Word-name Baby Names

1984 Word-name names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

Word names say exactly what they mean — no etymology required. Word-name baby names like Journey, Sage and King are bold, modern and impossible to misread, which is precisely why they have exploded in popularity. Choose one and you are naming your child a whole idea.

Word Names for Girls

Journey, Meadow, Joy and Sunny are warm and hopeful. For something with more drama, Reign, Ivory, Halo, Miracle and Dream.

Word Names for Boys

King, Saint, Prince and Royal make an unmistakable statement. For something cooler and more understated, Crew, Wilder, Onyx, Chance and Sage.

Naming a Wish Out Loud

The honesty is the point. Joy, Sincere and Miracle tell everyone exactly what you felt the day your child arrived — no explaining needed, ever.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Word-name Girl Names

Selah#216 in the U.S.Pause and reflect; a musical or liturgical direction meaning to lift up or praise▶Meadow#286 in the U.S.A meadow; a piece of land covered with grass and wildflowers▶Navy#327 in the U.S.From Old French 'navie' (fleet of ships), itself from Latin 'navis' (ship). Used as a color nam▶Ivory#378 in the U.S.From Old French ivoire and Latin ebur, referring to the creamy white material derived from elep▶Sunny#390 in the U.S.From the English adjective sunny meaning bright, cheerful, or full of sunshine; used as a given▶Bonnie#396 in the U.S.From Scottish bonnie meaning beautiful, attractive, or healthy-looking; ultimately from Old Fre▶Journey#411 in the U.S.From Old French journée meaning a day's travel or a day's work, from jour (day), itself from La▶Joy#419 in the U.S.From Old French joie and Latin gaudia meaning joy, happiness, or delight; used as a word name e▶Dream#432 in the U.S.From Old English dream meaning joy, music, or a dream vision; used as a word name for its aspir▶Reign#452 in the U.S.From the English word 'reign,' meaning to rule or exercise sovereign power, derived from Old Fr▶Saige#480 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Sage, meaning a wise person and the aromatic herb; both derive from Latin '▶Miracle#492 in the U.S.From the Latin 'miraculum' meaning wonder, marvel, or miracle, derived from 'mirari' (to wonder▶Jream#518 in the U.S.Modern American creative name, a phonetic respelling of the word 'dream,' using the letter J to▶Halo#613 in the U.S.From Greek halos meaning 'disc of the sun or moon,' 'ring of light,' or 'threshing floor'; used▶Indie#634 in the U.S.A modern given name evoking independence and individuality, or a diminutive of India (from Sans▶Destiny#635 in the U.S.From the English word destiny, derived via Old French destinée from Latin destinare ('to determ▶Lyric#640 in the U.S.From the English word lyric, ultimately from Greek lyrikos meaning singing to the lyre; used as▶Legacy#662 in the U.S.From the English word legacy, from Medieval Latin legacia meaning bequest or what is bequeathed▶Soleil#758 in the U.S.Sun; the French word soleil meaning sun, used as a given name for its luminous, radiant imagery▶Indy#768 in the U.S.Short form of Indiana or Indira, or standing independently as a word name evoking independence ▶Dulce#771 in the U.S.Sweet or sweetness; from the Spanish dulce and Latin dulcis meaning sweet, used as a given name▶

See all 1136 word name girl names →

Word-name Boy Names

Crew#256 in the U.S.A group working together; a team or company▶Saint#267 in the U.S.A holy person; one declared a saint by the church▶Colt#285 in the U.S.A young male horse; a spirited, energetic young man▶Kaizen#364 in the U.S.From the Japanese 'kai' (change) and 'zen' (good, better) — meaning 'continuous improvement' or▶Onyx#365 in the U.S.From the Greek 'onyx', meaning claw or fingernail (because the stone's colors resemble a finger▶King#405 in the U.S.From Old English cyning meaning king or ruler; used as a given name for its direct regal connot▶Wilder#431 in the U.S.From Old English wilde meaning wild, untamed, or from the wilderness; used as a surname and the▶Chance#442 in the U.S.From Middle English and Old French 'cheance,' meaning fortune, luck, or an opportunity; derived▶Prince#447 in the U.S.From Old French 'prince' and Latin 'princeps' meaning 'first one' or 'chief,' referring to a ro▶Sage#456 in the U.S.From the English word 'sage' meaning a wise person, and also the aromatic herb, both derived fr▶Royal#476 in the U.S.From the English word 'royal,' derived from Old French 'roial' and Latin 'regalis' meaning king▶Chozen#523 in the U.S.Modern American creative spelling of the English word 'chosen,' meaning 'one who has been selec▶Krew#601 in the U.S.Phonetic spelling variant of English crew, meaning a group of people working together; used as ▶Sincere#631 in the U.S.From Latin sincerus, meaning 'whole,' 'pure,' 'genuine,' or 'honest.' One folk etymology derive▶Creed#663 in the U.S.From the English word creed, from Latin credo meaning I believe; a statement of faith or core p▶Major#670 in the U.S.From the Latin comparative adjective maior meaning greater or larger; used as a military rank n▶Junior#752 in the U.S.The younger; from Latin iunior, the comparative form of iuvenis meaning young, used to distingu▶Trace#758 in the U.S.A path, track, or trail; from Old French trace meaning track or path, ultimately from the Latin▶Reign#772 in the U.S.Royal rule or sovereignty; from Old French reigne and Latin regnum meaning rule, kingdom, or th▶Truce#774 in the U.S.Peace or armistice; from Middle English trewes, Old English treow meaning faith, pledge, or agr▶Blaze#781 in the U.S.Flame or fire; from Old English blaese meaning fire or firebrand, or from the Latin name Blasiu▶

See all 848 word name boy names →

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Frequently Asked

What are popular word names for babies?

Popular word names include Journey, King, Sage, Joy, Crew and Reign.

Are word names a good idea?

They work best when the word carries a feeling you genuinely want attached to your child — that clarity is their whole strength.

What are unisex word names?

Sage, Journey, Chance and Onyx are all used across genders. Each page shows how that spelling is currently used in the U.S.

How many word-name baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 1984 word-name baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.