200 top cool names for babies in 2024
Wanna be one of the cool kids at your nearest baby group? Shades at the ready, here’s how to choose an on-trend name for your little style icon.
By Louise Baty | Last updated May 13, 2024
So you want a cool name for your baby girl or boy? Well, that's understandable. Nobody wants to risk making a blooper when it comes to a decision as big as naming your baby. Naturally, you want your cool kid to grow up and love their name throughout their life.
But what exactly does ‘cool’ mean? It’s a bit of a subjective term that can mean different things to different people. For many folk, ‘cool’ is interchangeable with ‘trendy’, whether you’re leading from the front and blazing a trail, or simply coasting along with the latest baby name trends.
Mainly, we think a ‘cool name’ is something a little bit out there - but not too much - that will make folk give a little nod and say ‘Oh, now that’s a cool name’ when you introduce them to your baby.
How we chose the top cool baby names
To give you an idea of baby name trends, there’s no better place to start than the latest ONS baby name list, released in October 2022. Each year, the ONS analyses birth registrations in England and Wales, noting frequencies and listing the 100 most popular names for baby girls and baby boys. As these lists evolve year on year, they give a fascinating insight into the latest baby naming trends.
As part of our research into cool names for babies, we checked out the ONS lists for England and Wales, along with lists from the Central Statistics Office for Ireland and the National Records of Scotland.
When it comes to choosing a cool name for your baby, you may opt for one from the top 100 lists - there are plenty of cool names for both boys and girls within them. Alternatively, you may actively look to choose a name way outside the ‘most popular’ lists to ensure that your baby is the only one at nursery with their name. After all, there’s nothing cooler than being an original. Mumsnet user Smogtopia reckons: “The only names really standing out as cool at the moment are names that are underused.”
When compiling this guide to cool baby names, we wanted to ensure that we were all over the very latest baby naming trends. So where did we go? TikTok. See, that’s where a host of parenting influencers share their thoughts on cool names for babies in 2024 so we knew we’d be able to hit on all the most up-to-date baby naming trends.
Naturally, we also scoured our own baby names articles - including most popular baby names, boy names and girl names. We also looked at our very own Mumsnet Baby Names forum to see what parents had to say about their favourite cool baby names and baby naming trends in general.
During our extensive research, we uncovered a few interesting 2024 baby-naming trend themes to inspire you. Here are some of them:
Short and striking
Nordic chic
Nature and weather
Surnames as first names
Outer space
Bands and musicians
Calendar months and days of the week
‘Old money’ traditional classics
Wild West
Vintage mid-century faves
We’ve explained these trends more fully at the end of the article but, for now, let’s grab our oat milk lattes and check out the top 200 cool names for girls and boys.
Cool girl names
1. Ada
Origin: German
Meaning: Noble
2. Agnes
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure, holy
3. Alba
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Sunrise
4. Ally (or Allie)
Origin: English
Meaning: Noble
5. Alma
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Nourishing, kind
6. Amanda
Origin: Latin
Meaning: To love
7. Amara (or Amarah)
Origin: Igbo (African)
Meaning: Grace or mercy
8. Anais
Origin: French
Meaning: Grace
9. Astrid
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Divinely beautiful
10. Autumn
Origin: English
Meaning: Referring to the season Autumn
11. Ayda
Origin: Arabic, Turkish
Meaning: Returning visitor, moon
12. Bibi
Origin: Irish
Meaning: The exalted one
13. Birdie
Origin: English
Meaning: Refers to a little bird
14. Bea
Origin: Italian, Latin origin (diminutive of Beatrice, Beatrix)
Meaning: She who blesses or bringer of joy
15. Carmen
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Song or poem
16. Caroline
Origin: Italian, French, Scottish
Meaning: Strong or free woman
17. Clementine
Origin: French
Meaning: Merciful or kind
18. Cleo
Origin: English
Meaning: Glory
19. Coco
Origin: French
Meaning: Victorious
20. Coralie
Origin: French
Meaning: Coral
21. Daisy
Origin: English
Meaning: From the flower
22. Dinah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Vindicated
23. Eden
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Paradise
24. Elena
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bright, shining light
25. Elise
Origin: French
Meaning: Consecrated to God
26. Eira
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Snow
27. Elizabeth
Origin: English
Meaning: My God is an oath
28. Erin
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Ireland
29. Etta
Origin: English, Italian
Meaning: Little rose
30. Felicity
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Good fortune
31. Gia
Origin: Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
32. Gloria
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Glory
33. Indigo
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Blue dye
34. Iris
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rainbow
35. Ivy
Origin: English
Meaning: The evergreen Ivy plant
36. Jane
Origin: English
Meaning: God is gracious
37. Joanie
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
38. June
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Youthful, derived from the Roman Goddess Juno
39. Kate
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure
40. Kiki
Origin: French, Spanish
Meaning: Double happiness or noble
41. Lara
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Laurel leaf
42. Leni
Origin: German
Meaning: Bright or shining
43. Lila (or Lyla)
Origin: Persian, Arabic
Meaning: Youthful innocence or night
44. Liv
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Life, protection, shelter or warmth
45. Lucille
Origin: French
Meaning: Light
46. Luella
Origin: French, German
Meaning: Famed warrior
47. Luna
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Moon
48. Lumi
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: Beauty and purity of snow
49. Mabel
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Loveable
50. Maeve
Origin: Irish
Meaning: She who rules
51. Mara
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitter
52. Marnie
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of the sea
53. Marianne
Origin: French
Meaning: Drop of the sea, bitter, beloved and grace
54. Marigold
Origin: English
Meaning: Golden flower
55. Margot
Origin: French
Meaning: Pearl
56. Mary
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Drop of the sea, bitter or beloved
57. May (or Mae)
Origin: English
Meaning: The fifth month
58. Meadow
Origin: English
Meaning: A field of grass or wildflowers
59. Nala
Origin: African (Swahili), Arabic
Meaning: Queen
60. Niamh (or Neave)
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Brightness or radiance
61. Nina
Origin: Native American
Meaning: Strong or mighty
62. Noa
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Motion or movement
63. Olive
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Olive tree
64. Opal
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Precious gem
65. Pearl
Origin: Latin, English
Meaning: Precious
66. Penelope
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Weaver
67. Petra
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rock signifying strength and stability
68. Rae
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Dark bird
69. Ramona
Origin: Spanish, German
Meaning: Wise protector
70. Raya
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Friend
71. René (or Renée)
Origin: French
Meaning: Reborn
72. Rita
Origin: Spanish, Italian
Meaning: Pearl
73. Romy
Origin: Latin (diminutive of Rosemary)
Meaning: Dew of the sea
74. Rosa
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose flower
75. Sadie
Origin: Hebrew (originally a diminutive of Sarah)
Meaning: Princess
76. Sara
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Princess
77. Seren
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Star
78. Sorcha (or Saoirse)
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Bright, shining
79. Stella
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Star
80. Sylvie
Origin: French
Meaning: From the forest
81. Sunday
Origin: Norse
Meaning: Of the sun god Sunna
82. Tara
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Star
83. Tove
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Beautiful
84. Vita
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Life
85. Vivienne
Origin: French
Meaning: Life
86. Wynona
Origin: Native American
Meaning: Firstborn daughter
87. Wynter (or Winter)
Origin: English
Meaning: The winter season
88. Zara
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Blossoming flower
89. Zena
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Life or woman
What Mumsnetters say about cool girl names
“Marianne… I LOVE it. And Marianne Faithfull was/is super super cool. Uber rock chick, 60s beatnik babe/’it’ girl and Mick Jagger’s girlfriend for those who don’t know her.” - Mumsnet user, ANoiseAnnoys
“I love the name Sadie. It oozes cool.” - Mumsnet user, SilverBranchGoldenPears
“Stella is lovely. Star would be a nice nickname.” - Mumsnet user, Ellemau
Cool boy names
90. Abel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Breath
91. Ace
Origin: English
Meaning: One who excels, number one
92. Albert
Origin: German
Meaning: Noble
93. Alfred
Origin: English
Meaning: Wise counsellor
94. Ambrose
Origin: Latin, Greek name
Meaning: Immortal
95. Angelo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Messenger, angel
96. Archer
Origin: English
Meaning: Bowman
97. Arlo
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Fortified hill
98. Arthur
Origin: Celtic, Welsh
Meaning: Bear-like
99. August
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Majestic
100. Axel
Origin: German
Meaning: Father of peace
101. Bear
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Bear
102. Beck
Origin: English
Meaning: Stream
103. Benjamin
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Son of the right hand
104. Bowie
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Blond, fair-haired
105. Brody (or Brodie)
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Broad eye
106. Buzz
Origin: American (derived from Busby)
Meaning: Village in the woods
107. Cain
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Spear, possessed
108. Caleb
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Faithful
109. Casper
Origin: Persian
Meaning: Treasurer
110. David
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved
111. Dexter
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Skilled, right-handed
112. Donovan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Dark warrior
113. Edward
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Wealthy guardian
114. Elias
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Yahweh is my God
115. Elijah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh is my God
116. Elvis
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning All-wise
117. Emmett
Origin: German
Meaning: Universal, whole
118. Enzo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Ruler of the home
119. Evan
Origin: Welsh (derived from Iefan)
Meaning: Young warrior or God is good/gracious
120. Ezra
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Help or helper
121. Fox
Origin: English
Meaning: Cunning and referring to the animal fox
122. Gabe
Origin: Hebrew (derived from Gabriel)
Meaning: Man of God
123. Gene
Origin: Greek (derived from Eugene)
Meaning: Well-born, noble
124. Harrison
Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Harry or son of Henry
125. Heath
Origin: English
Meaning: Heathland
126. Henry
Origin: German
Meaning: Ruler of the household
127. Hudson
Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Hugh
128. Hugo
Origin: German
Meaning: Spirit
129. Hunter
Origin: English
Meaning: One who hunts
130. Huxley
Origin: English
Meaning: Meadow
131. Ivan
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: God is gracious
132. Jackson
Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Jack
133. Jagger
Origin: English
Meaning: Carter or peddler
134. Jago
Origin: Spanish, Cornish (form of James or Jacob)
Meaning: Supplanter
135. Jake
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter
136. Jared
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Descent
137. Jasper
Origin: Persian
Meaning: Treasure
138. Jay
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Jaybird
139. Jed
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Beloved of the Lord
140. Jesse
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift
141. Jett
Origin: English
Meaning: Jet black
142. John
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
143. Jude
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Praised
144. Kit
Origin: English, Greek (diminutive of Christopher)
Meaning: Bearer of Christ
145. Knox (or Knoxx)
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Round hill
146. Louie
Origin: French
Meaning: Famous warrior
147. Lars
Origin: Scandinavian, Germanic
Meaning: Crowned with laurel
148. Leif
Origin: Scandinavian, Old Norse
Meaning: Descendant, heir
149. Lennon
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Lover
150. Lennox
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: With many elm trees
151. Levi
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Joined
152. Liam
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Resolute protector or strong-willed warrior
153. Luca
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Light
154. Nate
Origin: Hebrew (derived from Nathaniel)
Meaning: Gift of God
155. Ned
Origin: English
Meaning: Wealthy guardian
156. Nico
Origin: Greek (derived from Nicholas)
Meaning: Victory of the people
157. Matteo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Gift of God
158. Odin
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Frenzy, rage, inspiration
159. Otis
Origin: German
Meaning: Wealth
160. Paul
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Humble
161. Rafferty
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Abundance or one who will prosper
162. Rex
Origin: Latin
Meaning: King
163. Ringo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Apple
164. Rocco
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Rest
165. Roman
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of Rome
166. Rupert
Origin: German
Meaning: Bright fame
167. Saul
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Asked for, prayed for
168. Seth
Meaning: Hebrew
Origin: Appointed, placed
169. Silas
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Forest, woods
170. Stanley
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Stony clearing
171. Tate
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Cheerful
172. Vaughan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Small, little
173. Wyatt
Origin: English
Meaning: Brave in battle
174. Xander (short for Alexander)
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Defender of the people
175. Yves
Origin: Breton
Meaning: Archer
176. Zac (or Zack/Zach)
Origin: Hebrew (derived from Zachary)
Meaning: God has remembered
177. Zane
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Handsome
178. Zeke
Origin: Hebrew (derived from Ezekiel)
Meaning: God will strengthen
What Mumsnetters say about cool boy names
“My son is Emmett” - Mumsnet user, countydown1989
“I have a Jude who's almost nine. I know one other. It was my boy’s name since I was probably eight and my dad introduced me to the Beatles.” - Mumsnet user, MrsCharlieD
“I really like Zac. It sounds cool and is traditional but still sounds modern and is easy to say.” - Mumsnet user, Sandysandwich
Cool gender-neutral names
179. Alexis
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Helper or defender
180. Avery
Origin: English
Meaning: Ruler of elves
181. Bailey
Origin: English
Meaning: Bailiff, steward
182. Beau
Origin: French
Meaning: Handsome, beautiful
183. Billy (or Billie)
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Will, desire
184. Blake
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Black or dark
185. Blythe
Origin: English
Meaning: Free spirit
186. Dylan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Son of the sea
187. Harper
Origin: English
Meaning: Someone who plays the harp
188. Indy (or Indie)
Origin: English
Meaning: Derived from India or Indigo
189. Monroe
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Mouth of the River Roe
190. Morgan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Sea circle
191. Rain
Origin: English
Meaning: Rain
192. Remi (or Remy)
Origin: French
Meaning: Rower
193. Raven
Origin: English
Meaning: Blackbird
194. Stevie
Origin: English
Meaning: Crown, garland
195. Storm
Origin: English
Meaning: Tempest
196. Syd
Origin: English
Meaning: Wide meadow
197. Taylor
Origin: English
Meaning: Tailor
198. Willow
Origin: English
Willow tree
199. Wren
Origin: English
Meaning: Small bird
200. Ziggy
Origin: German
Meaning: Victorious protector
What Mumsnetters say about cool gender-neutral names
“I think tomboy or androgynous names sound cool.” - Mumsnet user, tooorangey
“Personally I think the very coolest name of someone I know is a woman called Stevie. Not short for anything. I wish I was called that or Billie or something quite androgynous.” - Mumsnet user, MisterMagpie
How to choose a cool baby name
Keep it short - for many parents today, cool equates to short and striking three letter, one syllable names, which feel fresh and modern… Oh, hi there, Ace, Jett, Dot and Rae.
Embrace Nordic chic - names popular in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland are gaining popularity with UK parents for their simple beauty. Think Astrid, Axel, Tove and Lumi.
Look to nature and the weather for inspiration because names such as Daisy, Meadow, Bear, Fox, Rain and Storm are choices for cool cats right now. For cool verging on freezing cold, how about Eira, a Welsh name which means ‘snow’?
Love flower names? Good news, they fit in with the nature-inspired trend, but look to more underused options such as Rosa or Marigold.
Pick a surname for your baby’s first name. While surname names such as Parker and Taylor have long been cool over the pond in the USA, they’re now becoming increasingly popular with fashionable British parents for boys and girls.
Aim for the stars with a space-themed name such as Buzz (after Buzz Aldrin), Star or Stella (which means ‘star’), any of which would rocket your baby to coolness.
Names inspired by musicians and bands never go out of style - Ziggy and Bowie pay homage to the star man himself, David Bowie, while ONS analysts suggest that the stratospheric rise of Ezra in recent years could be, in part, down to the popularity of ‘Shotgun’ singer George Ezra.
Flick through your calendar for name ideas. Month, day season names are in mode right now. June, August, Sunday and Winter all spring (pun intended) to mind.
Opt for an ‘old money’ aka traditional aristo name with a timeless, classy vibe for your little prince or princess. Imagine swishing around a country estate with Caroline, Amanda, Vivienne and Henry and you’re on the right track, darling. And don’t forget Rupert, which made the top 100 list for the first time ever last year.
Go vintage - but not too far back in time. We’re all used to Victorian names which made a reappearance about 10 years ago. Now mid-century names (1950s and 1960s) are due a resurgence. We’re talking Paul, David, Mary and Gloria, which are all included in our 200 cool names lists above.
For another mid-century nod, how about more modern names paying tribute to stars of that era, including Lennon, Ringo, Harrison, Elvis, Monroe and Dylan?
To lasso a bit of the Wild West naming trend, consider names including Wyatt, Levi, Daisy and Pearl for your own little cowboy or cowgirl.
Keep your eye on popular culture if you’re looking for the next big baby naming trend, because new movies, TV series, music artists and bands can offer inspiration.
What is the coolest baby name?
A popular cool, short name for boys is Jude, which has been in the ONS top 100 since 2010. No surprise really given it pays homage to one of the Beatles’ greatest hits of all time. However, at number 40, it isn't too high up the chart - a crucial consideration when you're looking for a cool name for your baby boy.
A brand-new entry to the ONS top 100 boy name list is Brody (at number 90) which offers the sort of effortless surfer cool you might like for your baby boy, even if you happen to live in rainy Lancashire.
For girls, we like Olive (at number 74 in the chart). While it rose 25 places last year, it remains the cooler sister of Olivia, which has been top of the ONS list since 2016. Mumsnet user Hightemp confirms: “Olive… definitely for the cool mums.”
Outside the top 100 but still fairly popular are Stella and Etta, chic names with an edge of cool which have lovely meanings - ‘star’ and ‘little rose’ respectively.
What are cool unique names?
Gender-neutral names offer effortless cool. They’re still relatively unusual but gaining in popularity. Our favourites from our cool gender-neutral name lists are Raven and Storm, which are sure to have an impact when you introduce your little hipster at the local toddler group.
When it comes to unique girl names, the Finnish name Lumi taps into the cool Nordic chic trend and has a lovely meaning - 'beauty' and 'purity of snow.' For boys, you can’t go far wrong with Donovan, an Irish name meaning ‘dark warrior’ which has loads of rock star cred and shortens to the undoubtedly adorable ‘Donnie’.
Believe it or not, though, some of the most unusual and freshest sounding names picked by parents today are from a few decades ago. This is where the mid-century trend comes in, with old school ‘mum and dad’ names making a comeback. As Mumsnet user CountToTen puts it: “Being called John or Jane these days is pretty unique.”
About the author
Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet.
Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.
Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP.
For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby. By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.