We can all agree there are few things as exciting as welcoming a new baby into your nest. And along with the flurry of picking out registry items and thinking about your birth plan comes one big decision that parents agonize over: choosing the perfect baby name

And we get it: it’s a big decision. You want to pick a name that they’ll be proud of, but one that’s one-of-a-kind, too. The truth is, the options are endless, but when you’re looking for a gender neutral baby name, the options can seem narrower. 

The good news is, gender neutral and unisex names are more popular today than ever, and that translates to parents having more choices when it comes to naming their baby with a unique gender neutral baby name that is also beautiful and full of meaning for the family. 

Whether you choose the name because you like it, you’re choosing to not know the baby’s biological sex in advance, or you prefer to avoid the stereotypes that come with typical boy and girl names, choosing a gender neutral baby name can be a great, and not so daunting, choice thanks to the many names that fit this convention.

What is a gender neutral name?

What makes a name gender neutral? A gender-neutral baby name, also sometimes referred to as a unisex baby name or a gender fluid name, is a name that can be given to a child born either a biological male or biological female at birth. Names like Charlie, Billie, Jamie, and Dylan are just a few of the most common examples.

Why are gender neutral names on the rise?

Gender neutral baby names are definitely more popular today than ever. Today’s parents don’t feel the pressure to conform to strict gender-specific naming conventions. According to NetCredit, there has been an 88% increase in the rise in gender-neutral names since 1985. 

“[Parents] choose to give their children a genderless name that comes free of any stereotypical baggage,” NetCredit writes. 

Related: Popular boy names & their meanings

Along with a desire to give them freedom from conventional gender roles, parents also cite an increase in openness about gender fluidity and nonbinary identity as reasons to choose gender-neutral names. Cultural identity and popular culture have also contributed to the rise, with celebrities choosing baby names that buck conventions. For example, naming their children after their favorite place (Brooklyn), a significant event or time (August) or a writer, artist, or historic hero. 

Choosing unisex names: Why would you want one?

Having a gender neutral baby name can have advantages. NetCredit explains that for many parents, a gender neutral baby name can help kids break out of the expectations like “boys climb trees and girls play with dolls.”  In addition, Net Credit explains, many parents believe, “a gender-neutral name can benefit a person later in life by helping to offset some of the conscious and unconscious bias that still exists in the academic and business worlds.”

Related: 31 popular girl names & their meanings

Names that are gender fluid and nonbinary, allow children to avoid being labeled by their gender regardless of their biological sex at birth. “Avoiding traditional boy and girl names opens up a whole new world of options and gives your kid a unique start as they begin to develop their sense of identity,” the study continues. 

And we couldn’t agree more! 

Gender neutral name ideas

  1. Addison
  2. Adrian
  3. Alex
  4. Archer
  5. Austen
  6. Asher
  7. Avery
  8. Bellamy
  9. Bailey
  10. Billie
  11. Blake
  12. Blair
  13. Brett
  14. Brooklyn
  15. Cameron
  16. Campbell
  17. Carson
  18. Charlie
  19. Channing
  20. Clement
  21. Dakota
  22. Dorian
  23. Drew
  24. Dylan
  25. Emerson
  26. Ellis
  27. Evan
  28. Finley
  29. Frankie
  30. Gray
  31. Grayson
  32. Haddon
  33. Harper
  34. Haydon
  35. Hollis
  36. Honor
  37. James
  38. Jamie
  39. Jesse
  40. Jordan
  41. Justice
  42. Kai
  43. Kennedy
  44. Kris
  45. Kyle
  46. Landry
  47. Lane
  48. Lennon
  49. Logan (thanks Marisa T. for sending us her daughter’s name)
  50. London
  51. Lyric
  52. Marion
  53. Marlowe
  54. Morgan
  55. Murphy
  56. Oakley
  57. Paige
  58. Palmer
  59. Parker
  60. Payson
  61. Peyton
  62. Perry
  63. Phoenix
  64. Quinn
  65. Ramsey
  66. Rene
  67. Royal 
  68. Ryan
  69. Reese
  70. Reilly
  71. River
  72. Robin
  73. Rory
  74. Rowan
  75. Sage
  76. Sam
  77. Sawyer
  78. Shawn
  79. Shiloh
  80. Sidney
  81. Skylar
  82. Sloan (thanks Marisa T. for sending us her daughter’s name)
  83. Spencer
  84. Stevie
  85. Taylor
  86. Tatum
  87. Tyler
  88. Val
  89. Walker
  90. Winter
  91. Wren
  92. Wyatt
  93. Yael
  94. Zion

Do you have a favorite gender fluid name to add to our list? Send our editor an email at editor AT mother.ly and we’ll add your idea to our list (and mention you!).

A version of this story was originally published in November 2021. It has been updated.