Boys Names For Girls

This appealing multi-cultural name, pronounced KYE, is beginning to be used for girls as well as boys. Among its many derivations and meanings: "sea" in Hawaiian, "forgiveness" in Japanese, "willow tree" in Navajo, "food" in Maori, and "earth" in Scandinavian. For girls, it debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2010.

Sawyer is one of the top unisex names, used for their daughters by such parents as Sara Gilbert, co-host of The Talk and former actress on Roseanne, currently on The Conners.

Boys' favorite retains more of its poetic, windswept quality when used for a girl, as Robin Wright and Sean Penn did. Alyssa Milano gave her daughter Elizabella Dylan as a middle name.

A male Biblical name meaning healer, Asa is also an international gem. In Japanese, it means "(born in the) morning". And in Scandinavia, where it's generally spelled Åsa or Ása and pronounced O-sa, it's a popular diminutive form of Old Norse names beginning with the element áss "god".

The most enduringly popular hero of Irish myth was Finn McCool, whose name is one of the coolest ever. When used for the female protagonist of How to Make an American Quilt, Finn established its hipness for girls as well.

Saba is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it means 'grandfather' or 'aged one,' though as a female name it takes on different connotations. In Arabic, Saba refers to the biblical kingdom of Sheba and connotes 'morning' or 'dawn.' In Persian traditions, it can mean 'gentle breeze.' The name appears in various cultures including Ethiopian, where Queen of Sheba (Saba) is a significant historical figure. Saba is also the name of a Caribbean island. The name has a timeless, cross-cultural appeal with its simplicity and melodious sound. While not among the most common names in Western countries, Saba has maintained steady usage in Middle Eastern, African, and some European communities.

Yvon is a feminine name of French origin, though it can also be used as a masculine name in some cultures. It is a variation of Yvonne, which derives from the Germanic name element 'iv' or 'yew', symbolizing the yew tree that represents both death and eternal life in ancient symbolism. In French-speaking regions, Yvon is more commonly used as the masculine counterpart to Yvonne. The name has a delicate, graceful quality while maintaining a touch of uniqueness. Though never extremely popular in English-speaking countries, Yvon has maintained a steady presence, particularly in French-Canadian communities and regions with strong French cultural influences.

This name of eight popes might appeal to confirmed city-dwellers, but Urbana would be more feminine.

Straightforward yet romantic, this is one newly minted name with long-term appeal, especially as a middle name. It was used as such for Tea Leoni and David Duchovny's Madelaine, whom they call West. Definitely ambigender, it was chosen by Marley Shelton for her daughter.