Gender neutral baby names are hot right now, as they're part of a larger trend of defying
traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
If you're unsure whether a gender neutral baby name is right for your little one, check
out this roundup of some of the best names out there.
You're sure to find one or two you love!
Presley
Presley was once well-known as last name, most famously held by Elvis Presley, the king
of rock and roll.
As a given name, Presley is commonly used for a feminine moniker, but Social Security
Administration records show Presley has been used as a male name since at least the 19th
century — long before Elvis ever took the stage.
But, thanks to its association with Elvis, this gender neutral baby name is a good choice
for lovers of rock and roll.
Rowan
According to Norse mythology, the world's first woman was created from a rowan tree.
In spite of this feminine association, the name Rowan is traditionally used for both
girls and boys, like Girl Meets World star Rowan Blanchard, or English comedian Rowan
Atkinson.
Rowan's history as a given name dates back to Gaelic-speaking Ireland, where the rowan
tree was thought to have supernatural powers.
It was believed to protect a person against witchcraft and evil, and that makes this Anglicized
version of a nickname given to ancient redheads a great choice for anyone looking for a name
that's rooted deep in ancient traditions.
Paris
Thanks in part to socialite and reality TV star Paris Hilton, Paris has recently become
recognized as a feminine name.
However, the name's masculine roots make it more accurate to call this moniker gender
neutral.
It has an incredibly ancient history, and dates back to Greek mythology and the story
of Paris, the legendary lover who kicked off the Trojan War after his infatuation with
the beautiful Helen.
If Paris makes you think of that famous French city, you should know this name actually comes
with a history lesson.
The city takes its name from the Parisii, a group of Celtic people who were among the
first to settle the area.
River
River started gaining traction as a male name in the mid 1990s, in part thanks to bearers
like actor River Phoenix.
Some parents have opted for a slight variation, like the name bestowed upon Weezer frontman
Rivers Cuomo.
But any doubts about making this name truly gender neutral were dispelled with Joss Whedon's
Firefly, and the enduring popularity of the crew of Serenity and of River Tam.
That's not the only bit of science fiction you're tapping into if you settle on this
moniker — River was the name of a Doctor Who fan favorite, too.
Ashton
Thanks to the wild popularity of actor Ashton Kutcher, many people are familiar with this
name, but might think it's only for boys.
While it's certainly more frequently used for boys, the moniker is actually gender neutral
and has been since at least the 1980s.
The name goes back much farther than that as a surname, once popular in England and
meaning "ash tree town".
Today, it's growing in popularity whether you're having a boy or a girl.
Ariel
Thanks to the 1989 film The Little Mermaid, many people may assume Ariel is exclusively
a girl's name, but that isn't true.
Ariel was long considered a masculine name, and that makes this one a gender-neutral and
super creative option for your little one.
The name's origin is Hebrew, and it means "lion of God".
This name has another Biblical connection, too, as it shows up in the Old Testament as
an alternate name for Jerusalem.
Ariel also has an impressive literary pedigree.
It appears in Shakespeare's The Tempest, used for a sprite in the service of Prospero.
The Bard's Ariel was truly gender neutral: despite only called "he" only a few times,
but on stage the character has been portrayed as both male and female.
Harley
Today, Harley is more popular as a girl's name thanks, in large part, to the popularity
of comic book character Harley Quinn.
She might not always be one of the good guys, but she's still popular enough to help influence
the growth of Harley as a gender neutral name.
This name is definitely not new, though, and it has roots in an Old English place name
derived from the words for "hare" and "woodland clearing".
Head to New Zealand and you'll find it has a history as a boys-only name, but everywhere
else, it's been classically gender-neutral.
Charlie
Charlie is both a nickname and a given name, and it's incredibly popular for boys.
You've got fictional Charlies like Charlie Bucket and Charlie Brown, and real-life Charlies
like Charlie Day and Charlie Chaplin.
But it works for girls, too, and its use as a gender neutral name dates back to at least
1880, based on name data from the Social Security Administration.
Looking for a famous female Charlie?
How about the main character from Stephen King's Firestarter?
"I said no!"
"Again!"
"NO!"
If you prefer more formal variations of the name, Charlie can be used as an abbreviated
form of names like the popular Charles and Charlotte, or less traditional names like
Charla, Sharla, and Charlene.
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