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39 English names

Unisex English names

Gender-neutral English names used for both boys and girls, such as Alex, Taylor and Jordan, with what each one means and where it comes from.

Names

  1. AlexUnisexAL-iks · GreekMeans “defender of men”Alex is a short form of Alexander for boys and Alexandra for girls, both from Greek words for “defend” and “man”. It is now often given as a full name on its own. Because it works for both genders, it is one of the best-known unisex names in English.
  2. AshtonUnisexASH-tuhn · Old EnglishMeans “ash tree town”Ashton was first an English surname, taken from the many places called Ashton, meaning a settlement near ash trees. It became a first name in the 20th century. It is mostly given to boys, and only sometimes to girls.
  3. AveryUnisexAY-vuh-ree · Old EnglishMeans “elf counsel”Avery comes from an English surname that grew out of a Norman French form of the Old English name Alfred, which joins words for “elf” and “advice”. It was used mainly for boys at first. Today in the US it is given to girls much more often than to boys.
  4. BaileyUnisexBAY-lee · EnglishMeans “bailiff”Bailey is an English surname for a bailiff, an officer who looked after land or the law; it can also come from the “bailey”, the outer wall of a castle. As a first name it is more common for boys in the UK but given to girls more often in the US.
  5. BlakeUnisexBLAYK · Old EnglishMeans “dark; or pale, shining”Blake comes from an English surname with two possible sources: the Old English word for “black, dark” or a similar word for “pale, shining”. Nobody can be sure which one applies, so the name has two opposite meanings. It is mostly a boy’s name, but it is also used for girls.
  6. CameronUnisexKAM-er-uhn · ScottishMeans “crooked nose”Cameron is the name of a famous Scottish clan, from the Gaelic words for “crooked” and “nose”. It became a first name in the 20th century. It is mainly given to boys, but girls get it too, sometimes spelled Camryn.
  7. CaseyUnisexKAY-see · IrishMeans “watchful, vigilant”Casey comes from the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, based on a word meaning “alert” or “on guard”. It became a first name in the US and spread from there. It is used for boys and girls in roughly similar numbers.
  8. CharlieUnisexCHAR-lee · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlie is a short form of Charles for boys and Charlotte for girls, both from a Germanic word for a man who was not a slave. It is now very often given as a full name. In the UK it is a favourite for boys, while in the US it is used for both genders.
  9. ChrisUnisexKRIS · GreekMeans “bearing Christ; follower of Christ”Chris is a short form of Christopher for boys and Christine or Christina for girls. These names come from Greek words connected with Christ and the Christian faith. As a name on its own it is usually male, but many women use it as a nickname.
  10. DrewUnisexDROO · GreekMeans “manly, brave”Drew began as a short form of Andrew, from a Greek word for “man” and “brave”. It is also an English surname, and that is how many girls got it. It is mostly a boy’s name, though the actress Drew Barrymore made it familiar for girls.
  11. ElliotUnisexEL-ee-uht · HebrewMeans “my God is Yahweh”Elliot comes from an English surname that grew from a medieval pet form of Elias, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah. It is mainly given to boys. Girls are sometimes named Elliot too, especially in the US.
  12. EmersonUnisexEM-er-suhn · GermanicMeans “son of Emery”Emerson is an English surname meaning “son of Emery”, and Emery comes from an old Germanic name. It became better known through the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today it is used for both genders, and in the US slightly more often for girls.
  13. FinleyUnisexFIN-lee · ScottishMeans “fair warrior”Finley comes from the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnlagh, made from words for “white, fair” and “warrior”. It is a popular boy’s name in the UK. In the US it is used for both genders and in recent years more often for girls.
  14. FrankieUnisexFRANK-ee · LatinMeans “Frenchman”Frankie is a pet form of Francis for boys and Frances for girls. Both come from the Latin Franciscus, which referred to the Franks, the people who gave France its name. It is now often given as a full name to both boys and girls.
  15. HarleyUnisexHAR-lee · Old EnglishMeans “hare clearing”Harley comes from an English surname based on a place name, probably from Old English words for “hare” and “wood, clearing”. Many people also link it with the motorbike brand. It is more common for boys in the UK, while in the US it is given to both genders.
  16. HaydenUnisexHAY-duhn · Old EnglishMeans “hay valley”Hayden is an English surname from place names, usually explained as “hay valley” in Old English. It became a first name in the late 20th century. It is mostly given to boys, but it is also used for girls.
  17. JamieUnisexJAY-mee · HebrewMeans “supplanter”Jamie started as a Scottish pet form of James, which goes back to the Hebrew name Jacob. It is still used for boys, especially in the UK. Since the 20th century it has also been a common girl’s name.
  18. JesseUnisexJES-ee · HebrewMeans “gift”Jesse comes from the Hebrew name Yishai, which possibly means “gift”, though scholars are not certain. In the Bible he is the father of King David. Jesse is mostly a boy’s name, while girls more often use the spelling Jessie.
  19. JordanUnisexJOR-duhn · HebrewMeans “flowing down”Jordan is the name of the river in the Middle East where, in the Bible, Jesus was baptised. The river’s Hebrew name comes from a word meaning “to go down”. It is more common for boys, but it is also a well-used girl’s name.
  20. JulesUnisexJOOLZ · LatinMeans “youthful, downy-bearded”Jules is the French form of the Roman name Julius, whose origin is uncertain; it may come from a Greek word for a young man’s first beard. In France it is a boy’s name. In English it is also used as a short form of Julia, Juliet or Julian, so it works for both genders.
  21. KellyUnisexKEL-ee · IrishMeans “bright-headed; or war, strife”Kelly comes from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, from an old name whose meaning is not certain. In Ireland it was first a boy’s name. Today it is used mainly for girls, especially in the US and UK.
  22. KendallUnisexKEN-duhl · EnglishMeans “valley of the river Kent”Kendall is an English surname taken from the town of Kendal in Cumbria, which lies in the valley of the river Kent. It was used for boys first. Today it is given more often to girls, especially in the US.
  23. LeeUnisexLEE · Old EnglishMeans “clearing, meadow”Lee comes from an English surname based on the Old English word for an open space in a wood. It became popular as a first name in the 20th century. It is more common for boys, while girls often use the spelling Leigh.
  24. LeslieUnisexLEZ-lee · ScottishMeans “garden of holly”Leslie comes from a Scottish surname and place name; it probably means “garden of holly”, but the origin is not certain. In the UK it is mainly a man’s name, and women usually spell it Lesley. In the US the spelling Leslie is given far more often to girls.
  25. MorganUnisexMOR-guhn · WelshMeans “sea circle”Morgan comes from the old Welsh name Morcant, probably from words for “sea” and “circle”, though the meaning is not certain. In Wales it has long been a boy’s name, but the witch Morgan le Fay in the King Arthur stories is female. Today it is used for both genders, and in the US mostly for girls.
  26. ParkerUnisexPAR-ker · EnglishMeans “park keeper”Parker is an English surname for a person who looked after a park, a large area of land where animals were kept for hunting. It is mostly given to boys in the US. A smaller number of girls are also named Parker.
  27. PeytonUnisexPAY-tuhn · Old EnglishMeans “Pæga’s town”Peyton comes from an English surname based on a place name meaning the settlement of a man called Pæga. It is used for both genders in the US. In recent years it has been given more often to girls than to boys.
  28. PhoenixUnisexFEE-niks · GreekMeans “dark red”In Greek myth the phoenix is a bird that dies in fire and is born again from the ashes, so the name suggests new life. The Greek word also meant a deep red or purple colour. It is used for both boys and girls, and it is also the name of a city in Arizona.
  29. QuinnUnisexKWIN · IrishMeans “descendant of Conn”Quinn comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, from the old name Conn, which may mean “chief” or “sense, reason”. In Ireland it is mainly a surname. As a first name in the US it is now given more often to girls, but boys get it too.
  30. ReeseUnisexREES · WelshMeans “enthusiasm, ardour”Reese is an English spelling of the Welsh boy’s name Rhys, borne by several medieval Welsh princes. In the UK the Welsh spelling Rhys and the form Reece are used for boys. In the US, Reese is now mostly a girl’s name.
  31. RileyUnisexRY-lee · IrishMeans “descendant of Raghallach”Riley usually comes from the Irish surname Reilly, from an old name whose meaning is unknown. It can also come from an English place name meaning “rye clearing”. It is popular for both genders, more for boys in the UK and more for girls in the US.
  32. RiverUnisexRIV-er · EnglishMeans “river”River is simply the English word for a large stream of water, used as a name since the late 20th century. It suggests calm, flowing nature. It is given to both genders, a little more often to boys.
  33. RobinUnisexROB-in · GermanicMeans “bright fame”Robin began in the Middle Ages as a pet form of Robert, a Germanic name made from words for “fame” and “bright”, and it is also the name of a small red-breasted bird. It is the name of the outlaw hero Robin Hood. In the UK it is more often a man’s name, while in the US it is more common for women.
  34. RowanUnisexROH-uhn · IrishMeans “little red one”Rowan comes from the Irish name Ruadhán, from a word for “red”, and it is also the name of a tree with bright red berries. It is mostly a boy’s name. It is given to girls as well, often because of the tree.
  35. SageUnisexSAYJ · EnglishMeans “wise; the herb sage”Sage is an English word for a wise person and also for a herb used in cooking. Both words come from Latin, through French. It is used for both genders, and somewhat more often for girls.
  36. SamUnisexSAM · HebrewMeans “God has heard”Sam is a short form of Samuel for boys and Samantha for girls. Samuel is a Hebrew name, usually explained as “God has heard” or “name of God”, and Samantha was probably made from it in America. Sam is one of the most common unisex short names in English.
  37. SkylerUnisexSKY-ler · GermanicMeans “scholar”Skyler comes from the Dutch surname Schuyler, which means “scholar”, with a spelling changed to look like the English word “sky”. It was used for boys first. Today it is given to both genders, and the spelling Skylar is more common for girls.
  38. SydneyUnisexSID-nee · Old EnglishMeans “wide island”Sydney comes from the English surname Sidney, usually explained as an Old English place name meaning “wide island”; an old idea that it comes from the French Saint-Denis is not supported. It was once mainly a boy’s name. Today the spelling Sydney is mostly given to girls, while Sidney stays more common for boys.
  39. TaylorUnisexTAY-ler · EnglishMeans “tailor”Taylor is an English surname for a person who made clothes, from an old French word meaning “to cut”. It became a first name in the 20th century. It was used for boys first, but in the US it is now mostly given to girls.