180 Beautiful Gender-Neutral Names and Their Meanings

Some names refuse to be sorted into a pink or blue box, and that is exactly their charm. Gender-neutral picks like Quinn, Emerson, and Charlie carry an easy, open feeling that grows with a child instead of boxing them in. They are also in genuine shared use, not a thought experiment: in the 2025 US Social Security Administration file, Charlie went to 2,460 boys and 2,160 girls ⁽¹⁾. Emerson is the most evenly shared of the mainstream picks here across the whole SSA record, where boys account for 49.6% of everyone given it; in 2025 it went to 2,241 girls and 1,371 boys in that same federal file.

This collection gathers 180 names that work for any gender, from nature-inspired options and modern coinages to old classics that were never really tied to one side. You will find sounds that lean soft, ones that land crisp, and plenty in between. The audience for these names is real and young: the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimates that 11% of LGBTQ adults in the US, roughly 1.2 million people, identify as nonbinary, and that 76% of them are between 18 and 29 ⁽²⁾. A Pew Research Center survey of 10,188 US adults puts the share of adults under 30 who are transgender or nonbinary at 5.1%, including 3.0% who are nonbinary ⁽³⁾.

Skim for the one that feels right, and trust your ear as much as the meaning.

180 Unbelievable Nonbinary Names

Many nonbinary names have deep historical roots, while others offer a modern twist on traditional options. Several are already mainstream: Avery went to 5,267 girls and 1,156 boys in 2025, and Riley to 4,441 girls and 1,666 boys, per the SSA national file. Explore these gender-neutral choices to find a name that suits your family:

1. Addison: This Old English name means “son of Adam” yet reads unisex today, boosted by TV characters like Grey’s Anatomy’s Addison.
2. Alaska: This place name borrows from the northern US state, whose own name traces to an Aleut word for “mainland” or “great land.”
3. Alec: This short form of Alexander comes from Greek and means “defender of the people.”
4. Alexis: This Greek name means “defender” and has long crossed comfortably between boys and girls.
5. Allyn: This Gaelic origin name relates to Alan and means “little rock” or “handsome.”
6. Aly: This short form of Alexander or Alice means “defender” and, in Arabic, “exalted.”
7. Andi: This friendly short form of Andrea or Anderson draws on Greek roots meaning “brave” and “strong.”
8. Ariel: This Hebrew name means “lion of God” and reads androgynously, worn by both Shakespeare’s airy spirit and Disney’s mermaid.
9. Asher: This Hebrew name means “happy” or “blessed” and has climbed fast for all genders.
10. Ashley: This Old English name means “dweller near the ash tree meadow” and topped US girls’ charts in the 1990s after decades as a boys’ name.
11. Ashton: This Old English name means “ash tree town” and works as easily on a girl as a boy.
12. Aspen: This nature name points to the quaking aspen tree and doubles as a nod to the Colorado ski town.
13. Astor: This aristocratic surname, tied to the Astor family, comes from an old word for “hawk” or “goshawk.”
14. Austen: This variant of Austin and Augustine has Latin roots meaning “great” or “magnificent,” with a literary nod to Jane Austen.
15. Avery: This English name means “ruler of the elves” and now ranks among the most popular unisex picks in the US.
16. Azriel: This Hebrew name means “God is my help” and offers a softer cousin to Azrael.
17. Bai: This Chinese name means “pure” or “white” and stays crisp and simple.
18. Bao: This Vietnamese and Chinese name means “treasure” or “precious.”
19. Bay: This short nature name evokes both the coastal inlet and the fragrant bay laurel leaf.
20. Beck: This Old Norse name means “stream” or “brook” and nods to musician Beck.
21. Bellamy: This French surname name means “handsome friend,” from the words bel ami.
22. Bergen: This Scandinavian name means “mountain dweller” and shares its name with Norway’s coastal city.
23. Berlin: This bold city name points to the German capital, whose own name likely comes from an old Slavic word for “swamp” or “marsh.”
24. Beu: This cute genderfluid name comes from French and means “handsome.”
25. Blaize: This variant of Blaise comes from Latin and means “lisp” or “stammer,” softened by a stylish spelling.
26. Blake: This classic unisex name springs from opposite Old English roots for “black” and “pale,” and suits actors like Blake Lively.
27. Blue: This color name comes from Old French and works as a breezy, cheerful pick for any child.
28. Brighton: This place name points to the English seaside town and means “bright settlement.”
29. Brook: This gentle English nature name means “small stream.”
30. Caelen: This Irish name means “slender” or, as a form of Caolan, “victorious people.”
31. Callaway: This surname name means “pebbly place” and lends a rhythmic first or middle-name option.
32. Cameron: This Scottish surname means “crooked nose,” from cam sron, and has crossed comfortably to girls.
33. Carlin: This Irish name comes from the Gaelic Cearbhall and means “little champion.”
34. Carlisle: This English place name means “fortified tower” and nods to the Cumbrian city.
35. Casey: This Irish name from Ó Cathasaigh means “vigilant” or “watchful,” a nod to the old word for battle.
36. Cedar: This Latin-rooted nature name simply names the fragrant evergreen tree.
37. Charlie: This friendly nickname for Charles or Charlotte means “free” and stands on its own for any child.
38. Crimson: This bold color name traces through Arabic qirmiz to a deep, rich red.
39. Crow: This Anglo-Saxon nature name calls up the dark, clever bird.
40. Cruise: This English surname name means “bold” or “fierce.”
41. Dakota: This Sioux name means “friend” or “ally” and shares its name with the two US states.
42. Dallas: This Scottish and Gaelic name means “meadow dwelling” and matches the Texas city.
43. Delaney: This Irish name means “dark challenger” or “descendant of the challenger.”
44. Dell: This English nature name means “small wooded valley.”
45. Denver: This Old English name means “green valley” and names the Colorado capital.
46. Derby: This Old English name means “deer settlement” and shares its name with the English town.
47. Drew: This Welsh name means “wise” and also works as a short form of Andrew.
48. Dusty: This nickname for Dustin means “brave warrior” and carries a warm, easygoing feel.
49. Eli: This Hebrew name means “ascended” or “my God” and suits any child.
50. Ellery: This English name means “cheerful,” from the Latin Hilarius, and links to detective Ellery Queen.
51. Ellis: This English and Welsh name means “benevolent” and traces back to the prophet Elijah.
52. Emerson: This English name means “Emery’s son” and nods to the essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson.
53. Emery: This Norman name means “brave” or “powerful” and works for any child.
54. Everest: This nature name honors Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth.
55. Everly: This Old English name means “wild boar meadow” and rose in use after the Everly Brothers.
56. Evren: This Turkish name means “cosmos” or “universe.”
57. Fable: This uncommon name associated with Greek mythology is a word name meaning “story.”
58. Fallon: This Irish name means “leader” or “descendant of the ruler.”
59. Fen: This Chinese name means “fragrance,” and in English also names a low, marshy wetland.
60. Finch: This English nature name names the small, bright songbird.
61. Finley: This Scottish and Gaelic name means “fair-haired hero.”
62. Fio: This short Latin-rooted name suggests “flower” and stays sweet and rare.
63. Forest: This English nature name names the deep woods and doubles as a spelling of Forrest.
64. Frankie: This nickname for Frank or Frances means “free” and swings easily across genders.
65. Galaxy: This cosmic word name means a vast system of stars, for a truly out-there pick.
66. Garland: This English name means “wreath” or “spear land” and honors singer Judy Garland.
67. Garnet: This English name comes from the deep-red gemstone and, before that, the pomegranate it resembles.
68. Greer: This Scottish name means “watchful” or “vigilant,” drawn from Gregory.
69. Grey: This English color name reads calm and modern, spelled Grey or Gray.
70. Hale: This Old English name means “dweller in the nook” and hints at the word hale, meaning healthy.
71. Harbor: This coastal English name means “shelter” or “safe haven.”
72. Harlow: This Old English name means “army hill” and carries old-Hollywood polish from Jean Harlow.
73. Harp: This short form of Harper points to the musical instrument.
74. Harper: This English name means “harp player” and soared in use after author Harper Lee.
75. Haven: This English word name means “safe place” or “refuge.”
76. Hawkins: This Old English surname means “little hawk.”
77. Hayden: This badass name means “hay valley” or “heathen” and works for any child.
78. Henley: This Old English name means “high meadow” and nods to the Thames-side town.
79. Holland: This place name points to the Netherlands region and means “woodland” or “low-lying land.”
80. Hollis: This English name means “dweller by the holly trees.”
81. Hopper: This Old English occupational name means “leaper” or “dancer.”
82. Indiana: This place name means “land of the Indians” and carries movie swagger from Indiana Jones.
83. Indigo: This color name references the deep blue hue that sits between blue and violet.
84. Ira: This Hebrew name means “watchful” and has served as a unisex classic for generations.
85. Jamie: This nickname for James means “supplanter” and reads unisex the world over.
86. Jay: This bird-inspired name suits any gender and doubles as a friendly short form for longer J names.
87. Jerry: This nickname for Gerald or Geraldine means “spear ruler.”
88. Jett: This English name comes from the glossy black gemstone jet, for a sleek, fast feel.
89. Jody: This unisex name likely grew from Judith or Joseph and stays warm and friendly.
90. Jules: This French short form of Julian or Julia has Latin roots meaning “youthful.”
91. Justice: This virtue name names the quality of fairness, for a principled child.
92. Kai: This short, global name means “sea” in Hawaiian and “keeper of the keys” in Welsh.
93. Kayden: This modern name blends sounds from Aiden and Caden, for a fresh unisex feel.
94. Kelby: This Old Norse name means “farm by the spring.”
95. Kelly: This Irish name means “bright-headed” or “warrior” and has long worked for anyone.
96. Kendall: This English name means “valley of the River Kent.”
97. Kimber: This English name means “royal fortress meadow” and offers a fresh take on Kimberly.
98. Kirby: This Old Norse name means “church settlement” or “village with a church.”
99. Kit: This nickname for Christopher or Katherine means “bearer of Christ.”
100. Kodi: This American spelling of the Irish Cody means “helpful one.”
101. Laine: This Old English name means “path” or “narrow lane.”
102. Lake: This English nature name names the calm inland water.
103. Landry: This French name means “ruler” or “powerful leader.”
104. Lark: This English nature name names the joyful songbird known for its dawn chorus.
105. Larkin: This Irish name means “fierce” or “rough,” tucked behind a soft sound, and nods to poet Philip Larkin.
106. Leaf: This nature name spells out a single green leaf, echoing the Norse name Leif.
107. Lee: This English name means “clearing” or “meadow” and stands as a timeless unisex middle name.
108. Lennon: This musical Irish name means “dear one” and nods to Beatle John Lennon.
109. Linden: This Old English nature name names the linden, or lime, tree.
110. London: This place name marks the UK capital, from the Roman Londinium.
111. Lou: This short form of Louis or Louise means “famed warrior.”
112. Marlowe: This English name means “driftwood” and recalls the playwright Christopher Marlowe.
113. Meridian: This word name marks the high point of the sky or a line of longitude, for a lofty feel.
114. Merrit: This Old English name means “boundary gate” and doubles as the word merit.
115. Micah: This Hebrew name means “who is like God” and belongs to a biblical prophet.
116. Miller: This English occupational name means “grain grinder” and has shifted to a unisex favorite.
117. Moe: This short form of Moses, Maureen, or Maurice keeps things easy and warm.
118. Nat: This short form of Nathan or Natalie means “gift of God.”
119. Nico: This short form of Nicholas or Nicole means “victory of the people.”
120. Nolan: This classic Irish surname means “champion” and makes a strong unisex first name.
121. Oakley: This English name means “oak meadow” and carries frontier flair from Annie Oakley.
122. Ocean: This nature name names the vast sea, from the Greek Okeanos.
123. Park: This English name describes someone who lived or worked by a park or enclosure.
124. Parker: This Old English occupational name means “park keeper.”
125. Peak: This English nature name means “mountain top,” for a child aiming high.
126. Perry: This name means “pear tree” in English and doubles as a short form of Peregrine.
127. Peyton: This English surname name means “fighting man’s estate” and reads easily for any child.
128. Pixel: This playful modern name names the smallest dot of a digital image.
129. Poe: This English surname name means “peacock” and evokes writer Edgar Allan Poe.
130. Quest: This English word name traces to the Latin quaerere and means “to seek.”
131. Quill: This name points to a feather pen, for a literary, artistic feel.
132. Quincy: This name means “estate of the fifth son” and honors president John Quincy Adams.
133. Quinn: This Irish name means “counsel” or “descendant of Conn” and ranks high as a unisex pick.
134. Rain: This English nature name comes from the Old English regn and carries a sense of renewal.
135. Raleigh: This Old English name means “roe deer meadow” and shares its name with North Carolina’s capital.
136. Ramsay: This Old English name means “wild garlic island” or “raven’s island.”
137. Ray: This short form of Raymond means “wise protector” and also names a beam of light.
138. Reagan: This Irish name means “little ruler” and reads confident on any child.
139. Ridley: This Old English name means “reed clearing” and nods to director Ridley Scott.
140. Riley: This Irish name means “valiant” or “rye clearing” and tops unisex charts.
141. Robin: This English name means “bright fame” and calls up both the songbird and Robin Hood.
142. Rylen: This modern variation of Ryan or Rylan carries a stylish, freshly coined feel.
143. Salem: This name means “peace,” from the Hebrew shalom, and shares its name with several US towns.
144. Santana: This Spanish name means “holy” and carries musical cool from guitarist Carlos Santana.
145. Sasha: This Russian short form of Alexander or Alexandra means “defender of the people.”
146. Sawyer: This English occupational name means “woodcutter” and recalls Tom Sawyer.
147. Sayer: This occupational name means “woodcutter” or “reciter of tales.”
148. Scout: This word name means “one who listens or explores,” made famous by To Kill a Mockingbird.
149. Sheridan: This Irish name means “seeker” or “wild one.”
150. Sidney: This English name means “wide meadow” or, as a form of Saint-Denis, honors that saint.
151. Skyler: This Dutch name means “scholar” and rings bright and airy.
152. Solo: This name means “alone” and carries space-opera flair from Han Solo.
153. Spencer: This English occupational name means “steward” or “keeper of provisions.”
154. Storm: This weather name names a powerful storm, for a bold, elemental pick.
155. Sutton: This Old English name means “southern settlement.”
156. Tarot: This French-rooted name recalls the illustrated fortune-telling cards.
157. Tate: This Old Norse name from teitr means “cheerful” or “glad.”
158. Tatum: This Old English name means “Tata’s homestead” and carries jazz cool from pianist Art Tatum.
159. Taylor: This English occupational name means “tailor” and has long worked for anyone.
160. Teal: This color name names the blue-green shade, borrowed from the small duck.
161. Tig: This short, punchy name works as a nickname for Antigone or as a spin on Tiger.
162. Tommy: This nickname for Thomas or Thomasina means “twin.”
163. Truth: This virtue name names honesty itself, echoing abolitionist Sojourner Truth.
164. Urban: This Latin name means “of the city” and was borne by several popes.
165. Vale: This Old English nature name means “valley.”
166. Valentine: This Latin name means “strong” and “healthy” and carries a romantic ring.
167. Vesper: This Latin name means “evening star” and reads quietly dramatic.
168. Viper: This Latin-rooted nature name names the snake, for a fierce pick.
169. Winter: This season name marks the cold months, for a crisp, striking choice.
170. Wisdom: This virtue name for any smart nonbinary kid means “deep knowledge and insight.”
171. Wren: This Old English bird name belongs to a tiny songbird known for its outsized voice.
172. Wylie: This Old English name means “crafty” or “well-watered meadow.”
173. Wynn: This name means “friend” in Old English and “fair” in Welsh.
174. Yael: This Hebrew name means “mountain goat” or “ibex” and belongs to a biblical heroine.
175. Yuri: This name means “farmer” in Russian and “lily” in Japanese.
176. Zaire: This African name comes from a great river once called the Zaire, now the Congo.
177. Zane: This Hebrew-rooted name means “God is gracious” and nods to writer Zane Grey.
178. Zealand: This place name means “sea land” and echoes Denmark’s largest island and New Zealand.
179. Zenith: This word name marks the highest point in the sky, for a soaring feel.
180. Zephyr: This Greek name means “west wind,” from the gentle god Zephyrus.

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