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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
Shakespeare is credited with inventing the name for Twelfth Night.
Jane Austen's 1815 novel made this name literary royalty.
Noah held the number one spot for boys from 2013 to 2016.
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge gave this name a modern royal boost.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens made this name a literary classic.
Amelia Earhart made this name synonymous with courage and adventure.
James has never left the U.S. top 20, making it one of the most enduring names in history.
Reigned as the US number one name from 2011 to 2013.
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
Mia Farrow helped popularize the name in the 1960s and 70s.
William has been in the top 20 since the Social Security Administration began tracking names.
Bella from Twilight catapulted this name to number one in 2009 and 2010.
Eight English kings have been named Henry.
Ava Gardner, the golden-age Hollywood star, gave this name its glamorous edge.
Lucas is the Latinized form of the Greek Loukas.
Originally a boys' name in England before becoming exclusively feminine.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers, is its most famous American bearer.
Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter helped rocket this name up the charts.
Theodore Roosevelt inspired the creation of the teddy bear.
Jack appears in more nursery rhymes and fairy tales than any other name.
Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, gives this name literary weight.
Sofia Vergara helped give this spelling mainstream appeal in America.
Levi Strauss founded the iconic denim brand that bears his name.
Camila Cabello brought this spelling into the pop culture spotlight.
Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world by age 30.
Mason was the number two name in America in 2012.
Eleanor Roosevelt remains one of the most admired First Ladies in American history.
Has never left the US top 30 in over a century of records.
Ethan held the number two spot from 2009 to 2010.
Matthew was a top 10 name in the United States, peaking at #2 in 1995.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck named their daughter Violet in 2005.
The biblical Daniel survived the lion's den through faith.
Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind made this name unforgettable.
Jacob was the number one boy name in America for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years (1999 to 2012).
Held the US number one spot from 1996 to 2007, longer than nearly any other name.
Michael was the number one boy name for 44 years from 1954 to 1998.
Summit is part of the growing trend of nature-aspiration names alongside Crest and Ridge.
Julia Roberts named her daughter Hazel in 2004, sparking its revival.
The X-Men character Wolverine, whose real name is Logan, gave this name its edge.
Kourtney Kardashian named her daughter Penelope in 2012.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, is its most historic namesake.
Eric Clapton's iconic 1970 song 'Layla' brought this name to Western audiences.
Sebastian is hugely popular across Latin America.
An epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter meaning blooming.
Aiden launched the -aiden naming trend that spawned Brayden, Jayden, and Cayden.
In Hindu mythology, Aruna is the charioteer of Surya, the sun god.
Lily Potter, Harry Potter's mother, gave this name a magical association.
Owen Wilson helped bring this Welsh name into American pop culture.
Sleeping Beauty's real name is Princess Aurora in the Disney film.
Samuel Adams was a Founding Father and the namesake of a famous brewery.
Arya Stark from Game of Thrones boosted all spellings of this name.
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) named his son Story Annabelle, raising this name's profile.
Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling have kept this name in the spotlight.
Rei Ayanami from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion made this name famous globally.
Ellie from the Pixar film Up gave this name its sweetest association.
Nathan was a prophet in the Old Testament who advised King David.
Thirteen popes have taken the name Leo.
Zoey 101, the Nickelodeon show, helped popularize this spelling.
In the Bible, Caleb was one of only two spies who urged the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.
Nikita Khrushchev was the Soviet leader who helped define the Cold War era.
Fox Mulder from The X-Files is the character most associated with this name.
Riley is the lead character in Pixar's Inside Out.
Luke Skywalker made this one of the most iconic character names in cinema.
Mateo has been one of the fastest-rising names of the 2010s and 2020s.
In the Bible, Abigail was praised for her intelligence and beauty.
Marlon Brando's iconic 'Stella!' cry in A Streetcar Named Desire is unforgettable.
Julian of Norwich was a famous medieval mystic.
Sir Isaac Newton is one of the most influential scientists in history.
Mount Everest was named after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.
Jessica Alba named her eldest daughter Honor Marie.
Ira Gershwin wrote the lyrics to some of the greatest American songs alongside his brother George.
Beyonce and Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy in 2012.
In the Bible, Asher was one of Jacob's twelve sons and his name meant happiness.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith named their daughter Willow in 2000.
Jayden was virtually unheard of before 2000 and reached number 4 by 2010.
Emilia Clarke's portrayal of Daenerys in Game of Thrones skyrocketed this name.
Indigo dye has been used for over 6,000 years, making it one of the oldest known colorants.
Ocean has been used more often for boys, but is gaining traction for girls.
Beyonce and Jay-Z named their daughter Rumi, after the Persian poet.
Alicia Silverstone named her son Bear Blu, and Kate Winslet's son is also named Bear.
Courtney Cox and Courtney Love were both cultural icons who carried this name in the 1990s.
Finn peaked at #166 in the U.S. in 2018.
Named after Islay, a Scottish island known for whisky and wild beauty.
A nova is a star that suddenly increases in brightness then fades.
Ezra Pound was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
In the Bible, Naomi is the devoted mother-in-law in the Book of Ruth.
Thomas Edison and Thomas Jefferson are among America's most famous Thomases.
King Asa in the Bible was known as a righteous ruler of Judah.
Was the number two name in the US in the late 1990s.
Adrian is the name of a pope and a Roman emperor.
Sophie's Choice, the novel and film, gave this name dramatic depth.
Julia Roberts' character in Steel Magnolias was named Shelby, endearing it to a generation.
Chip and Joanna Gaines named their son Crew, bringing this name to the mainstream.
Zoe reached the top 50 in the U.S., hitting #30 in 2012.
Grace Kelly remains the gold standard for this name's elegance.
Addison Montgomery from Grey's Anatomy helped make this a girls' name.
Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird is one of literature's most beloved characters.
The Hudson River and Hudson Bay were named after explorer Henry Hudson.
Natalie Wood was one of Hollywood's most iconic stars.
Cameron Diaz brought glamour to this Scottish name.
David and Victoria Beckham named their son Brooklyn in 1999, but the name took off for girls.
Elliot peaked at #161 in the U.S. in 2017.
Country singer Brad Paisley inadvertently helped popularize this as a girls' name.
Saint Nicholas inspired the legend of Santa Claus.
Drake's real first name is Aubrey, though the name is now firmly in the girls' camp.
In the Bible, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes.
Sienna Miller named her daughter Marlowe, bringing this name to the celebrity baby circuit.
Shakira named her son Milan, connecting it to both football and music royalty.
Justice has been used for both boys and girls at nearly equal rates.
Theo peaked at #172 in the U.S. in 2020.
The city of Savannah, Georgia is one of the most beautiful in America.
Waylon Jennings was an outlaw country music legend.
Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist, is the name's most celebrated bearer.
Dakota Fanning brought youthful star power to this name in the early 2000s.
Princess Diana was born Diana Spencer, giving this name royal associations.
Kourtney Kardashian named her son Reign Aston Disick in 2014.
Kai means sea in Hawaiian, food in Maori, and forgiveness in Japanese.
Elena of Avalor was Disney's first Latina princess.
Skyler White from Breaking Bad brought dramatic weight to this otherwise breezy name.
Bob Marley gave this name an eternal connection to reggae music and peace.
The rock band Journey has kept this word in the cultural consciousness since the 1980s.
Lil' Kim named her daughter Royal Reign, doubling down on the regal theme.
An Americanized spelling that has outpaced the traditional Madeleine.
Elias is the Greek and Scandinavian form of Elijah.
Claire Danes brought a modern edge to this timeless name.
Harley Quinn from DC Comics gave this name a rebellious, fun-loving personality.
Lucille Ball made Lucy America's favorite name through I Love Lucy.
Christian Bale has portrayed Batman and many other iconic characters.
Casey at the Bat is one of the most famous poems in American sports history.
John Lennon's legacy of peace and music gives this name profound cultural resonance.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt chose Shiloh for their first biological child in 2006.
Ashley was the number one girls' name in America from 1991 to 1992.
Kendall Jenner gave this name massive visibility in the 2010s.
WKRP in Cincinnati character Bailey Quarters was an early unisex use on TV.
Cole broke into the top 100 baby names in the U.S., reaching #69 in 2002.
Jade is one of the most revered stones in Chinese culture, symbolizing purity.
Jaxon emerged as part of the trend of creative respellings.
Jude peaked at #152 in the U.S. in 2019.
Brooks Brothers is one of America's oldest clothing retailers.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is one of the most beloved children's stories ever.
Roman Polanski and Roman Holiday brought glamour to this name.
One of the newer surname-to-first-name crossovers.
Quinn Fabray from Glee helped make this a girls' name.
The wren is one of the smallest birds in North America but has one of the loudest songs.
Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) transformed Ariel from a boys' name to a girls' favorite.
Amari has been rising steadily for both boys and girls since the 2000s.
Wyatt reached the top 50 in the U.S., hitting #25 in 2017.
Rose reached the top 50 in the U.S., hitting #14 in 1911.
Ruby Bridges was the first Black child to desegregate a Louisiana school in 1960.
Miles Davis revolutionized jazz music.
Hayden Panettiere and Hayden Christensen both helped this name peak in the 2000s.
The Pixar movie Ratatouille starred a rat named Remy, making it feel warm and lovable.
Peyton Manning made this name feel like a champion for boys.
Nathaniel broke into the top 100 baby names in the U.S., reaching #60 in 1998.
Gabriel reached the top 50 in the U.S., hitting #21 in 2010.
The Joss Whedon film Serenity gave the name a sci-fi edge.
The Kennedy political dynasty gave this surname its aspirational quality.
Sienna peaked at #166 in the U.S. in 2020.
The Beatles' song 'Sexy Sadie' was actually written about the Maharishi.
Blake Lively helped establish this as a chic girls' name in addition to its boys' usage.
Cameron Diaz made this name feel glamorous and effortlessly cool for girls.
President John F. Kennedy gave this name its powerful patriotic association.
The Garden of Eden is one of the most enduring images in Western culture.
The only season name to consistently rank in the top 100.
Robert was the number one name in America from 1924 to 1939.
Athens, the capital of Greece, is named after this goddess.
King Charles III ascended to the British throne in 2022.
Clara was a top 10 name in the United States, peaking at #7 in 1885.
Queen Maeve of Connacht is one of the most powerful figures in Irish mythology.
Connor comes from the Old Irish Conchobhar, meaning lover of hounds.
Elliot Page's public coming out as trans brought new unisex energy to this name.
Peter Parker, Spider-Man's alter ego, gives this name superhero credentials.
Grey's Anatomy character Addison Montgomery helped skyrocket this name for girls.
The Plain White T's song 'Hey There Delilah' boosted this name's popularity.
Empress Josephine was Napoleon's great love and the first Empress of France.
Alex is one of the rare names that feels complete on its own and as a nickname.
Emery is one of the fastest-rising names of the 2020s for girls.
Remy peaked at #356 in the U.S. in 2020.
Lydia Bennet is the youngest and most spirited sister in Pride and Prejudice.
Aaron was the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel.
In Celtic mythology, the rowan tree was believed to protect against dark magic.
Finley has been surging on girls' charts, though it started as a traditionally male name.
Aubrey was traditionally a boys' name before crossing over to the girls' top 20.
Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer gave this name its enduring sense of adventure.
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith named their son Jaden, sparking the massive trend.
The 1984 movie Splash invented Madison as a girls' name when the mermaid chose it from a street sign.
In Greek mythology, Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial heavens for eternity.
Saint Declan predates Saint Patrick as a Christian missionary in Ireland.
Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses gave this name its rock-star edge.
Mount Everett in Massachusetts is a popular hiking destination.
Cedric peaked at #230 in the U.S. in 1974.
River Phoenix was the actor who first put this name on the cultural map.
Ryan is used for girls largely thanks to Meg Ryan and Ryan Reynolds.
Silas Marner is a beloved George Eliot novel.
The heroine of Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear is named Ayla.
At its most popular, Edison reached #538 in the U.S. in 1917.
Charlie has climbed the charts for girls thanks to the trend of boyish nicknames as full names.
Aiden launched the massive -aiden rhyming trend (Brayden, Cayden, Hayden, Jayden).
Eva Peron, Argentina's beloved First Lady, made the name legendary.
Lila peaked at #155 in the U.S. in 2010.
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.
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.