Why spend forever putting together two baby names lists when you can create just one?
There are lots of reasons why a gender neutral name may appeal to parents, and saving time on figuring out options for both boys and girls is just one of them!
Gender neutral names are on the rise on the baby name charts and it’s easy to see why.
This naming theme is filled with cool and trendy names that work for either a boy or a girl. But it also taps into the trend for unique names. Many of these names may have traditionally been just for boys or girls, but now can be used for either.
There are also lots of brand new names in this list, such as Everwyn, and more traditional vintage names like Teddy as well.
I hope you’ll find your dream baby name in this ultimate list of cool gender neutral name ideas.
Modern unisex names
These are some modern baby names that work for a boy or a girl. Some of them are word or place names, such as London or Story.
Others will be familiar but you may not have been aware that they work for either a boy or girl. Surnames as first names also work really well in this trend.
August – Derived from the Latin Augustus, meaning “great” or “venerable.”
Austen – A variant of Austin, meaning “majestic” or “great.”
Blake – From Old English, meaning “dark” or “fair-haired.”
Brooklyn – A mix of Brook (small stream) and Lyn (lake or waterfall).
Cameron – Scottish name meaning “crooked nose” (a warrior clan name).
Casey – Irish origin, meaning “brave” or “vigilant.”
Darcy – Irish/French name meaning “dark-haired” or “descendant of the dark one.”
Devin – Irish origin, meaning “poet” or “fawn.”
Ellington – English surname meaning “Ellis’s town” (often associated with jazz legend Duke Ellington).
Emery – German origin, meaning “industrious” or “brave.”
Emerson – English name meaning “son of Emery.”
Ever – Modern, meaning “always” or “eternal.”
Everest – Named after the highest mountain, symbolising strength and endurance.
Frankie – A diminutive of Francis or Frances, meaning “free one.”
Haley – English origin, meaning “hay clearing” or “hero.”
Harlow – Old English, meaning “rock hill” or “army hill.”
Harper – Old English, meaning “harp player.”
Hartley – English origin, meaning “stag meadow.”
Hayden – Old English, meaning “heather-covered hill.”
Henley – English origin, meaning “high meadow.”
Jordan – Hebrew origin, meaning “flowing down” (from the Jordan River).
Kennedy – Irish origin, meaning “helmeted chief” or “misshapen head” (from an old Gaelic clan).
Laine – Finnish/Scandinavian origin, meaning “wave.”
Lennon – Irish origin, meaning “lover” or “cloak” (often linked to John Lennon).
London – Place name, referring to the capital of England.
Marlowe – Old English, meaning “driftwood” or “remnants of a lake.”
Noa – Hebrew origin, meaning “motion” or “rest.”
Puck – Shakespearean name meaning “mischievous sprite” (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Quincy – French origin, meaning “estate of the fifth son.”
Quinn – Irish origin, meaning “descendant of Conn” or “wise one.”
Ripley – English origin, meaning “strip of land by the river.”
River – Nature-inspired, meaning “flowing body of water.”
Rowan – Irish/Gaelic origin, meaning “red-haired” or “rowan tree.”
Royal – English origin, meaning “kingly” or “majestic.”
Rumi – Japanese origin, meaning “beauty, flow,” or after the famous Persian poet Rumi.
Sage – Latin origin, meaning “wise” or “herb.”
Shiloh – Hebrew origin, meaning “tranquil” or “peaceful.”
Skylar – Dutch origin, meaning “scholar” or “eternal life.”
Story – English origin, meaning “narrative” or “tale.”
Tatum – Old English, meaning “cheerful bringer of joy.”
Teddy – Short for Theodore or Edward, meaning “gift of God” or “wealthy guardian.”
Taylor – English occupational name for “tailor.”
Wilder – English origin, meaning “untamed” or “wild spirit.”
Unique gender neutral names
Want a more unusual baby name? These are rarely seen names that are just so adorable.
Many of these are nature or virtue names, which make for a really powerful option.
Adair – Scottish origin, meaning “oak tree ford.”
Arden – English origin, meaning “great forest” or “valley of the eagle.”
Arrow – English word name, symbolising direction, purpose, and strength.
Briar – English origin, meaning “thorny bush” or “wild rose.”
Cedar – Nature-inspired, referring to the strong and fragrant cedar tree.
Coast – English word name, meaning “the edge of the land by the sea.”
Easton – English origin, meaning “eastern town” or “from the east.”
Emersyn – A modern spelling of Emerson, meaning “child of Emery” or “brave and powerful.”
Ender – Turkish origin, meaning “rare” or “exceptional” (*also known from the sci-fi novel Ender’s Game).
Everwyn – A modern invented name, combining Ever (“eternal”) and Wyn (“blessed” or “fair” in Welsh).
Fable – English word name, meaning “story with a moral” or “legendary tale.”
Harlan – German origin, meaning “rocky land” or “army land.”
Hollis – English origin, meaning “near the holly trees.”
Indigo – Greek/Latin origin, meaning “deep blue” (from the indigo dye).
Jet – English origin, referring to the black gemstone or aircraft (symbolising speed and strength).
Loyal – English word name, meaning “faithful” or “steadfast.”
Noe – Hebrew/Spanish variation of Noah, meaning “rest” or “peace.”
Ocean – Nature-inspired, referring to the vast and powerful sea.
Oslo – Scandinavian origin, meaning “meadow beneath the hill” (also the capital of Norway).
Sage – Latin origin, meaning “wise” or “healing herb.”
Scout – English word name, meaning “explorer” or “watcher.”
True – English origin, meaning “genuine” or “authentic.”
Valor – Latin origin, meaning “courage” or “bravery.”
Valen – Latin origin, meaning “strong” or “healthy” (*from the same root as Valentine).
Vesper – Latin origin, meaning “evening star” or “evening prayer.”
Vintage gender neutral names
Want a more traditional baby name? Check out these vintage gender neutral options that are seeing a resurgence today and are oh-so cool.
Ashley – Old English, meaning “ash tree meadow.” Originally a surname, it became popular as a first name.
Bellamy – French origin, meaning “beautiful friend” (from beau + ami).
Francis – Latin origin, meaning “free one” or “Frenchman.”
Greer – Scottish origin, meaning “watchful” or “vigilant” (derived from Gregory).
Max – Latin origin, short for Maxwell or Maximus, meaning “greatest.”
Morgan – Welsh origin, meaning “sea-born” or “bright sea.”
Noah – Hebrew origin, meaning “rest” or “comfort.” (*Traditionally male, but now used as a gender-neutral name, especially with the spelling Noa.)
Quincy – French/Latin origin, meaning “estate of the fifth son.”
Robin – English origin, meaning “bright fame” (diminutive of Robert). Also associated with the bird, symbolising renewal and hope.
Sutton – Old English, meaning “southern town” or “from the south settlement.”
Terry – English origin, meaning “power of the people” (short for Terrence or Teresa).
Theodore – Greek origin, meaning “gift of God.” (While traditionally male, “Teddy” is becoming more unisex.)
Boy names now used for girls too
These names were traditionally given to boys but now work so well for girls as well.
Some of them are nicknames derived from full names. Many parents now opt to go for the nickname, not wanting any other variations to be used for their baby.
Adrian – Latin origin, meaning “from Hadria” (an ancient city in Italy); also associated with “dark” or “sea.”
Alex – Greek origin, short for Alexander or Alexandra, meaning “defender of the people.”
Brett – Celtic/French origin, meaning “from Brittany” (a region in France).
Charlie – English origin, short for Charles or Charlotte, meaning “free person.”
Drew – Short form of Andrew, meaning “strong” or “manly,” though now widely used as a unisex name.
Dylan – Welsh origin, meaning “son of the sea” or “born of the ocean.”
Ezra – Hebrew origin, meaning “help” or “protector.” (Traditionally male but now used as a unisex name.)
Freddie – Short for Frederick or Winifred, meaning “peaceful ruler.”
Hudson – English origin, meaning “son of Hudde” (an old medieval name); often associated with the Hudson River.
Hunter – English origin, meaning “one who hunts.”
James – Hebrew origin, meaning “supplanter” (historically male, but now a popular middle name for girls).
Kit – English origin, short for Christopher or Katherine, meaning “bearing Christ” or “pure.”
Logan – Scottish origin, meaning “little hollow.”
Micah – Hebrew origin, meaning “who is like God?” (Historically a biblical name, but now used for all genders.)
Remi – French origin, meaning “oarsman” or “from Rheims.”
Riley – Irish origin, meaning “courageous” or “valiant.”
Rori – Variant of Rory, meaning “red king” (traditionally Irish).
Ryan – Irish origin, meaning “little king.”
Sawyer – English occupational name, meaning “woodcutter.”
Scottie – Scottish origin, meaning “from Scotland” (typically short for Scott but now a standalone unisex name).
Silas – Latin/Greek origin, meaning “forest” or “woodland.”
Stevie – English origin, short for Stephen or Stephanie, meaning “crown” or “honour.”
Wyatt – Old English origin, meaning “brave in war” or “strong warrior.”
