A nonbinary name is one that is commonly used by men, women and anyone in-between. There are many reasons why you might want to use a gender neutral name for your child or yourself.
Whether it’s to prevent gender stereotyping or because it’s desirable to have, choosing nonbinary names are a great way to go in today’s modern world.
Continue reading and I’ll walk you through some of my favorite nonbinary names, including what they mean and why they’re compelling.
1. Addison
Addison originates from Old English and it means “child of Adam”.
Prior to the 1990s, the name was almost exclusively for boys. The name became popular for girls starting in the mid-90s and has been used for both genders ever since.
And names from the 90s are making a comeback.
Addison peaked in 2007 but it continues to a trendy and cool name up to this day.
One of the most famous Addison’s is Addison Riecke – an actress and Instagram influencer with almost 2 million followers. There’s also Addison Russell, a professional baseball player.
2. Ashton
Ashton is an English name and it means “from the town of ash trees”.
In the early 1900s, Ashton was one of the popular names in the country for boys. Ever since 2002, it has placed in the 200 names for boys and reached its peak rank of 76 in 2004.
In 1986, Ashton popped up on the top 1,000 names for girls. It shot up to 260 in 1989 but dropped back down to just the top 1000 in 2006.
The TV and movie actor Ashton Kutcher is perhaps the most famous Ashton. Ashton Shepherd is a famous country music singer-songwriter.
3. Cameron
Cameron is a Scottish name and, believe it or not, means to “have a crooked nose.”
The name is generally more popular for boys than for girls. Ever since 1987, the name has been in the top 100 for boys. It reached its peak in 2000 at the 31 spot.
In 1980, Cameron made its way to the top 1,000 list for girls and hit its most popular year in 1999.
There’s Something About Mary, starring Cameron Diaz, came out in 1998. As one of the highest-grossing films of the year, it makes sense why Cameron was such a popular name around this time.
Aside from Cameron Diaz, there’s also Cameron Crowe, who directed wildly popular films including Say Anything…, Jerry Maguire, and Almost Famous.
4. Emerson
Emerson is an English name and it means “child of Emery.”
At the start of the 1900s, Emerson was popular as a boy’s name. It then dropped off but came back in fashion around the year 2000.
Emerson saw its biggest year in 2018 when it was placed at number 143 for boys.
In 2002, it reached the top 1,000 list for girls and continues to rise in the ranks. It had its best year in 2017.
Emerson Brooks is a popular television actor who has appeared on popular TV shows including The Last Ship, NCIS: LA, and The Orville. Emerson Ansley is a rising Tik Tok star.
5. Jayden or Jaden
Jayden is a Hebrew name and means “thankful to God.”
It wasn’t until 1994 when this name made it into the top 1,000 names for boys. It continues to rise and managed to make it to the top 10 names from 2009 to 2013. It climbed all the way to number 4 in both 2010 and 2011.
In 1998, it made its way into the top 1,000 for girls and peaked at 172 in 2007.
Jaden Smith, the actor and son of Will Smith, is perhaps the most famous person with this name. Jayden Bartels is a film actress and singer.
6. Keegan
Keegan is an Irish name that means “small, fiery one.” The name is actually the English modification and translation of the Irish clan name MacAodhagain. The MacAodhagains were the family who upheld the law in Ireland in the Middle Ages.
Keegan is typically seen more as a boy’s name than a girl’s name. It hit the top 1,000 list for boys in 1979 and peaked in the year 2007. Keegan is climbing for girls but still hasn’t hit the top 1,000.
Keegan-Michael Key is one of the stars of the popular comedy sketch show Key and Peele. Keegan Connor is a Canadian actress who stars in the television show Beggars and Choosers.
7. River
River is a modern English name and means “flowing body of water.”
It’s equally popular for boys and girls and was made popular by actor River Phoenix, the mysterious teen heartthrob who starred in such critically acclaimed films as Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho.
The name continues to grow in popularity and reached 244 for girls and 197 for boys in 2018.
River Blackstock is the name of Kelly Clarkson’s daughter.
8. Taylor
Taylor is originally an English name and it means “garment maker.”
For more than 100 years, Taylor has been a popular name for boys. From 1988 to 1998, it was among the top 100 names for boys. Starting in the 1980s, Taylor became popular for girls too.
In fact, between 1993 and 1998, Taylor was among the top 10 most popular names for girls.
It continues to be a trendy and beloved name for all genders to this day.
Singer Taylor Swift and actor Taylor Lautner are two of the most popular Taylors today.
Picking the Right Nonbinary Name
Understandably, there are a ton of great nonbinary names out there. When picking a name, you should feel comfortable with the way it sounds and what it means. It’s not something that you want to rush into.
In the end though, it’s important to remember that a name is just a name. As RuPaul says, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.”