Are you looking for a gem-in-the-rough baby name that's got "cool" written all over it, but hasn't been done to death already? Consider these 31 names favored by Millennial moms for starters. Why? Because these baby names are not only super modern, but many of them barely existed before the year 2000. In recent years however, these names have climbed the charts, thanks to Millennial — and soon, Gen Z parents — who are creative and interested in finding unusual names for their little ones.
Most of these names were plucked from a list compiled by the family heritage site MooseRoots, which combed data from the Social Security Administration to find names that were given to fewer than 100 newborns before 2000 but are rising fast. Others are simply names that have caught on with Millennial parents who want to diverge from classic, yawn-worthy options that have been used time and again.
Basically, Millennial parents can agree that their children — born either into Gen Z and Gen Alpha — deserve names that are on the cutting edge of cool. Check out our list of Millennial-loved monikers.
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CHANNING
The name Channing is a boys' name of English, Irish origin. Its meaning: "people of Cana or wolf cub." Its popularity is likely linked to actor Channing Tatum and former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.
SABLE
Anyone who watched TV in the '80s might remember a character named Sable from Dynasty. But millennial parents seem to be loving this baby girls' name, which is also an animal historically hunted for its fur. It's also the word for a warm, rich black color. Talk about a name that feels luxurious.
KATNISS
Inspired by Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, millennial parents are finding the allure in this dystopian heroine's name. It also has its roots (no pun intended) from the edible aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria. Hunger Games fans might also consider Primrose, Posy, Rue, and Clove for girls.
LARK
This gender neutral, bird-inspired name is most often used for girls, but it can be used for boys, too. It was first recorded as a name in the 1830s, but has never appeared in the list of most popular names. One reason it might appeal to millennial parents: It was the name of the actress who played Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhees) on the classic late '80s, early '90s sitcom Saved by the Bell.
JAYLAH
VIVIENNE
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Vivienne, no doubt fueled this trend when she was born in 2008. Rosie O'Donnell daughter, whom she welcomed in 2002, has the same name. It's the cognate of the French vivien, which means "alive." What a spirited yet feminine name for a girl.
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ARYA
Thanks to Games of Thrones, Arya — the name of a scrappy, sword-wielding former princess played by Maisie Williams — has risen meteorically as of late. It's also the name of the leading lady in the book/movie Eragon and Sanskrit for "noble." All in all, it has a lot going for it!
KARTER
Take a cool name like Carter, and make it cooler by using a K instead: Karter! Plus this moniker isn't as new as it might seem. It originates from the Middle Ages. Karter was an occupational surname for someone who transported goods in, well, a cart!
BRYNLEE
Brynlee may sound completely new but it's been big in the naming enclave of Utah for years, along with the variation Brinley. Although it means "burnt meadow," there is no denying the beauty of this name — it's like a softer, sweeter form of Britney.
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BECKETT
Beckett, derived from the English surname meaning "dweller near the brook," is a popular boy name among celebs, including Conan O'Brien, Melissa Etheridge, Stella McCartney, and Malcolm McDowell. In 2005, the authors of Freakonomics predicted Beckett would become one of the most popular names of 2015. As it turns out, they were right!
CASH
Kurt, Jimi, Janis — parents have been bequeathing their kids the first names of musicians for decades. So, why not last names instead? Thus, the rise of Cash (for Johnny) after his death in 2003.
ARABELLA
The lyrical name Arabella spans centuries, from the title of an opera by Richard Strauss to a jammin' song by the Arctic Monkeys. A real life heroine is Arabella Mansfield (born Belle Aurelia), the first American woman to become a lawyer.
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JAX
First there was Max. Now, there is Jax! This shorter, snappier version of Jack or Jackson is shared by Jax Briggs, a character from the video game Mortal Kombat and Jax Teller from the TV series Sons of Anarchy. All in all, it's an edgy name.
NORAH
Once a nickname for longer names like Eleanora, this name has soared in popularity in recent years among millennial parents. One reason? Perhaps they've been inspired by sultry singer Norah Jones.
ADALYN
Adalyn can be seen as a diminutive of Adele or a shorter form of Madeline. Either way, millennials appear to dig ending names in -lyn. Turns out so many names can be converted to include it!
ISLA
Isla is a derivative of Islay, the name of a Scottish island. And although it rose in popularity in recent years in the UK, it's become popular in the US, too. Some celeb cred goes to Wedding Crashers actress Isla Fisher who is married to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
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LONDYN
Londyn is clearly a snazzy spelling of the already popular "place name" London. It conjures up images of the capital of England. Little Londyns might grow up to one day visit the The Smoke and visit Kensington Palace where some of their most famous Gen Alpha peers (Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis) live.
LYLA
Lyla, a variation of Lila, is Arabic for "night." It is also the title of a song by Oasis. It also plays into the huge millennial parenting trend of substituting i's with y's.
KING
The grandiose option King has taken off in recent years. It means, understandably, "monarch." But aside from its royal overtones, it also honors huge history-making men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Elvis Presley.
ZAYDEN
Zayden is a totally modern, made-up name. No wonder it has become so popular! After all, it is spelled with letters popular in the post-millennium: z and y.
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KINGSTON
Kingston, a trendy "place name," also includes the word "king." So, it has a lot of majestic mojo. That may explain why Gwen Stefani picked this name for her son.
GAEL
Short for the biblical name Abigail, Gael has become a name in its own right. It's also Welsh for "wild" and conjures up images of blustery winds on high seas. Fans of Hunger Games might dig it as well (although in the popular series, it's spelled Gale).
MADDOX
Once Angelina Jolie gave her son this once-obscure Welsh family name in 2003, Maddox climbed the charts. And for good reason. It's a strong, magnetic name!
RYKER
The surge in popularity of superhero movies brought Ryker along with it. As an enemy of the Hulk, it's a powerful name that's hard to beat. Trekkie fans may also be reminded of Commander William T. Riker of the starship Enterprise.
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BRANTLEY
Brantley is an English surname meaning "fire." Talk about a hot first name! It's also the name of a Michael J. Fox character in the film The Secret to My Success and brings to mind country music singer Brantley Gilbert.
PAISLEY
Apparently, Paisley is no longer just a fancy teardrop pattern on a duvet or shirt. It's also a big name, particularly in the south. Fans of country singer Brad Paisley might gravitate to it.
KHLOE
Khloe — an offbeat variation of Chloe — rose to fame thanks to the same-named Kardashian sister. Given the family's penchant for names that start with "K," it's no wonder Kris Jenner chose to switch things up. And now, millennial parents are forgoing the "C" for the "K" too.
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MILA
Mila is a Russian name meaning "gracious" or "dear." It comes with some stunning celeb appeal. Thanks, Mila Kunis and Mila Jovovich!
NEVAEH
Nevaeh rose to popularity out of nowhere in 2001. Wanna guess why? It's "heaven" backwards — like a secret message for a beloved child.
BENTLEY
Yup, Bentley is a luxe British car … It is also a popular name for boys these days. And Teen Mom fans will know that Maci Bookout gave this name to her son, too.
