Linus

What an animated name...

Linus hasn't really been spotted on too many birth certificates but that's a real shame. It's often known for the name of the blanket toting character of the Peanuts characters who is friends with Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Within the realm of Greek mythology, Linus is a musician and a poet. Apparently Linus invented rhythm. If your baby kicked a lot in the womb, beating his own drum, then this could be the name for you. It's totally original, no other kids will have it. The name has risen in popularity throughout Germany, Sweden and Norway but could do with some popularity elsewhere...

Nikita

This one's cute...

Nikita is the Russian version of the name Nicole. It can be shortened and played with and is a really cool, punky name for a wild child. As a name it's still rising in popularity, but barely. If you choose this name for your baby you can pretty much ensure that there will be no other Nikita's in their class.

Milo

This name is classic but always feels relevant...

Nameberry quotes the name as meaning 'soldier of the merciful' and it's a really short, cute name. It can be shortened to 'Miles' should you look for a nickname.
So many celebrities have taken the name Milo for their children but it still remains unique enough and hasn't really broken the baby name charts lately.

Clementine

...And you thought the name 'Apple' was fruity!

Clementine.The name is French and means 'mild, merciful'


You may know the name from the old song:
Oh my darlin'
Oh my darlin'
Oh my darlin' Clementine

It's a really vintage name that's fuss free with no feminine frill but it can be adapted and tweaked in so many ways. Author Laini Taylor has a daughter named Clementine Pie which is super cute.

Sailor

Ahoy there....

Liv Tyler recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy and announced his name via a cute Instagram photo of her newborn holding an anchor locket. His name is Sailor Gene Gardner.

What a cute name! Sailor is a really cute, gender neutral name. It's a name that can be really cute when a kid is running around the garden or for an ambitious 20 year old setting out on a career or an old grandparent in a rocking chair. It's a really cute name - here's hoping some more babies get this name this year!

Adaline

Time for another name...

Here's one that is almost unheard of but could be picked up this year. This name could gain some popularity this year due to the upcoming film 'The Age of Adaline' starring Blake Lively. It is a variation on the name Adeline. Similar names: Adelaide, Adalyn, Ada, Madeleine, Adrienne. The name itself means 'noble' and has French origins. This name feels rare but with a really sweet vintage feel

December Baby Name Roundup!

Hello, name fans!
Looking for a name?
Well here is our round up of cool names that we've been appreciating in the month of December. Here we love Unique Baby Names. If you choose your baby name based on a name found on this blog, tweet us and let us know!

1. Yvaine (f) The name, a mixture of names like Yvonne and Elaine, is a twinkling gem. Made famous from Neil Gaiman's Stardust this is a beautifully starry name. The name means 'evening star' and has a real romantic charm.
2. Calhoun (m) This name is an Irish surname now being introduced as a last name. It serves as a cool variation on the name Callum which has been a bit more popular in recent years. The name means 'from the narrow forest'
3. Isis (f) This is a really strong name as it is the name of an Egyptian Goddess, the Goddess of the moon, sky, magic, motherhood and fertility.
4. Cohen (m) Another name that was previously a surname but is now becoming popular as a first name. It is of Hebrew origin and became popularised by the show The O.C
5. Cosima (f) The name means 'order/beauty' and is a rather elegant name with an Italian twirl.
6. Ivor (m) This is a really strong name that has cropped up all over the world in several cultures and yet it still remains off the radar.
7. Brook (unisex) This can also be spelled as Brooke or changed to Brooks. It was popular in the 90s but is due a renaissance. This is a great nature-based, gender-free name.
8. Zen (unisex) Although a baby is far from calming, especially on first time parents, this is a great name for a Buddhist/spiritual family. The names means 'calm/state of serenity'
9. Lyric (unisex) This is a musical name for the child of poet parents or a baby born into a music family. Could be shortened to 'Lee'
10. Merritt (unisex) From the word 'merit', this could be a great virtue name like 'Faith', 'Hope', 'Honor', 'Valour' etc. This name is absolutely unknown, genderless and fuss free.

Esmeralda

With so many babies named 'Anna' and 'Elsa' based on the success of Frozen, perhaps it's time that we cast our minds back to some of the other fierce women of Disney movies...

Esmeralda Amada is the name of the daughter of Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes. I'd love to see more babies with this name.The name is Spanish and it means 'emerald' like the green gem stone. Esmeralda is just a fancier alternative to names like Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet or Amethyst.

Could be spelled: Esmeralda/Esmerelda

Possible nick names:

• Esme
• Emmy
• Alda
• Essie

Esai

Here's one I bet you've never heard of...

Esai, pronounced 'eez-eye' or 'ee-say', is almost unheard of. The name is Spanish but derived from Hebrew and it means 'gift' so if you're having a Christmas baby then this child name could be the perfect name for the perfect gift.

Yael

As a Hebrew name, this is classic. Heck, it's vintage! That said, it's due a huge revival.

The name is traditionally pronounced 'yah-el' but can be pronounced 'yay-l' also. The name means 'to ascend', so if you're looking for something a little uplifting then this is it. It's a Hebrew name made famous by Yael Stone from Orange is the New Black and theatre director Yael Farber. The name is mentioned in the Bible but has remained somewhat under the radar. This is a strong name for a strong woman.

Alternative to the name: Yale, like the famous American university.

Jupiter

Although this name is almost unheard of now, it's gonna gain more popularity next year....

The name is unisex and references both the planet Jupiter and the Roman God of light and sky. It is a name that bares great strength. The name is set to see the spotlight in February around the release of the film 'Jupiter Ascending' about a young woman named Jupiter. She discovers that there is much more to the universe than Earth and is tied up in a plot to overthrow the Queen of the Universe. Jupiter, our quirky hero, is played by the lovable Mila Kunis. I'm hoping this inspires a bunch of Baby Jupiter's.

Harrington

There has been a significant rise in Game of Thrones inspired names being given to babies at the moment...

The name 'Khaleesi' is being given to baby girls left, right and centre. Other names have had some attention too but the problem with given a child a Game of Thrones name is the uncertainty of the fate of such a character. Many characters are killed off on the show. Why not step outside the show for another Game of Thrones inspired baby name?

Harrington, made particularly famous by Kit Harrington who plays Jon Snow, could be a really great name. There has been a rising trend of using surnames as first names for babies. Some other examples of this:

• Greyson
• Thatcher
• Cooper
• Murphy
• Anderson
• Slater
• Jackson

Harrison has been a very popular name in recent years so Harrington seems like a similar but cool alternative. 

Matilda

This name is a classic with a real vintage feel....

Matilda is a name that many of you will associate with a brave, book loving girl who found that she had special powers. Yes, many of us know the story, but the name itself is gorgeous. It has fallen out of fashion in recent years in favour of other names but it's gorgeous and really malleable. You could shorten the name in many ways:

• Tilda
• Tilly
• Mati
• Matt

This name could reawaken the love of the childhood tale and give your child a really pretty name.

Magda

Having previously posted the name 'Margo', this is a similar name that I've not heard for a long time...

It most likely stems from the Biblical character of Mary Magdalene. This is a strong woman, a real pillar of support. Magda doesn't quite have the same religious connotations but could work well for either religious or non religious families. The name has a really strong feel to it.

Variations: Magdalena, Madeleine, Margo, Magdalen, Meghan, Megan.

October Unique Baby Name Round Up

Once a month I like to create a little list of ten names that I've really been liking lately. I put together a list of ten names. They all have different meanings and origins. If you're looking for a cute baby name, then maybe this list will hold the name for you:

1. Phoenix (unisex) A phoenix is a bird that rises from the ashes. This is a name that connotes a real sense of strength
2. Rune (m)
3. Selena (f) This beautiful name is linked to the moon. 
4. Xavier (m) X Men fan or not, this name is very classy.
5. Thora (f) This name apparently means 'watcher' and could be good for a parent/parents who live nerdy, like comic books and march to the beat of their own drum.
6. Corbin (m) This name relates to a noble bird: the crow.
7. December (unisex) Expecting a child in December? Then December is a cool name to bestow upon a winter child.
8. Brigitte (f) This French name is for a strong child of high birth. It sounds fancy but still rather approachable. 
9. Ingram (m) This is a name for a peaceful child who will go on to make a difference.
10. Osanna (f) The name, based on the term 'hosanna', is simple but catches people's attention.

Maharet

Okay, this is going to be a really unique one...

I really love the name Maharet.
I first heard it in Queen of the Damned, the book by Anne Rice in her Vampire Chronicles. There are some really beautiful character names in there. Maharet is a truly uncommon, unique name that almost no babies this year, or any year, will have.

Bo

This is a really cute name that works for either a baby regardless of gender...

This is a name I've heard time and time again and yet it remains off the radar. If you like short, fuss-free names then this is the one for you. In some languages the name comes from the word 'beauty' but it has since become just a really sweet name for a baby.

Variations on the name: Beau, Beaux

Arielle

Now for a cute name with a link to water...

Now, I'm sure we're all somewhat familiar with the name 'Ariel' from The Little Mermaid or the collection of Sylvia Plath poety. For those of you trying to shake off the Disney connotations, why not just add -le to the end to alter the name and soften the pronunciation? Ay-ree-ell becomes Ahh-ree-ell. Or, of course, you could keep the pronunciation the same. It's up to you! It's quite a cute name. Disney names seem to be quite common but a small change like this can turn a popular name into a more unique name.

Margo

I'm predicting that this name may gain a little bit of popularity next year, so snap it up now!

Margo is quite a posh name that is up for a revival and rise in popularity, Cara Delevigne (as pictured right) is set to play Margo Roth Spiegelman in the film Paper Towns , based on the book by John Green. The name, derived from 'Margaret', means 'pearl' and is quite a modern gem as far as names go. Margo is French and oozes sophistication. It can also be spelled Margot. The name is short and choppy with a streamlined, contemporary feel. It's not too girly so it provides options. This could be a really great name next year. One of the names that has risen in popularity this year is 'Hazel' after another John Green character from The Fault In Our Stars. Could Margo be the runaway baby name of 2014?

Elodie

This is a really gorgeous little name...

Elodie is a beautiful French name that I've been a fan of for some time. Sounding like 'melody' this is a name that is lyrical and melodious. It sounds musical and the name really rolls off the tongue. The name is rising in popularity at the moment because it's so pretty so snap it up now while it's still cute and quirky!