Best Gender-Neutral Baby Names And Meanings

Most parents-to-be make two lists - one for boys and one for girls - when compiling ideas for potential baby names. However, there are a great many beautiful monikers that have traditionally been thought of as a boy or girl’s name make an excellent gender-neutral name, too.

Interest in unisex names is obviously on the rise now. As stated by NetCredit, who analyzed 100 years of baby name data, nearly 70,000 babies were given unisex names in 2015. This is an increase of 60% over the preceding decade and an 88% rise since 1985.

Since the Social Security Administration only indexed all names by whether they’re given to baby boys or girls, we’ve collected a list of the most popular gender-neutral baby names and meanings. Parents who don’t want pink or blue, read on to check out which is your favorite!

Unique Gender-neutral Baby Names

Alex

Alex has always been one of those timeless boy names, as well as a popular unisex choice. The name means “the defender of the people” and is of English origin. It’s a go-to nickname for Alexandra and Alexander, and it can also be shortened from Alexis, Alexia, Alexa, or Alexandria.

Taylor

Here comes another old-school favorite unisex baby name that has stood the test of time. Not only does the name work for both girls and boys (like singer Taylor Swift and actor Taylor Lautner), but it’s also a common surname, like the 12th President of the US, Zachary Taylor.

Cameron

Actress Cameron Diaz is one famous Cameron, while this gender-neutral baby name works well for boys, too. Plus, the nickname Cam couldn’t be cuter!

James

People may never consider James as gender-neutral until actress Blake Lively and actor Ryan Reynolds gave their daughter the name in 2017. It’s derived from the Latin Jacomus, which means “may God protect.” Nicknames like Jimmy or Jim work well for a boy, while Jamie is a sweet option for girls.

Blake

It might explain why Blake Lively named her little girl James that she knows what it’s like to navigate the world with a unisex name. The name Blake is a popular gender-neutral name for both boys and girls, landing #183 on the SSA list of top names in 2019 for boys and #222 the same year for girls.

Popular Unisex Baby Names

Drew

Greek in origin, the name is short for Andrew, meaning “manly.” NFL player Drew Brees may agree, while actress Drew Barrymore might strongly disapprove of it. This four-letter name is easy to pronounce, easy to spell, and easy to choose, whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl.

Avery

This unisex baby name was one of the most famous names for girls in 2019, landing #18, but works equally well for boys that it captured #204 the same year. It’s traditionally a last name derived from Alfred, meaning “ruling with elf-wisdom” in French and “counselor” in English.

Ezra

Ezra works perfectly for a boy or girl, and it’s easy to spell and blends seamlessly with many middle or last names. It is a Jewish surname of Hebrew origin, which means “help” or “helper.” This unisex baby name also appears in our list of the top hipster baby names.

Parker

An Old English occupational surname, meaning “the park keeper.” This is one of those charming gender-neutral names, which works just as well in the baby years as it does into adulthood. Plus, it sounds perfect alongside basically any middle or last name.

Kyle

Time for Real Housewives fans! It’s easy to quickly recognize where the inspiration for this unisex baby name comes from - Kyle Richards of the Beverly Hills cast. With Gaelic, Hebrew, and Irish elements, the name means “handsome.”

More Options For Gender-Neutral Names

Charlie

It means “the free man” and is of English origin. This baby name is being used for girls more and more, for instance, Rebecca Romijn’s daughter with husband Jerry O’Connell. Charly or Charley are sometimes used as alternate spellings.

Jordan

It’s a classic unisex baby name, catching spot 89 in 2019 for boys and 407 for girls. The name comes from Hebrew “Jarad,” meaning “flow down” or “descend.” Celebrities like Jordan Sparks and Jordan Peele may come to mind.

Kennedy

Even though more popular for girls than boys now - this name took spot 67 on the SSA’s 2019 list for girls, compared to 1,000+ for boys - Kennedy is a noble name perfect for a natural-born leader.

Logan

It’s said that Logan comes from the Irish surname O’Logan meaning “descendant of the warrior,” or from the Scottish place name Logan meaning “little hollow.” This name is often thought of as a boy’s name, but Logan is absolutely a gender-neutral baby name with an equally lovely ring for any lucky little girl.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Decker rocks her name, and Brooklyn Beckham certainly does as well. This location-inspired name is a no-brainer, meaning “water” or “stream” of English origin.