Neutral names starting with B: Difference between revisions

An alphabetical list of [[neutral names starting with B]], continued from the [[names]] page, see for more information. These are neutral-gender names, otherwise known as unisex names. They are equally appropriate for girls, boys, and people of any gender. [[Nonbinary]] people don't have to have neutral names, and many [[notable nonbinary people]] have names that are usually either masculine or feminine. Neutral names can help make it safer for people to explore their gender expressions. In English-speaking countries, some of the most familiar gender-neutral names starting with the letter B include Bailey, Bernie, and Billie. However, there are many more unisex names from around the world that start with B, more than 30 of them, as listed below.  Previous page: [[neutral names starting with A]]. Next page: [[neutral names starting with C]].

'''Babe'''. 1. English, an epithet of affection. 2. English. Pet form of Barbara. Feminine. 3. American. Pet name for athletes, from the time of Babe Ruth.<ref name="20000names">http://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names.htm</ref> US Social Security Administration (SSA) data shows about 1,769 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 51% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BABE/index.html</ref> Keywords: affection, youth

'''Baby'''. English. Meaning "Baby."<ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Baby.html</ref><ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/baby</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/baby</ref>  US SSA data shows about 2,856 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 51% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BABY/index.html</ref> Keywords: affection, youth

'''Bae'''. American. Meaning a term of endearment.<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/bae</ref> US SSA data shows about 483 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 73% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BABY/index.html</ref> Keywords: affection

'''Bai'''. Chinese. Meaning "white, pure" (白) or "one hundred, many" (百).<ref name="behindthename">http://www.behindthename.com/names/gender/unisex</ref><ref name="20000names" /> US SSA data shows about 1,528 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 58% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BAI/index.html</ref> Keywords: abundance, colours

'''Bailey'''. English. Meaning "Bailiff" or "Steward." Variants include '''Bailee''' and '''Baileigh'''.<ref name="bailey">http://www.babynames.co.uk/meaning_origin_name_Bailey.htm</ref><ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/bailey</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,284 people have had the given name Bailey, used as a feminine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BAILEY/index.html</ref>Keywords: occupations, trades

'''Bao'''. Chinese. Meaning "treasure, precious" (宝) or "praise" (褒).<ref name="behindthename" /> US SSA data shows about 9,630 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 53% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BAO/index.html</ref> Keywords: abundance, wealth

'''Bay'''. English. Meaning "Sea inlet."<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/BAY</ref><ref name="nameberry">https://nameberry.com/search/unisex_names/B</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,517 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 67% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BAY/index.html</ref> Keywords: elements, nature, places, water

'''Baylor'''. English (Anglo-Saxon). Meaning "Horse trainer."<ref name="nameberry" /><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Baylor.html</ref> US SSA data shows about 450 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 77% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BA/BAYLOR/index.html</ref> Keywords: animals, occupations, trades

'''Bee'''. English. Meaning "Bee," or a short form of many names starting with B.<ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/bee</ref> US SSA data shows about 9,068 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 64% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BE/BEE/index.html</ref> Keywords: animals, nature

'''Bennie'''. English. Neutral short form of masculine Benjamin, feminine Benjamina, and other names containing "ben."<ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/bennie</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 56,230 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BE/BENNIE/index.html</ref>

'''Berkeley'''. English. Meaning "From the birch wood."<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/berkeley</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 1,184 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 57% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BE/BERKELEY/index.html</ref> Keywords: earth, nature, neutral inclined, places, plants

'''Bern''', '''Berne''', '''Bernie''', '''Berni''', or '''Berny'''. English. Short for masculine names Bernard, feminine names Bernadette, Bernice, and so on. Bernard is a French name meaning "Brave" or "Bold as a bear."<ref name="behindthename" /><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/bern</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/berne</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 26,834 people have had the  name Bernie, used as a masculine name 85% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BE/BERNIE/index.html</ref> Keywords: animals, courage, virtue

'''Bertie''', '''Berti''', or '''Berty'''. English and German. Short for many masculine and feminine names containing "bert," such as Albert, Alberta, Bertha, Herbert, Robert, Roberta, and so on.<ref name="behindthename" /><ref name="20000names" /> In the US, SSA data shows about 9,742 people with the name Bertie, used as a feminine name 94% of the time, which is not very gender neutral.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BE/BERTIE/index.html</ref> However, it has likely been used as a nickname for more people than these official records show.

'''Bhavya'''. Sanskrit. Meaning "Auspicious, suitable, excellent."<ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/bhavya</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 51 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 81% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BH/BHAVYA/index.html</ref> Keywords: fortune

'''Bill''', '''Billi''', '''Billie''', or '''Billy'''. Short for masculine names such as William, and feminine names such as Wilhelmina.<ref>http://www.babynames.co.uk/meaning_origin_name_Billie.htm</ref> US SSA data shows Billie as a feminine name 78% of the time, so it is the most neutral variant,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BI/BILLIE/index.html</ref> whereas Bill and Billy show more strictly masculine use.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BI/BILL/index.html</ref><ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BI/BILLY/index.html</ref> These nicknames are likely used for more people than shown in those official records. [[Notable nonbinary people]] with this name include American rapper [[Billy Dean Thomas]].<ref name="Bedian">{{Cite web |title=City Scenes: How Boston's LGBTQ+ Musicians Are Making Space For Each Other |last=Bedian |first=Knar |work=NPR.org |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |url= https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/925822173/city-scenes-how-bostons-lgbtq-musicians-are-making-space-for-each-other }}</ref>

'''Bird''' or '''Byrd'''. English. Meaning "Bird."<ref name="nameberry" /><ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/bird</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 176 people with the given name Bird, used as a masculine name 83% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BI/BIRD/index.html</ref> so it is the more neutral version, whereas Byrd is used as a masculine name 91% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BI/BYRD/index.html</ref> Keywords: animals, nature

'''Blair''', '''Blær''', '''Blaer''', or '''Blaire'''. Scottish, English, Gaelic. From a family name meaning "Plain, field, battlefield."<ref name="behindthename" /><ref name="20000names" /> In the US, SSA data shows about 31,560 people with the given name Blair, used as a masculine name 52% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLAIR/index.html</ref> so it is the most neutral version, whereas Blaire is used as a feminine name 98% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLAIRE/index.html</ref> Keywords: nature, places, war, history

'''Blakeley''' or '''Blakely'''. English. Meaning "Dark forest."<ref name="nameberry" /> In the US, SSA data shows about 214 people with the given name Blakeley, used as a feminine name 88% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLAKELEY/index.html</ref>whereas there have been about 1,203 people with the variant Blakely, used as a feminine name 78% of the time, so it is the more neutral version.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLAKELY/index.html</ref> Keywords: colours, fantasy, nature, places

'''Bliss'''. English. Meaning "Perfect joy."<ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Bliss</ref><ref name="20000names" /> In the US, SSA data shows about 1,435 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 89% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLISS/index.html</ref> Keywords: emotions, happiness

'''Blue'''. English. Meaning "The colour blue." Variants include '''Blu'''.<ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Blue</ref><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Blu.html</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 223 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 73% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BL/BLUE/index.html</ref> Keywords: colours. [[Notable nonbinary people]] with this name include American comics creator [[Blue Delliquanti]]<ref>{{cite tweet|user=bluedelliquanti|number=1116133495426961409|title=As an nb person with a complicated perspective toward gender, mlm fiction by women and nb people informed my personal ideals of masculinity far more than work by queer men - not because the latter was lackluster, but bc I guess it was easier to visualize myself in the former|date=Apr 10, 2019}}</ref> and Canadian drag performer [[Blue Wild Rye]]<ref name="biarts">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Artist: Blue Wild Rye |author= |work=Bi+ Arts Festival |date=7 February 2020 |access-date=12 June 2020 |url= http://www.biartsfestival.com/meet-the-artist-blue-wild-rye/ }}</ref>.

'''Bob''', '''Bobbi''', '''Bobbie''', or '''Bobby'''. English. Short for the masculine name Robert, feminine names Barbara and Roberta, and unisex name Robin. Robert and its variations mean "Bright Fame."<ref name="20000names" /> US SSA data shows Bob and Bobby are strictly used as masculine names, while Bobbi is strictly feminine. Bobbie is the most neutral variant, used as a feminine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BO/BOBBIE/index.html</ref> More people likely go by these nicknames than shown in official records. [[Notable nonbinary people]] with this name include American actor [[Bobbi Salvör Menuez]].<ref name="Regensdorf">{{Cite web |title=Bobbi Salvör Menuez's Buzz Cut Is a Work of Art |last=Regensdorf |first=Laura |work=Vanity Fair |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=15 June 2020 |url= https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/01/bobbi-salvor-menuez-adam-name-interview}}</ref>

'''Breck''', '''Brecken,''' or '''Breckin'''. Irish and Welsh. Meaning "Freckled."<ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Breckin</ref><ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/breckin</ref><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Breck.html</ref><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Brecken.html</ref><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Breckin.html</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 2,150 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 82% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRECK/index.html</ref> Keywords: appearance

'''Briar''' or '''Brier'''. English. Meaning "Thorny plant."<ref name="behindthename" /><ref>https://www.thenamemeaning.com/briar</ref><ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Brier</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 436 people named Briar, used as a masculine name 66% of the time;<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRIAR/index.html</ref> 167 people go by the variant Brier, also 66% masculine.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRIER/index.html</ref> Keywords: nature, plants

'''Brin'''. Welsh. Variant of Bryn, which see.<ref name="20000names" /><ref>http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Brin.html</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 399 people have had this given name, used as a feminine name 89% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRIN/index.html</ref>

'''Brit'''. English, Irish, and Scandinavian. Meaning "Exalted," from Brigit. Also a nickname for names such as Brittany.<ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Brit</ref><ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Britt</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 2,484 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 82% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRIT/index.html</ref>

'''Britain'''. English. Meaning "From Great Britain."<ref>http://www.babynames.com/name/Britain</ref> In the US, SSA data shows about 325 people have had this given name, used as a masculine name 54% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/B/BR/BRITAIN/index.html</ref>