Rare Unisex Names
Popular unisex names like Riley, Avery and Parker have become so common that they no longer feel distinctive. If you want a name that suits a child of any gender and still stands out, you need to dig deeper — into old surnames, landscape words, lesser-known myths and names that are already gender-neutral in other languages.
This list collects more than 100 genuinely uncommon unisex names, each with its meaning and origin. None of them sits near the top of the US charts. For more familiar options, start with our main unisex names page or the gender-neutral names collection; if you’re set on rarity, you might also like our rare girl names and rare boy names.
Rare nature names for any gender
Landscape and plant words are naturally gender-neutral. These are far less common than River or Willow; for more, see our nature names and tree names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Linden | The lime (basswood) tree | English / German |
| Heath | Open moorland | English |
| Sparrow | The small songbird | English |
| Lark | The songbird known for singing at dawn | English |
| Cove | A small sheltered bay | English |
| Fennel | The aromatic herb | English |
| Alder | The alder tree | English |
| Tarn | A small mountain lake | Old Norse |
| Rowan | Little red one; the rowan tree | Irish / Norse |
| Bramble | Blackberry bush | English |
| Moss | The soft green plant; also a surname | English |
| Cedar | The evergreen tree | English |
| Lake | A body of water | English |
| Hollis | Near the holly trees | English |
| Birch | The pale-barked tree | English |
| Clove | The warm spice | English |
| Wilder | Untamed; wild one | English / German |
| Ridley | Reed clearing | English |
Uncommon surname-style unisex names
Using a surname as a first name is an old Anglo-American habit, and it produces many of the best gender-neutral names. Explore more in last names that are first names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton | South town | English |
| Merritt | Boundary gate | English |
| Ellery | Elder tree island; from Hilary, “cheerful” | English |
| Marlowe | Remnants of a lake | English |
| Sterling | Little star; genuine | English |
| Hadley | Heather field | English |
| Lowell | Young wolf | French / English |
| Kendall | Valley of the River Kent | English |
| Arden | Valley of the eagle | English |
| Wren | The small bird; also a surname | English |
| Landry | Ruler of the land | French |
| Blaine | Yellow or slender | Scottish |
| Carrow | Rough place | Irish |
| Everett | Brave as a wild boar | English / German |
| Tatum | Tate’s homestead | English |
| Winslow | Friend’s hill | English |
| Presley | Priest’s meadow | English |
| Dorian | From the Dorian people of Greece | Greek |
Rare unisex place names
Place names travel well across genders and carry a sense of story. Choose one that means something to your family.
| Name | Where it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Port city in southwest England | Old English, “bridge place” |
| Denver | Capital of Colorado | Originally an English surname |
| Lennox | Scottish district | Gaelic, “elm grove” |
| Sedona | Arizona red-rock town | Named after settler Sedona Schnebly |
| Dakota | US states and a Native nation | Lakota/Dakota word for “friend, ally” |
| Hollister | California town | English surname, “holly place” |
| Kyoto | Former imperial capital of Japan | “Capital city” |
| Aspen | Colorado ski town | Named for its aspen trees |
| Camden | Towns in London and Maine | Old English, “enclosed valley” |
| Cairo | Capital of Egypt | Arabic, “the victorious” |
| Memphis | Tennessee city; ancient Egyptian capital | Greek form of Egyptian Men-nefer, “enduring and beautiful” |
| Shiloh | Biblical town (Joshua 18) | Hebrew, “tranquil” |
| Zion | Hill in Jerusalem | Hebrew |
| Seneca | Lake and New York county | Roman philosopher’s name |
| Everest | Earth’s highest mountain | Named for surveyor George Everest |
Rare unisex names from other languages
Some names are gender-neutral in their home culture. Pronunciation notes help with the less familiar ones; our Japanese names and Finnish names pages have plenty more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin / pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Lumi | Snow | Finnish (LOO-mee) |
| Hikaru | Light, radiance | Japanese |
| Makoto | Sincerity | Japanese |
| Noa | Movement (Hebrew); freedom (Hawaiian) | Hebrew / Hawaiian |
| Ashwin | A month in the Hindu calendar; horse-tamer | Sanskrit |
| Kai | Sea (Hawaiian) | Hawaiian / Japanese / Scandinavian |
| Nima | Blessing (Persian) | Persian |
| Amani | Peace, faith | Swahili |
| Sasha | Defender of mankind (diminutive of Alexander/Alexandra) | Russian |
| Yael | Mountain goat | Hebrew (yah-EL) |
| Chidi | God exists | Igbo |
| Ren | Lotus, love | Japanese |
| Aki | Autumn, or bright | Japanese (AH-kee) |
| Yuki | Snow, or happiness | Japanese |
| Dara | Oak (Irish) or star (Khmer) | Irish / Khmer |
| Kiri | Tree bark (Māori) | Māori |
| Rumi | Beauty, lapis lazuli (Japanese); also the Persian poet | Japanese / Persian |
| Nikita | Unconquered (Greek); earth (Sanskrit) | Russian / Sanskrit |
| Keir | Dark-haired | Scottish Gaelic (KEER) |
Rare unisex names from myth, stars and literature
These names borrow from sky, story and legend, and most have been used for both boys and girls. Our constellation names list goes deeper.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Zephyr | The west wind | Greek |
| Orion | The hunter constellation | Greek |
| Lyric | Words of a song | Greek via English |
| Sage | Wise; the herb | Latin |
| Ariel | Lion of God | Hebrew |
| Morgan | Sea-born or sea circle | Welsh |
| Phoenix | The bird reborn from ashes | Greek |
| Merlin | Sea fortress | Welsh |
| Robin | Bright fame; the songbird | English |
| Vesper | Evening star | Latin |
| Caspian | The sea; Narnia’s prince | English, from Qazvin |
| Tamsin | Twin | Cornish |
| Emerson | Son of Emery | English |
| Fable | A short moral story | Latin |
Rare word names that suit anyone
Short English words with a clear image make striking, gender-free names.
| Name | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Onyx | A black gemstone | Sleek and bold |
| Ember | A glowing coal | Warm, fiery |
| True | Loyal, faithful | Earnest |
| Story | A tale | Creative |
| Haven | Safe place | Gentle |
| Bay | Coastal inlet; laurel | Breezy |
| Echo | A reflected sound; Greek nymph | Airy |
| Bliss | Perfect happiness | Sunny |
| Indigo | Deep blue dye | Artistic |
| Scout | One who explores | Adventurous |
| Journey | A trip | Free-spirited |
| Poet | A maker of verse | Literary |
| Harbor | A safe port | Calm, steady |
| Gray | The color between black and white | Understated |
| Ocean | The sea | Expansive |
| Winter | The coldest season | Crisp |
| Justice | Fairness | Principled |
| Sol | Sun | Bright, short |
How to pick a rare unisex name
- Check how it’s trending. Some unisex names tip toward one gender once they catch on (Ashley and Madison did). Rare names are less likely to do that quickly.
- Say it with the full name. A soft surname-name like Ellery pairs well with a punchy last name, and vice versa.
- Think about nicknames. Longer names like Merritt, Ellery or Winslow give easy short forms (Merri, Elle, Win).
- Mind the spelling. Rare names are easiest to live with when they have one obvious spelling.
- Try a gender-neutral middle. Our unisex middle names make it easy to balance a bold first name.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rare unisex name?
A rare unisex name is used for both boys and girls but given to relatively few babies each year. Examples include Linden, Merritt, Ellery, Lumi, Tarn and Keir.
What are rare gender-neutral names that aren’t made up?
Every name here has a real history: Sutton and Arden are English surnames, Lumi is Finnish for “snow”, Hikaru is Japanese for “light”, and Zephyr is the Greek west wind.
Are nature names unisex?
Most are. Words like Linden, Heath, Cove, Alder and Cedar have no gender built in, which is why nature names are a favorite source of gender-neutral picks.
What unisex names are rare in the US but common elsewhere?
Makoto and Hikaru in Japan, Lumi in Finland, Amani in East Africa and Dara in Ireland are all used for any gender at home but uncommon in the United States.