100 Unique Word Names That Get Right to the Point

Finding the perfect name for your new baby can be a daunting task. With so many names available, narrowing down the choices and finding something meaningful that fits your style can be difficult. But what if you decided to look into word names for babies? Word names are becoming increasingly popular – they’re creative, memorable, and have great meanings behind them.

There’s a certain kind of magic in assigning a child their own unique appellation – it holds part of their identity and can shape how they grow up and feel about themselves. Word names might be just the thing for those looking for something more special and evocative than traditional options. Not only can these words feel like an homage to certain passions or interests, but each name has its unique story behind it, making it very special indeed! This blog post will take you through some of our favorite word names for babies – from short and sweet monikers to longer, more poetic ones.

Botanical Word Names for Girls

Botanical and nature names have always been beloved but are more popular today than ever as more parents look for secular names that celebrate our planet. If names like Rose, Rowan, Forest, and River feel too popular, we’ve got some unique options to share with you. We have split these names up by gender, but please read through all as many are gender-neutral.

• Saffron
• Pepper
• Poppy
• Sesame

More Botanical Word Names for Girls

• Cassia
• Anise
• Lilac
• Mohagony

Even More Botanical Word Names for Baby Girls

• Bay
• Fennell
• Caraway
• Maple

Botanical Word Names for Boys

• Cedar
• Cypress
• Valerian
• Basil

More Botanical Word Names for Boys

• Sorrel
• Oleander
• Leaf
• Birch

Even More Botanical Word Names for Boys

• Juniper
• Hickory
• Conifer
• Sago

Animal Word Names for Girls

Animal word names, like botanical ones, are on the rise today. If Robin and Wren seem too ubiquitous, consider some of the more unique options for girls and boys below.

• Lark
• Egret
• Dove
• Jacana

Animal Word Names for Boys

• Finch
• Fox
• Hawk
• Bronco

Mineral, Metallic, and Stone Word Names for Girls

Somewhat nature names, these appellations have a bit of an edge thanks to the evocative stones, metals, and minerals they name. If you’re over Ruby, Pearl, and Jasper, we’ve got some currently unpopular options to share with you. They really shine!

• Amethyst
• Gem
• Beryl
• Garnet

More Mineral, Metallic, and Stone Word Names for Girls

• Peridot
• Citrine
• Emerald
• Adelite

Mineral, Metallic, and Stone Word Names for Boys

• Slate
• Alabaster
• Cambric
• Celsian

More Mineral, Metallic, and Stone Word Names for Boys

• Cobalt
• Flint
• Mica
• Mercury

Topographic and Geology-Inspired Word Names for Girls

Word names inspired by places are very unique and uncommon. In fact, there are not many of them that are established today, with the exception of Forest.

• Marine
• Prairie
• Orchard
• Oasis

More Topographic and Geology-Inspired Word Names for Girls

• Islet
• Glacier
• Caldera
• Desert

RELATED: 100+ Nature Baby Names for Parents Who Love the Planet

Topographic and Geology-Inspired Word Names for Boys

• Lake
• Acre
• Mountain
• Woods

More Topographic and Geology-Inspired Word Names for Boys

• Rivulet
• Fjord
• Arbor
• Harbor

Word Names That Describe Light for Girls

Tons of baby names mean light (Chiara, Lucia, Lucian, and Rupert, to name a few), but it’s not always clear. You can take the guesswork out of the equation by choosing a word name for the theme.

• Moonlight
• Sunshine
• Nebula
• Vespertine

More Word Names That Describe Light for Girls

• Glow
• Spark
• Shine
• Umbra

Word Names That Describe Light for Boys

• Dusk
• Flash
• Horizon
• Comet

Vocational Word Names for Girls

Occupational names have been popular as given names for centuries, and they are especially great because most are gender-neutral. Mason, Carter, Harper, and Piper have all had a good run. For something more unique, take a look at our ideas.

• Mage
• Sailor
• Dancer
• Explorer

Vocational Word Names for Boys

• Bard
• Poet
• Pioneer
• Chaplin

Modern Virtue Word Names for Girls

Virtue names traditionally went to baby girls and were popularized by the Puritans. Constance, Prudence, Felicity, and Faith have all been popular. We decided to come up with some that have not collected as much dust.

• Power
• Zeal
• Euphoria
• Eternity

Modern Virtue Word Names for Boys

• Vigor
• Legend
• Loyal
• Keen

Artistic Word Names for Girls

Art is an endlessly inspiring endeavor. Unfortunately, there are not many established names with arty meanings. We are here to change that. Consider some of these word name delights.

• Poetry
• Sanata
• Violin
• Lullaby

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 33 Cool Baby Names That Mean ‘Blue’ That Evoke Imagery of the Sea and Sky

Artistic Word Names for Boys

• Epic
• Novel
• Banjo
• Allegro

Word names for babies are a great way to find something unique and meaningful for your new baby. These names bring with them their own special stories, meanings, and connotations, making them both beautiful and inspiring. We hope you found some that could be a good fit for your child. For even more name inspiration, keep reading. We’ve got comfort baby names to share with you next.

Comfortable and Cozy Names for Girls

Time-Tested Names for Girls

• Charlotte – A French name, meaning “free man” or “French man”
• Abigail – A name that’s more popular today than ever before, Abigail comes from Hebrew origin, meaning “my father is joyful”
• Ellie – A diminutive of Eleanor, meaning “bright” and “shining”
• Daisy – An English flower name, meaning “day’s eye”

Established Yet Sweet Names for Girls

• Georgia -A feminine form of George, a name from English that means “farmer”
• Maude – One of the most cherished names at the end of the 19th century, Maude comes from German as a form of Mathilda, meaning “mighty in battle”
• Stella – A cool name again today, Stella comes from Latin and means “star”
• Winona – A very popular name from the 1880s until the 1950s, Winona comes from Sioux Indian, meaning “first daughter”

Comforting Names for Girls

• Grace – A perennial favorite in the US, Grace is a virtue name that means “God’s grace”
• Norma – An English habitational name, meaning “from the North,” most popular in the early years of the 20th century
• Selena – A name that has experienced several renaissances in the US, Selena comes from Greek and means “moon goddess”
• Yvonne – One of the historically popular names in the US until 2000, from French, meaning “yew wood”

Peaceful Appellations for Girls

• Hannah – A traditional name from Hebrew, meaning “grace”
• Opal – A name that’s made a comeback in recent years, Opal comes from Sanskrit origin and means “gem”
• Thomasin – A female form of Thomas that predates Thomasina, meaning “twin”
• Yvette – A form of Yves, related to Yvonne, from French, meaning “yew wood”

Calm and Cool Names for Girls

• Hope – Emerging as a treasured name over the last twenty years, this virtue name is more popular than ever today
• Octavia – An appellation that’s made a comeback in recent years, from Latin, meaning “eight”
• Thea – A Greek name that’s come back after decades of disuse, meaning “goddess”
• Zora – A name that’s returned to the spotlight, Zora comes from Serbo-Croatian origin and means “dawn”

Charming Names for Girls

• Isabel – A Spanish form of Elizabeth, meaning “pledged to God”
• Pearl – A gem name from Latin, popular once more today
• Thalia – A Greek name, Thalia is mildly popular today, it means “to flourish”
• Cora – A delightful vintage name from Greek, meaning “maiden”

Established Names for Girls

• Josephine – A feminine form of Joseph, a name from Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah increases”
• Prudence – A virtue name that’s gone relatively unused since the 1920s, meaning “with caution”
• Una – Last popular in the US in the 1940s, Una comes from Latin and means “lamb” and “one”
• Clementine – A French name and form of the Latin name Clement, meaning “merciful”

Harmonious Names for Girls

• Joss – A diminutive form of Jocelyn from English, meaning “Geats tribe member”
• Paulina – A Spanish form of Paul, meaning “small”
• Veda – A classic name that’s trending up today, Veda can also be spelled Vada or Vaida, meaning “knowledge”
• Bess – A diminutive form of Elizabeth, a name from Hebrew, meaning “pledged to God”

Warm Names for Girls

• Kate – Kathryn and many of its diminutive forms have historically been popular in the US, of Greek origin, meaning “pure”
• Ruth – A Hebrew classic beloved in the US for decades, Ruth means “friend”
• Vera – A once wildly popular name in the US, Vera is on the rise once more, meaning “faith”
• Dinah – A name that was last popular in the 1960s, Dinah comes from Hebrew and means “God will judge”

Approachable Names for Girls

• Kinsley – A newly popular name that sounds vintage, from English, meaning “king’s meadow”
• Rebecca – Another cherished name from Hebrew, meaning “to tie”
• Virginia – A Latinate name, meaning “pure”
• Fern – An English habitational name meaning “from the ferns”

Inviting Names for Girls

• Lenora – Once one of the most popular names for girls in the US, Lenora comes from English as a contracted form of Leonora, meaning “light”
• Rosie – A diminutive form of Rose, from Latin, meaning “a flower”
• Val – Sure, you could go with Valerie, but its concise form Val does the trick too, meaning “strength”
• Ines – A Latinate form of Agnes, last popular in the 1930s, meaning “pure”

Sweet Names for Girls

• Lorraine – A vintage old lady name that should make a comeback, Lorraine is a habitational French name, meaning “from Lorraine province”
• Shirley – Shirley has fallen from favor today, but this sweet appellation has English origins and means “bright meadow”
• Wilhelmina – A German name, last popular in the 1950s, meaning “resolute protector”
• Ivy – An English nature name that refers to the evergreen plant, more popular today in the US than ever before

Warm and Comfortable Names for Boys

Strong Names for Boys

• Edward – Edward is a boy’s name of English origin meaning “wealthy guardian.” The first year baby-naming records were kept in the US in 1880, the name ranked at number 11. 
• George – This name has Greek origins and means “farmer.” The name has been a top 200 choice for boys since those records began.
• Brian – Brian has Celtic origins and means “honorable.”
• Kevin –  Like Brian, Kevin is a trusted Irish name that’s been a favorite for decades. It means “handsome.”

Time-Tested Names for Boys

• Joshua – One of the most beloved basic names, Joshua remains a popular Jewish baby name today. The Hebrew name means “the Lord is my salvation.”
• Kenneth – In this country, Kenneth was a top 20 name from the 1920s through the 50s. However, Americans didn’t invent this name. It has Scottish and Irish origins and means “handsome” or “born of fire.” 
• Andrew – Andrew was firmly in the top 10 for more than two recent decades and has been in the top 100 since naming records were recorded in the US. The name has Greek origins and means “manly.” 
• Steven – An English form of Stephen, which means “garland.” 

These Names Won’t Let You Down

• Paul – Even if a little boy doesn’t get this as a given name, it’s one of the most popular choices as a middle. Paul means “small.” 
• Mark – After Michael, Mark is the second most popular M-name in the US. Mark is a Latin appellation that means “warlike.” 
• Anthony – Anthony now sits at the 38 most popular name for baby boys in the US. It has consistently ranked in the top 50 since 1880. This classic Roman name means “priceless one.”
• Matthew – Matthew was the third most popular boys’ name in America throughout the 1980s and ’90s, and is still one of the top names that starts with M. The name has Hebrew origins and means “gift of God.

You Can’t Go Wrong With These Names for Boys

• Daniel – Daniel is a boy’s name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is my judge.” It’s a perennial favorite that’s been in the top 50 since 1880 and in the top 15 every year since 1972.
• Christopher – A Greek name that means “bearer of Christ,” Christopher has slipped in popularity in recent years but it soared high from the 1980s – 2010s.
• Charles – Charles is a French name that means “free man” which might explain why it’s so popular among American parents. Charles was in the top 10 for almost 100 years.
• Thomas – Thomas has been one of the most commonly used classic basic names in both England and the US over time and is still firmly in the top 100. The name comes from Aramaic and means “twin.”

Traditional Yet Energetic Names for Boys

• Joseph – Joseph is seen as an all-American classic and its nickname Joe is now associated with an everyday “regular” guy. This Hebrew name means “Jehovah increases.”
• Richard – A classic old Norman name popular for a thousand years, Richard was the sixth most popular US boys’ name in 1925, and was still number 8 in 1950, but is now much less popular. This German name means “dominating ruler.”
• David – David is a classic with a lot going for it. While no longer in the top 10, it still ranks second to Daniel among boy names starting with D. This Hebrew name means “beloved.”
• William – William is one of the most enduring of basic names. It’s among the most popular boys’ names, as American parents see it as being ideally conservative yet contemporary, and hands-down the most popular baby name beginning with W of all time. This English name from German means “resolute protector.”

Popular Names for Boys

• Michael – Michael was the number one American boys’ name for almost half a century. The name has Hebrew origins and means “who is like God?”
• Robert – Robert was Number one in both 1925 and 1950, and in fact was in the top 25 for an entire century. Like William, Robert is an English name from German. It means “bright fame.”
• John – John is still one of the Top 10 boy names starting with J of all time. The name was the most popular Christian name for 400 years after the Crusaders introduced it to Britain after returning home. John has Hebrew origins and means “God is gracious.”
• James – James, which reentered the top 5 in 2016, for the first time since 1980, is a current favorite among stylish parents looking for a baby name that has both charm and substance. This name is English from Hebrew meaning “supplanter.”

No-Fuss Names for Boys

• Felix – This name is prevalent in Spanish-speaking families today, and perhaps we have those families to thank for its rise in 2020. Felix has Latin origins and means “fortunate.”
• Miles – One of the traditional boy names that feels both fresh and classic at the same time, Miles comes from Latin and means “soldier.”
• Emmett – Emmett originated in England as a masculine diminutive of the German Emma, but it also has origins as a Hebrew name that means “truth.”
• Jackson – Jackson is an English surname that means “son of Jack.”

Bright Names for Boys

• Lucas – It’s the Latin form of Luke and means “man from Lucania.” Also spelled, Lukas, this is one amazing appellation.
• Levi – Levi is set to remain in the top 25 most popular names for boys for years to come. The name comes from Hebrew origin and means “joined.”
• Leo – Casual and cute,  Leo is a splendid name that has origins in both Latin and German and means “lion.”
• Greyson – A name that emerged as a popular choice for boys in the 1990s, Greyson has English origins and means “son of a steward.” 

Soothing Names for Boys

• Caleb – Caleb is a name for boys that’s steadily climbed since the 1970s. The Hebrew name means “devotion to God.”
• Owen – Owen is a pleasant Welsh classic that means “young warrior.” It is a top 25 choice for parents today.
• Henry – Henry has been at the very top since records of baby-naming have been kept in the US. This very old German name means “estate ruler.” 
• Elijah – Elijah is one of the most appealing basic names on the planet. It has Hebrew origins, meaning “Yahweh is God.” 

Enchanting Names for Boys

• Finn – Finn is an adventurous boy’s name of Irish origin meaning “fair or white.” This name has only been popular as a given one in the US since 2000.
• Gabriel – Gabriel is expected to become more popular than ever before if trends hold. This charming Hebrew name means “God is my strength.”
• Benjamin – Americans can’t get enough of the name Benjamin and there’s no mystery as to why! This handsome classic has been in the top ever since the data’s been collected. The last two years have seen Benjamin as a name that’s more popular than ever before here and expect that trend to hold. Benjamin is a Hebrew name that means “son of the right hand.”
• Ethan – Ethan derives from the Hebrew name Eitan which means “strong.” The name has taken a rollercoaster ride on the charts through the years, but since the sixties, it’s become a reliable choice. 

Brilliant Names for Boys

• Theodore – Remaining in the top 500 for nearly two centuries, Theodore proves a steadfast pick.
• Oliver – This Latin name for boys means “olive tree.” It’s an extremely popular choice today.
• Samuel – Samuel is another old name with roots in Hebrew. It is said to mean “God heard” or “name of God,” which makes it fairly similar to Joshua. 
• Logan – Logan has become one of those “cool kid” basic names like Carter and Jackson. This appellation has Scottish origins and means “little hollow.”

These Names Sound Like Comfort

• Noah –  Noah is Hebrew and means “rest and “to comfort” and is derived from the Biblical Noah of Noah and the Ark. 
• Mateo – Mateo is the Spanish form of Matthew that has become wildly favored. It also means “gift of God.”
• Asher – A vintage Hebrew favorite that made a comeback after decades of disuse, Asher means “fortunate.”
• Carter – A steadfast name, Carter is an English occupational name meaning “person who transports goods.”

Our Favorite Names for Boys

• Ezra – A most popular choice today, Ezra comes from Hebrew and means “help.”
• Lincoln – Presidential names are really popular in America. Lincoln is an English surname-name that means “town by the pool.”
• Hudson – A trendy option today, Hudson comes from English and means “Hugh’s son.”
• Dylan – We could have easily put this with the unisex names, but Dylan remains one of the most popular basic names for boys. Dylan comes from Welsh and means “son of the sea.”

There you go! We hope you found some names worth considering for your little one on the way. Congratulations and happy baby name hunting!