Arctic Baby Names

North's image and gender status was irrevocably changed when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their newborn daughter. But why not? West is firmly established as a name, Easton is coming up strong, and North has a nice solid sound as well -- certainly as appropriate for either gender. South, though, not so much.

Visually similar to Jack and Jacob, but with a refreshing Nordic origin and literally ice-cool meaning.

Although barely heard in the English-speaking world, this Slavic name is popular in Russia and the Balkans, and is also used in Scandinavia. It could be a snazzy name (or middle name) for a snow baby.

Nature names are often associated with Spring and Summer, but Glacier is ideal for a winter baby.

If not for Motown founder Berry Gordy, this name would now be totally in the girl group.

A unisex name from the snowy north.

It's a bear, it's an island, it's (almost) a camera. It's starting to catch some parents' eyes as a wild, adventurous name.

With geographical features like Savannah and Sierra and increasingly getting the baby-name treatment, could icy Tundra also see some use? It's only appeared six times on the Social Security rankings, all in the 1960s and 70s.

Canada is an undiscovered but attractive place-name possibility, up till now a masculine territory.

Ptarmigan is the common English name for the genus Lagopus, in the grouse family of birds. The name is derived from the Scottish word for the bird, tàrmachan (meaning unknown), with the initial P- added by erroneous association with the Greek pteron ("wing").

Projects the sleek and playful image of the aquatic mammal, plus that of the striking British-born Brazilian/Nigerian/Afro-Caribbean singer (born Sealhenry).

Likable addition to the list of unisex tree names.

An unusual but fairly straightforward name, with an appealing meaning conjuring up wild, graceful seabirds.

Ptarmigan is the common English name for the genus Lagopus, in the grouse family of birds. The name is derived from the Scottish word for the bird, tàrmachan (meaning unknown), with the initial P- added by erroneous association with the Greek pteron ("wing").

A unisex name from the snowy north.