Cute Baby Names
A cute name is one that sounds sweet on a newborn and still feels right on a grown adult. The names below get their charm from soft sounds, short shapes and happy meanings: think Poppy, Milo, Elodie and Theo. We’ve grouped more than 110 of them by style and added the real meaning and origin for each one.
Some are traditional names with a playful streak, and others are nicknames that now stand on their own. If you want names you won’t hear at every playground, look at our unique baby names. For something shorter, try the short baby names list, or go straight to cute girl names and cute boy names.
Cute girl names
Names ending in an “ee” or “ah” sound read as the sweetest. Many of these are old names that have come back into style. The pretty girl names list has more like them.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Poppy | The red poppy flower | English |
| Elodie | Foreign riches | French, from Germanic |
| Daisy | Day’s eye | Old English |
| Clementine | Merciful, gentle | French, from Latin |
| Millie | Gentle strength (from Millicent) | English, from Germanic |
| Rosie | Rose | English |
| Lottie | Free (from Charlotte) | English |
| Ellie | Light (from Eleanor/Helen) | English |
| Mabel | Lovable | English, from Latin amabilis |
| Hallie | Home ruler (from Harriet) or hall dweller | English |
| Nellie | Light (from Eleanor/Helen) | English |
| Maisie | Pearl (from Margaret) | Scottish |
| Goldie | Gold | English |
| Lucy | Light | English, from Latin |
| Josie | God will increase (from Josephine) | English, from Hebrew |
| Ruby | Deep red gemstone | English, from Latin |
| Bonnie | Pretty | Scottish |
| Molly | Star of the sea or bitter (from Mary) | Irish/English |
Cute boy names
Short, friendly and a little bit boyish. Most shorten easily, and a lot of them work as nicknames for longer classic boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Milo | Soldier or merciful (debated) | Germanic/Slavic |
| Theo | God (from Theodore, “gift of God”) | Greek |
| Ollie | Olive tree (from Oliver) | English |
| Teddy | Gift of God (from Theodore) or wealthy guardian (from Edward) | English |
| Archie | Genuine, bold (from Archibald) | Scottish/English |
| Benji | Son of the right hand (from Benjamin) | Hebrew |
| Louie | Famous warrior (from Louis) | French, from Germanic |
| Rory | Red king | Irish |
| Finn | Fair, white | Irish |
| Leo | Lion | Latin |
| Otis | Wealth, fortune | Germanic |
| Jude | Praised | Hebrew |
| Toby | God is good (from Tobias) | Hebrew |
| Charlie | Free man | English, from Germanic |
| Freddie | Peaceful ruler (from Frederick) | English, from Germanic |
| Henry | Ruler of the home | Germanic |
| Arlo | Fortified hill (possibly) | English |
| Hugo | Mind, intellect | Germanic |
Cute gender-neutral names
These sweet names work for any baby, and a few are just as common on girls as on boys. Our cute unisex names page has plenty more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Remy | Oarsman or from Reims | French |
| Sunny | Bright, cheerful | English |
| Frankie | Free one, Frenchman (from Francis) | English |
| Bodhi | Awakening, enlightenment | Sanskrit |
| Kai | Sea | Hawaiian |
| Ari | Lion (Hebrew) | Hebrew |
| Robin | Bright fame (from Robert); the songbird | English |
| Jamie | Supplanter (from James) | Scottish |
| Noa | Movement (Hebrew) | Hebrew |
| Emery | Industrious ruler | Germanic |
| Riley | Rye clearing | Irish/English |
| Ellis | From Elias, “Yahweh is God” | English/Welsh |
| Sage | Wise; the herb | Latin |
| Marlowe | Driftwood or lake remnant | English |
Tiny one-syllable cute names
One syllable, and every one is still full of personality. These pair well with long surnames, and you’ll find more in short baby names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Pip | Lover of horses (from Philip) | English |
| Wren | The small songbird | English |
| Bea | She who brings happiness (from Beatrice) | Latin |
| Kit | Bearer of Christ (from Christopher) | English |
| Fay | Fairy | English |
| Tess | Harvester (possibly, from Theresa) | Greek |
| Rhys | Ardor, enthusiasm | Welsh |
| Lux | Light | Latin |
| Joy | Happiness | English |
| Bo | Dweller, to live (Scandinavian) | Swedish |
| Nell | Light (from Eleanor) | English |
| Zac | The Lord remembers (from Zachary) | Hebrew |
| June | Named for the month of Juno | Latin |
| Jack | God is gracious (from John) | English |
Cute nature and sweet-treat names
Flowers, trees, birds and the odd fruit are some of the cutest sources around. The full nature names list goes further.
| Name | Meaning / source | Why it’s cute |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper | Evergreen shrub | Comes with the nickname June |
| Clover | Four-leaf lucky plant | Luck built right in |
| Willow | The graceful tree | Soft and flowing |
| Hazel | Hazelnut tree | Vintage and warm |
| Birdie | Little bird | Playful and retro |
| Olive | The olive tree | Classic and peaceful |
| Fern | The leafy plant | Short and earthy |
| Honey | Sweet golden nectar | Pure sweetness |
| Peaches | The fruit | Southern charm |
| Rowan | Rowan tree; also Irish “little red one” | Works for any gender |
| Ash | Ash tree | Short and strong |
| Forrest | Dweller in the woods | Outdoorsy boy name |
| Linden | Lime (linden) tree | Gentle and rare |
| Blossom | Flowering tree | Old-fashioned sweetness |
| Cricket | The chirping insect | A whimsical nickname |
| Bramble | Wild blackberry bush | British and quirky |
Nickname-style names that stand alone
More parents now put the nickname on the birth certificate. These feel easygoing and warm.
| Name | Nickname of | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Evie | Evelyn / Eve | Wished-for child (Evelyn); life (Eve) |
| Alfie | Alfred | Elf counsel |
| Sadie | Sarah | Princess |
| Hattie | Harriet | Home ruler |
| Winnie | Winifred | Blessed peacemaker |
| Dottie | Dorothy | Gift of God |
| Gracie | Grace | Grace, charm |
| Georgie | Georgia / George | Farmer |
| Billie | Wilhelmina / William | Resolute protector |
| Jojo | Joseph / Josephine | God will increase |
| Lulu | Louise / Lucy | Famous warrior; light |
| Kiki | Christina / Kiara | Follower of Christ |
| Mimi | Miriam / Emilia | Wished-for child; rival |
| Nico | Nicholas | Victory of the people |
| Rafi | Rafael | God has healed |
Cute baby names from around the world
Many languages have their own soft, playful names that travel well into English.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Aiko | Beloved child | Japanese |
| Hana | Flower | Japanese |
| Nia | Purpose | Swahili |
| Ayla | Halo of moonlight | Turkish |
| Elio | Sun | Italian |
| Paloma | Dove | Spanish |
| Anouk | Grace (from Anna) | Dutch/French |
| Kalani | The heavens | Hawaiian |
| Mila | Gracious, dear | Slavic |
| Luca | From Lucania; light | Italian |
| Coco | Nickname (famous from Coco Chanel) | French |
| Suki | Beloved | Japanese |
| Emi | Blessing, beautiful | Japanese |
| Ines | Pure, holy (from Agnes) | Spanish/Portuguese |
| Leilani | Heavenly flower | Hawaiian |
How to choose a cute name that ages well
- Picture a grown-up. Say the name with a job title or on a wedding invitation. If it still works, you have a keeper. If not, use it as a nickname and choose a longer formal name, the way Millie can come from Millicent.
- Pair cute with classic. A playful first name balances well with a traditional middle name, such as Birdie Elizabeth or Teddy James. See our middle names for ideas.
- Check the initials. Sweet names can spell unfortunate things with your surname’s initial, so write them out first.
- Mind the rhyme. Very cute names can clash with rhyming surnames (Molly Polly). Say the full name out loud a few times.
- Look at the meaning. A happy meaning such as Joy, Bea or Sunny adds to the charm. Our names that mean happy list has more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cutest baby girl name?
It depends on taste, but Poppy, Elodie, Clementine, Millie and Daisy are often chosen because of their soft sounds and happy meanings. Short vintage names ending in “-ie” are especially popular right now.
What is the cutest baby boy name?
Milo, Theo, Ollie, Teddy and Archie are some of the most-loved cute boy names. They’re short and friendly, and many of them are nicknames for classic formal names.
Will a cute name suit my child as an adult?
Most do, especially established names like Lucy, Leo, Hazel or Jude. For very playful choices such as Birdie or Pip, give your child a fuller formal name so they can choose later.
Are nickname names acceptable on a birth certificate?
Yes. In the US you can register a nickname like Evie, Alfie or Sadie as the legal first name, and many are now popular in their own right.
What makes a name sound cute?
Soft consonants (l, m, b), open vowel endings, one or two syllables and an “-ie” or “-y” ending all make a name sound cute and warm.