25 Cool Hipster Baby Names You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Effortlessly cool, hip, and with a finger on the pulse of pop culture, hipster baby names evoke the past while being incredibly current. Obscure literary references, chic one-syllable monikers, and your great-grandma’s middle name are all fair game when it comes to hip baby names. If you’ve ever wondered who’s to blame for names like Fitzgerald, Bea, and Elvis making a comeback, ask yourself what names your craft beer-drinking friends with bohemian lifestyles are naming their kids.

You might tire of seeing their ironic totes and trendy reusable shopping bags, but hipsters have a knack for naming a baby. Perhaps it has something to do with millennials being the most well-educated generation with their younger piers gen-Zers set to inherit that mantle. Whatever is to blame, we have them to thank for diversifying the baby name game. Let’s look at the stylish, offbeat, and even wacky names young folks are giving their kids. Here are 25 hipster baby names that are pure fire.

25. Sadie

The name of your mom’s favorite cat, Sadie is also a great name for a little girl. Sadie is a touch edgier than Sarah and shares the same Hebrew origins and meaning: “princess.” Sadie had a moment in the 70s as a popular name for girls and it’s making a comeback.

24. Duke

Hipsters are reclaiming the name Duke. It’s being given to both boys and girls now after previously being mainly for boys. Duke is a title for a noble person with the ranking just below that of a prince. It is also short for Marmaduke.

23. Juniper

Hipsters love nature-inspired names for their children. Juniper is a gender-neutral name (hipsters love those too) that is cute and fun for both boys and girls. Juniper has Latin origins and means “evergreen.” Sidenote: juniper berries are delicious.

22. Nico

Nico is a popular name across Europe and abroad. It’s finally picking up steam in the US. The name Nico is a common nickname for the Italian name Niccolo and means “people of victory.” The name has Greek origins and works well for both boys and girls.

21. Lux

While it might remind you of luxury, the name Lux has Greek and Latin origins and actually means “light.” While the name will work for both boys and girls, we particularly love it for a girl.

20. Gus

Short for Augustus and Augustine, Gus is a hip and cool name for boys once more. This Latin name means “majestic” and would be a delight to hear called in the playground or classroom.

19. Tallulah

Made famous by actress and firebrand Tallulah Bankhead in the early 20th Century, Tallulah is making a resurgence. The name offers drama and star power. The Native American name means “leaping water.”

18. Stellan

Scandinavian names for babies are having a moment. Stellan is an extremely popular name in Sweden although it has German origins. The name means “peaceful one.” Crisp and clean-sounding this name is an upgrade to Steven.

17. Ruby

Ruby is a gorgeous gemstone name that conveys a touch of sass and a lot of cool. The name comes from the Latin word ruber and means “red.” Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July which makes it perfect for a little girl born that month.

16. Wren

Wren is a gender-neutral name that also belongs to the small, wren songbird. The name has Welsh origins and means “ruler.” Hipsters love to “put a bird on it” so it’s only natural that Wren would be a popular name for their children.

15. Romana

The classic name for girls, Romona is cool again. Romana is a Spanish name that means “wise protector.” The name was extremely popular in the 1960s shortly after the publication of Beverly Cleary’s humorous children’s novels of the same name.

14. Cormac

Novelist Cormac McCarthy mastered several genres including Southern gothic, post-apocalyptic, and Western styles. No Country for Old Men, Child of God, and The Road are few notable works. The name Cormac is Irish and means “charioteer.”

13. Edie

Andy Warhol fans also love model Edie Sedgewick who is probably responsible for the reclamation of this grandma-name as stylish. Edie is a nickname for Edith and comes from Old English. The name means “rich in war.”

12. Ryder

Another unisex name, Ryder has English origins and means “knight” or “mounted warrior.” The name was a common surname before it transitioned to a given name. Kate Hudson and her husband Chris Robinson chose it for their son in 2004. 

11. Pearl

The name of Janis Joplin’s masterpiece, Pearl is making a comeback as a name for girls. The birthstone for the month of June, Pearl has Latin origins and would be perfect for a Summer baby. Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson named their daughter Pearl Minnie.

RELATED: 35 Baby Names Inspired by Gems and Jewels That Are Just as Precious as Your Little One

10. Oscar

With origins in English, Irish, and Old Norse, Oscar is a popular name among… Latinx families. Oscar means “God spear” or “deer-lover” or “champion warrior.” Oscar Wilde is a famous example of someone who did right by this fantastic name.

9. Piper

Piper is a popular name for girls and that’s also becoming true for boys. The name has English and Romanian origins and means “flute player.” Gillian Anderson gave this attractive name to her daughter.

8. Zeke

Short for Ezekiel, Zeke is a fun and playful name for a little boy. This Hebrew name means “God strengthens.” Dallas Cowboys’ running back, Ezekiel Elliot goes by Zeke. It’s such a cute name.

RELATED: 25 Underrated Baby Names from the Bible That Deserve Praise

7. Zelda

While we’re talking Z-names, Zelda is another wonderful option. Zelda is a whimsical name for a baby girl that has German origins and means “gray fighting maid.” The name is rising fast and in 2015, it entered the top 1000 for the first time in nearly 50 years. Writer and symbol of the Jazz age, Zelda Fitzgerald had one heck of a name.

6. Tate

Tate is a popular boy’s name that quickly rising as a name for girls as well. Tate has English and Norse origins and means “cheerful.” The Tate and Tate Modern museums in London are named for philanthropist Henry Tate. The name was first common as a surname before becoming a given one. Spice Girl Emma Bunton named her second son Tate Lee.

5. Millie

Short for Mildred or Millicent, Millie is a red-hot name again. Amelia is a beautiful name but this would be a unique alternative to it. 16-year-old actor Millie Bobby Brown is keeping this name very current and cool. Millie has German origins and means “strong in work.”

4. Luca

Luca is a boy or girl’s name of Italian origin meaning “person from Lucania.” Since 2000, this name has been growing in popularity among hipster parents. Hilary Duff named her son this charming name.

RELATED: Bellissimo! 25 Bold & Beautiful Baby Names with Italian Origins

3. Isla

The name Isla is a girl’s name of Spanish and Scottish origin meaning “island.” Isla is the Spanish word for an island and it’s also the name of a Scottish river. The name is extremely popular in the UK. Isla Black Hitchens is a Harry Potter character and perhaps why the name has started taking off in the US.

2. Jude

The Beatles song “Hey Jude” is such a touching and heartfelt tune. Jude is a fantastic name for a little boy. Jude has Latin origins and means “praised.” Jude is also a popular nickname for girls who are named Judith or Judy.

1. Cora

What’s old is new again! Cora is a classic name for girls that is seeing a resurgence because young parents are in love with its antique charm. Cora is of Greek origin and it means “maiden.” Cora is a pet name of Persephone, a goddess of fertility and the underworld. The fictional heroine of James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans, Cora Munro helped bring this name even more favor.

Hipsters love oddly flavored coffee drinks and spending too much time landing on the perfect baby name. The result is an explosion in old fashioned names that have made a comeback. We hope this list of 25 names inspires you to think of the perfect name for your hip little one.