Wonderful Word Names for Babies

Illumination is a many-syllabled entrant in the new-fashioned virtue name group, but doesn't stand much chance of rivaling shorter choices like Hope and Faith.

Moroccan might be thought of as a boys' name purely by virtue of its having been used for their newborn son by Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, who transformed this nationality into a first name. But given that they named Moroccan's sister Monroe, conventional gender identity is off the table, and Moroccan might just as easily be used for a girl, along with Morocco or Maraca.

Intriguing, when seen as a water name a la River and Ocean; less appropriate if used as a reference to the Creek tribe of Native Americans. Other downsides are its resemblance to creak, as in creaky bones or floorboards, and to unappealing words like creep and reak.

Wildly optimistic, and unrealistic, choice.

A (male) character in Toni Morrison's great Song of Solomon, but also plays for a girl.

This name, a spin on the word alchemy, has a magical quality.

A rarely used and distinctive word name with artistic flair, Mosaic has joins other creative choices, like Painter, Poem, Poet, Boheme, Story, Carver, and Monet. Appearing for the first time in the US stats in 2022 when it was given to 5 boys, it has yet to rank for girls. Nicknames could be Mo, Mick, Micky, Zay, or Maisie.

Weather inspired choices from Sunny to Stormi are currently in vogue, and Hazy could be a contender to replace 70s star Misty. Referring to fog and dry, dusty air, "haze" is an atmospheric phenomenon in which the visibility of the sky is obscured, in turn evoking imagery of hazy, summer days. Alternatively, it might be used a diminutive of popular Hazel, inspired by the likes of Daisy and Maisie.

Holder, part occupational name and part Holden, is a rare word name. It brings to mind holding onto someone or something, which itself suggests a love for or connection to whatever is being held on to.

A plausible and solid sounding word name that is reminiscent of Annika and Bianca, Anchor is both grounding and bold as a name. Plus, familiar nickname Annie is there as an option.