Baby names that mean “blue” can be found in naming traditions worldwide. It should come as no surprise that the color has inspired so many baby names, as it can be found in the expanse of a clear, blue sky and the glittering waves of the sea. Many names with blue meanings reference a particular object in nature, meaning that almost all of the appellations on this list will also be considered nature names.
The color blue has inspired artists forever, and for lovers of the hue, there is no mystery as to why. We decided to round up our favorite baby names that mean “blue” to help you discover the right fit for your growing family. Take a look at these blue-inspired baby names!
Baby Names for Girls That Mean ‘Blue’
Celeste
Celeste has been an ever-popular name in the US but has seen its most favored years after the 1950s. Celeste is of Latin origin and means “heavenly.”
Talia
Talia has been used in Hebrew or Australian Aboriginal naming traditions for a long time. The Hebrew root of the name means “dew from heaven.” The Aboriginal meaning is “by the water.” That’s a whole lot of blue imagery for just one baby name! The name has been slowly climbing since the 1970s and is more popular today than ever before in the US.
Juno
A Roman goddess name, Juno is the queen of the heavens and the patron deity of Rome. Technically, the name is unisex, but thanks to its use in Roman mythology, it has predominately gone to baby girls. The root of Juno is likely the same one attributed to the name Julius, meaning “youthful.” Juno has never been popular in the US, but it is on the rise in England today so perhaps it will land on top in the coming years.
Livia
Livia is often mistaken as a diminutive form of the popular name Olivia. Livia is a standalone name that has been in use since Roman antiquity. The root of the name means “blue” or “envious.” The name has been slowly rising since the early 2000s, and it will likely continue that climb.
Celine
Celine is a name of French origin with a root that is shared with Celeste. Thus, this charmer also means “heavenly.” The name is more popular than ever in the US and does not show signs of stopping. Expect this appellation to improve its standing year over year for the foreseeable future.
Sapphire
The origin of Sapphire as a gem name is disputed. It could have Hebrew, Greek, or Latin roots. What is not up for debate is the meaning of this name: “blue.” Using it as a name has never been widely popular in the US. But, the name is popular in England today, so it could cross the pond.
Lilac
Lilac is both a botanical name and a color name. As a color, it is a deep blue verging on purple. Lilac blossoms are beloved for their beauty and color. Lilac is English from Persian. This is one of the flower names that has never been popular in the US.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth is technically a unisex name, but it has gone almost exclusively to baby girls since the nineteenth century. Hyacinth is a name of Greek origin and means “blue larkspur” or “precious stone.” Unfortunately, the name has never been widespread in the US. The Spanish form of this Jacinta could also be a great fit.
Kehlani
In 2016, the baby name Kehlani exploded onto the scene. It went from going virtually unused to being in the top 200 most popular names for girls in just a couple of years. Kehlani is a name of Hawaiian origin that means “sea and sky.” That makes this name doubly blue.
Araceli
Araceli is a delightful name of Spanish origin that means “alter of the sky.” Despite this name being mildly popular in the US for decades, many folks have not encountered it. Consider yourself introduced to this magical baby name.
Bluebell
Bluebell is an English flower name that puts the blue front and center. The name has become a newly popular option in England following Geri Halliwell, AKA Ginger Spice, choosing the name for her daughter.
Ciel
Pronounced see-EL, Ciel is a unisex French name that means “sky.” Most Americans will want to pronounce this one the same as “seal,” so be prepared to defend it. Though well-used for boys and girls in France, the name has never been a popular choice in the US.
Sama
Sama is a name of Arabic origin that means “sky.” Though popular elsewhere, including in England, the name has yet to take off in the US. We think it’s time for American parents to give this gentle nature-inspired baby name a try.
Neela
Neela is a multicultural name that can be found used in Finland as much as in India. The name’s most common translation is “sapphire blue.” We would love for this baby name to get more use in the US.
Bay
Bay is a name that evokes seaside imagery. The name is of Latin origin and means “berry.” This botanical name belongs to a leaf used for centuries for its medicinal and culinary properties.
Gender-Neutral Baby Names That Mean ‘Blue’
Kai
The Hawaiian name Kai is a unisex name that has taken off in a remarkable way in recent years. In short order, the name went from obscurity to being a popular choice for both boys and girls. The name’s root means “sea.”
Blue
The name Blue has seen a huge uptick in recent years thanks to Blue Ivy Carter. Though growing in popularity, the name is not exactly widespread. If you want to skip the pretense and get right to the point, there’s no other baby name that means “blue” that is this straightforward.
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Cyan
A blue-adjacent name, Cyan names a bluish-green color that was once commonly found on enamel. There was also a mythic Sicilian water nymph by the name Cyane, she resided in a blue pool. Despite sounding modern and fresh, this name has yet to go mainstream.
Baby Names for Boys That Mean ‘Blue’
Royal
Technically, Royal is a unisex baby name, but it is one of the fastest-rising names for boys today. Royal blue is the inspiration here. It’s already in the top 500 but expect it to crack the top 100 in the coming years.
Dion
Dion is a French name for boys with a Greek root that means “of heaven and earth.” It is related to the Greek deity, Dionysus. The name saw its most popular year in the US in 1969 but it is on the rise again following years of decline.
Jay
Jay is a name of Latin origin that means “jaybird.” Of course, the blue jay is the inspiration here. Jay has been a solid choice for boys in the US since 1880, when baby naming records begin.
Ocean
Like so many of the baby names on this list, Ocean could easily go to a girl and a boy. We like Ocean for boys because it is like a natural alternative to Sean. Ocean first landed in the top 1000 names for boys in 2020, and it has only gained more traction since then.
Caelum
Caelum, not to be confused with the Scottish name Callum, is of Latin origin and means “heaven.” The name belongs to a constellation! This would be a unique choice as most American parents have never encountered it.
Cielo
Pronounced chee-EL-oh, Cielo is a cheerful Italian name that means “sky.” We adore this name, but it has never been a popular pick in the US.
Indigo
Again, Indigo is a unisex name. It is of Greek origin and means “Indian dye.” The name originated as a descriptor for the dark blue/purple dye derived from plants harvested in India. The name is currently slightly popular among girls in the US, but we love this rhythmic name for a baby boy.
Zeru
No, not a modern invention! Zeru is a name of Basque origin that means “sky.” It is said Zeh-roo. As you might have guessed, this name is not often heard outside of the Basque region of Spain. We think it’s a treasure.
Azure
Azure is a color name often associated with the sea. For centuries the name was applied to a blue paint pigment the same color as the gemstone lapis lazuli.
Navy
Navy has taken off as a name for girls over the last couple of years. We think it’s a great fit for a baby boy. The name refers to the deep blue color. We expect this name to also trend for boys in the next couple of years, a contemporary alternative to Davie.
Neel
Neel is the male form of the name Neela that we shared with you among the girl names. Neel is of Sanskrit origin and means “sapphire blue.” Despite being completely accessible and sounding exactly the same as Neil, this has never been a popular choice in the US.
Keyne
Keyne is the Cornish form of Kane and is pronounced the same way. This name is rare in the US and means “man of the eastern sky.” Name meanings do not get more poetic than that.
Thanh
Thanh is a unisex, Vietnamese name that is pronounced Tang. It is evenly distributed between girls and boys in the US, but it is still not terribly popular. This handsome appellation means “bright blue” and “brilliant.”
Shyam
Shyam is one of the many names attributed to the Hindu God Krishna. The name is translated as “blue,” “black,” and “dark.” Although popular elsewhere, this name has yet to land on many birth certificates in the US.
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Celestin
In France today, Celestin is a red-hot name for boys. It is the French, masculine form of Celeste (Celestis). Sadly, this handsome name has gone virtually unused in the US. We think it has so much potential. To nail the pronunciation of this name, say it seh-less-TAn.
Wow! We hope you found these baby names that mean “blue” to be as evocative and charming as we did. If you liked learning about these appellations, keep reading. We’ve got many more for you to learn about. The following baby names are inspired by various colors.
30. Zinc
We’re going out on a limb here to start this list! Zinc might seem like a crazy suggestion! But, it’s a name that predates the discovery of the element. In 1746, Andreas Marggraf discovered the element and changed the way kids are made to memorize periodic tables forever! The name Zinc comes from Germany by way of Persia and means “sing.”
29. Emerald
Emerald has a nice ring to it, right? The name Emerald has been in use in one form or another since ancient Roman times. It has roots in Persian and Latin and in both means “green gem.” The name Emerald lends itself to so many great nicknames as well. Em and Emmy are both pretty and bright-sounding.
28. Cobalt
If you want your son to grow up to be a professional wrestler or just an all-around icon, you could do no better than going with the unusual name Cobalt. In addition to being a blue chemical element, it’s a German name that comes from the German word kobald which means “household demon.” But don’t let that scare you away! We think it’s a handsome name for boys that definitely rocks.
27. Rose
Not just the protagonist from your favorite 90s blockbuster, Titanic, this name is a gorgeous moniker that evokes the red and pink. The name Rose means exactly what you think it does, but it’s the English version of the Latin “Rosa.” In Old German, the name Hrodohaidis was the precursor of the name and means “famous.” How about that? If Rose is too sweet for your tastes, consider Rosalind or even go back to the Roman era fave Rosa.
26. Blue
When in doubt, get right to the point. The name Blue is a gender-neutral baby name that reminds us of a shimmering sea or big sky. The name has only ever been popular (popular-ish) in the United States and we’d love to hear more of it. The name has seen a bit of a spike in popularity after Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy in 2012.
25. Opal
The cloudy, mysterious gemstone opal became popular as a name for girls during the Victorian Era. The Sanskrit word upal means “jewel.” Opal is the birthstone for October so it would be a great name to babies born that month. If you haven’t taken a look at an opal recently, go pick one up. Yes, many will just look white at first glance, but look closer and you’ll see these gemstones reflect the entire rainbow.
24. Loden
While this name has yet to take off in English speaking cultures, it does have all the elements of a handsome name for a boy. Similar to Odin, Aiden, and Logan this is a great and creative alternative that comes from Norway and Sweden and was a nickname for the German Ludwig. The name means “green.”
23. Amber
A fossilized resin that looks like hardened honey might not be the best way to describe Amber, but that’s what it is! Amber comes from Arabic and means “jewel.” This beautiful name for a girl makes us think of fall and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. We love it.
22. Cyan
The first recorded usage of the color cyan being used as a name was in 1879. Cyan is a handsome English name for a boy that comes from the color which is both blue and green. It comes from the Ancient Greek word kyanos which means “dark blue.” We’d love to see this name take off in popularity. It’s stunning.
21. Coral
Coral is such a sweet name that hasn’t been very popular since the early 20th Century. Coral, of course, refers to the precious sea invertebrates that populate our oceans. Coral also refers to the deep red and pink colors that many corals share. This name would definitely inject some color into your baby girl’s future.
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20. Brick
The name Brick might seem odd at first, but it was favored by Tennessee Williams when he wrote Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The name is of English origin and was given to mason and bricklayers back in the day. It’s also a nickname commonly used for a solid, “good guy.”
19. Titian
Renaissance painter Titian favored a color palette of browns, golds, and oranges. The girl’s name Titian honors both the artist and his beautiful use of color. The name Titian refers to Titanius which means “honorable” or “wild dove.”
18. Copper
Boy’s names tend to trend “tough” and the name Copper is no exception. Copper is a beautiful name for a boy and refers to the element of copper. The name comes from Ancient Roman, cuprum and specifically the island of Cyprus where copper was mined.
17. Magenta
If you’d like your child to find her name on a crayon someday, Magenta would be the choice. Magenta is an Italian name and refers to the deep purple-red color. If the name Magenta seems too long, you can always call her Maggie, Mag, or Gen.
16. Roan
Roan and Rowan are different forms of the same root name and mean “red-head.” While the name was traditionally given to boys in Ireland, we think it works great for girls as well.
15. Marigold
Marigold is an English name that has two meanings. The name means “golden flower” and it means “resplendent Mary.” If you’re into sweet, floral names for your daughter, this Victorian Era favorite would be an excellent choice.
14. Jet
Jet is another gender-neutral baby name that we love. In English speaking countries, while the name isn’t terribly popular, it is commonly given to boys. However, in Amsterdam, it’s a common nickname for girls. Jet means “black gemstone.”
13. Autumn
Where my PSL (pumpkin spice latte) mamas at? Autumn is an incredibly poetic name that captures the warmth and coziness of the Fall season. The name has Latin origins but it’s been most popular in contemporary times. The name started gaining steam in the 1970s and over the course of the last decade, it remained in the top 100 given names for girls.
12. Auburn
Another name that works well for both boys and girls is Auburn. This English name means “reddish-brown” or “moderate.” If you’re tired of Audrey and Aubry, consider Auburn. We love this Autumn inspired name and would love to hear even more of it.
11. Sapphire
Step out of the way Ruby and Pearl and make way for Sapphire. This majestic sounding name for girls also names a precious gemstone. Sapphire is Hebrew in origin and means “blue.” Wouldn’t you love calling your daughter by the nickname “Fire?”
10. Sterling
The name Sterling is favored for boys, but we’ve met girls with the name and were not offended in the least. The English name Sterling means “pure” or “high-quality.” If you want your baby boy of the highest quality, here you go! The color sterling is dark grey.
9. Sienna
The name Sienna comes from Latin and means “old.” Just because the name connotes age doesn’t mean it’s bad! With age, comes wisdom. The color sienna is earthy red. The storied town of Siena, Italy famously carries the name.
8. Ash
Ash has been a somewhat popular boy’s name recently and we’d love to see more of it. In addition to being for boys, the name has been a common nickname for girls with the name Ashley, for as long as there have been Ashleys. We like the name for either boys or girls. Aside from the color Ash, the name also refers to the ash tree.
7. Olive
We can’t get enough of the olive tree names: Olive, Olivia, Oliver, Olivier, and Liv. You’d do great by your child choosing any one of these names. Our favorite for girls is Olive and should bring to mind the color as well. Olive trees and specifically, their branches have been symbols of peace forever.
6. Moss
Moss isn’t just for the forest floor, it’s also a great name for boys. Moss is the English form of the name Moses. The name Moses means “to draw out.” In English, the name also means “dweller of the peat bog.” Moss makes us think of luscious dark green.
5. Ginger
Some people with red hair hate being called a “ginger.” We are very fond of this practice, however. The name Ginger comes from English and means “pure.” The name also refers to the peppy little ginger root. We love this name for girls and would love to see more parents giving it their daughters.
4. Rory
Traditionally, the name Rory was given to boys on the Island of its origin, Ireland. The name really didn’t land for daughters until the character Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls made us rethink things. Rory is Gaelic and means “red king.”
3. Cerise
Cerise might look a bit unusual to you, but it’s a beautiful French name we’d love to crossover to the US. The name means “cherry” and it’s pronounced “seh-REESE.” If you’re looking for a romantic name that isn’t widely popular yet, Cerise would be the perfect choice.
2. Rufus
While you could be bold like parents naming their kids Blue, you could also simply choose Red. We realize this seems like more of a nickname, so we went with Rufus as our favorite color-inspired name for boys. Rufus comes from Latin and means “red-headed.” The name fell out of favor for decades but made a resurgence in the late nineties that continues to this day.
1. Iris
The name Iris comes from Greek and it means “rainbow.” Which is why the colored part of the eye is called an Iris. Iris was a Greek goddess and messenger. Additionally, it also is the name of a gorgeous purple flower. Iris is a charming name for girls and as of 2018, it was the 138th most popular name given to girls.
For those of us fortunate enough to experience it, color is invigorating when we see and think about it. Color-inspired baby names are often associated with beautiful things like gems and flowers. Because of the associations, these names seem romantic, poetic, and pretty. We hope you consider these 30 baby names for your newborn.