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200 Unique Word Names You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
200 Unique Word Names You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Nov 7, 2024 2:42 AM

  Lovers of unique word names, put down your dictionaries!

  We’ve found a better way to come up with truly original word names for babies: crowdsource it! We recently asked our brilliant Berry community to suggest cool new word name possibilities that no one’s thought of yet — and they didn’t let us down.

  These were our criteria:

  1. English words (and foreign words used in English) only

  2. In line with current trends

  3. Never in the US Top 1000

  Over 1000 inventive new word names were submitted, from Aloe and Anaphora to Zealous and Zap. A selection of our favorites is below, sorted into ten popular categories, or you can view the full shiny new list of unique word names for babies here.

  None of the names chosen has ever been given to more than 15 babies per year in the US, and most have never appeared on the SSA list at all.

  A big thank you to everyone who took part!

  

1. Unique Botanical Names

Botanical baby names are trending in a big way right now, but there are so many fresh options out there if the likes of Rowan and Rose feel too popular. Our favorite from this category has to be the lovely Caraway, suggested by @Anthiese. We love its soft, dreamy sound and unisex appeal.

  Abrus

  Bonsai

  Caraway

  Conifer

  Dittany

  Evergreen

  Fennell

  Freesia

  Hickory

  Ixia

  Lupine

  Marjoram

  Sago

  Tamarisk

  Tarragon

  

2. Unique Animal Names

Cool animal names — and especially bird names like Hawk and Wren — have really caught on for babies in recent years. There are plenty of rare bird names to consider in the list below, but we really love the suggestion of Pipistrelle from @columbiacharm. If birds are fair game, why not bats too?

  Akita

  Boa

  Bronco

  Cormorant

  Dotterel

  Egret

  Firefly

  Jacana

  Minnow

  Nightingale

  Pinto

  Pipistrelle

  Rooster

  Skylark

  Viper

  

3. Unique Material, Metal and Mineral Names

Gem names like Jasper and Ruby are popular for both sexes right now, but the material world has so much more to offer! We’re especially intrigued by @pixiegretch’s suggestion of Papyrus, which has a super cool sound and history.

  Adelite

  Alnico

  Brocade

  Cambric

  Celsian

  Denarius

  Gossamer

  Lazuli

  Obsidian

  Papyrus

  Pewter

  Tourmaline

  Velveteen

  Quartz

  Zircon

  

4. Unique Geographical Names

From Forest to Ridge, there’s a plethora of cool geographical names rising rapidly up the popularity charts at the moment. We got so many great suggestions in this category, but @sgsg8’s suggestion of Meander fits so perfectly into the current namescape that it has to be our favorite!

  Acre

  Caldera

  Drumlin

  Everglade

  Fosse

  Glacier

  Islet

  Meander

  Oasis

  Orchard

  Plateau

  Rivulet

  Spur

  Tundra

  Woodland

  

5. Unique Names Meaning Light or Dark

Names with meanings relating to light or dark feel especially fitting for babies born in the morning or evening. Our top pick from this category of unique names was suggested by both @Mega_Muffin and @freddiethepink: Vespertine, meaning “of the evening”. Stunning!

  Ardent

  Comet

  Cosmic

  Dusk

  Glow

  Horizon

  Luminance

  Mirage

  Nebula

  Solstice

  Spark

  Twilight

  Umbra

  Vespertine

  Wildfire

  

6. Unique Occupational Names

From Hunter and Harper to Piper and Parker, today’s most popular occupational names have a modern, energetic appeal. But there are so many other options — and other ending sounds — out there. We especially love the fabulous Aviatrix, suggested by @sarahmezz.

  Artisan

  Aviatrix

  Bard

  Dreamer

  Explorer

  Guardian

  Mage

  Mariner

  Paladin

  Pioneer

  Samurai

  Selkie

  SentinelVoyagerWanderer

  

7. Positive Virtue Names

Traditional virtue names with upstanding moral meanings can feel a bit too Puritanical for modern usage — especially for girls. (Think Chastity, Modesty or Prudence.) Our top picks all have a bit more bite! We think Parity, suggested by @Kasey131313 and @renchickdee, hits exactly the right note for 2020. And, fittingly, it feels equally wearable for either sex.

  Alacrity

  Carefree

  Eager

  Fierce

  Flair

  Gregarious

  Jovial

  Kindred

  Parity

  Power

  Reason

  Tenacity

  Valiant

  Vigor

  Zeal

  

8. Unique Artistic and Musical Names

From Aria to Lyric, musical baby names feel very fashionable right now. But we think word names from art and literature are worth a look, too. Our favorite, Fresco, shares sounds with stylish Roscoe and feels so… well, fresh. Kudos to @moonwriteen for the suggestion!

  Arabesque

  Cabriole

  Chorus

  Clarinet

  Duet

  Evensong

  Fresco

  Jive

  Lullaby

  Madrigal

  Novel

  Rondeau

  Sonata

  Stanza

  Triolet

  

9. Magnificent Meanings

Everyone loves a baby name with a great meaning, whether it’s beauty or joy or strength. But these submissions have some of the most intriguing meanings we’ve seen. We’re especially taken with Petrichor, suggested by @Selkit and @monstrositee, which describes the pleasant smell of rain on dry earth.

  Aeolian — “of the wind”

  Alpenglow — “the rosy light of the setting or rising sun seen on high mountains”

  Apricity — “the warmth of the sun in winter”

  Daystar — “a planet visible in the east just before sunrise”

  Elysian — “of heaven or paradise”

  Luminary — “a person who inspires or influences others; a natural light-giving body”

  Meridian — “a circle of constant longitude; a pathway in the body along which vital energy is said to flow”

  Moonglade — “the bright reflection of moonlight on water”

  Nepenthe — “a poetic drug said to banish sorrow from a person’s mind”

  Panacea — “a cure for all ills”

  Penumbra — “a space of partial illumination between perfect shadow and full light”

  Petrichor — “the earthy scent of fresh rain on dry ground”

  Serendipity — “unexpected good fortune”

  Sonder — “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own”

  Velleity — “a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action”

  

10. Great Nickname Potential

Nicknames are growing in popularity all the time, but most parents still prefer to put a formal name on the birth certificate. Still, who says your Theo has to be a Theodore, or your Jules a Julia? Our prize for the most versatile word name suggestion has to go to Evanescence, from @mill1010.

  Calyx — Cal

  Cleome — Cleo

  Bayou — Bay, Bou

  Ephemera — Effie, Emmy

  Evanescence — Evie, Evan, Annie, Essie, Ness, Van

  Dulcet — Dulcie, Etta

  Hallelujah — Hallie, Lou

  Julep — Jules, Jupe

  Kismet — Kizzy, Izzy

  Laureate — Laurie

  Orison — Ori, Ozzy, Sonny

  Sibilance — Sibby, Billie

  Theory — Theo

  Vivid — Vivi, Vida

  Rosegold — Rosie, Goldie

  

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 [email protected].

  View all of Emma Waterhouse's articlesChevron - Right

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