Names

Choosing a name can be a part of transition for people who have nonbinary gender identities. They might change their name to one that is gender-neutral, so that their name won't lead other people to see them as female or male. As with most parts of a nonbinary transition, this step is optional. It's not necessary for a nonbinary person to have a gender-neutral name if they don't want one. A nonbinary person can have a name that most people don't see as gender-neutral.

Choosing a name

Keep making a list of names that might suit you. Research each name. Some good research questions:

• Is the name compatible with your cultural or ethnic background? Try to avoid cultural appropriation. That means if the name is, for example, African, and you are not, then that name is not yours to take.
• When and where has the name been in fashion? Was it most popular in your generation, or will it make you seem younger or older?
• Is the name short for any long names? It may be short for several. Or, if it is a long name, what are some ways that people will often make it short?

List of all gender-neutral names

All of the personal names in the following list are gender-neutral. That is, people have given them to girls as well as boys. (Some names in this list might be only rarely used for a particular gender.) These names would be suitable for people of nonbinary genders, if they don't want names that are seen as feminine or masculine.

Each name entry is in this format:

Name. Language or culture of origin. Meaning. Sources cited. Keyword list.

The sources cited prove that the name is gender-neutral, and that it has the meaning given. The keyword list is to make it so that, if a person wants a name that has to do with a certain theme, such as the sea, or stars, they can search the names for any with those keywords.

If you put more names in this list, please make sure that you put them in alphabetical order.

A

A'ala, or 'A'ala. Hawaiian. Meaning "Fragrant, of high rank, royal."

Aala. 1. Muslim. Meaning "Bounties.". 2. American. "She who hunts and heals." More often for girls.

Aale. Finnish. Meaning "Noble." Short for names beginning with Al, as well as Aarne and Arvid. Estonian form of Alla and Rosalia.

Aali. Finnish.

Aalo. Finnish.

Aalto. Finnish. Meaning "Wave." Keyword: nature, sea, water

Aaren. English. Variant of Aaron.

Abby. English. Short for Abraham or Abigail.

Abcde. American. Meaning the beginning of the alphabet, but pronounced AB-sid-ee.

Abia. Variant spelling of Abiah.

Abiah. Hebrew. Meaning "God is my father."

Abida. Arabic. Meaning "God's follower."

Abijah. Variant of Abiah.

Abimbola. West Africa, Yoruba. Meaning "Born wealthy." Keywords: birth

Abiodun. West Africa, Yoruba. Meaning "A child born during Christmas or the New Year." Keywords: birth

Ace. Latin. Meaning "One" or "Unity."

Achava. Hebrew. Meaning "Friendship."

Acotas. Native American, Blackfoot. Meaning "Group of horses."

Adair. English, Scottish. Meaning "Shallow place in a river near oaks."

Addison. English. Meaning "Child of Adam."

Addisyn. Variant of Addison, which see.

Addyson. Variant of Addison, which see.

Ade. West Africa, Yoruba. Meaning "Crown."

Adebowale. West Africa, Yoruba. Meaning "My crown has come home."

Adetokunbo. West Africa, Yoruba. Meaning "The crown came over the sea."

Adi. Hebrew. Meaning "Jewel" or "Ornament."

Adiel. 1. Hebrew. Meaning "Ornament of God." 2. Arabic. "Just; honest."

Adilet. Kyrgyz. Meaning "Justice."

Adina. Hebrew. Meaning "Slender."

Adison. Variant of Addison, which see.

Adler. German. Meaning "Eagle." Keywords: nature, animal, bird

Adoeete. Native American, Ga'igwu (Kiowa). Meaning "Big tree." Keywords: nature, forest

Adolf.

Adria. Latin. Meaning "From Hadria; dark one." Variant of Adrian.

Adrian. Latin. Meaning "From Hadria."

Adriel. Hebrew. Meaning "God's majesty."

Adyson. Variant of Addison, which see.

Aero. Greek. Meaning "Air." Keywords: nature, elements

Aeron. Welsh. Meaning "Battle ending." Keywords: war

Afon. Welsh. Meaning "River." Keywords: nature, water, place

Africa.

Afton. Gaelic. Meaning "From the Afton river." Keywords: nature, water, place

Agam. Hebrew. Meaning "Lake." Keywords: nature, water

Agrippa. Roman, Biblical. Meaning "Wild horse." Keywords: nature, animals

Ah. Chinese. No meaning.

Ahmoua. Native American, Sac and Fox Nation. Meaning "whale." Keywords: nature, animals, water, sea

Aibhne. Irish.

Aiken. English. Meaning "Made of oak." Also a variant of Adam. Keywords: nature, tree.

Ailbhe. Gaelic. Meaning "White." Keywords: colours

Aim.

Aindrea. Variant of Andrea.

Ainsley. English. Meaning from the Brittish Nottinghamshire place name of Annesley, meaning Ann's Meadow.

Ainslie. Variant of Ainsley.

Airlie. Scottish. Meaning from the place name Earley, meaning "Eagle wood."

Airut. Finnish.

Aj. English. From a combination of the letters A and J.

Aja. Sanskrit. Meaning "Goat." Keywords: nature, animals

Akachi. West African, Igbo. Meaning "the hand of God."

Akay. Turkish. Meaning "Shining moon." Keywords: nature, night, sky, space, magic, science

Akia. African. Meaning "First born."

Akira (あきら). Japanese. Meaning "Bright" (明), "Sensible" (顕), or other meanings depending on spelling in kanji.

Akpofure. West African, Urhobo. Meaning "Life is peaceful."

Akuchi. West African, Igbo. Meaning "Wealth from God."

Akuna. Aboriginal. Meaning "To know or follow."

Al. Short for many female, male, and neutral names.

Alabama.

Alary. German. Meaning "Elf ruler." Keywords: mythology, magic

Alaula. Hawaiian. Meaning "Light of the early dawn." Keywords: nature, sky, morning

Albany. Latin. Meaning "From Scotland (Albany)."

Alby. Latin. Meaning "From Alba."

Alchemy. Keywords: magic, science

Aldis. English. Meaning "From the Old House."

Aldus. English. Meaning "Old."

Ale. Finnish, short for Aleksanteri or Aleksi. Spanish, short for Alejandro or Alejandra.

Aleksa. Variant of Alex.

Alemayehu. East African, Amharic. Meaning "I have seen the world."

Alex. Short for Alexander, Alexandra, and so on.

Alexi. Variant of Alex.

Alexis. 1. Variant of Alex. 2. Greek. Meaning "Defender" or "Helper."

Alf.

Ali. Arabic. Meaning "Sublime."

Alick. Variant of Alex.

Alinafe. South African, Chewa. Meaning "He is with us."

Alix. Variant of Alex.

Allard. English. Meaning "Noble and bold."

Allie. Celtic, meaning "Little rock; harmony, peace." German, meaning "Nobly famous."

Allison. German. Meaning "Of a noble kind."

Ally. English. Meaning "Friend, partner." Also short for names starting with Al.

Almas. Arabic. Meaning "Diamond."

Almog. Hebrew. Meaning "Coral." Keywords: nature, water, sea

Aloha. Hawaiian. Meaning "Greetings."

Alohilani. Hawaiian. Meaning "Bright sky, brightness of heaven."

Alpha. Greek. Meaning "Ox," and the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

Alpine. English. Meaning "Of mountain peaks."

Alva. Latin. Meaning "Light skin."

Alvi. Old English. Meaning "Elf friend." Keywords: mythology, magic, fantasy

Aly. Variant of Ally, which see.

Amabilis. Latin. Meaning "Lovable."

Amal. Arabic. Meaning "Hope, aspiration."

Amara. 1. Arabic. Meaning "Eternal." 2. Igbo. Meaning "God's grace."

Amarah. Variant of Amara.

Amare. Sanskrit. Meaning "Immortal."

Amari.

Amaris.

America.

Americus

Ames. French. Meaning "Friend."

Amethyst.

Amets. Basque. Meaning "Dream."

Ameya. Sanskrit. Meaning "Boundless."

Ami

Amiel. Hebrew. Meaning "My people belong to God."

Amisquew. Native American, Menominee. Meaning "Spoon."

Amit. Hebrew. Meaning "Friend."

Ammiel. Variant of Amiel, which see.

Amor. Spanish. Meaning "Love."

Amory. English. Meaning "Home ruler."

An. Chinese. Meaning "Peace."

Anah. Hebrew. Meaning "Answer."

Anan. West African, Akan. Meaning "Fourth born child." Keywords: birth

Ananda. Sanskrit. Meaning "Bliss and joy."

Anang. Native American, Ojibwa. Meaning "Star."

Ananta. Sanskrit. Meaning "Infinite, endless."

Anantha. Variant of Ananta, which see.

Anat. Hebrew. Meaning "Answer."

Andi. Spelling variant of Andy.

Andie. Spelling variant of Andy.

Andrea. Italian. Meaning "Manly," and a feminine form of Andrew, but used for girls and boys.

Andren. Variant of Andrea, which see.

Andy. Short for Andrew, Andrea, and so on.

Angel. Greek. Meaning "Messenger."

Anne. Frisian. Short for names beginning with Arn.

Anh

Anmol

Ansley. English. Meaning "From the hermitage field," from a family name based on a place name.

Anstice. Medieval English form of Anastasia, Greek, meaning "Resurrection."

Anupan

Aoi. Japanese. Meaning "Blue" or "Hollyhock," depending on kanji.

Aoki. Japanese. Meaning "Blue tree."

Aolani. Hawaiian. Meaning "Cloud from heaven."

Aquarius. Used for those born under this astrological sign.

Aquila. Latin. Meaning "Eagle," and a constellation by that name. Keywords: nature, animals, birds, sky, stars

Aquinnah

Ara

Arabia.

Araci

Aran. Irish. Meaning "From the Aran Islands."

Arawn. Welsh. Meaning "King of the otherworld." Keywords: mythology, magic

Arda. Hebrew. Meaning "Bronze." Or a variant of Arden.

Arden. English. From a family name based on place names meaning "High."

Ardin. Latin. Meaning "Fiery."

Areli. Hebrew. Meaning "Lion of God."

Arely. Variant of Areli, which see.

Aren.

Ari. Hebrew. Meaning "Lion of God." Also short for names starting with Ar.

Arian. Latin. Meaning "Very holy."

Arien. Hebrew. Meaning "Enchanted."

Arich.

Ariel. Hebrew. Meaning "Lion of God," used in the Bible as another name for the city of Jerusalem. Shakespeare used this as the name for a spirit that was neither female nor male in The Tempest (1611).

Aries. Used for those born under this astrological sign.

Arion. Hebrew. Meaning "With melody."

Arius. Greek. Meaning "Of Medea," originally a place name.

Arizona. From a place name in the Basque language meaning "Good oak."

Arkansas.

Arketah. Native American, Oto. Meaning "No liver."

Arlie. English. From a family name based on a place name meaning "Eagle wood."

Armani. Meaning "From the house of Armand."

Arnon. Hebrew. Meaning "Roaring stream." Keywords: nature, water

Arrian. Latin. Meaning "Holy."

Arron

Artemis. Greek. The name of a goddess, but used for girls and boys, and the masculine spelling, Artemus, sounds the same.

Artois. French. Meaning "From Artois, Netherlands."

Arvid

Arya. Sanskrit. Meaning "Honorable, noble."

Asa. Hebrew. Meaning "Physician."

Ascher. Variant of Asher, which see.

Ash. English. Short for Ashley, which see.

Ashanti. From the name of the Ashanti people in Ghana.

Ashby. Old English. Meaning "Ash tree farm."

Asher. Hebrew. Meaning "Blessed, happy."

Ashland. English. Meaning "Land of ash."

Ashlund. Variant of Ashland, which see.

Ashley. Old English. From a family name based on a place name, meaning "Ash tree clearing."

Ashton. Old English. From a family name based on a place name, meaning "Ash tree town."

Ashwini

Asia

Asla

Aspen. Meaning a kind of tree. Keywords: nature, tree

Asthore. Irish. Meaning "Loved one."

Aştî. Kurdish. Meaning "Peace, tranquility."

Astin. French. Meaning "Star-like." Keywords: nature, sky, space

Aston. Old English. From a family name based on a place name meaning "East town."

Asuka. Japanese.

Atahladte

Atalyah. Variant of Athaliah, which see.

Ataru

Athaliah. Hebrew. Meaning "Afflicted of God."

Atherton. English. Meaning "From Atelhere's town."

Atiya. Arabic. Mea