Alternative Baby Names

Celebrity baby name choices and popular culture have significantly impacted what parents name their babies in recent years. A lot of parents are shying away from mainstream names or the classic top tens.

We’ve identified some trends in alternative names below.

Vintage Baby Names

Vintage baby names such as Ava have climbed back to the top of the charts after falling out of favour, and names like Ada and Mabel are making a comeback.

Vintage names with an ethereal feel are popular; Names such as Ambrose, Faye, Bear, Clover, Flora, Jasper, Jack, Jane, Matilda, Maisie, Nellie, Opal, Rowan, River, Silas, Theodore and Wilder.

Vintage Baby Girl Names

Mabel: English origin meaning loveable or dear

Edith: An old English name meaning riches or blessed

Edie: Meaning wealth or fortune.

Ada: A pretty name meaning nobility

Vintage baby boy names

Alfred: This could be shortened to Alfie or Fred and means “wise counsellor”

Chester: Meaning ‘fortress’ or ‘camp’

Atticus: A Greek name meaning ‘from Attica’

George: Meaning farmer or earth-worker George has made a comeback after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called their first son George

Rainbow Baby Names

For the NHS in 2020, the rainbow became a symbol of hope, and as a result, we’ve come up with these rainbow-inspired names: Cerise, Clementine, Indigo, Iris, Cole, Hunter and Jet.

Double-Barrelled Baby Names

If you’re looking for a unique name, why not create something using a double-barrelled name?

Some names are particularly popular for the second part of the double-barrel for girls, including May, or Mae, Grace, Rose, and Rae. For boys, this includes James and Lee.

Examples for girls and boys include:

Bella-Rae

Lily-May

Evie-Rose 

John-James

Quinn-Lee

Elements Baby Names

 The elements inspired baby name trend is excellent if you like a mighty name.

Elements inspired baby girl names

Amber: Of the fossilised tree resin called Amber but also refers to a colour which is a red-orange shade

Aura: Meaning light

Fern: Referring to the leafy plant

Flora: Meaning flower

Enya: Meaning grain in Irish and fire in Celtic

Misty: Meaning covered with mist or dew

Nova: Meaning new and is also a unisex name

Skye: Of Scottish origin, meaning cloud 

Elements inspired baby boy names

Ash: Inspired by a tree but also means happy

Ember: Meaning spark or burning low

Heath: Meaning land of heather and grass

Phoenix: Of Greek origin, meaning blood red and also refers to the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes

River: This can be used for a boy or girl

Zephyr: A Greek name meaning west wind

Hopeful Baby Names

In difficult times people look for hope, and there isn’t anything full of more hope than bringing a new baby into the world.

Hopeful baby names for girls

Charity: Meaning kindness

Haven: A unisex name meaning safe place

Hope: The ultimate hopeful baby name! 

Joy: Meaning happiness

Faith: The meaning of this name isn’t just tied to the dedication of religion but also keeping faith in positivity and hope

Vera: Of Russian origin, meaning faith

Hopeful baby names for boys

Aymes: Meaning friend in French

Benedict: Meaning blessed

Kit: Meaning hope

Dillon: Meaning’ ray of hope’ and of Irish origin

Lucius: Meaning light

Modern Baby Names

The lovely thing about modern baby names is the theme includes an eclectic mix of names, from straightforward but bold to more complex and unusual names.

Modern baby boy names

Ashton: An English surname but also means ‘ash tree town’

London: The capital of England

Ludo: Of German origin, it means famous fighter

Oakley: Meaning ‘oak tree field’

Toivo: An unusual baby name meaning hope

Modern baby girl names

Aurora: From the Latin word meaning dawn

Ayla: Meaning light or earth.

Mabli: Of Welsh origin, meaning “loveable”.

Mila: A Slavic name meaning “people’s favour”.

True: Meaning real or genuine

Verity: Meaning truth