Free Tool
Find the perfect name
Browse 5,000+ curated names with meanings that feel like stories. Filter by origin, style, and letter. See popularity trends. Save the ones that make your heart skip.
200 names
Olivia
girl#1▬ SteadyLatinShakespeare is credited with inventing the name for Twelfth Night.
Emma
girl#2▬ SteadyGermanicJane Austen's 1815 novel made this name literary royalty.
Noah
boy#2▬ SteadyHebrewNoah held the number one spot for boys from 2013 to 2016.
Charlotte
girl#3▬ SteadyFrenchPrincess Charlotte of Cambridge gave this name a modern royal boost.
Oliver
boy#3▲ RisingLatinOliver Twist by Charles Dickens made this name a literary classic.
Amelia
girl#4▬ SteadyGermanicAmelia Earhart made this name synonymous with courage and adventure.
James
boy#4▬ SteadyHebrewJames has never left the U.S. top 20, making it one of the most enduring names in history.
Sophia
girl#5▬ SteadyGreekReigned as the US number one name from 2011 to 2013.
Elijah
boy#5▲ RisingHebrewElijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
Mia
girl#6▬ SteadyScandinavianMia Farrow helped popularize the name in the 1960s and 70s.
William
boy#6▬ SteadyGermanicWilliam has been in the top 20 since the Social Security Administration began tracking names.
Isabella
girl#7▼ FallingItalianBella from Twilight catapulted this name to number one in 2009 and 2010.
Henry
boy#7▲ RisingGermanicEight English kings have been named Henry.
Ava
girl#8▬ SteadyLatinAva Gardner, the golden-age Hollywood star, gave this name its glamorous edge.
Lucas
boy#8▲ RisingGreekLucas is the Latinized form of the Greek Loukas.
Evelyn
girl#9▬ SteadyEnglishOriginally a boys' name in England before becoming exclusively feminine.
Benjamin
boy#9▬ SteadyHebrewBenjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers, is its most famous American bearer.
Luna
girl#10▲ RisingLatinLuna Lovegood from Harry Potter helped rocket this name up the charts.
Theodore
boy#10▲ RisingGreekTheodore Roosevelt inspired the creation of the teddy bear.
Jack
boy#11▲ RisingEnglishJack appears in more nursery rhymes and fairy tales than any other name.
Harper
girl#11▬ SteadyEnglishHarper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, gives this name literary weight.
Sofia
girl#12▬ SteadyGreekSofia Vergara helped give this spelling mainstream appeal in America.
Levi
boy#12▲ RisingHebrewLevi Strauss founded the iconic denim brand that bears his name.
Camila
girl#13▬ SteadyLatinCamila Cabello brought this spelling into the pop culture spotlight.
Alexander
boy#13▬ SteadyGreekAlexander the Great conquered much of the known world by age 30.
Mason
boy#14▼ FallingEnglishMason was the number two name in America in 2012.
Eleanor
girl#14▲ RisingFrenchEleanor Roosevelt remains one of the most admired First Ladies in American history.
Elizabeth
girl#15▬ SteadyHebrewHas never left the US top 30 in over a century of records.
Matthew
boyHebrewEthan
boy#15▼ FallingHebrewEthan held the number two spot from 2009 to 2010.
Violet
girl#16▲ RisingLatinJennifer Garner and Ben Affleck named their daughter Violet in 2005.
Daniel
boy#16▼ FallingHebrewThe biblical Daniel survived the lion's den through faith.
Scarlett
girl#17▬ SteadyEnglishScarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind made this name unforgettable.
Jacob
boy#17▼ FallingHebrewJacob was the number one boy name in America for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years (1999 to 2012).
Emily
girl#18▼ FallingLatinHeld the US number one spot from 1996 to 2007, longer than nearly any other name.
Michael
boy#18▼ FallingHebrewMichael was the number one boy name for 44 years from 1954 to 1998.
Summit
unisex#1250▲ RisingEnglishSummit is part of the growing trend of nature-aspiration names alongside Crest and Ridge.
Hazel
girl#19▲ RisingEnglishJulia Roberts named her daughter Hazel in 2004, sparking its revival.
Logan
boy#19▼ FallingScottish GaelicThe X-Men character Wolverine, whose real name is Logan, gave this name its edge.
Penelope
girl#20▲ RisingGreekKourtney Kardashian named her daughter Penelope in 2012.
Jackson
boy#20▬ SteadyEnglishAndrew Jackson, the seventh president, is its most historic namesake.
Layla
girl#21▬ SteadyArabicEric Clapton's iconic 1970 song 'Layla' brought this name to Western audiences.
Sebastian
boy#21▲ RisingGreekSebastian is hugely popular across Latin America.
Chloe
girl#22▼ FallingGreekAn epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter meaning blooming.
Aiden
boy#22▼ FallingIrishAiden launched the -aiden naming trend that spawned Brayden, Jayden, and Cayden.
Arun
unisex#1350▬ SteadySanskritIn Hindu mythology, Aruna is the charioteer of Surya, the sun god.
Lily
girl#23▬ SteadyEnglishLily Potter, Harry Potter's mother, gave this name a magical association.
Owen
boy#23▬ SteadyWelshOwen Wilson helped bring this Welsh name into American pop culture.
Aurora
girl#24▲ RisingLatinSleeping Beauty's real name is Princess Aurora in the Disney film.
Samuel
boy#24▬ SteadyHebrewSamuel Adams was a Founding Father and the namesake of a famous brewery.
Aria
girl#25▬ SteadyItalianArya Stark from Game of Thrones boosted all spellings of this name.
Story
unisex#920▲ RisingEnglishAaron Paul (Breaking Bad) named his son Story Annabelle, raising this name's profile.
Ryan
boy#25▼ FallingIrishRyan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling have kept this name in the spotlight.
Rei
unisex#910▲ RisingJapaneseRei Ayanami from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion made this name famous globally.
Ellie
girl#26▬ SteadyEnglishEllie from the Pixar film Up gave this name its sweetest association.
Nathan
boy#26▼ FallingHebrewNathan was a prophet in the Old Testament who advised King David.
Leo
boy#27▲ RisingLatinThirteen popes have taken the name Leo.
Zoey
girl#28▬ SteadyGreekZoey 101, the Nickelodeon show, helped popularize this spelling.
Caleb
boy#28▼ FallingHebrewIn the Bible, Caleb was one of only two spies who urged the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.
Nikita
unisex#780▼ FallingRussian/GreekNikita Khrushchev was the Soviet leader who helped define the Cold War era.
Fox
unisex#710▲ RisingEnglishFox Mulder from The X-Files is the character most associated with this name.
Riley
girl#29▬ SteadyIrishRiley is the lead character in Pixar's Inside Out.
Luke
boy#29▬ SteadyGreekLuke Skywalker made this one of the most iconic character names in cinema.
Mateo
boy#30▲ RisingSpanishMateo has been one of the fastest-rising names of the 2010s and 2020s.
Abigail
girl#30▼ FallingHebrewIn the Bible, Abigail was praised for her intelligence and beauty.
Stella
girl#31▲ RisingLatinMarlon Brando's iconic 'Stella!' cry in A Streetcar Named Desire is unforgettable.
Julian
boy#31▲ RisingLatinJulian of Norwich was a famous medieval mystic.
Isaac
boy#32▬ SteadyHebrewSir Isaac Newton is one of the most influential scientists in history.
Everest
unisex#680▲ RisingEnglishMount Everest was named after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.
Honor
unisex#715▬ SteadyEnglish/LatinJessica Alba named her eldest daughter Honor Marie.
Ira
unisex#680▬ SteadyHebrew/SanskritIra Gershwin wrote the lyrics to some of the greatest American songs alongside his brother George.
Ivy
girl#33▲ RisingEnglishBeyonce and Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy in 2012.
Asher
boy#33▲ RisingHebrewIn the Bible, Asher was one of Jacob's twelve sons and his name meant happiness.
Willow
girl#34▲ RisingEnglishWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith named their daughter Willow in 2000.
Jayden
boy#34▼ FallingAmericanJayden was virtually unheard of before 2000 and reached number 4 by 2010.
Emilia
girl#35▲ RisingLatinEmilia Clarke's portrayal of Daenerys in Game of Thrones skyrocketed this name.
Finn
boyIrishIndigo
unisex#810▬ SteadyGreekIndigo dye has been used for over 6,000 years, making it one of the oldest known colorants.
Ocean
unisex#595▲ RisingEnglishOcean has been used more often for boys, but is gaining traction for girls.
Rumi
unisex#710▲ RisingJapanese/PersianBeyonce and Jay-Z named their daughter Rumi, after the Persian poet.
Bear
unisex#545▲ RisingEnglish/GermanicAlicia Silverstone named her son Bear Blu, and Kate Winslet's son is also named Bear.
Courtney
unisex#585▼ FallingFrenchCourtney Cox and Courtney Love were both cultural icons who carried this name in the 1990s.
Isla
girl#36▲ RisingScottishNamed after Islay, a Scottish island known for whisky and wild beauty.
Nova
girl#37▲ RisingLatinA nova is a star that suddenly increases in brightness then fades.
Ezra
boy#37▲ RisingHebrewEzra Pound was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
Naomi
girl#38▬ SteadyHebrewIn the Bible, Naomi is the devoted mother-in-law in the Book of Ruth.
Thomas
boy#38▼ FallingAramaicThomas Edison and Thomas Jefferson are among America's most famous Thomases.
Asa
unisex#580▬ SteadyHebrew/JapaneseKing Asa in the Bible was known as a righteous ruler of Judah.
Hannah
girl#39▼ FallingHebrewWas the number two name in the US in the late 1990s.
Adrian
boy#39▲ RisingLatinAdrian is the name of a pope and a Roman emperor.
Sophie
girl#40▲ RisingFrenchSophie's Choice, the novel and film, gave this name dramatic depth.
Zoe
girlGreekShelby
unisex#490▼ FallingEnglishJulia Roberts' character in Steel Magnolias was named Shelby, endearing it to a generation.
Crew
unisex#280▲ RisingEnglishChip and Joanna Gaines named their son Crew, bringing this name to the mainstream.
Grace
girl#41▼ FallingLatinGrace Kelly remains the gold standard for this name's elegance.
Addison
girl#42▼ FallingEnglishAddison Montgomery from Grey's Anatomy helped make this a girls' name.
Scout
unisex#450▲ RisingEnglishScout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird is one of literature's most beloved characters.
Hudson
boy#43▬ SteadyEnglishThe Hudson River and Hudson Bay were named after explorer Henry Hudson.
Natalie
girl#44▼ FallingFrenchNatalie Wood was one of Hollywood's most iconic stars.
Cameron
boy#44▼ FallingScottish GaelicCameron Diaz brought glamour to this Scottish name.
Brooklyn
girl#45▼ FallingEnglishDavid and Victoria Beckham named their son Brooklyn in 1999, but the name took off for girls.
Elliot
boyEnglishPaisley
girl#46▼ FallingScottishCountry singer Brad Paisley inadvertently helped popularize this as a girls' name.
Nicholas
boy#46▼ FallingGreekSaint Nicholas inspired the legend of Santa Claus.
Aubrey
girl#47▼ FallingFrenchDrake's real first name is Aubrey, though the name is now firmly in the girls' camp.
Leah
girl#48▼ FallingHebrewIn the Bible, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes.
Theo
boyGreekMarlowe
unisex#440▬ SteadyEnglishSienna Miller named her daughter Marlowe, bringing this name to the celebrity baby circuit.
Milan
unisex#410▬ SteadySlavic/ItalianShakira named her son Milan, connecting it to both football and music royalty.
Justice
unisex#380▼ FallingEnglish/FrenchJustice has been used for both boys and girls at nearly equal rates.
Savannah
girl#49▼ FallingSpanishThe city of Savannah, Georgia is one of the most beautiful in America.
Waylon
boy#49▲ RisingEnglishWaylon Jennings was an outlaw country music legend.
Maya
girl#50▬ SteadySanskritMaya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist, is the name's most celebrated bearer.
Dakota
unisex#365▼ FallingNative American (Sioux)Dakota Fanning brought youthful star power to this name in the early 2000s.
Spencer
unisex#285▼ FallingEnglishPrincess Diana was born Diana Spencer, giving this name royal associations.
Reign
unisex#335▬ SteadyEnglishKourtney Kardashian named her son Reign Aston Disick in 2014.
Kai
boy#51▲ RisingHawaiianKai means sea in Hawaiian, food in Maori, and forgiveness in Japanese.
Elena
girl#51▬ SteadyGreekElena of Avalor was Disney's first Latina princess.
Skyler
unisex#310▼ FallingDutchSkyler White from Breaking Bad brought dramatic weight to this otherwise breezy name.
Marley
unisex#210▬ SteadyEnglishBob Marley gave this name an eternal connection to reggae music and peace.
Journey
unisex#245▬ SteadyEnglishThe rock band Journey has kept this word in the cultural consciousness since the 1980s.
Royal
unisex#305▲ RisingEnglish/FrenchLil' Kim named her daughter Royal Reign, doubling down on the regal theme.
Madelyn
girl#53▬ SteadyFrenchAn Americanized spelling that has outpaced the traditional Madeleine.
Elias
boy#53▲ RisingGreekElias is the Greek and Scandinavian form of Elijah.
Claire
girl#54▬ SteadyFrenchClaire Danes brought a modern edge to this timeless name.
Cole
boyEnglishHarley
unisex#245▬ SteadyEnglishHarley Quinn from DC Comics gave this name a rebellious, fun-loving personality.
Lucy
girl#55▬ SteadyLatinLucille Ball made Lucy America's favorite name through I Love Lucy.
Christian
boy#55▼ FallingLatinChristian Bale has portrayed Batman and many other iconic characters.
Casey
unisex#485▼ FallingIrishCasey at the Bat is one of the most famous poems in American sports history.
Lennon
unisex#300▬ SteadyIrishJohn Lennon's legacy of peace and music gives this name profound cultural resonance.
Shiloh
unisex#410▬ SteadyHebrewAngelina Jolie and Brad Pitt chose Shiloh for their first biological child in 2006.
Ashley
unisex#145▼ FallingEnglishAshley was the number one girls' name in America from 1991 to 1992.
Kendall
unisex#175▼ FallingEnglishKendall Jenner gave this name massive visibility in the 2010s.
Bailey
unisex#220▼ FallingEnglishWKRP in Cincinnati character Bailey Quarters was an early unisex use on TV.
Jude
boyLatinJade
girl#56▲ RisingSpanishJade is one of the most revered stones in Chinese culture, symbolizing purity.
Jaxon
boy#56▼ FallingAmericanJaxon emerged as part of the trend of creative respellings.
Brooks
boy#57▲ RisingEnglishBrooks Brothers is one of America's oldest clothing retailers.
Alice
girl#58▲ RisingGermanicAlice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is one of the most beloved children's stories ever.
Roman
boy#58▲ RisingLatinRoman Polanski and Roman Holiday brought glamour to this name.
Kinsley
girl#59▬ SteadyEnglishOne of the newer surname-to-first-name crossovers.
Wyatt
boyEnglishQuinn
girl#60▬ SteadyIrishQuinn Fabray from Glee helped make this a girls' name.
Wren
unisex#258▲ RisingEnglishThe wren is one of the smallest birds in North America but has one of the loudest songs.
Ariel
unisex#180▼ FallingHebrewDisney's The Little Mermaid (1989) transformed Ariel from a boys' name to a girls' favorite.
Amari
unisex#158▲ RisingAfrican/HebrewAmari has been rising steadily for both boys and girls since the 2000s.
Rose
girlLatinNathaniel
boyHebrewRuby
girl#62▲ RisingLatinRuby Bridges was the first Black child to desegregate a Louisiana school in 1960.
Miles
boy#62▲ RisingLatinMiles Davis revolutionized jazz music.
Hayden
unisex#170▼ FallingEnglishHayden Panettiere and Hayden Christensen both helped this name peak in the 2000s.
Remy
unisex#250▲ RisingFrenchThe Pixar movie Ratatouille starred a rat named Remy, making it feel warm and lovable.
Peyton
unisex#105▼ FallingEnglishPeyton Manning made this name feel like a champion for boys.
Gabriel
boyHebrewSerenity
girl#63▼ FallingEnglishThe Joss Whedon film Serenity gave the name a sci-fi edge.
Kennedy
girl#64▼ FallingIrishThe Kennedy political dynasty gave this surname its aspirational quality.
Sienna
girlItalianSadie
girl#65▲ RisingHebrewThe Beatles' song 'Sexy Sadie' was actually written about the Maharishi.
Blake
unisex#148▼ FallingEnglishBlake Lively helped establish this as a chic girls' name in addition to its boys' usage.
Cameron
unisex#112▼ FallingScottishCameron Diaz made this name feel glamorous and effortlessly cool for girls.
Kennedy
unisex#85▼ FallingIrishPresident John F. Kennedy gave this name its powerful patriotic association.
Eden
unisex#138▬ SteadyHebrewThe Garden of Eden is one of the most enduring images in Western culture.
Autumn
girl#66▬ SteadyLatinThe only season name to consistently rank in the top 100.
Robert
boy#66▼ FallingGermanicRobert was the number one name in America from 1924 to 1939.
Athena
girl#67▲ RisingGreekAthens, the capital of Greece, is named after this goddess.
Clara
girlLatinCharles
boy#67▬ SteadyGermanicKing Charles III ascended to the British throne in 2022.
Maeve
girl#68▲ RisingIrishQueen Maeve of Connacht is one of the most powerful figures in Irish mythology.
Connor
boy#68▼ FallingIrishConnor comes from the Old Irish Conchobhar, meaning lover of hounds.
Elliot
unisex#160▲ RisingEnglish/HebrewElliot Page's public coming out as trans brought new unisex energy to this name.
Parker
unisex#105▬ SteadyEnglishPeter Parker, Spider-Man's alter ego, gives this name superhero credentials.
Addison
unisex#52▼ FallingEnglishGrey's Anatomy character Addison Montgomery helped skyrocket this name for girls.
Delilah
girl#69▲ RisingHebrewThe Plain White T's song 'Hey There Delilah' boosted this name's popularity.
Josephine
girl#70▲ RisingFrenchEmpress Josephine was Napoleon's great love and the first Empress of France.
Alex
unisex#198▼ FallingGreekAlex is one of the rare names that feels complete on its own and as a nickname.
Emery
unisex#98▲ RisingGermanicEmery is one of the fastest-rising names of the 2020s for girls.
Remy
boyFrenchLydia
girl#71▬ SteadyGreekLydia Bennet is the youngest and most spirited sister in Pride and Prejudice.
Aaron
boy#71▼ FallingHebrewAaron was the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel.
Rowan
unisex#105▲ RisingIrish/ScottishIn Celtic mythology, the rowan tree was believed to protect against dark magic.
Finley
unisex#145▬ SteadyScottish/IrishFinley has been surging on girls' charts, though it started as a traditionally male name.
Aubrey
unisex#62▼ FallingFrench/GermanicAubrey was traditionally a boys' name before crossing over to the girls' top 20.
Sawyer
unisex#100▲ RisingEnglishMark Twain's Tom Sawyer gave this name its enduring sense of adventure.
Jayden
unisex#42▼ FallingModern AmericanWill and Jada Pinkett Smith named their son Jaden, sparking the massive trend.
Madison
unisex#48▼ FallingEnglishThe 1984 movie Splash invented Madison as a girls' name when the mermaid chose it from a street sign.
Atlas
unisex#112▲ RisingGreekIn Greek mythology, Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial heavens for eternity.
Declan
boy#72▲ RisingIrishSaint Declan predates Saint Patrick as a Christian missionary in Ireland.
Axel
boy#73▲ RisingScandinavianAxl Rose of Guns N' Roses gave this name its rock-star edge.
Cedric
boyCelticEverett
boy#74▲ RisingEnglishMount Everett in Massachusetts is a popular hiking destination.
River
unisex#98▲ RisingEnglishRiver Phoenix was the actor who first put this name on the cultural map.
Ryan
unisex#62▼ FallingIrishRyan is used for girls largely thanks to Meg Ryan and Ryan Reynolds.
Silas
boy#75▲ RisingLatinSilas Marner is a beloved George Eliot novel.
Ayla
girl#76▲ RisingTurkishThe heroine of Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear is named Ayla.
Edison
boyEnglishCharlie
unisex#135▲ RisingEnglishCharlie has climbed the charts for girls thanks to the trend of boyish nicknames as full names.
Aiden
unisex#28▼ FallingIrishAiden launched the massive -aiden rhyming trend (Brayden, Cayden, Hayden, Jayden).
Eva
girl#79▬ SteadyHebrewEva Peron, Argentina's beloved First Lady, made the name legendary.
Lila
girlArabicHow to choose a baby name
Start with what moves you. Some parents choose names that honor family or culture. Others are drawn to a sound, a meaning, or a feeling they cannot quite explain. There is no wrong way to begin.
Say the name out loud. Try it with your last name, with a middle name, in a whisper and a shout. Names live in the mouth before they live on paper. Try the nickname test: what will friends call them on the playground?
Consider the meaning. A name with a story gives your child something to carry with them, a tiny origin myth they can return to whenever they wonder who they are.
Tips for narrowing your list
The Shortlist Method
Each partner picks ten names independently. Compare lists and see where you overlap. The shared names are your starting five.
The 24-Hour Test
Live with your top pick for a full day. Use it in sentences, imagine calling it across a room. If it still feels right at bedtime, it belongs on the final list.
The Initials Check
Write out first, middle, and last initials together. Make sure they do not accidentally spell something you would rather avoid.