75+ gender-neutral baby names you’ll love

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.