Unisex Names
Unisex names work for any child, and more American parents are choosing them than ever. Some, like Riley and Avery, have been shared by boys and girls for decades; others, like River and Sage, arrived with the nature-name wave. What they have in common is a sound that doesn’t lean hard in either direction.
Below are more than 80 unisex names grouped by style, each with its meaning and origin. Looking for something less common? Try our unique unisex names or the softer picks in cute unisex names. We also keep a separate list of non-binary names chosen by adults.
Unisex Names: browse all lists
Popular unisex names
These names show up for both boys and girls in Social Security data year after year.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Avery | Elf ruler (from Alfred) | English |
| Riley | Rye clearing; also Irish Raghallach, “valiant” | English / Irish |
| Jordan | To flow down | Hebrew |
| Quinn | Descendant of Conn, “chief” | Irish |
| Rowan | Little red one; the rowan tree | Irish / English |
| Charlie | Free man (from Charles) | Germanic |
| Parker | Park keeper | English |
| Hayden | Hay valley | English |
| Emery | From Germanic Emmerich, “home ruler” | Germanic, via French |
| Finley | Fair warrior (Fionnlagh) | Scottish Gaelic |
| Peyton | Pæga’s town | English |
| Cameron | Crooked nose | Scottish Gaelic |
| Dakota | Friend, ally | Dakota (Sioux) |
| Kendall | Valley of the River Kent | English |
| Taylor | Tailor | English |
| Morgan | Possibly “sea-born” or “sea circle” | Welsh |
Nature-inspired unisex names
Nature names are naturally gender-free — a tree or a river has no gender. Find hundreds more in our nature names list.
| Name | Nature link | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| River | Flowing water | Calm, free-spirited |
| Sage | Aromatic herb; also means “wise” | Gentle, thoughtful |
| Ash | The ash tree | Short and cool |
| Linden | The linden tree | Soft and literary |
| Briar | Thorny wild rose | Fairy-tale edge |
| Reed | Waterside grass | Crisp and classic |
| Ocean | The sea | Big and open |
| Storm | Weather | Bold |
| Sky | The sky above | Airy and bright |
| Aspen | The quaking aspen tree | Outdoorsy, Western |
| Cedar | The evergreen tree | Warm and woodsy |
| Echo | A nymph of Greek myth; a returning sound | Dreamy |
| Winter | The season | Cool and crisp |
| Wren | The songbird | Delicate but spirited |
| Indigo | Deep blue dye plant | Artistic |
Surname-style unisex names
Last names used as first names are the backbone of modern unisex naming. More in last names that are first names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Harper | Harp player | English |
| Reese | From Rhys, “enthusiasm” | Welsh |
| Sawyer | Woodcutter | English |
| Blake | Black, or pale | Old English |
| Emerson | Son of Emery | English |
| Ellis | From Elias; or Welsh Elisedd, “kind” | Welsh / English |
| Sutton | South town | English |
| Hollis | Near the holly trees | English |
| Sloane | Raider | Irish |
| Monroe | Mouth of the River Roe | Scottish / Irish |
| Presley | Priest’s meadow | English |
| Kennedy | Helmeted or misshapen head | Irish |
| Lennon | Lover (Ó Leannáin) | Irish |
| Campbell | Crooked mouth | Scottish Gaelic |
| Carson | Surname of uncertain origin, possibly a place name | Scottish |
Short unisex names
One or two syllables, easy to spell and hard to mistake.
| Name | Short for / meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Ari | Lion (Hebrew); eagle (Norse) | Hebrew / Norse |
| Kai | Sea (Hawaiian) | Hawaiian and others |
| Jules | From Julius, “youthful” | French |
| Lane | Narrow road | English |
| Robin | Bright fame (from Robert); the bird | English |
| Drew | From Andrew, “manly” | Greek, via Scottish |
| Noa | Movement (Hebrew, girls); free (Hawaiian, boys) | Hebrew / Hawaiian |
| Sam | Samuel or Samantha, “God has heard” | Hebrew |
| Alex | Alexander or Alexandra, “defender” | Greek |
| Rory | Red king (Ruairí) | Irish |
| Remy | Oarsman (from Remigius) | French |
| Blair | Plain, field | Scottish Gaelic |
Unisex names from around the world
Some names flip gender depending on the country, while others are used for everyone.
| Name | Meaning | Where it’s used |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea | Manly, brave | Boys in Italy, girls in most of the world |
| Nikita | Unconquered (Greek) | Boys in Russia; girls in India |
| Sasha | Defender (from Alexander/Alexandra) | Russia, Ukraine, US |
| Kiran | Ray of light | India |
| Hikaru | Light, radiance | Japan |
| Yuki | Snow, or happiness (depends on kanji) | Japan |
| Tenzin | Upholder of the teachings | Tibet |
| Amani | Peace (Swahili); wishes (Arabic) | East Africa, Arabic-speaking countries |
| Nour | Light | Arabic-speaking countries |
| Eden | Delight | Hebrew / English |
| Simone | He/she has heard | Boys in Italy; girls in France and the US |
| Ayo | Joy | Yoruba (Nigeria) |
| Jean | God is gracious | Boys in France; girls in the US and UK |
Names that crossed from boys to girls
Many names now seen as feminine started out as boys’ names. It’s worth knowing the history if you want a name that stays balanced.
| Name | Original use | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley | Common for boys until the 1960s | Mostly girls |
| Leslie | Scottish surname, used for boys | Mostly girls |
| Aubrey | Norman boys’ name (Alberic, “elf ruler”) | Mostly girls since the 2000s |
| Evelyn | Once a boy’s name (writer Evelyn Waugh) | Mostly girls |
| Madison | Surname, “son of Maud” | Mostly girls after the 1984 film Splash |
| Shannon | Irish river, first used for boys | Mostly girls |
| Kelly | Irish surname, used for boys | Mostly girls |
| Kim | Boy hero of Kipling’s 1901 novel Kim | Mostly girls |
| Lindsay | Scottish surname for boys | Mostly girls |
| Sidney | From Saint-Denis or “wide island” | Now used for both |
How to choose a unisex name
- Look at the current split. Some “unisex” names are 90% one gender today. If balance matters to you, pick names like Rowan, Quinn or Emerson that stay close to even.
- Think about the full name. A strongly gendered middle name tips the balance; a neutral one keeps it open. Our unisex middle names make easy pairings.
- Mind the sibling set. Unisex names suit mixed boy-girl twin names because neither child gets the “softer” name.
- Say it with your last name. Surname-style first names can clash with surname-style last names (Parker Harrison, Sawyer Carson).
- Pick a meaning you love. A neutral sound with a strong meaning, like Kiran (“ray of light”), gives the name depth either way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular unisex name?
Names like Avery, Riley, Rowan, Quinn and Parker are consistently among the most popular names given to both boys and girls in US Social Security data.
What is the difference between unisex and gender-neutral names?
They mean the same thing in everyday use: names that suit any gender. See our gender-neutral names list for more.
Why do unisex names often become girls’ names?
Historically, when a boys’ name gained popularity with girls, parents of boys moved away from it. Ashley, Leslie and Aubrey all followed this pattern.
What are good unisex names that start with a vowel?
Avery, Emery, Emerson, Ellis, Ari, Ash, Eden, Echo, Indigo and Ocean all start with a vowel and work for any child.
Are unisex names good for twins?
Yes. Pairs like Rowan and Quinn or River and Sage feel matched without being gendered.