't been on the charts for more than 25 years--which could make her ripe for revival.
 One appealing namesake is country-rock-blues singer Lucinda Williams. Similar in feel: Lucilla and Lucetta.

Lucinda

Cedric the Entertainer chose this for his daughter, but most other parents would find it, though optimistic, not exactly substantial. 

Lucky

A versatile classic, Lucy is both sweet and solid, a saint's name, and the heroine of several great novels. First fashionable in England and Wales, Lucy is now a popular choice in the US, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.
 
The English form of the Roman Lucia, Lucy derives from the Latin word lux, meaning “light.” Once given to girls born at dawn, Lucy is also associated with Saint Lucia, the patron saint of the blind.
 
Lucy has a wide range of namesakes, from the bossy friend in the Peanuts comic, to psychedelic "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," to the rash and zany heroine of I Love Lucy. 
 
It is a name with a rich literary history, chosen for the heroines of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Villette, E.M. Forster’s A Room With A View, Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy, and C. S Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia - just to name a few. 
 
Beyond fiction, Lucy Stone was an important American activist, Lucy Worsley is a successful author and historian, and Lucy Lui is an actress who has imparted strength and style to the name.
 
Simple but sophisticated, playful but grounded, it is no wonder Lucy is a popular choice. Given to over 4000 girls in the US each year, it is a classic that doesn’t feel dusty.
 
If you love Lucy, but don’t love its popularity, you could consider one of its many variants. From vintage Lucille, to the musical Lucetta, to the fresh, unexpected Lux; from nickname-y Lou to sleek Luciana, there are plenty of possibilities.

Lucy

This unusual word name means a song sung to put infants to sleep, from the components lull as in calm and by as in goodbye. While it's not on record as being used for any actual babies in the US, it's a rhythmic choice and one of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/317/unique-baby-names">unique baby names</a> with more mainstream nicknames such a Lula and Bee.

Lullaby

Lula has a firecracker personality, a singing and dancing extrovert. Interesting that Lulu was a Top 100 name when the Social Security list was born in 1880, but it's been sliding ever since and has not been in the Top 1000 for decades. Modern parents in love with Lulu might well reverse that trend.
 Lulu is the now grown daughter of musicians Edie Brickell and Paul Simon. In the Swinging London sixties, Lulu was a popular single-named Scottish singer--whose birth name was Marie.

Lulu

The name of the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna is derived straight from the Latin word for moon, luna. Luna may be the name most likely to surprise someone from an older generation by its Top 10 status in the US and its widespread international popularity.
Often ranked as Number 1 on Nameberry's internal charts, the strong but shimmery Luna is among the Top 100 names for baby girls in a wide range of countries around the world, from France to Italy to Germany, Scandinavia to Slovenia to Spain. It's simple, easy to spell and pronounce, and remarkably diverse.
 And it's also got deeper roots than you might imagine. It was somewhat popular in the US as a baby name around the turn of the 20th century, reaching a high of Number 403 way back in 1881.

Luna's popularity is undoubtedly influenced by the Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood and several high-profile celebrity babies, notably the oldest daughter of Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. 
 Along with its celebrity connections, Luna's popularity is partially driven by its standing as a mythological name. Luna’s divine complement is Sol, the god of the Sun. In Roman art, Luna is often depicted driving a chariot.
 
Luna makes another appearance as the endearing oddball Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series, who was central enough to the story to have Harry give his daughter Luna as a middle name, and as the True Blood teacher-shapeshifter character, Luna Garza. 
 
Along with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, other celebrities who named their daughters Luna include Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden as well as Constance Marie. Joely Fisher and Ellen Pompeo have used it as a middle. Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson use Luna as the nickname they call daughter Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence.
 
Luna is also among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/dogs">most popular dog names</a>.

Luna

A rich new word name possibility with vivid ties to nature and greenery. Now that Lux is a contender for both sexes, it's only a matter of time before Lush breaks into the charts itself.

Lush

Lux, one of the light-filled names that include Lucy and Lucian, broke onto the scene as a girls' name but now it's decidedly gender neutral. In fact, at the last count there were slightly more boys named Lux than girls: 140 to 120. But that's pretty close, making this a truly nonbinary name.

This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.

Lux means light, but add an E and you get a modern word name that speaks of couture, quality and, well, luxury.
 
Luxe has been in the baby name charts since 2010, and although still rare, was more popular than ever before for both sexes in 2022.

Luxe

Luxor is just waiting to be discovered as a baby name. It has a lot going for it — an easy and fashionable nickname (hello, Lux!), unisex appeal, and a place name connection. Luxor is the modern-day name for the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. It was derived from the Arabic term al-ʾuqṣur, referring to palaces or castles.

Luxor

The Egyptian city of Luxor was the ancient city of Thebes, at one time the capital of Ancient Egypt. The name derives from the Arabic term al-ʾuqṣur, meaning "the palaces" or "castles."
 
Luxor is a great option to look towards if you want a full form for the stylish mini-name Lux.

Pronounced LOOSE, this name that refers to the Virgin Mary—"Our Lady of Light"—is one of the most widely used <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/495/spanish-names-for-girls">Spanish name for girls</a>. Its sleekness and stylish final z gives it a modern appeal, like sister name Lux. Nicknames and variations include Chitta, Lucecita, Lucelida, Lucelita, Lucha, Lucida, Lucila, Lusa, and Luzana.

Lynnex

Lynnox

One of the fierce new animal names new to name lists, helped by its strong x-ending.

Lynx

This big cat name is especially striking with its X ending.

A musical name with Greek roots, appealing to parents who like such other names as Harmony, Melody, and Cadence. 

Lyric

Lacy-May

Mahagony

Alternative to Prince, Duke, King, or Earl, but not an improvement on them.

Majesty

A little-used but equally cool alternative to Huxley and Loxley.

Oxley

A paradox is a statement that while seeming true contradicts itself. With the less-than-pleasant "Doxy" as an obvious nickname, Paradox is perhaps a better name for a cat than a baby.

Paradox

A word name that is, well, posh. It debuted in the US charts in 2022.

Posh

Aspirational name that could cause feelings of deficiency in a child later on.

Prodigy

A grand and mystical word name that feels in line with trending Legend or Legacy.

Prophecy

Only if you don't mind hearing yourself saying, "Come quickly, Quixley." 

Quixley

The x gives it some modern cool, but the bury part buries it. 

Roxbury

Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name shot up the popularity charts in 2013, the same year young Prince George was born and the craze for all things royal (and Royal) began. Today, it's a leading boys' name on Nameberry's own popularity charts.

While Royal ranks on the US Top 1000 list for both girls and boys, It's rising precipitously for boys but softening for girls. There are currently nearly three times as many boy babies named Royal as girls..

Pop culture references: the hit Lorde song "Royals.", the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums (in which the paterfamilias was named Royal), and most recently, the Amazon Prime series Outer Range, a supernatural neo-Western starring Josh Brolin as Royal Abbott.

The name's resemblance to the more classic Roy doesn't hurt either.

Royal

Word names may not be gendered in English, but Royal was used mostly for boys—as in Wes Anderson's anti-hero Royal Tennenbaum—until Lil' Kim named her daughter Royal. And why not? It's got a rich sound and a meaning fit for a rap princess....or prince. This puts a new spin on <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/453/royal-baby-names">royal baby names</a>.

Royalty is a super-hot name for girls, but there's no reason it can't be used for boys too. In fact it is, but only about 5 percent of the time, making it one of those unisex names whose usage is tipped so far toward one gender that it isn't truly unisex. But still, English words are usually not intrinsically gendered so Royalty is perfectly appropriate for boys as well as girls and is one of the fastest-rising <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">unisex names</a>.

Royalty

MiaLen's list "Alternatives To Luxury" of 108 great name ideas: Alchemy - Xachary!

Alternatives To Luxury

Here are some great alternatives to Nameberry's top girls name, the elegantly over-the-top word name Luxury. 