Unisex Girl Names: the Past, Present, and Future
Unisex girl names — did we get that right?
Yep, these are names that are given mainly to girls but still feel unisex. Many parents love this style for their daughters, and with lots of cool possibilities, it’s easy to see why.
What makes girl names like Everly, Riley and Quinn so popular? First, they’re fresh and modern, so they have no previous associations. No mean girls at school, no awkward movie characters, no terrible historical figures. Today's kids can make these names their own.
This style arose around 50 years ago. Before that, there were a few popular unisex-feminine names (Shirley, Willie, Vivian), but feminizations — like vintage Frances and Geraldine, then mid-century Michelle and Nicole — were much more dominant.
Around the 1960s and '70s, the balance tipped and once-unisex names like Tracy and Stacy, Shannon and Morgan, took over the girls’ charts. Today, there are only a few feminizations left in the US Top 100, including Charlotte and Gabriella, and there are many more unisex girl names.
This style suits creative tastes, adding a playful twist to sounds already in fashion. There’s a straight line from the popularity of Emma and Ava to the rise of Emery and Avery. And the cycle goes on, as favorites from past generations give way to similar-yet-different names: Harper is the new Taylor, Kinsley is the new Kimberly.
Then there’s the gender thing. If you’re looking for a girl name that’s not traditionally feminine or frilly, but is upbeat and substantial and a little bit gender-ambiguous… well, these names capture all that.
Take a look at what’s hot now, and where unisex girl names are heading next.
Popular Unisex-Style Girl Names
Popular endings for unisex-style girl names include -ry, -ly, -dy, -son, and -ton — plus spelling variations like-ree, -lie, and -tyn. These create names that feel like placenames and last names, whether they really are or not. Favorite initial sounds include K-, P-, R-, and vowels. Certain occupational names are hot too, led by Harper and Skylar.
These unisex girl names are in the US Top 100:
- Harper
- Avery
- Nova
- Madison
- Riley
- Paisley
- Addison
- Everly
- Kinsley
- Genesis
- Brooklyn
- Quinn
- Kennedy
- Aubrey
- Emery
- Skylar
- Everleigh
Rising Gender Neutral Girl Names
Below the Top 100, these names are all rising and would be cool, but not too out-there, to use for a girl now.
- Amari
- Amiri
- Andi
- Aspen
- Azul
- Baylor
- Bellamy
- Blair
- Campbell
- Charlie
- Collins
- Eden
- Frankie
- Holland
- Indie
- Jovie
- Jream
- Kit
- Leighton
- Memphis
- Miller
- Montana
- Murphy
- Noa
- Noor
- Oakley
- Ocean
- Palmer
- Remi
- Renley
- Ripley
- River
- Robin
- Rory
- Sage
- Salem
- Saylor
- Scottie
- Scout
- Sevyn
- Shiloh
- Sol
- Stevie
- Sunny
- Sutton
- Tatum
- Tru
- Waverly
- Wren
- Zuri
Future Trends in Unisex Girl Names
The names on the list above help to predict which trends we’re likely to see more of in the next few years. They include:
— Names ending in -ari like Amari and Kamari; in an “O” sound, like Harlow and Monroe, and in -en, like Aspen and Eden
— Meaningful and spiritual word names, such as Journey and Legacy
— City and country names, like Denver and Egypt
— Androgynous "grandpa" nicknames such as Frankie and Stevie
With this as a guide, here are some rare options with great potential. If you love this style and want a name not many people have discovered, it could be one of these.
- Afton
- Arden
- Atlee
- Auri
- Aven
- Billie
- Channing
- Clarke
- Cypress
- Echo
- Ellington
- Eris
- Georgie
- Harlem
- Hennessy
- Hollis
- Indiana
- Italy
- Jersey
- Kobie
- Linden
- Loyalty
- Maybrie
- Merritt
- Ollie
- Perry
- Porter
- Quinley
- Ramsey
- Rio
- Rome
- Shea
- Silver
- Story
- Teddy
- Timber
- Winslow
- Zari
Want more inspiration? Read our list of Unisex Names for Girls.