Adjective Names
Updated Mon Mar 04 2024
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Adjective names are the latest class of word names to gain traction in the US, as choices like Loyal and Royal rise in the rankings. Adjectives names can be more evocative than noun names, conveying personal qualities and character traits.
Along with Royal and Loyal, other adjective names in the US Top 1000 include August, Christian, Major, Sincere, Sterling, Sunny, Tru, and Wilder. Unique adjective names that may be future favorites include Able, Brave, Saintly, and Serene.
Adjective names have been especially embraced by celebrities. Nick Cannon is the king of adjective names, with children called Moroccan, Golden, Powerful, Legendary, and Beautiful. Other celebrity adjective names include Jessica Hart's son Glorious, Chris Brown's daughter Lovely, and Elle King's baby boy Lucky.
Adjective girl names may be options like Blithe, Graceful, and Precious, which are mostly used among female babies. Adjective boy names may be names such as Cosmic, Earnest, and Handsome, which are mostly given to male babies. But adjectives as names are mostly gender-neutral, working for people of any gender.
See our collection of adjective names below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- August
Origin:
German form of Latin AugustusMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
The name August is at its highest point since the 1890s, when it ranked among the Top 100 boy names in the US. And deservedly so, given its great meaning, historic roots, and cool nicknames.
- Unique
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Finding a really distinctive name is a better way to stamp your daughter as a true individual.
- Wilder
Origin:
Surname or word nameMeaning:
"wild, untamed, uncontrolled"Description:
Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.
- Frank
Origin:
Diminutive of Francis or FranklinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"Description:
A Top 10 name from the 1880s until the 1920s, Frank has been falling for decades but last year reversed course for the first time in a century, edging up the popularity list a few notches. And Frank still has a certain warm, friendly real-guy grandpa flavor that could come back into style, like other such choices as Jake and Jack.
- Ever
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"always, constantly, eternally"Description:
Similar in sound to Evan and Everett, Ever is an evocative word name that's currently on the rise. Used by Alanis Morissette and Souleye back in 2010, Ever was given to more than 200 boys in 2023, compared to 125 girls.
- Christian
Origin:
Greek or English from LatinMeaning:
"anointed one or follower of Christ"Description:
The name Christian has fallen a bit from its 90's and 00's heights, but it's still quite popular. Once considered overly pious, Christian is now seen as making a bold statement of faith by some, while also having secular appeal for others. Christian's enduring popularity may be influenced by such celebrities as Christian Slater and Christian Bale, not to mention the fashion world's Dior, Lacroix, Louboutin and Audigier.
- Sterling
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the highest quality"Description:
A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling has several recent TV associations, with characters Roger Sterling (on Mad Men) and Sterling Archer (on Archer), and actor Sterling K. Brown (on This is Us).
- Royal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"royal"Description:
Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name shot up the popularity charts in 2013, the same year young Prince George was born and the craze for all things royal (and Royal) began. Today, it's a leading boys' name on Nameberry's own popularity charts.
- Sunny
Origin:
English nicknameDescription:
Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile. You might want to use it as a short form for a more "serious" name such as Sunniva, but Sunny is undeniably, well, sunny.
- Sunny
Origin:
Nickname nameDescription:
Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile, along with its soundalike Sonny.
- Royal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"royal"Description:
Word names may not be gendered in English, but Royal was used mostly for boys—as in Wes Anderson's anti-hero Royal Tennenbaum—until Lil' Kim named her daughter Royal. And why not? It's got a rich sound and a meaning fit for a rap princess....or prince. This puts a new spin on royal baby names.
- Lucky
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"having good fortune"Description:
Recently chosen by singer Elle King for her son. Lucky is a name that could see a considerable rise in the near future, as word names continue to heat up.
- Rogue
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"independent, uncontrolled"Description:
Now that names like Cannon and Gunner, fit for comic book heroes, are rising up, Rogue may fit right in.
- August
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"majestic, venerable"Description:
Though associated traditionally (and fashionably) with boys, it has been used occasionally for girls as well – by Garth Brooks, Nicolas Cage, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, for example. But August is used significantly more often for girls these days than traditional feminine variations Augusta and Augustina, and makes for a fresh twist on traditional month names like April and May, as well as an updated spin on season name Autumn.
- Hale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"someone who lives in a hollow"Description:
This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.
- West
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
West is the most fashionable of what you might call the direction names, with North and East (or Easton and Easter) coming up behind, and South not yet on the map.
- Rowdy
Origin:
American word nameDescription:
Rowdy was first famously used as a given name in the television series Rawhide, with the young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates. More recently, competitive swimmer Rowdy Gaines has been featured in a series of TV commercials, and a new badass baby name is gaining notice. The word Rowdy originated in the U.S. in the early 19th century, used to describe a rough or lawless backwoodsman. It's one of the distinctly American names.
- True
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"true"Description:
Many parents seeking a return to more basic values and a simpler lifestyle are turning to such virtuous girls' names as Grace, Faith, and Hope, but there are a handful that work just as well on boys, including True.
- Ever
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"always, eternally, constantly"Description:
A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends when he named his now grown-up actress daughter Ever back in the 70s, while more recently, it was used by both Milla Jovovich and Owain Yeoman.
- Wilder
Origin:
Word name and surnameMeaning:
"wild, untamed, uncontrolled"Description:
The name Wilder is still used more than 90 percent of the time for boys, but it's being used quietly for girls too. with 50 receiving the name in a recent year. Along with the rest of the Wild and Wiley family, it's one of the hottest baby names starting with W. Certainly giving your child of either gender such a wilder name is setting them up for a certain kind of character and future.