We love Theo or Luca!
We all know about boy names for girls like Madison and Addison, Harper and Avery that were once exclusively male, later to be counted among the most popular girl names. Then there are the newer names crossing the gender divide toward the girls’ side. We don’t mean word names like Rebel and Timber that are not intrinsically gendered, unisex nicknames such as Billie and Andie that have long been used for girls, or established nonbinary names such as Rowan or Robin. We’re talking about traditional boy names that are being used, in some cases, for literally hundreds of baby girls.
Arlo
The name Arlo is a name of Spanish origin meaning “between two hills.” Arlo has many possible derivations along with its Irish and English roots. It may be a shortened form of the Italian name Carlo or the Spanish Carlos, and in Basque-speaking regions, it is the word for “area.”
Atlas
The name Atlas is a name of Greek origin meaning “bearer of the heavens.” Previously thought too powerful for a baby boy – who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders – Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names now in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo.
Bennett
The name Bennett is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name meaning “blessed.” With its “ett” ending, Bennett is the most feminine of all the Ben-names and thus has been adopted by parents of baby girls. Bennette and Bennet are alternate spellings.
Cooper
The name Cooper is a name of English origin meaning “barrel maker.” The genial yet upscale and preppy Cooper was one of the first occupational last names to catch on — and Cooper remains a pleasing option.
Gianni
The name Gianni is a name of Italian origin meaning “God is gracious.” Gianni, the Italian equivalent of Johnny, sounds more substantial and fresh. Like many names starting with “Gian”, it is on a rising trend.
Jameson
The name Jameson is a name of English origin meaning “son of James.” Stylish surname way to go if you want to name a girl after a James, and is more substantial than the passé Jamie; it was chosen for their daughter by Chynna Phillips and Billy Baldwin.
Related: Popular Baby Names with Surprisingly Bad Meanings
Jupiter
The name Jupiter is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name meaning “godfather.” The name of the supreme Roman deity and the largest planet has until recently had either too hippie or too grandiose a feel for most mortals, but with the rise of sound-alike Juniper and space names such as Orion and Mars, Jupiter may find new favor.
Koa
The name Koa is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name meaning “warrior.” A Hawaiian name with a fierce meaning, Koa is also a type of tree native to the islands, its wood is favored for building canoes and surfboards. It strikes a nice balance: part-gentle nature name, part-bold adventurer.
Kobe
The name Kobe is a name of Swahili origin meaning “tortoise.” Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose name was inspired by a Japanese steak house, brought this energetic and appealing name into—and out of—the mix. Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020 increased the popularity of his name, as fans and admirers named their children Kobe in honor of the star.
Lincoln
The name Lincoln is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name meaning “town by the pool.” Whether in honor of the President, the car, or one of the many cities across the US (and the world) named Lincoln, this is a recognizable yet off-beat choice that is sure to attract comment and attention and is one of the steadily growing boy names for girls.
Luca
The name Luca is a name of Italian origin meaning “man from Lucania.” If there was once a bias against this charming and venerable Italian name for possibly sounding too feminine, consider it gone. It’s one of the top Italian baby names in the US and a popular choice throughout Europe as well.
Ramsey
The name Ramsay is a boy’s name of English origin meaning “low-lying land.” The cruelly-macho character of Ramsey Bolton on Game of Thrones would seem to mitigate against this name being seen as the least bit girlish, but in 2021 there were 120 female Ramseys born to 134 males, placing it among the most popular of the truly unisex baby names.
Scottie
The name Scottie is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name meaning “Scot.” It’s a sweet, slightly old-school nickname name with a cheerful image.
Theo
The name Theo is a name of Greek origin meaning “divine gift.” Theo as a girl’s name is used for only a handful of babies today. As a short form of Theodora, Theo is used much less frequently than Thea or even Teddy.
Zion
The name Zion is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “highest point.” A Biblical place name that’s one of the rising unisex baby names for both girls and boys. It’s got an uplifting feel and that zippy Z beginning. The name has gained popularity after being used by celebrities including Lauryn Hill and Fantasia Barrino.
Related: Grandpa Names Are the New Trend for Baby Girls in 2023
