Unisex Dog Names

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.

A bit too self-congratulatory and, understandably, exceedingly rare. Still, if you're looking for a modern virtue name for your daughter, this may be one of the best qualities to exemplify.

One of the new literalist religious names, like Blessing, Heavenly and Neveah. More male than female, but essentially unisex.

Averill is an ancient name, most properly spelled Averil, that has a Boston Brahmin air – probably due to the image of statesman Averill Harriman. It's of the rare English surname names that originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild (Everild), meaning "boar battle".

Casey-with-a-K never quite reached the heights of the original, but it broke the Top 500 for boys in the late '80s and early '90s.

A Pam for the modern age, improved by a harder edge and a tad less prissiness.

Tay is occasionally used on its own, or as a nickname for the now fading Taylor.

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

A unique New Age possibility with a pleasing sound.

A modern alternative to Shelby.

Epic feels like it could be the boys' version of Saga. Epic poetry tells some of our most celebrated stories - from Beowulf and the Odyssey, to the Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost. Despite being short, Epic is a lot of name, so it might be a choice for an adventurous middle name.

Ambitious geographical name.

The name of one of the branches of the Great Sioux Nation has a very namelike sound, but is not used as a name by the Lakota people themselves, and could be seen as appropriative.

Because that's what your child is—a gift.

This spelling of popular Jalen ranks in the Top 1000 for both girls and boys.

A nonbinary word name that could work perfectly in the middle, especially for a child born under a fire sign.

This word name shines bright and comes with the nickname Bea.

Coined in the 1960s to define the smallest photographic element of a televised image. It's a portmanteau of "picture" + "cell" or "element".

An interesting Canadian province and city name that has some literary history as the name of a character in Dickens's Bleak House; could make a distinctive choice for parents with northern roots.

As a name, a bit too p. c.