Are you looking for an unusual baby name but have no idea where to begin? Why not start by looking at some artsy and creative names?
No matter if you don’t have a creative bone in your body and don’t know your Van Gogh from your Picasso artsy names are becoming increasingly popular.
The challenge faced by parents who are looking into this is to find a name that is rare but not too bizarre. People have very different definitions and interpretations of art and of course the same can be said about baby names.
We have put together an extensive list of some of our favorite artsy and creative baby names along with their meanings for you to browse.
In this article
Artsy and Creative Baby Girl Names
A
Adria – A name of Greek origin and means a person from Hadria, Northern Italy. Adria is also a Catalan male name, meaning the same as Adrian.
Alice – Of English origin and means from the nobility. Alice is an English version of the French name Aalis, itself a form of Adelaide.
Allegra – Meaning joy and of Latin origin.
Amara – Indian in origin and means eternal. Variations of the name include Amarah.
Amelia – A name of Latin origin and means work. Amelia originally came from the name Amalia, which was derived from the Germanic name Amala and means work. The name became popular in England after the German House of Hanover came to rule in the 18th century.
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Ana – Of Spanish origin and means gracious, merciful. Ana is a Spanish form of the name Anna.
Anya – A name of Russian origin and means gracious, merciful. It is a form of Anne or Hannah.
Aria – Meaning solo melody and of Italian origin. Aria is also considered a diminutive form of the Greek name Ariana which means very holy.
Audra – A name of American origin and means noble strength, storm.
Autumn – This is a nature name and is of Latin origin and means fall season.
B
Beatrix – A name of English origin and means bringer of joy. One of the most famous bearers of the name is children’s author Beatrix Potter.
Bianca – Meaning white and of Italian origin.
Birdie – American in origin and means little bird.
Blythe – Of English origin and means happy.
Boheme – Represents a spirit of being or virtue as the names Faith, Grace, and Hope do.
Bronte – A name of Greek origin and means thunder. The name is pronounced as Bron-tay.
Buffy – A nickname for Elizabeth and with English origins. Tv show and movie character Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the most well-known bearer of the name.
C
Calista – Of Greek origin and means beautiful.
Calla – Short form of Calista. Of Greek origin and means beauty.
Camille – A name of French origin and means perfect.
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Celeste – The name Celeste means heavenly and is of Latin origin.
Cleo – Diminutive of Cleopatra and of Greek origin. Cleo means to praise, acclaim.
Coraline – Diminutive form of Cora or a combination of the names Cora and Caroline. The name is of American origin and means heart, maiden.
Cordelia – The name of the daughter of Shakespeare’s King Lear, of English origin but the meaning is unknown.
Cosette – Of French origin and means little thing.
Cosima – A name of Italian origin and means order.
D
Daphne – Greek in origin and means laurel tree. Daphne was also the name of a Greek water nymph.
Delaney – A name of English origin and means from the alder grove. This is also a great unisex name.
Delilah – The name is of Hebrew origin and means delicate, weakened. In the Old Testament, Delilah is Samson’s lover, who betrays him by cutting his hair, which is the source of his strength.
Delphine – Meaning woman from Delphi and is of French origin.
Dori – Of Greek origin and means gift or generation. A diminutive form of Dora. But for most, it is the name of the forgetful fish in the hit movie Nemo.
Doris – A name of Greek origin and means sea.
Dorisa – An unusual name with Hawaiian origin and means from the sea.
E
Elinor – English in origin and has an unknown meaning.
Elspeth – A name of Scottish origin and means God is my oath. It is a form of Elizabeth.
Eudora – The name is of Greek origin and means excellent gift.
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F
Fern – A name of English origin and is a nature name meaning fern.
Fiona – Scottish in origin and means while, fair.
Florence – Name of Latin origin and means prosperous, flowering.
Freya – Meaning goddess of love, fertility, and beauty and of Scandanavian origin. Variations include Fraya.
Frida – A name of German origin and means peace.
G
Gretchen – Of German origin and means a pearl. It is a diminutive form of Margaret.
Gwen – A name of Welsh origin and means blessed ring. It is a short form of Gwendolyn and Gwenllian.
H
Hadley – English in origin and means from Hadda’s field. It is traditionally an English surname.
Harper – An English occupational name that means harp player.
I
Imogen – A name of English origin and means innocent, girl. The name was invented by William Shakespeare from the name Innogen.
Indie – This is a short form of the word Independent or the names India or Indiana. It is of American origin.
Ingrid – Of Scandanavian origin and means Ing’s beauty.
Iona – A name of Scottish origin and means from the island of Iona, Scotland.
Iris – Meaning colorful, rainbow, and is of Greek origin. Iris is the ancient symbol of power and was dedicated to the God Juno.
Ivy – English in origin and means climbing vine plant.
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J
Jade – A name of English origin and is a reference to the green gemstone. Variations include Jayde and Jadessa.
Jessamine – An unusual name with French origins and means jasmine flower.
K
Kyla – The feminine form of Kyle and of American origin and means narrow.
L
Lark – American in origin and means songbird. This is a beautiful nature name that is rarely used.
Lavender – This is both a color name and a nature name. It is of English origin and means a purple flowering plant.
Lilo – A name of Hawaiian origin and means a generous one. The name was made famous by the Disney film Lilo and Stitch.
Liv – Scandanavian in origin and means cover, shield, or life. It is also a diminutive form of Olivia.
Lucy – Meaning light and is of English origin. A common alternate spelling is Lucie. Lucy is also the name given to one of the oldest fossils known to man.
Luna – A name of Italian origin and means the moon. It is an Italian given name and a Spanish surname for families from Luna in Spain.
Lydia – Greek in origin and means from Lydia, Greece. In the Bible, Lydia was a businesswoman who was the first person baptized by Paul.
Lyra – The name means lyre, harp, and is of Latin origin.
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M
Maeve – A name of Irish origin and means intoxicating.
Maisie – Meaning pearl and is of English origin. It is a diminutive form of Mairead/Margaret.
Mara – Hebrew in origin and means of the sea or bitter. It is a form of Mary. In the Bible, Mara is a place name where Moses led the Israelites after marching through the desert for 3 days.
Marcie – The name means warlike and is of English origin. A diminutive form of Marcia or Marcella.
Margo – Of French origin and means pearl. Margo is a derivative of the name Margaret.
Marguerite – Comes from the name Margaret, is of French origin and means pearl.
Marisol – A beautiful name of Spanish origin and means sun, sea. It is a combination of the names Maria and Sol.
Matilda – The name is probably most well known as a character in the children’s book of the same name by Roald Dahl. It is of English origin and means battle strength. It was also the name of an English Queen in the 12th century.
Maya – Of English origin and means good mother, illusion, water. In Sanskrit Maya means illusion. In Greek, Maia means good mother and in Hebrew, it is a variation of the name Mayim meaning water.
Maxine – A name of English origin and means greatest. It is the feminine version of Max.
Mona – An Arabic name meaning desires, wishes. The most famous bearer of this name is Mona Lisa, the enigmatic subject of Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting by the same name.
N
Nora – An Irish name meaning honor. The name Nora was originally a diminutive from the names Honora nad Eleanora.
Noralie – Of American origin and is a combination of Nora and Coralie.
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O
Odette – Meaning wealth and of French origin. It is also the name of the swan in the ballet Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
P
Paloma – A name of Spanish origin and means a dove.
Paola – Italian origin and means small. It is a form of Paula.
Petra – Of Greek origin and means rock.
Phoebe – The name means bright, shining, and is of Greek origin.
Polly – English in origin and means great sorrow. Polly is a variation of the name Molly, which comes from Mary.
Poppy – A name of Latin origin and is a nature name from the flower.
R
Renee – A French name meaning reborn. A variation is Renae.
Romy – German in origin and means rosemary or person from Rome. Romy is a German name meaning the herb rosemary and is also the female form of Roman.
Rosemary – Meaning herb nad is of English origin. The name comes from the Latin ros marinus, sea dew.
Roz – A name of English origin and means rose. It is a diminutive form of names beginning with Ros, most often Rosalind.
Ruby – The name means red gemstone and is of English origin.
S
Shay – A unisex name of Irish origin and means hawk.
Shoshana – Hebrew in origin and means lily, rose.
Stella – Meaning star and of Latin origin.
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T
Tabitha – The name means a gazelle and is of Hebrew origin. In the Bible, Tabitha/Dorcas was a woman in Joppa who was a disciple of Jesus.
Tallulah – Native American in origin and means leaping water.
Tana – A name of American origin and is a short form of Montana.
Tate – Meaning cheerful and is of English origin. This is a great gender-neutral baby name.
Teagan – Of Irish origin and means little poet. Teagan is possible derived from the Welsh name Tegan meaning pretty, fair.
Tessa – English in origin and means harvester. Diminutive form of Theresa.
Trixie – A name with a beautiful meaning, bringer of joy, and is of English origin. It is a cute diminutive form of the more traditional Beatrix.
V
Valentina – Of Latin origin and means strength, health.
Vieira – A name of Spanish origin and means scallop. A fantastic Latin alternative to the very popular Sierra.
Vigee – Pronounced as vee-ZHAY and of French origin.
Vionnet – French in origin and is of unknown meaning. It is also a French surname.
Vivienne – Another beautiful name of French origin and means alive. Vivienne is the French variation of the name Vivian or Vivien.
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W
Walker – The name is of English origin and means fuller of cloth. Originally Walker was an English surname from the old English word wealcare. A wealcare was a person who scoured and thickened raw cloth by trampling on it in water.
Winslow – A name that most people would associate with boys but the name is on the rise for girls. Of English origin and means friend’s hill or burial mound.
X
Xanthe – The name means golden and is of Greek origin.
Z
Zandra – A diminutive of the name Alexandra and is of Greek origin.
Zara – A name of English origin and means princess. It is also a form of Sarah.
Zelda – Originally a short form of the name Grizelda. It is of German origin and means gray battle or strong woman.
Zelia – Greek in origin and means zeal.
Zoe – The name means life and is of Greek origin.
Artsy and Creative Baby Boy Names
A
Aalto – Finnish in origin and means wave.
Adler – Of German origin and means eagle. Alder is a German surname that is now beginning to be used as a first name.
Alaric – A name of German origin and means noble ruler, elf ruler. Alaric was the last king of the Goths who overthrew Rome.
Alistair – Meaning defender of the people and of Scottish origin. Alistair is the Scottish form of Alexander, originally spelled Alasdair.
Andreas – Of Greek origin and means manly.
Ansel – From the German name Anselm, made up of the name elements ANS meaning God and HELM meaning helmet, protector, protection.
Apollo – A name of Greek origin and means destroyer. Apollo was the Greek god of the sun.
Archer – An occupational name for a person who does archery. The name is of English origin and means bowman, one who excels at archery.
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Ari – Hebrew in origin and means lion. It is also used as a nickname for Aristotle.
Arlo – Meaning hill and of German origin. Could be the shortened version of Carlo, Carlos, or Charles.
Arrow – A name of English origin and means a projectile fired from a bow. It is also the name of the hit US television series of the same name.
Art – English in origin and means bear. Short form of Arthur.
Artemis – This is a gender-neutral name of Greek origin and means butcher. This was first a female name with an unknown meaning. But is possibly related either to the Greek artemes meaning safe or artamos meaning butcher. In Greek mythology, Artemis is the daughter of Leto and Zeus, and the twin of Apollo.
Atticus – A name of Latin origin that means of Attica.
Atlas – Greek in origin and means support, prop. Atlas is also a Greek mythological character, a titan who took part in the revolt against the gods.
August – The name is of English origin and means great, to increase.
B
Barnaby – A name of English origin and means son of Consolation. The English form of Barnabus.
Bohan – An anglicized form of the Gaelic O Buadhachain which comes from the word buadhach that means victorious.
Braque – Not a very commonly used name of French origin.
Brighton – The name means from the bright town and is of English origin.
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C
Cal – English in origin and is the short form of names beginning with Cal.
Calder – Of English origin and means rocky water. The name is pronounced COL-der, CALL-der.
Cassian – A name of Latin origin and means hollow.
Claude – A name of Latin origin and means lame.
Clay – Meaning clay worker and is of English origin. This is an occupational surname for someone who worked with clay.
Cole – English in origin and means swarthy, coal black.
Cosmo – The name means order and it’s of English origin.
Cristobal – Spanish version of Christopher and means bearer of Christ.
Cruz – A Spanish surname that has moved to a first name. Cruz means the cross of Christ and is of Spanish origin
Cyrus – Of Persian origin and means heir to the throne.
D
Dashiell – This name is an anglicized form of the French surname ‘de Chiel’. Others believe it is a form of the word ciel which means heaven or sky. Chiel is also a Scottish term for a young boy or occupationally a page.
Dax – A name of French origin and means leader.
Dexter – An occupational name of English origin meaning dyer of clothes. It also has a Latin meaning main handed, dextrous.
Dimitri – Greek in origin and means devotee of Demeter.
Dorian – The name was first used as a name by Oscar Wilde for the 1891 novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray. The name is of Greek origin and means from the sea.
Drew – Short form of Andrew. A name of English origin meaning manly.
Dylan – Welsh in origin and means son of the sea.
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E
Elliot – Originally from the name Elijah. Elliot is of English origin and means the lord is my god.
Emerson – A name of English origin and means son of Emery. Emerson was originally an English surname.
Ezekiel – Of Hebrew origin and means God will strengthen.
F
Felix – In the Bible, Felix was the Roman governor of Judea. The name is of Latin origin and means happy and prosperous.
Finch – Of English origin and means to swindle.
Finn – A name of Irish origin and means fair. Finn is also a Nordic name meaning man from Finland.
Fitzgerald – Irish in origin and means son of Gerald. It was originally an Irish surname.
Fletcher – Originally an English surname. Fletcher is of English origin and means arrow maker, folk army.
G
Gavin – Of English origin and means white hawk. Gavin is the English medieval form of Gawain.
Gerard – A name of English origin and means brave spearman.
Greco – An Italian surname, El Greco. Greco means from the country of Greece and is of Italian origin.
Grey – A color name of English origin and means grey haired.
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H
Hardy – A name of German origin and means bold, brave.
Hartigan – Irish in origin and means descendant of Arthur.
Hermes – A name from Greek mythology that means the messenger god.
Holden – English in origin and means from the hollow in the valley. It is a literary name, used in the novel The Catcher in the Rye for the main character Holden Caulfield.
Hopper – A name of American origin and means ‘one who hops.’ The name is also used as an English surname.
I
Ira – Hebrew in origin and means watchful. In Polynesian mythology, Ira is a sky goddess.
Ishmael – Meaning god will hear and of Hebrew origin. In the Bible, Ishmael was Abraham’s firstborn son.
Ivan – Slavic form of the name John. Ivan is of Russian origin and means God is gracious.
J
Jacques – A name of French origin and means supplanter.
Jedi – American in origin and is a created name. This name most famously refers to a band of highly skilled warriors in George Lucas’ Star Wars movies.
Jess – A gender-neutral name that is of English origin and is a short form of Jesse or Jessica.
Jones – Of Welsh origin and means son of John.
Joss – Originally a diminutive of Jocelyn or Joshua. Joss is of English origin and means little goth.
Judd – A medieval short form of Jordan and means flowing down.
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Jude – English in origin and means from Judea. A famous bearer of the name is actor Jude Law.
Jules – A name of French origin and means youthful, downy. Also an American nickname for Julie, Julia, or Julian.
Julian – Latin in origin and means youthful, downy.
K
Kenzo – A name of Japanese origin and means strong and healthy.
Kiefer – German in origin and means barrel maker, pine. The name is pronounced as KEE-fuh; KEE-fur.
Kiernan – Meaning son of a lord and is of Irish origin.
Killian – A name of Irish origin and means church, monk’s cell. This is another gender-neutral baby name.
L
Laird – This name is of Scottish origin and means lord.
Leonardo – Italian in origin and means lion brave. The name Leonardo is the Latin language version of the name Leonard.
Loewy – Both a Swiss and German nickname for a brave person.
Loki – A name of Scandanavian origin and means trickster God. For most people, Loki is associated with Marvel’s Thor comic and movie series. Loki is the adoptive brother of Thor and is often portrayed as a trickster and often a bad person.
Luca – Means a person from Lucania, Italy, and is of Italian origin. Luca is also the English form of the Greek name Loukas.
Lysander – An unusual Greek name meaning one who is freed.
M
Maillol – A name of French origin. Aristide Maillol was a French sculptor.
Manolo – A name of Spanish origin and means God is with us.
Mansa – An African name that means king, conqueror, or sultan. Mansa is a Mandinka word primarily associated with the Keita dynasty of the Mali empire in western Africa.
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Marco – Meaning warlike and of Italian origin.
Matisse – A French name derived from Matthew or Matias which both mean the gift of God.
Malachi – A name of Hebrew origin and means messenger of God.
Malcolm – Scottish in origin and means follower of St Columba.
Mars – Gender-neutral name that is of Greek origin and means God of war.
Matthias – Matthias is a name of Greek origin and means gift of God.
Max – Short form of Maximillian or Maxwell. The name is of Latin origin and means greatest.
Mcqueen – An ANglicized form of the Gaelic MacShuibhne, which means son of Suibhne.
Mercury – A name of Latin origin and means god of trade. It is also the name of a planet closest to the sun.
Micah – A biblical name of Hebrew origin that means who is like God.
Miles – Latin in origin and means soldier. Probably originally a short form of Michael.
Milo – Form of Miles and of English origin meaning soldier.
N
Neo – An unusual American name that means new. The name is used for the futuristic hero in the movie The Matrix.
Neville – French in origin and means new town. The name was originally a habitational surname for those who came from the new town or were new to the town.
Nikolai – The meaning victory of the people and of Russian origin.
Nouvel – A name of French origin and means new.
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O
Oliver – Contrary to popular belief, Oliver has nothing to do with the olive trees. The name is derived from the Old Norse name Aleifr, meaning ancestor’s descendant.
Orion – Orion is a hunter in Greek mythology and is also the name of a constellation of stars. It is of Greek origin and means mountain dweller.
Oscar – A name of Irish origin and means deer lover.
P
Pablo – Spanish in origin and means small. Pablo is also a form of Paul.
Pei – An Italian surname whose meaning may be derived from the pear or pear tree.
Pello – Means stone and is of Greek origin.
Penn – A name of English origin and means live by the hill.
Picabia – A name of Spanish origin and of unknown meaning.
Picasso – Derived from the Italian word pica meaning a magpie.
Pierre – Of French origin and means rock. Pierre is also a form of Peter.
Poet – A name of English origin and means one who writes verse. This is an occupational name.
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R
Raeburn – Derived from a Scottish place name meaning stream where does drink.
Raphael – Hebrew in origin and means God has healed. In the Bible Raphael is an archangel that God sent to help Tobit.
Reid – Originally an English surname that means red headed.
Rem – Of Dutch origin and a diminutive of Remment, Remmert or Remmelt.
Remington – A name of English origin and means place on a riverbank.
Remy – A name of French origin and means oarsman or remedy.
Rhys – Welsh in origin and means passion, enthusiasm.
River – Meaning a stream of water that flows to the sea and is of English origin.
Rowan – Of English origin and means from the rowan tree.
Rupert – A name of French origin and means bright fame.
Ryder – English in origin and means knight, mounted warrior.
S
Sargent – English in origin and means sergeant, servant, or officer.
Salvador – A name of Spanish origin and means savior.
Soren – This is a Scandanavian name meaning severe.
Soutine – A name of French origin and is an artist name.
Stefan – Of German origin and means crown.
Sullivan – A name of Irish origin and means dark-eyed. It was originally an Irish surname from the Gaelic O Suileabhan.
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T
Tadeo – Spanish in origin and means praise. Spanish form of Thaddeus.
Takashi – A name of Japanese origin and means dutiful, prosperous, ambition.
Thatcher – Of English origin and means roof maker. An occupational name that was originally a surname.
Thomas – In the Bible, Thomas is an apostle of Christ. It is of Greek origin and means a twin.
Thoreau – A name of French origin but has no specific meaning.
Theo – A name of Greek origin and means divine gift. Theo is the short form of Theodore or Theodorus.
Tristan – A gender-neutral name of Welsh origin and means tumult. Originally a male name that has now crossed over to females.
Turner – English in origin and means lathe worker.
V
Valentino – Italian in origin and means strength, health.
Venturo – A name of Spanish origin and means faithful.
W
Weston – Of English origin and means from the west town.
wilder – Meaning wild animal and of English origin.
Willem – A name of Dutch origin and means with gilded helmet. This is the Dutch form of the name William.
Wolf – English in origin and means wolf.
Y
Yves – A name of French origin and means yew.
Z
Zander – A form of Alexander and of Greek origin. Zander means defender of the people.
Zane – American in origin and means God is gracious. Possibly a form of John.
Zephyr – Of Greek origin and means west wind.
The Final Thought
Finding the perfect baby name can be hard and takes time to be sure that the one you have chosen is perfect.
Do not panic if you have not found your perfect name on our list there are plenty of other options available to you. It is just going to take some patience.
