Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
We’ve got all the modern baby names you ever wanted on one list. Names that are spiffy, fly, hip, happening, and above all, super cool. Check them out.
If you’re looking for modern baby names, look no further!
We’ve assembled 480 of the coolest baby names in use today.
We’ve got trendy names, we’ve got modern names, we’ve got unique modern names, we’ve got gender-neutral options — and so much more.
Ready to explore? Let’s get going.
In this article: 📝
- What are modern baby names?
- What is the coolest name for a baby?
- What is the most trendy name?
- What is a modern name for a girl?
- What is a modern boy name?
- What are modern gender-neutral names?
What are modern baby names?
So what makes a name modern?
Firstly, modern names tend to be ones that have just arrived on the scene.
This could be because they’re brand spanking new or because they went out of fashion ages ago and are now making a comeback.
Consider names like Henry. In 1900 it was one of the top ten names given to boys born in the USA.
By 1994 it had dropped way down to number 146.
And now it’s been back within the top ten for two years in a row!
Once some dusty royal and now the cutest little tot in his hipster bowtie and braces!
As the world around us becomes more culturally diverse, we may hear names for the first time that are in fact, ancient.
Similarly, non-binary options are gaining in popularity, and the strict ideas around what names are “appropriate” for certain genders are shifting too.
Like Henri for a girl. Cute right?
Some familiar names get a makeover with new spelling.
How about the ever-so-cool Kamryn, instead of Cameron?
The main rule is that there are really no rules.
Modern names are all about freshness and innovation. And you doing you.
What is the coolest name for a baby?
We define cool baby names as the ones we really weren’t expecting.
Often short, almost always meaningful, and sometimes sounding nothing like a name at all — a place, a feeling, an emotion, or even a color.
We weren’t kidding about throwing those rules out the window!
Here are our picks for the coolest baby names.
Cool boy names
There are many ways to be cool. Whether they ride a motorcycle or know how to work the Dewy Decimal system, these guys sound ever so chill.
- Alder
- Axl
- Benji
- Blaze
- Brae
- Brixx
- Chance
- Fenix
- Grey
- Harris
- Kolt
- Miloh
- Nash
- Quaid
- Slade
- Tiaga
- Trek
- Urban
- Van (pronounced Vaughn)
- Vinn
- Watts
Cool girl names
She’s fierce, she’s feisty, she’s a firework!
These modern, short and unique girl names couldn’t be more on point.
- Aspen
- Anais
- Bowie
- Bria
- Cate
- Delta
- Demi
- Devon
- Enja
- Fleur
- Hattie
- Henley
- Imani
- Kit
- Lola
- Malin
- Nell
- Nur
- Raya
- Sera
What is the most trendy name?
If we consider trendy baby names to be the most popular ones, we’ve got a handy little list of those for 2021 in order of popularity.
Top girls’ names 2021
- Olivia
- Emma
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Ava
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Mia
- Evelyn
- Harper
➡️ Check out more top girl names: The 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names
Top boys’ names 2021
- Liam
- Noah
- Oliver
- Elijah
- James
- William
- Benjamin
- Lucas
- Henry
- Theodore
➡️ Check out more top girl names: 1000 Popular Baby Boy Names
What is a modern name for a girl?
When it comes to modern girl names, the Skye’s the limit 😉.
But seriously, was your baby conceived in Sotik, Kenya while you were on Safari?
Go ahead, honor that with the beautiful name Sotik.
If you need some ideas, here are our best modern baby girl names for your babe.
- Aarya
- Acadia
- Ada
- Adley
- Alaia
- Alessia
- Alita
- Alivia
- Alora
- Anise
- Arbriella
- Aspyn
- Audrina
- Aura
- Austyn
- Aviana
- Azalea
- Baylee
- Bellamy
- Berkley
- Beth
- Bexley
- Blithe
- Blue
- Braelyn
- Brielle
- Bristol
- Bryleigh
- Cadence
- Cambria
- Chi
- Cora
- Daisy
- Daleyza
- Dallary
- Dallas
- Daphne
- Denali
- Devony
- Dior
- Dream
- Echo
- Eleanor
- Eleven
- Ella
- Elspeth
- Emi
- Galilea
- Gesina
- Glory
- Gracelynn
- Hadley
- Haisley
- Halo
- Harlow
- Hartley
- Hazel
- Heaven
- Honesty
- Hosanna
- Josephine
- Icelyn
- Ila
- Indiana
- Indica
- Indie
- Irie
- Jadis
- Jaelyn
- Jayla
- Jaylani
- Jazlynn
- Jersey
- Jessa
- Jianna
- Jolie
- Journey
- Jovie
- Jream
- Juniper
- Jurnee
- Kaci
- Kadence
- Kaelyn
- Kairi
- Kaisley
- Kalani
- Kalia
- Karlee
- Karma
- Kaylani
- Kenna
- Kenzi
- Kimber
- Kinley
- Kinzlee
- Lakelyn
- Landy
- Lira
- Love
- Lucy
- Lux
- Mackenna
- Mae
- Majesty
- Malani
- Malaysia
- Malka
- Maple
- Marleigh
- Mayven
- Maylee
- Meadow
- Memphis
- Milani
- Miley
- Mya
- Mylah
- Nairobi
- Nalani
- Navy
- Naya
- Nayeli
- Nirvana
- Nix
- Novalee
- November
- Oaklee
- Oaklyn
- Orla
- Payton
- Pixie
- Prairie
- Queen
- Raylee
- Raylynn
- Remi
- Ripley
- Rose
- Rue
- Sadie
- Scout
- Sequoia
- Sevyn
- Shaylee
- Shiloh
- Sisa
- Skyla
- Solaris
- Star
- Stormi
- Story
- Sunday
- Sunshine
- Sutton
- Teagan
- Temperance
- Tempest
- Tenley
- Tinsley
- Trinity
- True
- Violet
- Vivian
- Waverly
- Whimsy
- Whitley
- Winslet
- Wren
- Wrenley
- Wylie
- Wynter
- Xena
- Zayla
- Zella
- Zendaya
- Zhuri
- Zia
- Zoey
- Zola
- Zoya
What is a modern boy name?
The same rules apply when choosing modern boy names.
There are none 😉.
Choosing modern baby boy names is just as much fun as choosing for girls.
You’ll spot famous surnames, proper nouns, and even the odd furry creature. Here are the ones we love the most.
- Ace
- Alistair
- Ames
- Anakin
- Arcadian
- Armani
- Arrow
- Aspen
- Atlas
- Augie
- Baker
- Banks
- Bard
- Baylor
- Bear
- Beckham
- Benjamin
- Blaze
- Boden
- Boss
- Branch
- Braven
- Brayson
- Brewer
- Bridger
- Bridges
- Bronson
- Bronx
- Caden
- Caine
- Callahan
- Cannon
- Cartier
- Cash
- Cedar
- Charleigh
- Charli
- Cherish
- Chicago
- Coen
- Cohen
- Colson
- Corbin
- Cortez
- Cove
- Creed
- Crew
- Cru
- Cruz
- Cullen
- Dakari
- Damari
- Daxton
- Daylen
- Deacon
- Denim
- Deuce
- Draven
- Edward
- Elian
- Enzo
- Flash
- Fitz
- Forsythe
- Fox
- Gage
- Gannon
- Gatlin
- George
- Gibson
- Grady
- Granger
- Gunner
- Hatcher
- Harlem
- Haze
- Hendrix
- Hiro
- Houston
- Huxley
- Jabari
- Jace
- Jagger
- Jair
- Jairo
- Jakari
- Jakob
- Jakobe
- Jamison
- Jaxson
- Jaxtyn
- Jericho
- Jesiah
- Jett
- Jovani
- Jules
- Kade
- Kaiden
- Kairo
- Kaison
- Kalel
- Karsyn
- Kash
- Kashton
- Kason
- Kenji
- Keon
- Khai
- Khari
- Khaza
- King
- Kingsley
- Kingston
- Kip
- Knox
- Kobe
- Koda
- Kolson
- Korbyn
- Krew
- Kross
- Kruz
- Kylan
- Kyler
- Kylian
- Kyro
- Lebron
- Legacy
- Legend
- Leo
- Linkin
- Loyal
- Lux
- Macklin
- Madden
- Maddox
- Major
- Makai
- Malachi
- Mateo
- Maxton
- McCoy
- Neo
- Niko
- Nixon
- Om
- Onyx
- Painter
- Pax
- Psalm
- Quinn
- Raiden
- Reeve
- Riggs
- Ripp
- Ryker
- Rye
- Saint
- Scorpio
- Sekani
- Semaj
- Seven
- Shai
- Shepard
- Sir
- Slade
- Smith
- Sterling
- Trace
- Tripp
- Tru
- Victor
- Vincent
- Wells
- Wesson
- Westley
- Wilder
- Xavion
- Xen
- Zaire
- Zavian
- Zeppelin
- Zion
- Zuma
What are modern gender-neutral names?
While we’re busy getting rid of those rules, check out some great unique, gender-neutral modern baby names that work anywhere on the gender spectrum.
- Alias
- Anniston
- Arly
- Blakely
- Blessing
- Briar
- Cairo
- Cambell
- Canyon
- Cobie
- Collins
- Dallas
- Dani
- Deja
- Delaney
- Denali
- Dilan
- Dior
- Ellison
- Emery
- Ensley
- Essence
- Ever
- Everest
- Genesis
- Hayes
- Hensley
- Indigo
- Jax
- Jaylin
- Jensen
- Jordy
- Kyrie
- Layne
- Londyn
- Lyric
- Madden
- McKinley
- Nixon
- North
- Nova
- Palmer
- Paxton
- Penn
- Phoenix
- Poet
- Rio
- River
- Rome
- Ryder
- Sage
- Sailor
- Saylor
- Tatum
And there you have it — nearly 500 modern baby names for your modern baby.
And if you need any other support right now, head over to our Peanut community.
We’re in it together, whatever name you choose.