Wonderful Word Names for Babies

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning.

Modern virtue name, playing on the word "tough".

Stricter than Peace or Justice.

The name of the hero of Nathan Englander's The Ministry of Special Cases is also the name of the prayer Jews say for the dead, so be aware that this could definitely be seen as an offensive choice to avoid.

Cool middle name possibility.

Sarah Palin and husband Todd, creative baby-namers, named their oldest son Track because of their love for running.

Chosen by one musician, Todd Rundgren, for his son, but unlikely to be emulated by others.

This Puritan virtue name is unstylish, but sympathetic and appealing, in these largely uncomfortable times.

Straightforward yet romantic, this is one newly minted name with long-term appeal, especially as a middle name. It was used as such for Tea Leoni and David Duchovny's Madelaine, whom they call West. Definitely ambigender, it was chosen by Marley Shelton for her daughter. 

The definition of quirky.

While Hill reads as a nickname for Hillary, adding an S puts it in the same category as plural nature names like Rivers and Brooks. It also softens the name's image: one hill is an obstacle, but many together form a lovely landscape. Hills are also a recurring image and metaphor in both the New and Old Testament.

Reminiscent of Puritan and Pilgrim name choices, Sincere is a relatively modern virtue name. Though it is predominantly used on boys - almost ten times more often - Sincere is still given to around 50 girls each year.

A lot to handle, but it does give a sense of openness, joy, and awe.

Eloquence feels right at home with names like Cadence and Rhapsody.

Rhymer feels right at home with names like Ryder, Ryker and Riley, but brings an artsy edge to this group of names.

Baby name as political statement.

The term Quarto comes to us from the Latin for "four", but it is used as a term in literature to describe a book from the early days of printing that was a particular size. An obscure and potentially intriguing choice for arcane, book-loving parents.

Warm and open, but way too much teasing potential.

If Arrow is too straight for you....

Peerless Price may be a football great, but his name would exert undue pressure. Substitute idea: Peer.