100 New Names

Updated Tue Nov 30 2021

There are over 70,000 baby names on Nameberry, but we're adding new names all the time – many of them suggested by our very own Berry community.

The newest names on Nameberry range from rare nature names like Bracken and Lunaria, to mythological names like Apollon and Euphrosyne, to pop culture names like Belcalis and Rubeus. They are drawn from a wide variety of origins, from Serbian to Egyptian and from Irish Gaelic to Yoruba.

Read on for 100 of the most intriguing new names added to Nameberry this year.

100 New Nameberry Names

Brazos

“It appears to be more common as a boy’s name, and I do find it masculine with the -os ending. But it’s HUGGABLE because it’s so close to abrazos.”

A strong sounding unisex name that first appeared on the Texas list in 1994, when it was given to five baby boys. It continues to be most popular in Texas – unsurprisingly, since it’s the name of a Texan county, a Texan blackberry, and a river that flows through the state to the Gulf of Mexico. The name Brazos derives from the river’s early Spanish name: Río de los Brazos de Dios “River of the Arms of God”.

Thanks to @eattacosforbreakfast for suggesting Brazos.

Caillou

“From what I can find it is French for 'pebble' which I think is utterly adorable for a little boy. It’s also the name of a Canadian educational children’s television series as well as the name of the titular character.”

Pronounced “kye-OO” in French, this super-sweet French nickname meaning “pebble” (given to the character due to his bald head) would make an adorable pet name. But it feels wearable for a human child too, especially given the recent interest in quirky -oo ending names, like Lilou, Malou and Zissou.

Thanks to @Ameliaanwen for suggesting Caillou.

Evaluna

“I’d assumed I invented the name until I came across Evaluna Montaner. She’s a singer from Venezuela. My invented meaning is ‘life of the moon’ since Eva means life and Luna means moon.”

Fresh compound names for girls are starting to rise, and Evaluna is a beautiful option which combines two of the hottest girl names of the moment: Eva and Luna, with a touch of classic Evelyn and its romantic European variant Evelina.

Thanks to @fearlessfirefly, @ladywiththelamp and @eileithyia for suggesting Evaluna.

Oaken

“There is a puppy down the street from us named Oaken. He is named after oak trees and even though he’s a dog, I think it would be cute on a kid.”

Made famous by the larger-than-life shopkeeper in Frozen, Oaken does not actually have Nordic roots but instead derives from the English adjective meaning “made of oak”, or from the name of the tree combined with the fashionable -en ending sound. It’s been gaining steadily in usage since entering the US list in 2013, the year of the first movie's release.

Thanks to @Larryisalittledog for suggesting Oaken.

Patroclus

“Patroclus is another figure from Greek mythology and related to the Trojan War. I think if Achilles, Priam, Andromache, Aeneas, etc. are here, then the lovely Patroclus should be too.”

The name of a close friend of Achilles and a fellow soldier during the Trojan War, whose heroism and death at the hands of Hector is detailed in Homer’s Iliad. It can be pronounced “pah-TRO-clus” or “PAT-ro-clus” in English.

Thanks to @regionlatbest for suggesting Patroclus.

Síomha

“This Irish girl’s name is pronounced SHEE-va. It reminds me of Siobhan and Saoirse, and is equally pretty in my opinion. I know someone with this name myself!”

Derived from the Irish name Síthmaith, from the elements síth “peace” and maith “good”, this light and airy Gaelic name has one of the best meanings around. Its simple, sleek sound feels very international, especially with other gorgeous Gaelic names like Aoife, Saoirse and Niamh starting to catch on outside of Ireland.

Thanks to @planetnames for suggesting Síomha.

Valaida

“A famous bearer is Valaida Snow (1904-1956), a virtuoso US jazz musician who played internationally. A pioneer for black female musicians, she also expressed her love for women by recording the song Chloe.”

Apparently an invented name that was first used for Snow herself, Valaida has appeared on the US baby names list three times: twice in the 1930s at the height of her international success, and again in 1956, the year of her untimely death at the age of just 51. Music lovers might appreciate the tribute to one of jazz’s great unsung heroes.

Thanks to @tanaquil for suggesting Valaida.

New Nameberry Girl Names

New Nameberry Boy Names

About the Author

Emma Waterhouse

Emma Waterhouse joined the team in 2017, writing about everything from the top baby name trends 2023 to how not to choose the next big baby name. As Nameberry's head moderator, she also helps to keep our active forums community ticking.

Emma's articles on names and naming trends have been featured in publications including the Huffington Post, People, Today's Parent, Fatherly, and Good Housekeeping.

A linguist by background, Emma speaks several languages and lives in England's smallest county with her husband and four young children. You can reach her at emma@nameberry.com.

View all of Emma Waterhouse's articles