We all grew up with Amber, Summer, maybe a Harmony. The latest local newbs on my radar? Freedom and Blaze. Our birthday gal last week? Galilee.
The parental quest for the increasingly unusual leads us full circle to that with which we are most familiar: the common English word.
Abby posted about Crew on Friday, and I did not expect such different cultural responses. For Real Baby Names rounded up Wisdom, Tulip, Drummer, Creed, Pleasant and Butterfly. Celebrity babies include Honor, Ever, Poet, Story, River, Bear, Petal, Crimefighter and Bandit, among countless others. Blog land? Forget about it. We know about Archer and Fable, but are you acquainted with True, Brave, and Soul?
The allure of the word name is a strong one. Some are virtue names and were used in the 17th century. Others feel futuristic and sci-fi. But primarily, it’s a simple, direct no nonsense way to bestow upon your child a quality or association you hope will somehow both shape that child and symbolize who they become to the world. That, and it feels distinctly their own. What we all loved about the Galilee post, apart from her yummy cuteness, was her great and NEW name! How fun to hear something so ordinary take on a completely different tone when worn as a name?
So I want to hear them. Your nominations for words that should or could be names, as well as the kooky friends you have whose parents braved this vast frontier before us. Come to think of it, Frontier has a pretty nice ring to it.
My go:
Allegory
Arc
Bard
Black
Bright
Centaur
Cerulean
Enigma
Estuary
Frontier
Galaxy
Heart
Humble
Humor
Jettison
Judge
Lilt
Lithe
Merit
Mirth
Night
Ohm
Omen
Onyx
Reverent
Savor
Solar
Solstice
Symphony
Truth
Wish
Winsome
Wreath
Verse
Victory
Zeal
Zenith
(which are boys, which are girls?)
Image: Gerard Way, Lyn-Z, and baby Bandit
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve loved the name “Bright” ever since I saw the name a few years ago on BBC News about lawmaker and former deputy information minister of Zimbabwe, Bright Matonga. I just worry it sounds too conceited. Like my child is smart, gifted… Also the name of a footballer from Nigeria. Love it as a middle maybe:)
My husband has an uncle whose name is “Fog.”
Hi Elizabeth. You might also like a blog called “No Big Dill.” She has five daughters, Divine, Pearl, Olive, Azure, & Clover and expecting number six.
Other word names that I have seen in birth announcements are . . .
Swan
Moss
Cherry
Praise
Lake
Patience
Legend
Fate
Knight
Tango
Darling
Wolf
Thanks for the mention.
Sarah
Swan! So pretty, right? If only it was immediately associated with poor little Swan Brooner in my mind (I should try turning off disturbing trash TV once in a while, really).
I meant to say, if only it WASN’T…
I don’t know who that is so I think you are okay.
I think Swan is such a pretty name. If you can name a baby Lark, Sparrow, Wren, Robin, or Raven, I don’t see why Swan wouldn’t work.
I was going to mention No Big Dill, too! As a huge word name fan (seriously, I have too many favourites to list) I’m eagerly anticipating the naming of their sixth.
No offense intended, but I worry about some almost concept names seeming a little … tackily aspirational is probably the right phrase – choices like Harmony. There’s no arguing that the sentiment is lovely, though, and sometimes I’m a massive hypocrite and love names which should fall into that category, like Blithe.
Totally love names which can nickname to words, too -
Harriet “Happy”
Juliet “Jolly” (saw this on a Miss Marple episode recently – Agatha Christie stories are my secret naming tip)
Susannah “Sunny”.
This idea of word nicknames from traditional names is fab and fodder for another post. Thanks Lola!
Happy to inspire!
Being a proud word name I want to thank you for listing my name!
I am stealing most of the lists on here as DH and I are expecting our first and I want a word name.
I think word name babies giving word names to their babies is a great way to “name a child after a parent” without repeating names.
Ooooo…fun. From yours I like Bard, Bright, Merit, Night, Solar, Solstice, Winsome.
Perhaps…
Lemon
Persimmon
Bloom
Wave
Harvest
Sunset
Sunrise
Halo
Ethereal
Music
Light
Bliss
Amity
Concord
Guard (Knew of a boy named this. He’s a teenager now.)
Season (Knew a woman named this. Probably around age 30 or so.)
There was a Hailough (“Halo”) on a birth board I belonged to. The middle name was something that paired with it, but I’ve forgotten what it was now.
It was BabyCenter, and….
It was my daughter, Hailough Hope.
And she is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Her name, to me, is the most beautiful sound in the world….
Hi Elizabeth,
While I may not be one for alternate spellings, I understand that not everyone agrees. I appreciate that your daughter’s name is rich with meaning, and I’m sure she IS fabulous. Thanks for writing in.
Best,
Another Elisabeth
My husband has an uncle whose name is Fog.
I know a boy named Buck (sister’s name is JudyG@il which I think is so adorable).
I know a boy named King and one named Bishop (not brothers).
I’ve heard the name Pretty Sky.
Oh, and I went to school with a girl named Mystery. I’m going to be thinking about these names all day!
What about Prairie?
I also knew of a girl named Red Fawn and a guy named Gray Hawk.
Sorry to litter this with so many comments. Maybe I will just make a list and post it when I’m finished!
I used to read a set of books when I was a teenager about a family where the children were all named after places or things that were significant to their parents; they had daughters named
Linnhe (pron. Linny, after Loch Linnhe in Scotland),
Rowan (because there was a Rowan tree that grew outside their window), Alexandra (after Alexandra Palace in London),
and Ivy (after St Ives in Cornwall),
plus a son named Tor (after Glastonbury Tor). Now that’s the kind of creative baby naming I love!
…My hubby and I are thinking about Ember… thoughts?
I -love- Ember
Before I found out I was having a boy I had a list of names and this was one I actually wrote in a novel I was reading at the time…I have no idea how it hit me, but I fell for it instantly 
I grew up with a girl named Stormie Harbor. I know it sounds like one of those fake urban legend names, but it’s real!
There’s a 3 year old girl in my Sunday School class named Story, and a 2 year old boy named Archer.
I love Story. I would gladly use that as a name for a little girl or boy.
My cousin in Misty Breeze.
I think I just like names that are NAMES…maybe that’s just me. But, I saw something written by a man named Labyrinth and I thought that was pretty neat.
I like Serenade and Song for names.
I know a little girl named Canaan (Galilee reminded me of her) and saw a girl perform at my daughter’s recital named Copeland–which is in different category, but still unusual and pretty.
A friend of mine and her husband have chosen uncommon English words with special-to-them meanings for each of their kids. (I hope she won’t mind me sharing them here!) Orison, Felicity, Morrow, and twins: Whitsun and Cadence.
Here are some from my list that I know my husband would never go for: Lyric, Tonic, Cyan, Pixel, Indigo, Fox and Cobalt.
From your list I love Truth and Symphony. And I love the name Archer, though I could never bring myself to “steal” it.
I know a Bear, a Jett, a River and a Raleigh.
I forgot to mention I also know a Cannon, two Justices, a Robin and a Sterling.
Uncommon word names are a hobby of mine, and a lot of the names on your list are already on mine, but I will be adding a few like Arc, Solar, Frontier, Lilt, Lithe, Estuary, Galaxy, Reverent/Reverence, Heart, Bright, Enigma and Zenith (I never saw it spelt Xenith before, typo?). I like the sound of Allegory, but I don’t like the meaning as a name.
More from my list:
Aid, Aeon/Eon, Almond, Allure, Amnesty, Abbott, Ability, Acorn, Anchor, Answer, Ardent, Arroyo, Alizarin, Afternoon, Anise, Audio, Abbey, Atlas, Ambiance, Auburn, Adventure, Able
Baker, Banyan, Barley, Birch, Bishop, Blackbird, Blaze, Bluejay, Bracken, Bramble, Bravery, Bunting, Bayou, Bell, Bluebird, Breeze, Berry, Beryl, Betony, Bird, Blessing, Blithe, Bluebell, Buttercup, Benevolent, Bless, Booker, Boulder
Capability, Cabal, Campion, Canaan, Caraway, Cardinal, Carnelian, Castle, Cotton, Chivalry, Cinder, Clove, Cobalt, Condor, Constant, Copper, Courage, Chaos, Covenant, Coriander, Creek, Crescent, Crest, Crow, Currant/Current, Cypress, Candle, Canopy, Cayenne, Christmas, Clarity, Cloud, Comfort, Comfrey, Costmary, Cress/Watercress, Cranberry, Cyan, Camomile, Caramel, Celerity, Clarion, China, Cinnamon, Crimson, Conscience, Cascade, Cedar, Cello, Cordovan, Crane, Cameo, Chestnut, Comet, Challenge
Darling, Delight, Delta, Dew, Dewberry, Doe, Dune, Dove, Day, Daybreak, Declare, Drummer, Dusk, Dream, Dare, Domino
Eager, Eagle, Earnest, Eclipse, Equinox, Elm, Easter, Emerald, Epiphany, Essence, Evening, Era, Eternity, Ebony, Ethereal, Eloquence, Excel
Fate, Fawn, Flame, Faithful, Falcon, Fennel, Finch, Fire, Flint ,Fortune, Friend, Frost, Field, Favour, Freedom
Garnet, Gentle, Garland, Grove, Guardian, Gale, Glee, Glade, Genuine, Gracious, Green, Granite
Harvest, Honesty, Honeydew, Honeysuckle, Hummingbird, Harbour, Heron, Hickory, Highlander, Horizon, Hyssop, Hyacinth, Haze, Harlequin
Ibis, Independence, Indigo, Idea, Isabelline, Ivory, Imagine, Infinity, Island
Jacaranada, Java, Jonquil, Just, Jester, Jazz
Kestrel, Kingfisher, Kindred, Kite, Knight, Knightly
Locket, Litchi/Lychee, Larch, Legacy, Light/Lightfoot, Lock, Loyal/Loyalty, Lotus, Lynx, Lore, Lullaby, Land
Malachite, March, Marsh, Mentor, Mercury, Midwinter, Movement, Motion, Moss, Magpie, Mahogany, Maple, Marjoram, Mayflower, Meadow, Moon, Meadowlark, Memory, Meridian, Merrily, Mint, Modesty, Morning, Morningstar, Morrow, Mountain, Myrrh, Mist, Marvel, Mallow, Minnow
Nettle, Nightingale, November, Nutmeg, New, Night, Nightfall, Nighthawk, Noble, Noon, North, Navy, Nestle
Oak, Obsidian, Owl, Ocean
Paprika, Peony, Pepper, Periwinkle, Perpetual, Persimmon, Pleasance, Poem, Poplar, Promise, Psyche, Paladin, Parsley, Peridot, Pine, Polar, Prosper, Pebble, Pleasant, Painter, Plenty
Quest, Quill, Quintessence, Quarry, Quartz
Rain, Remedy, Remember, Rhapsody, Rosebud, Reason, Redwing, Reef, Rhythm, Riddle, Ridge, Rook, Royal, Rush, Russet, Rye, Ripple, Roam, Ready, Rune, Rogue
Sable, Silver, Sincere, Sojourner, Song, Spider, Steadfast, Sterling, Storm, Stormborn, Strong, Swift, Saga, Secret, Seqouia, Serendipity, Serene, Sesame, Silence, Solace, Skylark, Snow, Solemn, Sonnet, Sparrow, Spruce, Starling, Sunflower, Sunrise, Swan, Summoner, Shelter, Siren, Shale, Shade, Shadow, Searcher, Summit, Stream, Shore, Seashore
Tansy, Thistle, Topaz, Twilight, Tamarind, Tern, Tarragon, Thicket, Thorn, Thunder, Tide, Tinder, Torch, Tower, Town, Traveler, True, Trust, Twain, Tomorrow, Tune, Tenacity, Tonight, Together, Teal, Thyme, Tempest
Umber, Unity, Union, Urban
Valiant, Valour, Veer, Vervain, Vetiver, Vine, Venture, Viridian, Vermilion, Valley, Valerian
Ward, Warden, Weaver, Webster, Wheeler, Whistler, Wind, Wisdom, Wander, Wood, Worth, Welcome, Whisper, Winter, Wish
Yesterday, Yard, Yellow
I think there’s too many… My lists are growing a bit full these days. I have to rename them as collections I think XD
There are a lot of berry/fruit/spice names, I’ve been looking into those a lot lately. Costmary and Vetiver are among the more fascinating ones from my searches
I love your list! I was just thinking how much I liked Grove and Glade. I wish Glade wasn’t an Air Freshener.
I absolutely love all of the names on this list, but here are some of my favorites:
Abbey (I actually have a friend who spells her name this way)
Audio- for a boy or a girl? I suppose both could work though I see it being more feminine
Bishop
Bravery
Blessing
Canaan
Clove
Cobalt
Chaos-though I would never use it
Clarity
Cameo
Delta
Dare
Equinox-I think this is my favorite. Beautiful, and also plenty of nickname potential
Ebony
Gale
Harvest
Horizon
Haze
Indigo
Ivory
Island
Lynx
Memory
Meridian
Marvel
Noon
Navy
Poem
Promise
Prosper
Rhythm
Russet
Rune
Saga
Sequoia
Solace
Siren
Tide
Tune
Tempest
Urban
Venture
Valerian-my absolute favorite name ever. On the top of my own list
Wheeler
Whisper
Love these names!
i know a family with 3 children: Lioness (girl), Aegean (boy) and Azalea (girl).
not to be nitpicky, but i think that Galilee really fits under the banner of place names, rather than word names.
You’re right, and place names are a different animal entirely (post to come). Maybe because Galilee is Biblical I think of it as a word name, but that probably doesn’t make any sense. Now I think I might edit the post. Phooey!
oh, i don’t think you need to edit the post! i look forward to your reading your thoughts on place names (a genre i find more appealing than word names, personally!).
I love Azalea! I was just thinking about that name today!
Are we just talking english words? I think it’s more challenging that way, b/c a lot of foreign word names in other languages don’t really register as word names, per se, to the english-speaking ear, so here are some I listed in the RW post plus a few more….
Lullaby
Ballad
Soliloquie
Epyllia
Meter
Fleet
Arrow
Domino
Wilde
Orchard
Cove
Reverie (my youngest’s second middle name)
Some new faith names that could be nicely fresh?
Hallow
Vigil
Chapel
Hymnal
Temple
and do plant names really count? well, just in case:
Maple
Vetiver
Yarrow
Nettle
Had a neighbor named Mist who is probably in her early 30s.
The one Season I knew is in her late 20s or early 30s.
So far we love Jet for a middle name! And I’m also loving Tulip and True (or Truly).
My neighbors used Prairie as a middle name for their newborn daughter. In the dame vein, I think that Meadow is kind of pretty. My name (pronounced Lee) means meadow in old-timey British English, but I don’t think that’s what my mom was going for.
New commenter BTW. I’ve always been obsessed with names for some reason so I love this blog.
Ok…so here are people that I know or know of who have “thing” names. Some are middle names. Some are very common where I live and may be common all over the U.S. I don’t know…Oh, and there’s a place name in there, too.
Remington
Ruger
Colt
Justice
Chance
Chase
Sunshine
Rainbow
Cash
Twilight (She was born before the book series, I think.)
Kace (pronounced Case)
Bray
Weather
Chapel
Lawyer
Banks
Kale (Cael is Biblical, but Kale is a green edible plant, no?)
Gage
Hunter
Shad0w(lynn)
Suede
Cannon
Canaan (Although I think it’s not spelled that way…It’s Kre8tive, I think.)
Talon
Wren
R@yder
Ridge
Shell
Tiara
Paisley
Journey
Dane
Timber (last name W0lff, brother is F1int)
January
I left a few out, too.
Jett
Elite
Kansas (place name, duh)
Garrison
As much as I dislike the whole brayden,ayden, hayden etc. craze, I just saw the name Haven on the Ohdeedoh website this morn and I like it quite a bit!
How about Alchemy? I’m also in love with Crescent (as in crescent moon, crescent wave…).
If my husband sees this post, it will be all the validation he needs to name our baby Cerulean. He is pulling for that or Copenhagen (both after 2 of his favorite shades of blue- he is a painter).
But with a last name of Br0wn, I think I have a stronger counter-argument, what with going totally against color theory and what not!
But cerulean and brown are so gorgeous together! Especially burnt sienna (I’m a painter too).
I’ll concede to the artists then.
But only for color combos, not for baby’s name! (Which is sadly why I’ve had to nix Scarlett, Hazel, and the like, not to mention Charlie, James, Murphy, Leroy, Chris, Georgia, and on, and on…). Maybe we will have to consult with you before baby’s due date in October.
I have always thought that if my last name were Brown or Black or the like I would give all my kids color names for just that reason! I love it!
My daughter’s middle name is Bloom. I’ll try to give all my future daughters nature/animal middle names. So far, I like Wren, Fern, Birdie, and Marigold.
I read recently of a woman who gave her daughter the middle name “Morning.” I thought that was pretty.
Hmm, how about for the child of…
a librarian: Tome
a park ranger: Canyon
an astronomer: Radiant
a musician: Musette (or Minuet; there are so many possibilities in music)
a chef: Roux
a knitter: Purl
Such a fun game!
Lots of good names here, but missing one of my faves – Camera
How thrilling to see all these word names just POURING out of you! So many genius ideas that I never thought of.
In my top 10 names right now for my boy-to-be is Cave. I got it from the video game Portal 2…I love it. Short. Simple. Lots of symbolism but not much to “live up to” so to speak.
I’ve discovered I adore noun names
Yahtzee is also on my list of loved names, though…so maybe you don’t want my opinion
(though for the record, it would be after a video game reviewer I respect, not the game 
). Jack Yahtzee…that would be phenomenal in my opinion 
Oh, I adore word names
Here is my personal stash:
Amity, Answer, Anchor, Archer, Ash
Ballad, Bayou, Beach, Blaze, Bliss, Bravery, Brook
Castle, Chance, Charity, Chord, Cinder, Clarity, Clove, Concord, Constance, Constant, Coral, Coriander, Cove, Crew, Crimson
Dawn, Dove, Dream, Dune
Eagle, Ember
Fable, Fate, Fire, Flame, Flint, Forest, Frontier, Frost
Garnet, Glory
Harbor, Halo, Haven, Hawk, Honor, Howl
Ivory
Jade, Jet, Justice
Kestrel, Kindle, Knight
Lake, Lark, Liberty, Lyric
Meadow, Melody
Noble, Nova
Ocean, Olive, Onyx
Paisley, Phoenix, Pierce, Prairie
Rain, Reef, River, Roan, Russet
Saffron, Sage, Scarlet, Season, Serene, Serenity, Silver, Soleil, Solstice, Song, Sonnet, Sorrell, Snow, Star, Story, Swan
Tide, Timber, True
Vale, Valiant, Valor, Verity
Whisper, Wish, Wit, Wolf
A few of the best I have come across as a grade school teacher–Nation (boy), Anthem (boy) and Clover (girl).
I have come across a fair number of people lately with what I would call “random noun” names–that is, not ones obviously meant to express some virtue, but which more likely come from family names or nicknames. Examples: Booth, Cart, Van, Pen, etc. I like to come up with my own versions of these — I’m thinking Stall, Stick, Tarp, and Jar might be viable options.
I really love Lake, but it just does not go with my last name. In fact the full name just sound like the name of an actual lake! Also, as a fan of demon-child themed horror movies I don’t think Omen is a name I would ever pick! Someone said Nettle which I like. I like good old-fashioned Cliff too- or for something more unique maybe Bluff?
I’m not sure if this fits, but I’ve always like latin word names:
For Girls:
Vox (meaning voice)
Ara (meaning alter)
Lux (meaning light)
Galea (meaning helmet)
Luna (moon)
For Boys:
Ager (meaning farm, or field)
Arbor (meaning tree)
Audio
Bellus (meaning handsome)
Creo (meaning to create)
Emerior (meaning to wonder at)
Audax (bold)
Mox (soon)
Nox (night
Pax (peace)
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