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Gender-Neutral Names!

  1. Arden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "valley of the eagle; high"

    • Description:

      Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.
  2. Arlo

    • Origin:

      Irish or English

    • Meaning:

      "between two hills"

    • Description:

      Quirky cool Arlo is now well and truly back. Last year it broke into the US Top 200 boy names and consistently ranks among the most popular boy names on Nameberry.
  3. Ashton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ash trees place"

    • Description:

      The recent ascent of this English surname is due to two things: the megapopular Ash beginning and TV/movie hottie Ashton Kutcher. The name peaked at Number 76 in 2004, a year after Ashton Kutcher's (both Christopher Ashton) hit TV show Punk'd made its debut.
  4. Banjo

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      When actress Rachel Griffiths chose this highly unusual name for her son, many assumed it was a bizarre invention. But a noted Australian poet (Griffiths is an Aussie) is known by this name.
  5. Beckham

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "homestead by the stream"

    • Description:

      Who knew there were so many soccer fans in the U.S.? Beckham -- as in British sensation David -- has exploded onto the baby name scene in the past decade.
  6. Bentley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "meadow with coarse grass"

    • Description:

      Bentley, a somewhat stuffy British surname, previously associated primarily with an incredibly expensive English car, has had a recent surge in popularity, thanks largely to the reality TV shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, with Bentley being the name of the son of breakout star Maci (another new favorite) Bookout.
  7. Billie

    • Description:

      Billie as a masculine name originated as a diminutive form of William, derived from Germanic elements meaning "will" or "determination" and "helmet" or "protection." While more commonly recognized as a feminine name today, Billie has historical precedence as a male name, particularly in the early to mid-20th century. Notable male bearers include jazz musician Billie Holiday (born Eleanora but adopted the masculine spelling) and various athletes and musicians. The name conveys a friendly, approachable quality with vintage charm. Though its popularity for boys has declined significantly since the 1960s, it maintains appeal for parents drawn to gender-neutral naming options with traditional roots and a casual, unpretentious character.
  8. Blair

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "dweller on the plain"

    • Description:

      One of the first generation of cool surname names, now largely used for girls in the US, but still popular for boys in its native Scotland. A prominent association for Brits is former prime minister Tony Blair, who was leader at the time of the Iraq War.
  9. Caiden

    • Origin:

      Variation of Caden/Kaden

    • Meaning:

      "round or barrel; battle"

    • Description:

      A variation of the popular Caden, Kayden, Kaden, and so on, Caiden is in the US Top 500 and the UK Top 1000. When you combine all the spelling variations however, Caiden begins to feel and sound like a Top 20 choice in the States.
  10. Camden

    • Origin:

      American and British place-name, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "winding valley"

    • Description:

      Camden is a surprise hit, probably as a result of some star baby cred: it has been chosen by no less than four celebrity parents since 2012. Gentle but not flimsy, Camden could be an updated spin on Cameron, Callum, or Caden.
  11. Dakota

    • Origin:

      Place-name; Sioux

    • Meaning:

      "friendly one"

    • Description:

      An early and still one of the most popular unisex names, also a place name and name of a Native American people in the northern Mississippi valley, which makes it a controversial baby name choice. While the popularity of Dakota is trending downward for both genders, it's one of those rare genuinely gender-neutral names that is used for nearly equal numbers of boys and girls.
  12. Dillon

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "loyal"

    • Description:

      Different origin from the Welsh Dylan, but increasingly used as a variant spelling to honor Bob Dylan or Dylan Thomas. Still, the Dylan spelling is found 20 times as often as Dillon.
  13. Doon

    • Description:

      Doon is a rare masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from the Scottish Gaelic 'dùn' meaning 'fort' or 'hill,' or possibly from Irish place names. The name could also be connected to the River Doon in Scotland, made famous in Robert Burns' poem 'The Banks o' Doon.' With its short, strong sound, Doon has a distinctive quality that's easy to pronounce and remember. Despite these appealing characteristics, it remains quite uncommon in most naming records. The name has literary connections through John Gregory Dunne's novel 'True Confessions,' which features a character named Doon. Its rarity gives it a unique appeal for parents seeking an uncommon name with natural or geographical associations.
  14. Elliot

    • Origin:

      Anglicization of Elijah or Elias

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is God"

    • Description:

      Elliot (which boasts several spellings depending upon how many 'l's or 't's you want to use) is a winner -- it has the ideal quality of being neither too common nor weirdly unique. Elliot had a style boost back in the early 1980s via the young hero of the movie E.T. , who was named Elliott. Since then there have been Elliots on Law & Order: SVU and Mad Men.
  15. Fife

    • Origin:

      Scottish place name, German, French

    • Meaning:

      "path; small shrill flute"

    • Description:

      Also spelled Fyfe, this zippy sounding name would make a great middle name choice for music lovers or those with Scottish roots. The name has a double meaning: it is both a Scottish place name, likely derived from fiamh meaning "path", and also the name of an instrument, which takes its name from the German Pfeife and the French fifre meaning "pipe".
  16. Finch

    • Origin:

      English word and nature name

    • Meaning:

      "to swindle"

    • Description:

      It feels like Finch should be a modern bird name that's as popular as Wren or Lark, but that's not the case - so it's one to consider if you're looking for a nature name that's familiar but rare.
  17. Finn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "fair or white"

    • Description:

      Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity.
  18. Flynn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "descendant of the red-haired one"

    • Description:

      Flynn, a charming Irish surname, is still used only quietly, despite its easygoing, casual cowboy charm, unlike Finn which is a star of this genre. Flynn was the choice of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr for their baby boy, and is also the middle name -- used as his first -- of a son of Miranda's fellow supermodel Elle Macpherson, of Gary Oldman's son Gulliver and Marley Shelton's daughter West.
  19. Harper

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "harp player"

    • Description:

      Harper got its start as a celebrity baby name when Paul Simon chose it for his now-grown son. Since then, other famous parents have followed suit: musician Tim Finn and actor Cecilia Peck both have sons called Harper.
  20. Hunter

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "one who hunts"

    • Description:

      Hunter has been dropping a bit for the past few years but is still one of the leaders of a distinctive band of boys' names that combines macho imagery (Hunter, Austin, Harley) with a softened masculinity. Hunter was for years attached to gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson; Josh Holloway used it for his son.
  21. Indigo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Indian dye"

    • Description:

      Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. Color names have joined flower and jewel names -- in a big way -- and Indigo, a deep blue-purple dye from plants native to India, is particularly striking for both girls and boys. Although most people don't think of it like this, Indigo might also be considered among the most stylish Greek baby names in use today. Some cultural references: The Indigo Girls are a folk duo, 'Mood Indigo' is a classic Duke Ellington jazz composition, and there is a 1970's New Age theory that Indigo children possess special, sometimes supernatural abilities. Indigo is the name of a character in the Ntozake Shange novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and was used for his daughter by Lou Diamond Phillips.
  22. Joah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "brother of God"

    • Description:

      Joah is a simple but obscure Biblical name, the name of four men in the Old Testament. Joah could be the perfect way to honor Grandpa Joe, or might be seen as a streamlined alternative to Josiah. Joah has so much basic appeal, in fact, that it just might be the next Noah.
  23. Joey

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Joseph

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      This nickname for popular and traditional Joseph has a long history of being used as a given name all on its own. Nonetheless, everyone will always assume that Joey is short for the longer form. It might be nice for a potential son to have the option of a more professional and classic name to fall back on.
  24. Jonah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "dove"

    • Description:

      Jonah, the name of the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by the whale, only to emerge unharmed three days later, is increasingly appreciated by parents looking for a biblical name less common than Jacob or Joshua, yet not too obscure. Plus, Jonah comes with a ready-made nursery-decorating motif.
  25. Jones

    • Origin:

      English surname derived from John

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      This quintessentially common last name makes a distinctive if first, given to more than 230 babies in the US in the most recent year counted. It has doubled in use over the last decade.
  26. Joss

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Jocelin

    • Meaning:

      "the merry one"

    • Description:

      Joss hadn't been heard much in this country before the emergence of Joss (born Joseph) Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, et al; it would make a catchy middle name choice. Female British singer Joss Stone was born Jocelyn.
  27. Judah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "praised"

    • Description:

      Judah is the strong, resonant Old Testament name of the son of Jacob who was the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel, and from whom the word Jew is derived. Some of the names' popularity might be attributable to the similarly named Jude Law.
  28. Larkin

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "rough, fierce"

    • Description:

      While Larkin takes this name from bird to surname, there are actually more female Larkins these days than male, and it's a name that works as well for either gender. It has the literary connection to poet Philip Larkin too.
  29. Logan

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "small hollow"

    • Description:

      According to exclusive Nameberry data, Logan is officially the Number 1 gender-neutral name in the US, but that statistic is somewhat misleading given that nearly 90 percent of the baby Logans born in 2023 were boys.
  30. Marlo

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      Perky, pretty nickname name that seems to have been invented by or for Marlo Thomas, who was born Margaret. Hipster mommy blogger Dooce named her newborn daughter Marlo Iris and comedian Rob Corddry named his daughter Marlo Stevenson.
  31. Mylo

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Milo, Latin or old German

    • Meaning:

      "soldier or merciful"

    • Description:

      Milo, Miles and even Myles are all well-known in the US, but the spelling Mylo is not widely used here though it ranks among the British Top 1000 names for boys. However you spell it, a friendly, jaunty name with authentic roots.
  32. Nemo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "nobody"

    • Description:

      One of the best known early Nemos was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, while the more familiar modern one is the animated little orange fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name well worth considering. By the way, there is also a Shakespearean Nemo and one in Dickens's Bleak House. An enchanting early comic strip by Winsor McCay was called Little Nemo.
  33. Oakley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "oak wood or clearing"

    • Description:

      As sturdy as Oak, but with stronger roots as a first name, Oakley ticks lots of boxes for modern trends. With its unisex vibe, it's nature-based meaning, it's surname-y feel, and it's popular -lee ending, it's not wonder Oakley is on the rise.
  34. Ollie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Oliver, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "olive tree"

    • Description:

      Down-home nickname name once associated with the friendly dragon on kids' TV. As Oliver rises, we may well hear more Ollies.
  35. Parker

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "park-keeper"

    • Description:

      One of the first generation of surname names, along with Porter and Morgan, Parker's still one of the most appealing and remains firmly in the Top 100 for boys. About three times as many boys as girls get this occupational name. The association with Charlie Parker gives Parker itself a jazzy edge, and it also has a nature-related meaning. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Parker.
  36. Presley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "priest's meadow"

    • Description:

      More universal than Elvis...and more conventionally attractive, too. Cindy Crawford used it for her son, though it's on the rise mainly for girls. The last time Presley ranked in the Top 1000 for boys was 1903, 120 years ago. Today, it's used for girls 14 times as often as for boys, mainly because of the -ley ending.
  37. Rain

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      Mostly feminine, though "Office" star Rainn Wilson gives it a slight masculine twist. You might also use this as a short form of Raines.
  38. River

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.
  39. Roan

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rowan

    • Meaning:

      "little redhead"

    • Description:

      Warm-hued spelling spin on Rowan that was chosen by Sharon Stone for one of her three young sons.
  40. Rune

    • Origin:

      German and Swedish

    • Meaning:

      "secret"

    • Description:

      Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.
  41. Rox
    • Sage

      • Origin:

        Herb name and also Latin

      • Meaning:

        "wise and knowing"

      • Description:

        A modern, multifaceted name, Sage is short, sweet, and strong. A unisex possibility, it is also a virtuous word name associated with wisdom, and a nature name linked to a fragrant herb.
    • Sawyer

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "woodcutter"

      • Description:

        Sawyer is a surname with a more relaxed and friendly feel than many others, and is one of the hottest occupational names right now, with the Nameberry seal of approval. Sawyer is becoming one of the top unisex names. Both Sara Gilbert and Diane Farr used Sawyer for their daughters, while it was given a boost as a boys' name by the character Sawyer on Lost, an alias for the character really named James Ford.
    • Sayer

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "woodcutter or reciter"

      • Description:

        One of the more subtle occupational surnames, Sayer is a pleasant, open, last-name-first name, particularly apt for a family of woodworkers -- or writers.
    • Scout

      • Origin:

        Word name

      • Description:

        Chosen for their daughter by Bruce and Demi (inspired by the To Kill a Mockingbirdcharacter), and for her son by Tai Babilonia, an interesting choice for either sex, with overtones of a "good scout" and the upstanding qualities of a Boy/Girl Scout.
    • Shiloh

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "tranquil"

      • Description:

        Haunting biblical and Civil War place-name; now unisex—especially after the mega-high-profile Brangelina couple picked it for their daughter. It debuted in the Top 1000 for boys in 2015.
    • Skye

      • Origin:

        Scottish place-name

      • Description:

        Referring to the Scottish Isle of Skye, this spelling brings Sky down to earth. Skye is used ten times more often for girls than boys, while the gender split on the Sky spelling is more like three to one in favor of the female side.
    • Sloan

      • Origin:

        Irish

      • Meaning:

        "raider"

      • Description:

        A few decades back, this name -- which hardly shows its Irish roots -- evoked a man in a gray flannel suit; now, though still upscale, it's more likely to be attached to a female.
    • Smith

      • Origin:

        English occupational name

      • Meaning:

        "blacksmith"

      • Description:

        Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history.
    • Sonny

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "son"

      • Description:

        Sonny is one of the generic boy nickname names making a surprise reappearance, and it was recently used by actor Jason Lee. Another surprise: It's been on the US Top 1000 list every year since 1927, and as of 2023, it entered the Top 400 for the first time. Laidback Sonny is also popular in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
    • Sommer
      • Sparrow
        • Tamsin

          • Origin:

            English, contracted form of Thomasina

          • Meaning:

            "twin"

          • Description:

            Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes, Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan Plowright and Sir Laurence Olivier..
        • Tavis

          • Description:

            Variation of Tavish, a Scottish form of Thomas, that's associated with radio/TV personality Tavis Smiley.
        • Tegan

          • Origin:

            Welsh

          • Meaning:

            "fair"

          • Description:

            Tegan is a Welsh saint's name. While some may conflate it with the Irish Teagan, they have different roots and meanings though both are used for girls as well as boys. Teagan is the more usual spelling and tips more heavily girlward, though Tegan runs about four to one girls versus boys. Tegan is pronounced with a long e sound in the first syllable, while Teagan can be pronounced either tee-gan or tay-gun.
        • Thayer

          • Origin:

            French variation of Taylor

          • Meaning:

            "tailor"

          • Description:

            Thayer is an affable, less-common alternative to Taylor, with a much more indirect connection to its occupational source. Actor Thayer David (born David Thayer: Thayer was his father's first name) was known for his roles in Rocky and Dark Shadows.
        • Tobey

          • Description:

            Tobey is a masculine name that originated as a variant spelling of Toby, which itself began as a diminutive of Tobias. The biblical name Tobias derives from Hebrew, meaning 'God is good.' The Tobey spelling gained recognition through actor Tobey Maguire, known especially for his role as Spider-Man in the early 2000s. This spelling variation gives the name a slightly more distinctive quality while maintaining the friendly, approachable nature of Toby. The name peaked in popularity during the mid-20th century but has never been extremely common. Tobey carries warm, unpretentious associations while still connecting to ancient naming traditions. It appeals to parents seeking a recognizable yet somewhat uncommon name with both biblical roots and contemporary familiarity, offering a balance of traditional values and modern style.

        • Tristen

          • Description:

            Variation of Tristan.
        • Taren
          • Wayland

            • Origin:

              English

            • Meaning:

              "land beside the road"

            • Description:

              Way out.
          • Wren

            • Origin:

              English

            • Meaning:

              "small bird"

            • Description:

              Wren may not be as time-honored a bird name choice as Robin or even Lark, but it's more fashionable and fresh, with a gentle and earthy vibe.
          • Willo
            • Winslo
              • Wolfy