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80 incredible, unique baby names

Distinctive baby names to put on your list

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Baby names
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If you’re expecting, there are a lot of things to do to get ready. Perhaps choosing a name tops that lengthy to-do list. Deciding on a name for your little one can be challenging. Many parents are searching for unique baby names. They want to pick a name that’s different. Of course, you don’t want to go overboard on the unique element. Think Seven on Seinfeld. 

It’s a fine line between distinctive names and names children may grow to hate once they start going to school. Thankfully, there are quite a few unique baby names that are singular, but not over the top.

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Unique baby names

Cute baby girl surrounded by possible names
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Madison is a fairly common name these days, but not when it first hit the baby name list in the mid-80s. The origin of the name Madison actually comes from the movie Splash. The mermaid character chooses her name using the NYC street sign Madison Avenue as inspiration. By the 2000s, Madison was topping the popular baby name list. So, if you’re looking for a name to set your little one apart, there are a lot of avenues to head down, including revisiting classics or the emerald isle.

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Vintage girls’ names

  • Eleanor
  • Nora
  • Eloise
  • Claire
  • Charlotte

Vintage boys’ names

  • Theodore
  • Fletcher
  • Asher
  • Jasper
  • Louis

Vintage gender-neutral  names

  • Remy
  • Emerson
  • Avery
  • Drew
  • Aubrey

Irish girls’ names

  • Aisling
  • Bridget
  • Delaney
  • Finola
  • Maeve

Irish boys’ names

  • Finn
  • Callum
  • Ronan
  • Donal
  • Tiernan

Irish gender-neutral names

  • Rory
  • Quinn
  • Riley
  • Dylan
  • Peyton

Unique baby names from books

Simple nametag for family reunion
Billion Photos / Shutterstock

If these names don’t roll off your tongue or pair well with your surname, try these noteworthy baby names that take a bit of inspiration from literature.

Literary girls’ names

  • Harper
  • Juliet
  • Scarlett
  • Daisy
  • Cosette

Literary boys’ names

  • Atticus
  • Darcy
  • Holden
  • Watson
  • Jarvis

Literary gender-neutral names

  • Brett
  • Robin
  • Montgomery
  • Beckett
  • Chandler

Celebrity baby names

Baby with lights
zechyrix15 / Pixabay

Another place where parents-to-be may find unusual baby names is to take a little motivation from the entertainment industry.

Celeb girls’ names

  • Maple
  • Sterling
  • Prairie
  • Willa
  • Banks

Celeb boys’ names

  • Cosmo
  • Ever
  • Bear
  • Rhodes
  • Onyx

Celeb gender-neutral names

  • Dusty
  • Bowie
  • Saint
  • Grey
  • Riot

More unique baby names

Baby girl with a "hello my name sign is" on her onesie
Africa Studio / Adobe Stock

If you are still not inspired by these distinctive baby names, see how these roll off your tongue.

  • Major (boy)
  • Ocean (gender neutral)
  • Elina (girl)
  • Alora (girl)
  • Anders (boy)
  • Diya (girl)
  • Zander (boy)
  • Kadence (girl)
  • Rhiannon (girl)
  • Dallas (gender neutral)
  • Lorelai (girl)
  • Wesley (boy)
  • Jolene (girl)
  • Kya (girl)
  • Ledger (boy)
  • Brooklyn (gender neutral)
  • Jax (gender neutral)
  • Kaelynn (girl)
  • Zuri (girl)
  • Journey (gender neutral)

Finding a name that is just right for your little one can be trying. You want a name that stands out but isn’t too off the beaten path. It’s a hard line to navigate. Unique baby names come from all different places. Literature is a great place to find a bit of creative inspiration for your baby’s name. Irish baby names are always popular. Then, there’s going back to the classics. With the majority of parents looking for distinctive baby names, you just might find a unique baby name by going vintage. Of course, there are celebrity baby names. Celebs have long been famous for choosing noteworthy baby names. With this list of 80 unique baby names, you just might find one or two that speak to you.

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Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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