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 emma@nameberry.com.

　　View all of Emma Waterhouse's articlesChevron - Right