gender neutral names I personally like

Pipit

English

"bird name"

The name of a small songbird, similar to a Lark – but far less commonly used as a name. Could give you the adorable nickname Pip.

Quill

Irish, English

"lion; scribe, writer with a quill pen"

A writerly choice, Quill first entered the US stats for boys back in 2013 and for girls in 2017. It has since been used sporadically and quietly as a girl name, fitting in with choices such as Poet,…

Quince

Latin

"applelike fruit"

'Q' names are hot, and this is an intriguing fruit name that could be used for a girl or boy. The quince often appears in Greek myth, in tales of Aphrodite, Paris and Atalanta. Can also be a nickname…

Red

Color name

Fiery but slight middle name choice; much more apt to be a redhead's nickname. Instead, check out other names that mean red: Rory, Rowan, Ruby.

Revere

English and French word name and surname

Similar in look to Reverie, Revere is far-less dreamy. Connoting both the word meaning to admire or esteem and the US Revolutionary War patriot, Revere could make an interesting choice for a boy or a…

Riko

Japanese

"white jasmine or reason, logic"

Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.

Rise

English, Norwegia, Danish, Japanese

"move upward, ascend; mighty, distinguished; lapis lazuli + celestial"

A multicultural choice with a range of meanings, this name boomed in the 1940s and 50s thanks to the glamorous singer Risë (pronounced REE-sa) Stevens, who inherited her name from her Norwegian…

Rocket

Word name

Rocket has been used on a number of starbabies in recent years—among its celebrity endorsers are Jamie Oliver, Pharrell Williams, and Lara Bingle and Sam Worthington.

Rosen

Cornish

"rose"

The masculine version of Rosen, pronounced ROH-zen, is a German and Bulgarian name, commonly seen as an element in Ashkenazi Jewish surnames. But Rosen, pronounced ROZ-en, is a modern Cornish word…

Rox

Greek

"dawn"

Likely derived from the Greek name Roxanne, Rox was a short form popular in America in the mid-19th Century. Like Max and Lux, it seems sleek and contemporary and particularly suited to modern life.

Ruri

Japanese

"lapis lazuli"

Naming babies after precious gems as a protection against evil spirits is an ancient Japanese tradition.