The 21st century has ushered in some interesting trends, with the choosing of increasingly outlandish baby names being one of them. While there’s plenty to be said for having a cool name that stands out from the crowd, some parents (ahem, celebrities!) have gone a bit overboard with monikers like Fanta and Apple.
For the rest of us, we have to be much more judicious. However, there are some truly beautiful names that you won’t easily find on a preschool classroom roster. Take Abner, for example–this old farmhouse favorite is making a comeback with parents of baby boys thanks to its lovely Hebrew origin, meaning “father of light.
We also love Allura for girls; not only does it call to mind the word “allure,” which in itself is a sleek-sounding word with an attractive meaning, but this British name means “Godly adviser.” Talk about starting your little one off on the right foot!
Another trendy name for baby girls is Suzu, which could be a de mode update on its postwar-era predecessor Susan. Suzu, however, is Japanese in origin, and means “little bell,” which we hope is a prayer for what her cries will sound like.
If you’re looking to inspire strength in your little boy, consider Apollo or Ellington. The former references the Greek sun god while the latter is a nod to jazz giant Duke Ellington. Clearly, you can’t go wrong taking the namesake of such renowned figures here.
Check out our list below for more of our favorite trendy baby names.
Abner
Meaning: Father of light
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Adelaide
Meaning: Of Noble Kin
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Aidan
Meaning: Little Fire
Origin: Irish
Gender: Unisex
Alastair
Meaning: Defender Of The People
Origin: Scottish
Gender: Boy
Alexander
Meaning: Defender Of The People
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Allura
Meaning: Godly adviser
Origin: British
Gender: Girl
Apollo
Meaning: Sun God
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Archer
Meaning: Bowman, One Who Excels At Archery
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Aria
Meaning: Solo Melody
Origin: Italian
Gender: Girl
Aurora
Meaning: Dawn
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Ava
Meaning: Like A Bird
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Benjamin
Meaning: Son Of My Right Hand
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Caleb
Meaning: Whole Hearted
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Charlotte
Meaning: Free
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
Connor
Meaning: Descendent Of Hound, Desire
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Declan
Meaning: Full Of Goodness
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Delilah
Meaning: Delicate, Weakened
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Elijah
Meaning: My God Is Yahweh
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Eliza
Meaning: God Is My Oath
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Ellington
Meaning: Jazz giant Duke Ellington
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Ethan
Meaning: Firm, Strong
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Felix
Meaning: Happy And Prosperous
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Finn
Meaning: Fair
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Freya
Meaning: Goddess Of Love, Fertility And Beauty
Origin: Scandinavian
Gender: Girl
Gabriel
Meaning: God Is My Strength
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Grace
Meaning: Charm
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Grayson
Meaning: Son Of The Grey-Haired One
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Griffin
Meaning: From Gryphon – A Fabled Monster
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Boy
Hannah
Meaning: Grace
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Hazel
Meaning: The Hazel Tree
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Henry
Meaning: Ruler Of The Home
Origin: German
Gender: Boy
Isla
Meaning: Island
Origin: Scottish
Gender: Girl
Jasper
Meaning: Treasurer
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Kaden
Meaning: Fighter
Origin: American
Gender: Boy
Keira
Meaning: Black Haired
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Levi
Meaning: Joined In Harmony
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Liam
Meaning: With Gilded Helmet
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Luna
Meaning: The Moon
Origin: Italian
Gender: Girl
Maeve
Meaning: Intoxicating
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Matthew
Meaning: Gift Of God
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Mia
Meaning:Of The Sea Or Bitter
Origin: Scandinavian
Gender: Girl
Nora
Meaning: Honor
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Oliver
Meaning: Descendant Of The Ancestor
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Owen
Meaning: The Yew Tree Or Youth
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Scarlett
Meaning: Red
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Sebastian
Meaning: Venerable
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Suzu
Meaning: Little bell
Origin: Japanese
Gender: Girl
Theodore
Meaning: Divine Gift
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Violet
Meaning: Purple/blue Flower
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Vivienne
Meaning: Alive
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
