25 Unisex Bohemian Baby Names for Free-Spirited New Parents

Your choice in a baby’s name is a reflection of you, your ideals, and your values. This is why the task of choosing an appellation might seem very daunting to some. Further, you might be trying to find a very versatile name that showcases your go-with-the-flow attitude. A gender-neutral or unisex baby name could prove the perfect choice for many new parents as they are often timeless classics that have historically gone to both genders. Conversely, you might be looking for something fresh and new that feels contemporary and fitting for your child.

We decided to take a look at Bohemian baby names that bridge the gap between genders and ideology making them perfect monikers for many children. When we think of boho baby names we think of nature, literature, music, and names that convey positive ideas. Whether you are waiting until birth to discover your baby’s gender or you just want an appealing name that does not stick to the script, you have come to the right place to discover the most attractive gender-neutral baby names. Here are 25 Bohemian unisex baby names that revel in subverting convention!

25. River

River shares the peaceful feeling with all the other water names and seems to have pretty much shaken off its past connection with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Keri Russell and the Taylor Hansons both have sons named River. Kelly Clarkson’s choice of River for her newborn daughter further raised the profile of the versatility of this name. It’s currently a top 200 pick for both baby boys and girls in the US.

24. Kit

Kit is a crisp, classic British unisex nickname that sounds fresh and modern today. Kit has long been a nickname for Katherine for girls and Charles for boys. Jodie Foster used it for her son! Kit can mean “follower of Christ” or “pure.” We think Kit has such a fresh and appealing ring to it.

23. Ocean

Ocean is rising in usage as a baby name, given to 116 baby girls and 166 baby boys in 2018. Oceane, the version that’s trendy in France, was used for only nine baby girls in the US in the same year. It’s in the top 1000 most popular baby names in England last year as well. Hop on this unisex nature name now before it gets too hot in the US.

22. Kai

This appealing multi-cultural name, pronounced KYE, is starting to be used for girls as well as boys. Among its many origins and meanings: “sea” in Hawaiian, “forgiveness” in Japanese, “willow tree” in Navajo, “food” in Maori, and “earth” in Scandinavian. For girls, it debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2010. It’s currently a top 100 favorite for baby boys.

21. Jules

Though Jules hasn’t been on the US popularity list in fifty years, it is a current hit in its native France where it’s currently number 10 and we can definitely see it making a comeback here! TV personality Jules Asner made this middle-aged male name suddenly seem young and fresh and female. For girls, it has often been a nickname for Julia and Julie. This lovely unisex name has Latin origins and is related to Julius. It means “youthful.”

20. Egypt

We had Egypt listed as a girls-only place-name until singer Alicia Keys and rap producer husband Swizz Beatz used it for their son. However, the name is more popular for girls in the US and it is now in the US top 1000. Egypt is a promising option that refers to the storied place. If you love this option, you might also consider Cairo, another unisex choice.

19. Arlo

Arlo, a surprisingly popular name for boys these days, is also finding new life as a girls’ name. Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, who chose it for their daughter. The first name Arlo may be rooted in the surname Arlow or the place name Aherlow, meaning “between two highlands”. As a surname, it also has roots in a place name meaning “rocky hill.” It’s currently a top 500 pick for boys and we see it catching on for more baby girls in the coming years.

18. Scout

Scout, a character name from To Kill a Mockingbird, became a real-life possibility when Bruce Willis and Demi Moore used it for their now grown middle daughter. The name is also popular for baby boys but it is given to girls at four times the rate. It’s a top 1000 pick for baby girls and it is so wonderful in its virtuous nature.

17. Zephyr

Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind, and all names associated with him have a pleasantly airy, breezy feel. Because of its Greek origin this name means “west wind.” It’s currently a top 1000 option in the UK for boys and it is very quickly catching on in the US. Z-names are super hot right now so expect this name to emerge as a favorite in the coming years.

16. Yael

Yael is a name with Hebrew origins that’s popular for both boys and girls in Israel today. Ya’el is another possible spelling of this adorable name. This charmer means “to ascend” and is currently more popular for boys than girls in the US.

15. Cypress

Most botanical baby names are considered unisex and Cypress is one of our favorite examples, but we’ll share with you another popular option next. Cypress, in antiquity, was considered sacred to Pluto. In the best-known version of the Greek myth, the favorite companion of Cyparissus was a tamed stag, which he accidentally killed with his hunting javelin as it lay sleeping in the woods. The boy’s grief was such that it transformed him into a cypress tree, a classical symbol of mourning. A little sullen, but not a dealbreaker for us.

14. Sage

Sage fits many criteria sought by modern parents. It’s short and strong, with hints of wisdom as well as perfumed herbal properties. At this point, Sage is given about a third of the time to boys. The Greeks and Romans wrote that the smoke from burned sage leaves imparted wisdom, and in the tenth century, Arab physicians said that sage brought about immortality, or at the very least, a long and healthy life. Sage comes from a Latin word meaning “wise and knowing.”

13. Blake

Blake, a classic unisex option, dropped out of the top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains an elegant choice. The has English origins and means “fair-haired” or “dark.” Yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. The unisex name is given almost equally to boys and girls these days.

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12. Rio

If River sounds too mainstream to you, consider the Spanish form of the name, Rio. The name is a top 500 choice for boys in the UK. And, you will find the name in Japan as a top 10 choice for girls. Its Japanese origins can mean “place of the cherry blossoms.” We expect this unisex name to shoot up the charts in the next year or so in the US so get ahead of the trend now!

11. Ever

Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson chose the name Ever for their daughter and, we must admit, we are rather fond of this one. Alanis Morissette and Souleye named their son Ever Imre. You can attribute this name to the English word, “at all times,” or its Scandinavian origins meaning “wild as a boar,” or as an alternative form of Eber, a Hebrew name that means “beyond.”

10. Arden

Arden, the name of the whimsical forest in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, is a stylish A-name with a strong, straightforward image. Another reason to love Arden is its similarity to “ardent.” Arden is solidly unisex, with the gender distribution running about 2 girls for every boy. The name comes from an English surname that means “valley of the eagle.”

9. Merritt

Merritt has a long history as a surname and a given name to baby boys. Emmy-winning actress Merritt Wever proved that this name works well for girls also and you should definitely consider it for your baby. Like Arden, Merritt is an English surname that means “boundary gate.” The meaning is a touch opaque but we think this name is clearly a winner.

8. Lyric

A musical name with Greek roots, appealing to parents who like such other names as Harmony, Melody, and Aria. Like those names, Lyric is more popular among baby girls but we see huge potential in this name for a boy as an alternative to Rick or Eric. Lyric shares the same roots with the word “lyre.”

7. Indigo

Indigo is one of the most endearing and emotive of the new generation of color names. Indigo has emerged more favored for baby girls, but with think it works well for boys! Indigo also has Greek origins and means “Indian dye” as it was associated with a pigment Indian merchants brought to Europe.

6. Finley

Finley is a Scottish royal name belonging to Macbeth’s father and is riding the wave of popular Finn names. Chris O’Donnell used it for one of his sons, and Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn did a gender switch when they named their daughter Finley. It’s now almost equally applied to baby boys’ and girls’ birth certificates and lands in the top 500 for both. This charming appellation means “fair-haired hero.”

5. August

Though associated fashionably with boys, it has been used occasionally for girls as well. This is the case for Garth Brooks and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who both chose the name for their daughters. August comes from the Roman name Augustus which means “majestic.” This name lands in the top 1000 most popular options today for both boys and girls with the scales heavily tipped to the side of baby boys.

4. Zenith

A quirky choice that means “apex,” Zenith was once only relegated to an electronics manufacturer. Today, parents are coming around to the idea of using this mighty and uplifting word as a name. Fewer than 20 children were given the name last year so if you are after a nearly undiscovered option, Zenith could be perfect for you. Zen makes for an appealing nickname!

3. Emerson

Emerson is a dignified, moderately serious name associated with transcendental intellectual Ralph Waldo Emerson. The name has really taken off in the US in the last decade with greats like Shonda Rhimes choosing it for her daughter. Emerson means “son of Emery” and has German origins.

2. Atlas

As well as the mythological connection, Atlas is a cool geographical word name perfect for the child of parents who love traveling and adventure. Atlas has emerged as one of the fastest-rising names for baby boys. However, actor Shay Mitchell chose the name for her daughter and we are not the least bit mad about it, in fact, we are glad she opened up the possibility for many other parents. This Greek name means “bearer of the heavens.”

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1. Rooney

Carol actor Rooney Mara, originally born Patricia Rooney, has single-handedly transformed this Gaelic surname into a wearable and elegant girls’ name. Mickey Rooney is probably the most famous individual with the name. It means “descendent of the champion.” This treasured Irish name has never appeared in the US top 1000 and we think that should change. It’s just so cute! Further, it offers you the nickname Roone.

There you go! Did you enjoy these chic gender-neutral baby names with Bohemian vibes? We certainly hope you feel inspired by these versatile baby names that offer plenty of whimsy and offbeat charm. If you are intrigued by one of these appellations but are not completely sold on it as a first name, you can always choose it as a middle name option.