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GP Names

  1. Genesis

    • Origin:

      Word name, Biblical

    • Meaning:

      "the origin and formation of something; The First Book in The Bible"

    • Description:

      Though Genesis is a Top 100 girls' name in the US, it's by all rights a unisex choice.
  2. Goliath

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "exile"

    • Description:

      Not a traditional biblical choice, but the Philistine giant isn't a bad character as such, just a champion fighter who lost to the underdog. He has given his name to everything from insect species to roller coasters. In a time when we're seeing more biblical names with chequered associations — Leviathan and Cain spring to mind — Goliath may appeal to some.
  3. Hannibal

    • Origin:

      Punic and Assyrian

    • Meaning:

      "grace of Baal, god of fertility and fortune"

    • Description:

      These days, it's thought of less as the name of the great general and more as the first name of Lecter the fictional cannibal. Either association is too heavy for a child to bear.
  4. Hawk

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Meaning:

      "hawk, a bird"

    • Description:

      Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.
  5. Huckleberry

    • Origin:

      Word name and literary name

    • Description:

      Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls, who, like many parents, will call the boy the much more manageable Huck. It was also the name of a child on TV's West Wing,
  6. Hai
    • Indiana

      • Origin:

        American place-name

      • Meaning:

        "land of the Indians"

      • Description:

        This state name emerged in the eighties along with westerners Dakota and Montana, and it's still used occasionally by high-profile parents such as Summer Phoenix and Casey Affleck. Action man Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) makes Indiana "Indy" forever cool for a boy.
    • Israel

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "he who struggles with God"

      • Description:

        Though it was used by the Puritans in the sixteenth century, the founding of the modern Jewish state in 1948 transformed Israel from a traditional favorite into an icon of Judaism.
    • Iridessa
      • Lake

        • Origin:

          Nature name

        • Description:

          Evocative modern unisex choice brought into the spotlight by actress Lake Bell.
      • Lemon

        • Origin:

          American fruit name

        • Description:

          Lemon is one of the more unique names related to fruit, compared with sisters Clementine and Apple. That may be because lemon is also a word that's slang for a clunker, something that doesn't work very well. No baby wants to feel like a Lemon, so this is one of those unusual names that is best avoided.
      • Major

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "greater; or, a military rank"

        • Description:

          This bold choice soared in popularity from 2008 to 2013, and now seems to have plateaued. But watch out—the character Major Major Major Major in the classic absurdist novel Catch-22 had a terrible time.
      • Moon
        • Neptune

          • Origin:

            Roman god of the sea, freshwater springs, and horses.

          • Description:

            This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.
        • Nixie

          • Origin:

            German

          • Meaning:

            "water nymph"

          • Description:

            If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you. It might also make an update for Nicki.
        • Ocean

          • Origin:

            English, nature name

          • Meaning:

            "ocean"

          • Description:

            Nature names like Ocean and River are flowing back into favor, especially with nature lovers and green-oriented parents. In 2024, it was given to 483 boys and 325 girls, making this a unisex favorite in the US, while in the UK, it is considerably more popular for girls.
        • Oceanus

          • Origin:

            Mythological name

          • Meaning:

            "ocean"

          • Description:

            Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the Mayflower. Modern variations include Ocean, Oceana, and Oceane, a popular French name for girls.
        • Orion

          • Origin:

            Greek

          • Meaning:

            "boundary, limit"

          • Description:

            Orion is a rising star, with both mythical and celestial overtones.
        • Oswald

          • Origin:

            English

          • Meaning:

            "divine power"

          • Description:

            Despite the success of so many O-starting boys names--Oliver, Owen, Otis, Oscar--Oswald has not yet shown any signs of resurrection, though he does have the animating nicknames Ozzie/Ozzy and Oz. The name has some literary cred--in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's King Lear and a novel by H. G.Wells--and there was early cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
        • Pelagius

          • Description:

            Pelagius is a masculine name with ancient Greek and Latin roots, derived from "pelagos" meaning "sea" or "ocean." This rare name carries significant historical weight, most notably associated with the 5th-century British monk Pelagius, known for his theological positions that became controversial within early Christianity. The name also belonged to several early Christian saints and a 8th-century king of Asturias. Despite its historical significance, Pelagius remains extremely uncommon in modern usage. It has a scholarly, distinctive quality with its classical ending and connection to ancient languages. The name's maritime etymology suggests vastness and depth, while its historical associations connect to theological thought and early Christian history. For parents seeking a name with classical roots and historical significance, Pelagius offers a rarely-used option with substantial cultural depth.