50 Uncommon Gender-Neutral Baby Names You'll Completely Fall In Love With

Gender-neutral baby names are on the rise. The growth is part of a larger trend of defying traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Linda Murray, editor-in-chief of BabyCenter, explained the growing popularity of unisex names to The New York Times: "Today's parents have moved beyond the dichotomy of boy and girl names," she said. "They want their children to grow up and be themselves, free from stereotypes."

If you're still unsure whether a gender-neutral baby name is right for your own little one, check out this roundup of some of the best names out there. These unique gender-neutral names are sure to make you fall in love.

In Norse mythology, it is thought that the first woman was made from a rowan tree. In spite of this feminine association, the name Rowan is used for both baby boys and girls. While it would be easy to assume that the name comes from nature, Rowan's history as a given name is a little more complex. It comes from the Anglicized form of the last name Ó Ruadháin, which has its roots as a Gaelic nickname given to people who had red hair.

Thanks to the 1989 film "The Little Mermaid," many people may assume that Ariel, the name of the main character, is exclusively a girl's name, but that isn't true. Ariel was long considered a masculine name. The name, which is Hebrew for "lion of God," can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible as an alternate name for Jerusalem, per Behind the Name. It also has literary roots, appearing in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

While Charlie is often used as a nickname, it's also a given name in its own right. Its use as a gender-neutral name dates back to at least 1880, based on name data from the Social Security Administration (via Behind the Name). If you prefer more formal variations of the name, Charlie can be used as an abbreviated form of names like Charlotte or Charles. If you really want to get creative, you could also consider the alternate spelling of Charley.

Once primarily a boy's name derived from an English last name, Hayden started gaining traction as a gender-neutral name in the late 1990s. It comes from place names based on Old English words meaning either "hay valley" or "hay hill," via Behind the Name. The moniker is far more popular in Australia and Canada than it is in the United States, but in those countries, Hayden is only used for boys.

This modern name was only briefly popular as a single-gender name. River started gaining traction as a male name in the mid-1990s. This may be in part due to bearers like actor River Phoenix, who passed away in 1993, or the slight variation bestowed upon Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. But by 2009, the name had become gender-neutral. While the name might sound thoroughly English, River actually comes from the Latin word "ripa," which means "riverbank."

The origins of the name Rylan are not completely certain. It is thought that the most likely origin for this unique name is the last name Ryland, which is derived from an Old English place name meaning "rye land." It only began emerging as a gender-neutral name in 2009, making it both modern and uncommon.

Ainsley is yet another gender-neutral name that originated as a last name. It's thought that Ainsley comes from one of two English places: Annesley or Ansley (via Behind the Name). The first part of the name is derived from either the Old English word "anne," which means "alone," or the word "ansetl," meaning "hermitage." The second part of the name comes from the word "leah," which means "woodland" or "clearing."

While the name is almost solely feminine in the United States, its use as a masculine name in England and Wales makes it decidedly gender-neutral.

For parents wanting to imbue their child with a sense of strength and creativity, Yael could be the perfect unisex baby name. Hebrew in origin, Yael means "ibex," which is a type of mountain goat known for its distinctive horns (via The Bump). Goats are said to symbolize strength, creative energy, tranquility, and aspiration, among other positive attributes.

Yael was a name traditionally used for girls up until the 1980s, when parents began giving the name to boys as well. The gender-neutral name has remained relatively uncommon; in 2021, it was still rather rare at No. 2,194 for boys and No. 2,892 for girls, per the Social Security Administration (via The Bump).

Hollis is another unisex baby name with British origins (via The Bump). November and December babies would be especially suited to the name Hollis, due to its meaning, which refers to the holly tree, a festive, vibrant green tree with red berries.

As of 2021, Hollis is still relatively uncommon, at No. 2,561 for girls and No. 2,282 for boys, per the Social Security Administration (via The Bump). This means it's a great option for any parents looking for a unique baby name.

Want the chillest baby ever? Maybe you should name them Xen, which means "meditation" (via Nameberry). All jokes aside, Xen is a unique, gender-neutral option, and is especially interesting due to the fact that it starts with X.

Xen (alternatively spelled Zen) is pretty rare according to Nameberry, but there are a few celebrities who have used the name for their children: Cory Feldman named his son Zen back in 2004, and Tisha Campbell Martin named her son Xen in 2001.

Ellison is a bold and classic unisex baby name that means "son of Ellis," per The Bump. Ellison is of British origin, and the Hebrew counterpart of Ellison is the name Elijah.

The name may appeal to many people due to the -son ending, as we commonly hear names ending in -son (i.e., Alison, Bryson, Emerson). However, Ellison is a more unique choice than other -son names, coming in at No. 1,708 for girls and No. 3,776 for boys on the list of top baby names as of 2021, per the Social Security Administration (via The Bump).

Move aside, Megan — a cooler, unisex upgrade has arrived in the form of Teagan. You may have heard the name Teagan before if you're familiar with the Canadian indie pop band "Tegan and Sara," but aside from the singing duo, the name isn't super popular. However, its rareness and the gender-neutral component are just a few great things about the name.

Another cool aspect of the name Teagan is its meaning, which is "little poet," or "fair," per Nameberry. The name has Welsh roots and is also connected to Saint Tegan, who was a disciple of St. Patrick.

"Place" names (like London, Paris, and Virginia) are increasingly trendy, and Salem is a unique place name that hasn't become overused. Salem is a gender-neutral baby name that refers to the historical town of Salem, Massachusetts (via The Bump). 

Due to the witchy history of the town, this could be a great option for parents looking for a slightly spooky baby name. Salem also has roots in Hebrew and Arabic; in fact, it refers to the biblical city of Jerusalem.

Winter is a timeless, classic name suited for both boys and girls, though it has historically been used more often for girls, via The Bump. The name calls to mind crisp winter air and fresh snowfall, and would be well-suited to a baby born in colder months.

While this name is a pretty uncommon one, it has been used for a very long time. According to Nameberry, it has been used as a first name since the 17th century.

Dallas is another uncommon gender-neutral baby name. Though the name does bring to mind the popular Texas city, the meaning of Dallas is actually nature-inspired, meaning "from the dales" or "valley meadows," and has Scottish origins, via The Bump.

Dallas has been slightly more popular for boys over the years, but it has gained traction for girls in recent years. As of 2021, Dallas was ranked No. 504 for boys and No. 1,239 for girls (per the Social Security Administration, via The Bump), making it a unique baby name choice.

Wren is an elegant and timeless unisex name that means "small bird" (via Nameberry), which makes it another great choice for those looking for a nature-inspired baby name. According to mythology, the wren is the king of all birds as well as a bird of prophecy.

Though Wren is becoming more popular, it's still a considerably uncommon name, ranking at #250 for girls and #1,102 for boys as of 2021.

Brians, Brysons, and Brinleys, look out — Briar is in town. This elegant, unisex baby name of English origin means "a thorny patch" (via Nameberry). Some may recognize the name from the Disney princess, Sleeping Beauty, whose actual name (in the original Grimm Brothers story) is Briar Rose.

Though Briar is slightly more common for girls, it's beginning to be used for boys, too — according to Nameberry, there are about three boys for every four girls named Briar.

Story is a cute, uncommon baby name that can be given to boys and girls. As you could probably guess, the name Story means "story" or "tale." This creative name could appeal to writers or literature-loving parents, or those who like the sound of names like Tori or Rory.

The name is rather rare, but it has been used more often in the last 20 years. According to The Bump, Story reached its peak in 2020 at No. 3,093.

Remy (alternately spelled Remi) is a unisex baby name with French and Latin roots that means "oarsman" (via Nameberry). It's a name that sounds both modern and timeless, making it a suitable choice for parents who want something unique, but not too "out-there."

The name Remy became slightly more popular after the release of the children's movie, "Ratatouille," in which the main character is a chef named Remy. Despite the popularity of the movie, the name Remy has stayed relatively rare, coming in at No. 715 for boys and No. 1,089 for girls as of 2021 (per The Bump).

"Gossip Girl" fans may recognize the name Leighton due to the actress who plays the show's main character, Leighton Meester. Aside from the actress, the name is not a common one, but that's part of why we think it's one of the best unique unisex baby names.

As far as meanings go, Leighton means a few different things, according to The Bump: "leek," "herb garden," and "meadow town." Add it to your list of gender-neutral, nature-inspired baby names.

For those who like names inspired by Greek mythology, Echo may be a good uncommon unisex baby moniker. As the myth goes, Echo was a nymph whose ability to speak was taken away; the only sounds she could make were repeating the last words of those around her, hence the meaning of the name, which is "reverberating sound."

Despite its somewhat sad meaning, the moniker is an intriguing option that would certainly stand out. According to The Bump, it ranked No. 2,322 in 2021 for girls. Since it is used less frequently for boys, little data is available on its usage each year.

Desi is a French and Spanish name that means "desired," per Nameberry. It's a gender-neutral name that is also said to come from the Latin and Italian name "Desiderio." This could be a great option for parents who like contemporary names that end in vowels or vowel sounds, such as Remy, Nico, and Noah.

The name has stayed relatively uncommon over the years; according to The Bump, it ranked at No. 5,183 in 2021 for boys. Data for the use of "Desi" for girls is unavailable, presumably due to it being used less often.

Colwyn is a gender-neutral baby name of Welsh origin, so anyone with Welsh lineage may be inclined toward this moniker. Colwyn is the name of a river in Wales, via The Bump, and is a great choice for people who like the sound of names like Colton, Calum, or Colleen.

The name is not a particularly popular one, which is a benefit for those looking for a rare and unique baby name.

You may think of the 2007 movie of the same name when you hear the name Juno, but the name actually has a deeper meaning: "goddess of love." The name, which is Latin in origin, is the counterpart to the Roman god, Jupiter.

Though Juno has a more feminine meaning, it is a name that sounds decidedly unisex, similar to monikers like Nico and Shiloh. It's also an uncommon name, coming in at No. 2,680 for girls as of 2021 and not ranking at all for boys since it's such a rare boy name.

Fans of another gender-neutral baby name, Dakota, will likely appreciate the shortform of the same name, Koda. The Sioux meaning of this name has a sweet meaning: "friend," while the Japanese meaning of the name, "blessing," is also a fitting name for a baby.

While Dakota is a somewhat popular name, Koda is relatively rare, ranking at No. 5,055 for girls and No. 1,071 for boys, via The Bump. This means parents looking for something different, but slightly familiar, will love this uncommon baby name.