What’s hot in the middle spot? Unique unisex middle names, of course!

　　With more and more unisex first names in circulation, you’d think that conventionally gendered middles would be holding firm, if only for practicality’s sake. And you’d be right – to a certain extent, at least.

　　Although the SSA doesn’t record data on middle names, anecdotal evidence tells us that traditional picks like Rose and Elizabeth, James and Michael still reign supreme in the middle spot (although James has been creeping into an increasing number of girl birth announcements, too).

　　But we’ve also been seeing many more adventurous – and ambiguous – options like Fox and Kit, Wilder and Winter, Bellamy and Callahan used for babies of both sexes.

　　In many ways, current name trends lend themselves to this. Some of the most fashionable sources of baby name inspiration in recent years – from novel word names to stylish surnames to brand new coinages – lack the long-standing gender associations that more conventional choices carry.

　　But it’s also indicative of a broader cultural shift towards deliberately gender-neutral baby naming. Spelling variations aside, it looks like Ray/Rae could be both the new James and the new Rose in that historically conservative middle name slot!

　　

Why Choose a Unisex Middle Name?

　　It’s easy to see the appeal. A unique unisex middle name can add an unexpected twist to a mainstream first name, as in the case of starbabies Penelope Scotland and Jonathan Rosebanks.

　　It can help to tone down the frilliness or machismo of a strongly gendered first name: think Alyssa Milano’s Elizabella Dylan, or Kevin James’ Kannon Valentine.

　　Or it can reinforce the deliberate ambiguity of a truly gender neutral names, like Megan Fox’s Journey River or Alanis Morrissette’s Onyx Solace.

　　And while one-syllable names – from Ann and John to Wren and Gray – have always ruled in the middle spot, there’s room for more elaborate options, too. It can be fun to pair a short, simple first name with a more dramatic middle, or to balance out a fancy first with a more tailored middle name. This trend is all about thinking outside the box!

　　

Cool Gender Neutral Middle Name Ideas

Here are five of our favorite places to look for fresh inspiration for middle names, plus some of the coolest unisex options in each category.

　　

Place Names

HeartAlbanyChevron - RightHeartAvalonChevron - RightHeartCairoChevron - RightHeartDenaliChevron - RightHeartElimChevron - RightHeartEverestChevron - RightHeartGalileeChevron - RightHeartHollandChevron - RightHeartIndianaChevron - RightHeartJerichoChevron - RightHeartMonacoChevron - RightHeartOsloChevron - RightHeartPhoenixChevron - RightHeartRioChevron - RightHeartRhodesChevron - RightHeartSalemChevron - RightHeartShilohChevron - RightHeartTennesseeChevron - RightHeartZumaChevron - Right

　　Explore more place names for babies here.

　　

Nature Names

HeartArborChevron - RightHeartArrowChevron - RightHeartAuburnChevron - RightHeartBayChevron - RightHeartCalderaChevron - RightHeartCedarChevron - RightHeartCypressChevron - RightHeartDoveChevron - RightHeartHarvestChevron - RightHeartIndigoChevron - RightHeartKestrelChevron - RightHeartMeridianChevron - RightHeartNorthChevron - RightHeartPeregrineChevron - RightHeartRueChevron - RightHeartSableChevron - RightHeartSequoiaChevron - RightHeartTempestChevron - RightHeartYarrowChevron - RightHeartZephyrChevron - Right

　　Browse more nature-inspired baby names here.

　　

Virtue Names

HeartBraveryChevron - RightHeartEverChevron - RightHeartFidelisChevron - RightHeartHeroChevron - RightHeartHonorChevron - RightHeartJusticeChevron - RightHeartKindredChevron - RightHeartKismetChevron - RightHeartLuxChevron - RightHeartMarvelChevron - RightHeartPaxChevron - RightHeartProsperChevron - RightHeartSageChevron - RightHeartSolaceChevron - RightHeartTrueChevron - RightHeartValorChevron - RightHeartWinsomeChevron - RightHeartWildChevron - RightHeartZenChevron - Right

　　Discover more virtue names for babies here.

　　

Hero Names

HeartAngelouChevron - RightHeartAudenChevron - RightHeartBowieChevron - RightHeartDarcyChevron - RightHeartFaradayChevron - RightHeartHarlowChevron - RightHeartKahloChevron - RightHeartLorcaChevron - RightHeartLovelaceChevron - RightHeartMarleyChevron - RightHeartMatisseChevron - RightHeartMonroeChevron - RightHeartPicassoChevron - RightHeartPoeChevron - RightHeartSojournerChevron - RightHeartSundanceChevron - RightHeartVaroChevron - RightHeartWildeChevron - RightHeartZeppelinChevron - RightHeartZiggyChevron - Right

　　Check out our full list of modern hero baby names here.

　　

International Names

HeartAdairChevron - RightHeartAkiraChevron - RightHeartBlaiseChevron - RightHeartCaroChevron - RightHeartEvrenChevron - RightHeartFennChevron - RightHeartIrieChevron - RightHeartMaviChevron - RightHeartLiorChevron - RightHeartLumiChevron - RightHeartNicoChevron - RightHeartNoorChevron - RightHeartRenChevron - RightHeartRumiChevron - RightHeartShalomChevron - RightHeartValentineChevron - RightHeartWynnChevron - RightHeartYaelChevron - RightHeartZennorChevron - RightHeartZolaChevron - Right

　　Find more cool unique unisex names here.

　　

About the Author

　　

Emma Waterhouse

　　Emma Waterhouse joined the team in 2017, writing about everything from the top baby name trends 2023 to how not to choose the next big baby name. As Nameberry's head moderator, she also helps to keep our active forums community ticking.

　　Emma's articles on names and naming trends have been featured in publications including the Huffington Post, People, Today's Parent, Fatherly, and Good Housekeeping.

　　A linguist by background, Emma speaks several languages and lives in England's smallest county with her husband and four young children. You can reach her at emma@nameberry.com.

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