gender neutral names I personally like

Rise

English word name

"ascend, move upwards"

Rise joins the latest class of modern Christian names for its uplifting spiritual associations, which could make it especially appropriate for for an Easter baby. Along with these spiritual links to…

Roan

Spelling variation of Rowan, Irish, Frisian, English word name

"little redhead; rowan tree; raven; animal with a coat of two interspersed colors"

This sleek, warm-hued spelling spin on Rowan was chosen by Sharon Stone for one of her three sons back in the 2000s and it has since risen in popularity in the US. While it remains a long way behind…

Rock

Word name or diminutive of Rocco

"rock or rest"

Rock definitely has a macho image, if a somewhat caricatured one, ala The Rock. But with the rise of word names and also of tough guy names, Rock feels more plausible than it did a generation ago.

Rocket

Word name

Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R , you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and…

Romy

Diminutive of Roman et al

"citizen of Rome"

Best known as a feminine diminutive, Romy is used now for boys too, as a short form of Roman or Romeo or a name in its own right. Remy and Romi are other related choices, or you might want to go all…

Rook

English nature name, Persian

"crow; chariot"

Rook is a choose-your-own-adventure type of name. It has so many meanings and associations, that you have the freedom of choice to decide what resonates with you. In chess, the rook is the game piece…

Rooks

English surname

As Brooks shined in the spotlight — all the way up in the Top 100 — Rooks feels fresh but equally fashionable.

Rosen

German; Bulgarian

"rose; burning bush"

This masculine floral name literally means "burning bush", and is the Bulgarian word for the dittany plant. The name derives from the highly volatile oils produced by the plant, which can actually…

Roxby

Invented name, place name

"red farmstead; rook's village"

Roxby is the "proper" name of the Leo Woodall character in the movie Mad About the Boy , the fourth instalment in the Bridget Jones franchise. In the film, he goes by the cool boy nickname, Roxster.…

Rue

Nature name

"herb; regret"

Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and…

Rynn

Rynn is a concise, gender-neutral name that has been more commonly used for boys. With its crisp sound and simple spelling, it carries a modern, streamlined quality. Rynn may have evolved as a…

Saffron

Spice name

This spice name is typically used for girls, but we see no reason it couldn't join the growing list of gender-neutral nature names.