25 Hip Baby Names for Girls That Are So Uncool They Are Cool

While we are not fans of the term “hipster baby names” most baby name articles will group names in this class together. These hip baby names for boys simply are offbeat and original or either very vintage or even obscure. It’s not a crime for hip, new parents to want to choose an original baby name that imparts character and identity. Some have even gone “mainstream” with baby names like Clementine and Mavis, unthinkable a decade ago, are now very popular choices.

If you are an expecting parent who is merely looking for an imaginative name that makes an impression, you have come to the right place. We will look to retro names, nature, pop culture, and even other languages to discover hip baby names with a touch of whimsy which makes these baby names so unique. Check out these 25 hip baby names for girls that are so uncool they are actually very cool.

25. Asha

Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for “hope” or “desire,” but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the name Ashley over the last decades, Ash- names are in demand. Asha had a moment in the late eighties and through the nineties before it unfortunately fizzled out. We hope that changes for this gorgeous name.

24. Clover

Clover is a charming, perky choice if you want to move beyond blooms like Rose and Lily. It is a plant name associated with luck thanks to the four-leaf clover. Clover actually comes from Old English and means “key.” And, we’re not mad about that! Clover has never appeared in the US top 1000 names for girls. That’s a shame!

23. Lilac

There’s a strong argument to make about Lilac being the ultimate alternative to the ubiquitous Lily or Lila. We absolutely love this hip baby name that has origins in both English and Persian traditions. This subtle nature name can refer to the flower or mean “blue.” Bonus fact: the lilac is a symbol of first love.

22. Gladys

Legendary singer Gladys Knight is reason enough to choose this name and we are pretty sure no other parents would argue with you there. While Gladys might not spring to mind when you are considering hip baby names, vintage treasures like it are some of the hottest names these days! Gladys has Welsh origins and means “nation.”

21. Holiday

Holiday is the perfect name to give to a baby girl born on, you guessed it, any holiday. Sure, Noelle and Valentine are fine names, but parents today are favoring names with a little more nuance. Somehow, Holiday strikes the sweet spot between perfectly ordinary yet atypical as a name.

20. Zora

Zora is a powerful literary hero name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an iconic black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Thanks to parents honoring Hurston with name, Zora has jumped back into the top 1000 in recent years which you love to see. While this is a hip baby name, it is already experiencing a renaissance and will likely be fairly common in the coming years. You will find this multicultural name present in Arabic, Slavic, and Hebrew naming traditions. Most consider the name to mean “dawn.”

19. Clemence

Clemence has not been a popular name in the US since 1901. That’s over 120 years! This fabulously French name is the female form of Clement which means “merciful.” We would all be wise to live our lives with plenty of that. This name has a retro appeal and sounds oh, so chic. Go for it!

18. Lucinda

Lucinda was a top 200 name in the late nineteenth century, but hasn’t been on the charts for more than 25 years! We think its time to bring this baby back! Lucinda is a variant of Lucia (also great) that has Spanish origins and means “light.” Bright, lyrical, and romantic this would be a perfect choice, especially if you love music legend, Lucinda Williams.

17. Hilda

Hilda has fallen from use in much of the world today with parents tending to go for Matilda. However, Hilda is still going strong in Sweden where it is one of the most popular and hip baby names for girls today. Hilda has German origins and is short for Brunhilda, which is an unfortunate appellation. Hilda sounds much better and also means “battle woman.”

16. Pepper

Pepper is a spicy and hip baby name that has only landed in the top 1000 once in 1971. That was a blip! Pepper was first used by the English as a name which came from Latin and means “berry.” If you love a little heat, give this fiery name to your little girl.

15. Cricket

One of our favorite moms at MU, Busy Philipps, chose this name for one of her children which we thought was both bold and very cute. Cricket is a not-so-subtle nature name that have began trending in recent years like Canyon or Arbor. If you love a quirky names, what are you waiting for?

14. Solange

Saint Solange is a patron saint of rain. In contemporary times, the name probably brings to mind the talented Solange Knowles. This soft and sophisticated French name just sounds right! It means “solemn.” While we all know this name, it has yet to hit the top 1000 in the US.

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13. Billie

Billie is a possible retro choice for fans of jazz great Billie Holiday. Today, young musician Billie Eilish is breathing fresh life into it. Billie is a nickname for William, an English name that means “resolute protector.” This name was a popular choice for girls until the 1990s when it fell from the charts. Bring back Billie!

12. Goldie

Goldie was one of those saucy nickname mainstays from the late 1800s through the 1940s. This hip baby name will probably make you think of no other than actor Goldie Hawn. Goldie is a name with Yiddish origins that means “gold.” We adore this cheeky choice.

11. Wednesday

Not just a name for the lovable yet dark Wednesday Addams (although we would not judge you if she is a source of inspiration), Wednesday is a hip baby name these days that more and more parents are seeing as a possibility. Wednesday is taken from the name of the day dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, who relates to Mercury. Thus, the name means “Woden’s Day.” Rupert Grint (Harry Potter) chose this super-quirky name for his daughter, born in 2020.

10. Gertrude

The zenith of fashion a century ago, Gertrude reached as high as number 23 in 1900 but dropped off the list completely by 1966. Gertrude Stein was an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector who helped bring this name plenty of gravitas. Gertrude is a German name that means “strength of a spear.”

9. Saffron

Like Pepper, Saffron is another hip baby name that has emerged as a spunky option. The name is currently more common in the UK, however, it is not exactly huge there at the moment. Saffron comes from the spice name of a treasured spice, which is an English form of a Persian word which means “gold strung.”

8. Fern

Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of number 152 in 1916. Please bring back Fern into your hearts. This is one of our favorite nature names for girls and sounds so perfectly vintage today. Fern is an Old English topographic name that comes from the word fearn, meaning “someone who lives among the ferns.” Come on!

7. Zadie

British novelist Zadie Smith changed her name from Sadie for this more distinctive variant. Zadie was a very popular name in the US but has not been in the top 1000 for 100 years. Parents, how did we let this happen? Zadie, like Sadie, has Hebrew origins that mean “princess.” This name is related to Sarah and, wow, are they not worlds apart? This name will be absolutely huge in coming years, so hop on the Zadie train now before you regret it.

6. Enid

Enid is Welsh from the word meaning “life” or “soul.” Back in the Age of Chivalry, to call a woman a “second Enid” was the greatest of compliments, as she was a legendary romantic figure, revived in Tennyson’s Idyll of the Kings. Enid was not just popular in Wales, the name migrated to the US and enjoyed years of popularity before falling from fashion in the 1950s. This is one of the most perfect examples of a name being so uncool it is actually marvelous.

5. Pippi

Pippi is a name of Norse origin meaning “lover of horses” coming from the Greek name Philippa. Pippi will be forever linked to Pippi Longstocking, so be committed to it. If Pippi is a step too far for you and you fear for your daughter being taunted with chants of “pee-pee!” you can always go with the more common, but still a very hip baby name, Pippa.

4. Prairie

Prairie feels like a completely American invention, as a name. It refers to open, grassy lands that stretch across the midwestern US. Prairie, however, comes from a French word for “meadow.” We love this name as it is the perfect nature-twist on one of America’s most common names for girls, Mary. Choose this hip baby name and you won’t look back.

3. Indigo

Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. It, of course, refers to the treasured dye that was so valuable in ancient times. The Greeks coined the word which means “Indian dye.” While this hip baby name has yet to spread to the US, it has taken off for both boys and girls in many places like the UK and Australia.

2. Maude

Maude also spelled Maud, is a lacy, rose-colored name that was hugely popular a hundred years ago, but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose it again, especially as a middle. Maude Apatow is an American actress and the elder daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann. We think she sports the name well! Maude has German origins and means “battle-mighty.”

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1. Domino

Only a handful of very fortunate baby girls are given the name Domino each year. The numbers are going up, but it is still completely untapped. Domino is the ultimate tough-girl name that is a blast to say. Domino comes from Latin and means “lord.” Domino Kirke is a famous American doula with the name. Please, parents, get into this hip baby name for girls. It’s a winner!

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these hip baby names that are so uncool that they are marvelously cool. Inspired by vintage names, nature, and pop culture, these names all feel current and fresh and full of life. Be bold!