Unique Word Names for Babies

In the garden of herb names, Rosemary and Basil are perennials and Sage is a new upshoot, but Fennel is a real rarity. The aniseed-tasting plant, used to add flavor to dishes around the world, gets its name from the Latin word feniculum, meaning "little hay".

For the parent who might also have Buck and Ryder on his list.

Lupine (spelled Lupin outside of North America) is a flower related to sweetpeas. It was given its wolfish meaning because the plant was said to deplete the soil. Comedian Jenny Slate used it as a middle name for her daughter Ida in 2020.

Undiscovered musical form melodious enough to be a hit on the name charts.

Now deeply associated with the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, Lazuli is derived from one of the places where the stone was first mined. The word Lazuli is the root for words like azure. Lapis Lazuli is a deep and rich blue color and was used for pigments and jewellery. Lazuli can be used for a boy or a girl.

Although Zircon means "gold-hued," the gem comes in a variety of colors.

A word name with a fire-y personality. Sparky is an old-school nickname for a boy, but Spark sounds both more grownup and modern.

Isla is a contemporary gem, so why not Isle? As an English word name, it takes you straight to the literal definition — a small island — which could have an appealing, aspirational ring to it, for those wanting to raise independent children.

This unusual English word name and surname was the middle name of American sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick, after his mother's maiden name. Its striking sound and appealing meaning make it a promising virtue name possibility for either gender.

This adorable fish name debuted on the baby name charts in 2020, inspired by a young girl character in the Netflix movie Love and Monsters. Minnow resembles well-established girl names Minnie, Willow, and Marlowe.

This may be a bit quirky to make it as a name, especially in first place. If you love it, you might try it in the middle.

Ixia is a botanical name referring to a genus of plants native to South Africa. The name actually refers to an unrelated plant; those in the ixia family are commonly known as corn lilies.

Influencer Nara Smith called out Dusk as one of the names she likes but won't be using, which is probably the reason you're here. Dusk is a totally unique baby name, given to fewer than five children last year.

Could a child named Warrior be anything but fierce and willful? We count Warrior among our Magic Names, those that are chosen for their ability to influence and protect their bearers. We see Warrior rising significantly in the next few years, joining current favorites like Legend, Hero, and Saint.