The practice of revealing the gender of a newborn to the public is becoming more and more common these days. However, if you’re one of those parents who would rather be shocked in the delivery room than when cutting cake in front of friends and family, these unisex names will spare you a lot of last-minute worry and thought.
Additionally, you might be surprised to learn that many names that are often associated with either boys or girls can work well as gender-neutral names.
You’ll enjoy seeing how names that are often associated with boys work for a newborn girl and vice versa; sometimes all it takes is one inventive parent (or a well-known celebrity) to shift perceptions.
Some of our favorite unisex baby names for a boy or a girl are listed here. Any of these gender-neutral suggestions will work.
Gender-neutral names
1. Alex
On your child’s birth certificate, you can write this traditional unisex name in a few different ways: The most common nickname for Alexandra and Alexander is obviously “Alex,” but it may also be reduced to “Alexis,” “Alexia,” “Alexa,” or “Alexandria,” or it can be used alone.
2. James
Before actress Blake Lively gave the name James to her kid in 2017, you would not have thought of it as being gender-neutral. For a guy, nicknames like Jim or Jimmy are suitable, whilst Jamie is a cute choice for a lady.
3. Blake
Blake Lively understands what it’s like to negotiate the world with a unisex name, much as her kid does. The Social Security Administration (SSA) ranked Blake as the 210th most popular unisex name for boys in 2021 and the 219th most popular unisex name for girls in the same year.
4. Kyle
Fans of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will immediately identify Kyle Richards of the group as the source of inspiration for this unisex baby name.
5. Drew
Drew Carey, Drew Barrymore, and Drew Brees. Whether you’re having a boy or a girl, this four-letter name is simple to say, spell, and pick.
6. Taylor
Another traditional, preferred unisex baby name that has endured. The name Taylor is not only suitable for both girls and boys, but it is also a widely used surname.
7. Kennedy
Kennedy is a dignified name fit for a born leader, even though it is now more common for girls than boys (the name ranked 72 for females on the SSA’s 2021 list, compared to 996 for boys).
8. Jordan
Jordan is a traditional gender-neutral baby name that came in at number 435 for girls and 82 for boys in 2018. Jordan Sparks and Jordan Peele spring to mind as examples of famous people.
9. Parker
Parker is one of those endearing, gender-neutral names that sounds great on both babies and adults. Additionally, it complements virtually any middle or last name perfectly.
10. Avery
In 2021, this gender-neutral baby name ranked 19th among the most popular girl’s names, but it also sounds great for males (it nabbed spot 212 that same year).
11. Ryan
Although Ryan can appear like a boy’s name, infant girls have started using it more frequently recently. You may also choose for a different spelling, such Ryann or Rhyan.
12. Brooklyn
Brooklyn Decker and Brooklyn Beckham both have awesome names. This place-inspired name is obvious.
13. Cameron
Although Cameron Diaz is a well-known Cameron, this unisex baby name is equally suitable for males. Additionally, Cam couldn’t have a sweeter moniker.
14. Logan
Logan is a completely unisex baby name that has an equally lovely ring for any lucky young girl, despite being frequently thought of as a boy’s name.
15. Emerson
Maybe this child will be an artist like Ralph Waldo Emerson, the philosopher who shares the same name. If you want to raise a free thinker, give this unisex baby name some thought.
16. Charlie
This now-unisex baby name is increasingly being given to female babies. Consider the daughter of Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell. There are few instances where the spellings Charly or Charley are used.
17. Ezra
This unisex baby name was a solid choice for our list of the best hipster baby names. Ezra sounds good with many middle or last names, suits boys and girls equally well, and is simple to spell.
18. Austin
Austin is a fantastic choice for a girl or boy — residing in Texas is not necessary. It is another city-inspired unisex baby name.