Unique Baby Names: Cool + Unusual Ideas and How to Find Them

If you ask parents what went into their baby name decision, you’ll likely hear they wanted a “unique” baby name. That might mean names they didn't personally know anyone with or names that they'd never heard before. Choosing a unique name might also be important to you if you want to avoid your kid having the same name as a classmate (or two). Unless they decide to change it later, your baby will carry their name throughout their life, so many parents feel the pressure to pick something great.

I sat down with baby name influencer Jessie Paquette—a baby name consultant and the face of Dream Baby Names on TikTok—to talk all things unique names. From what makes a name popular to how to find one you love, here's what to know.

What defines a popular name?

Baby name popularity is so subjective. Name popularity really depends on where you live and the demographics of your area—that being said, each year the Social Security Administration (SSA) releases a list of the most popular baby names from the previous year, so you can see how many people in the US have been choosing any particular name. 

If you’re looking for hard numbers, the SSA data is a great place to start because you can see how many babies were born with that name in the past year (as well as in previous years). We also keep track of the most popular names our users give their babies when they send them in to Babylist Babes. 

“The data doesn’t lie,” says Paquette. Any names in the SSA’s Top 100 are definitely popular, even if you haven’t met someone else with the name. Jessie also recommends looking at the top names in your specific state as well: “Some states have big booms. If you look at the Utah data versus the Hawaii data, [it’s] completely different.”

And be sure to consider alternate spellings as well—a name might not appear in the Top 100, but once you factor in all of the different spelling variations, it might actually be more popular than it seems. “Madeline” is a prime example of this. When you consider all of the different spelling possibilities—Madelyn, Madilyn, Madalynn and more—an already popular name becomes super ubiquitous.

How to choose a unique baby name

If you’re trying to avoid popular baby names, you’ll want to consider your sources for name inspiration. The SSA’s name charts are still a helpful tool for inspo, but Jessie suggests sticking to names that rank in the low five to six hundreds. Anything above that might risk your baby meeting a classmate with the same name. And even the names that fall in the 200s or lower on the list, “[have] minimal risk within the next few years of getting to the top 10," says Jessie. You should also keep in mind the algorithm of your social media—and the accounts you personally follow—when considering whether a name might be too popular for your liking. We all have different content served to us based on what we’re consuming. The baby name videos my TikTok “For You Page” is serving me are likely different than yours. So take those with a grain of salt and look at the bigger picture when deciding a name might be too popular for you. 

Here are a few more tips for choosing a unique baby name.

Choose a name that’s not really a name

“Thing” names (aka noun names) are trending these days thanks to influencers like Nara Smith and Francesca Farago. And the possibilities are sort of...endless. Some examples of “thing” name categories are fruit (Clementine) and flowers (Cataleya, as in the orchid). “Place” names also fall into this category and can add some meaning behind baby's name, especially if it’s a place that’s special to you in some way. Capri and Brooklyn are popular examples. 

Look to your favorite books, music or TV shows for inspiration

One of my favorite things about reading fiction is analyzing the character’s names—there’s so much inspiration to be found in books. The same is true for movies, TV shows and music! When I was searching for a name for my first, I also liked to skim through movie credits for ideas. Just keep in mind that some of the names you come across may become popular if the book, movie or show is well-loved (looking at you, Bella and Arya).

Try unconventional historical inspo

Perhaps you came across that article about parents looking for names in unconventional ways—specifically visiting cemeteries. While it might sound a bit out there to some, it’s actually not that uncommon (in fact, a few people on the Babylist staff copped to doing this when naming their babies). You can also find a lot of hidden gems browsing through old newspapers and yearbooks that likely haven’t come back around in popularity (not yet, at least!).   

Ask friends who work with kids

People who work with babies and children—like daycare teachers, nannies and labor and delivery nurses—are exposed to a ton of names, so they can be a great source of inspiration. They'll likely tell you a lot of names you’ve heard before—and probably a few multiples—but Jessie says there will also be some that might surprise you. She advises that you should “get people from as many geographic places as [you] can that work with children, compile [a list] and try to find some really cool gems.” This is also a fun way to hear how certain names sound together (for middle name inspiration or to save for baby number two).

Scour the internet

Social media has opened us up to the world in so many ways—the internet is a great source for name inspiration. Search and you’ll find a list for whatever vibes you’re after—from names inspired by astrology to gender-neutral names that start with an E. Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, baby name websites and blogs or our very own Babylist Babes list, you’re sure to find something that just clicks for your baby. 

Keep in mind: just because a lot of people love a name doesn’t mean you should steer clear of it. As always, if you love a name you should go for it! 

Change up the spelling 

If a name you love is ranking at the top of the charts (or seems to be everywhere), changing up the spelling can help differentiate it from the rest. Just don't forget to consider how other people might pronounce it if you get creative.

Make it “your own” with a unique middle name

While you won’t walk around calling your baby by their first and middle names, choosing something fun and special for a middle name can help make their name feel less common. Middle names are also a great spot to play around with subsequent children’s middle names. For example, a friend of mine gave all of their kids unique nature-inspired middle names that hold significance for them as a couple (they also all happen to have first names that fall consecutively in the alphabet which is beyond adorable). 

And now, for the best part of this whole baby name thing—here are some of our favorite unique names from our very own Babylist Babes list:

Unique Names for Girls

Unique Names for Boys

Unique Gender Neutral Names

Expert Source

• Jessie Paquette, baby name consultant and creative behind the Dream Baby Names on TikTok.