Typically female names for boys

  1. Charleston
    • Origin:

      American place-name
    • Meaning:

      "Charles' town"
    • Description:

      Lovers of the languid South Carolina city might be attracted to this rich-sounding name. Could make an interesting update on Charles -- and can certainly work for a girl too. Actor Joey Lawrence used it for his daughter.
  2. Chelsea
    • Origin:

      London and New York neighborhood name
    • Description:

      Chelsea for a boy? Yes--and we've got two maleberry Chelseas to prove it (one of whom even wrote a blog for us about his experience)! Boy Chelseas would more likely be named for the British football team than the old Joni Mitchell song sung by Judy Collins.
  3. Clair
    • Clare
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Clarence
      • Description:

        Nowadays, Clare tends to be viewed as a feminine name, but this is a short and sweet Irish-flavored name that could work just as well on a boy. Noted male bearers of the name Clare include Canadian ice hockey legend Clare Drake, US cartoonist Clare Briggs, and Grammy winning musician Clare Fischer.
    • Cleo
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "glory"
      • Description:

        As a male name, Cleo was well used during the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries, deriving from the Greek name Cleon or the Biblical Cleopas.
    • Comfort
      • Origin:

        Word name
      • Description:

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

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "spear"
      • Description:

        Corin was used by Shakespeare in As You Like It, an unusual name that could make a more distinctive alternative to Corey or Colin. It is a name used in the illustrious Redgrave family of actors.
    • Courtney
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "courteous, from the court"
      • Description:

        This courtly old Southern name has several cool male bearers: NFL player Courtney Brown, British jazz musician Courtney Pine, and Barbados-born economist Courtney Blackman, to name but a few.
    • Dame
      • Origin:

        English diminutive of Damian, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "to tame, subdue"
      • Description:

        NBA player Damian "Dame" Lillard is the influencer behind this unusual nickname. Dame made the charts for the first time in 2021, following Lillard's gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
    • Dana
      • Origin:

        English, Slavic, Persian Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "from Denmark, gift, or wise"
      • Description:

        Baby girl Danas outnumber baby boys with the name nearly ten to one. But Dana is an attractive, sleek name that can certain work for babies of either gender.
    • Dandelion
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from French
      • Meaning:

        "lion's tooth"
      • Description:

        The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.
    • Dara
      • Origin:

        Irish, Persian, Punjabi, Khmer
      • Meaning:

        "oak tree; wealthy; leader; star"
      • Description:

        Though Dara in the U.S. would be considered mainly a girls' name – the most recent count is 10 times as many girls given the name last year than boys – it's a boys' name in Ireland, where it's in the Top 100 along with variations Daire and Darragh.
    • Darcy
      • Origin:

        English from French, d'Arcy
      • Meaning:

        " from Arcy"
      • Description:

        Though Darcy is the ultimate Jane Austen hero name, it is rarely used for boys today though it's on the upswing for girls. A shame as it's a handsome, roguish kind of appellation that combines elements of French flair, aristocratic savoir faire, and a soft Irish brogue. And in terms of image, it's one of the quintessential English names for boys.
    • Delaney
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "dark river"
      • Description:

        Cheerful but laidback, surname-style Delaney is derived from the Old Irish name Dubhshláine and has become a familiar choice for girls in recent decades. Nevertheless, it has also been used for boys since the early 1900s and was equally - though rarely - given to both, right up until the 1990s.
    • Diamond
      • Origin:

        Gem name
      • Description:

        Diamond was a big hit for girls in the nineties, ultimately making it into the Top 150. It's a relative rarity today for baby girls and boys, for whom the name also peaked in the nineties.
    • Doll
      • Origin:

        German or English surname
      • Meaning:

        "foolish, mad, strong, ditch"
      • Description:

        Briefly used as a male name in the early 20th century. Doll is a surname with a variety of origins and meanings, some more desirable than others.
    • Dory
      • Dove
        • Origin:

          Color and nature name
        • Meaning:

          "dove, a bird"
        • Description:

          Subtle but clear unisex way to signal peace, especially in middle place.
      • Echo
        • Origin:

          Greek mythology name
        • Meaning:

          "echo or sound"
        • Description:

          Although this is traditionally seen as a female name, via the classical mythological nymph who pined away for Narcissus until all that remained of her was a disembodied voice — it can also be used for boys. Remember that old song, 'Little sir echo, how do you do?'
      • Eden
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "place of pleasure, delight"
        • Description:

          This Biblical name was rising dramatically for boys, but has plateaued in recent years. Although it's more popular for girls, it's a delightful unisex choice. Eden is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France.