Unique American Names
by Team NameslistPosted on: April 8th, 2023Picking a baby's name is tough. Parents can take months reading baby name books, browsing the web, and asking others for help. With countless names out there, it's no wonder why some parents want a name that really stands out.
Welcome: odd American baby names. Forget the common Johns and Janes - parents today want names as special as their kids. Whether it's names from nature or inspired by pop culture, when picking a unique name for your baby, anything goes.
But what makes a name "odd" or "unique"? It could be a name not heard often, or one with a distinctive spelling or sound. Some parents may pick a name that captures their cultural roots or honours a cherished family member. Whatever the reason, these names are sure to get attention and start talks.
So, if you're searching for a memorable name for your child, this list of unique and uncommon American baby names could help. From Aria to Zephyr, there's a name here for every parent wanting to give their child a truly standout name.
- Clinton
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Bright stream and Hilltop town
- Namesakes: Football Player, Clinton Portis, Physicist, Clinton Davisson
- Florida
- Origin: Latin, Spanish and Place name
- Meaning: Flourishing, Blooming flower and Flowery
- Huckleberry
- Origin: Word name, literary name and American
- Meaning: Sweet berry
- Namesakes: Character, Huckleberry Finn, Huckleberry Edward Joscelyne Grylls
- Sequoyah
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Sparrow
- Cherokee
- Meaning: People of a different speech
- Azure
- Origin: French and Color name
- Meaning: Also a boy's name, Sky blue and He who assists
- Raleigh
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Deer's meadow and Field of birds
- Namesakes: British writer, Raleigh Trevelyan, Raleigh McKenzie (Football Player)
- Jericho
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: City of the moon
- Namesakes: TV Actor, Jericho Rosales, American, Writer, Jericho Brown
- Trenton
- Origin: English, place-name and British
- Meaning: Torrent, Dweller by the Trent and Rapid stream
- Namesakes: Football Player, Trenton Irwin
- Nashoba
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Wolf
- Kaya
- Origin: Latin, Hawaiian, Scandinavian and Native American
- Meaning: She who arranges rocks, Wise child and Resting place
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Kaya Scodelario, Pop Singer, Kaya Jones
- Yosemite
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Those who kill
- Pepper
- Origin: Sanskrit, German, Latin and English
- Meaning: Berry and Relating to the spice
- Namesakes: Pepper Johnson (Football Player) , American, Actress, Pepper Kester
- West
- Origin: British, English and Word name
- Meaning: Western stream and Westerly direction
- Namesakes: West Dylan Thordson (American composer)
- True
- Origin: British and Word name
- Meaning: TRUE, From Truly and Adored warrior
- Namesakes: Actor, True Boardman
- Biff
- Origin: American
- Meaning: To hit
- Namesakes: Biff McGuire (American actor) , Biff Elliot (Actor, boxer)
- Bud
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Friend, Herald and To puff up
- Namesakes: Comedian, Bud Abbott, Bud Collins (Sportscaster)
- Rocky
- Origin: German, Italian, English and British
- Meaning: Rest and Rock
- Namesakes: Boxer, Rocky Marciano, Rocky Carroll (TV Actor)
- Miley
- Origin: Modern invented name and African
- Meaning: Vine
- Namesakes: Pop Singer, Miley Cyrus, American artist, Miley Tucker-Frost
- Ama
- Origin: Latin and German
- Meaning: Water and Born on a Saturday
- Namesakes: Playwright, Ama Ata Aidoo, Ama Annan
- Liberty
- Origin: English word name and British
- Meaning: Freedom
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Liberty Ross, Liberty Phoenix (TV Actress)
- Janelle
- Origin: American
- Meaning: God is gracious and Fair one
- Namesakes: Janelle Pierzina (Reality Star) , American, Singer, Janelle Monáe
- Tala
- Origin: Scandinavian, Arabic and Persian
- Meaning: Noble, Story and Star
- Namesakes: Tala Ashe (TV Actress) , Tala Madani (Iranian artist)
- Westin
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Western town
- Denali
- Origin: Place-name and Native American
- Meaning: The great one
- Charleston
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Free peasant's settlement
- Yona
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Bear and Dove
- Namesakes: professor, Yona Harvey, Diver, Yona Knight-Wisdom
- Ashlyn
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Dream
- Namesakes: Ashlyn Harris (Soccer Player) , Ashlyn Sanchez (Movie Actress)
- Euna
- Origin: Latin, Scottish and Greek
- Meaning: Unity or one and Waterfall
- Snow
- Origin: British and English word name
- Meaning: Frozen rain and Snow
- Namesakes: German, Royalty, Snow White, Movie Actress, Snow Suen
- Philadelphia
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Loving people, Brotherly love and City
- Namesakes: Philadelphia Carr
- Indio
- Origin: Spanish and American
- Meaning: Indian and Of Indiana
- Namesakes: India (Argentine musician) , Indio Falconer Downey (Family Member)
- Juneau
- Origin: Place-name and Latin
- Meaning: Queen of heaven and Young
- Marilee
- Origin: Welsh, English, Hebrew and Egyptian
- Meaning: Bitterness, Meadow and God is with us
- Namesakes: Marilee Jones, Marilee Shapiro Asher (American artist)
- Jaelynn
- Origin: Modern invented name and American
- Meaning: Supplanter and May God protect
- Apple
- Origin: American and English nature name
- Meaning: Apple and Popular fruit
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Apple Chan, Apple Martin (Family Member)
- Virginia
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Maid, Virgin and Pure
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Virginia Madsen, Virginia Wade (Tennis Player)
- Kinta
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Deer
- Namesakes: Kinta Tamaoka
- Emmalyn
- Origin: German, French and Latin
- Meaning: Peaceful home
- Shevonne
- Origin: American and Irish
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Atlanta
- Origin: Greek mythology name and Place-name
- Meaning: Secure and immovable, Immoveable and Place name
- Namesakes: Celebrity Baby, Atlanta, Popularity of Atlanta as a baby name (born 2001)
- Alaska
- Origin: Native American and Place name
- Meaning: Great land
- Namesakes: Alaska 5000 (Reality Star)
- Sojourner
- Origin: French, American and English
- Meaning: Sojourner Truth, Traveler and To stay a while
- Buster
- Origin: British
- Meaning: One who breaks things and Tough guy
- Namesakes: Buster Keaton (Comedian) , Buster Posey (Baseball Player)
- Steel
- Origin: Word name and British
- Meaning: Like steel
- Namesakes: Character, Steel (John Henry Irons)
- Jazz
- Origin: Flower name, American, Persian and Word name
- Meaning: Jazz
- Namesakes: Activist, Jazz Jennings, Jazz Raycole (TV Actress)
- Sequoia
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Redwood and Sparrow
- Winona
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: First-born and Firstborn daughter
- Namesakes: Winona Ryder (Movie Actress) , Author and activist, Winona LaDuke
- Kadence
- Origin: word name and Latin
- Meaning: Rhythmic flow of sounds, Cadence and Dances
- Arizona
- Origin: Indian and American
- Meaning: Little springs
- Namesakes: Arizona Reid (Basketball Player) , Model, Arizona Muse