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A few names tend to stereotype a girl and hence are not preferred by a few parents. So, if you are looking for some neutral names, here are a few tomboy names for girls. A tomboy is a term used to refer to a female who behaves in manners considered boyish. So, in a way, tomboys try to break the conventional girlish traits the society has created over time. For such tomboys, a familiar name that highlights the feminine traits may not be suitable. As you may not know if your child would grow up to be a tomboy or feminine, giving them a neutral name could seem a safe bet. Hence, we have included neutral names that are cool, unique, and memorable.
20 Amazing Tomboy Names For Girls
1. Kai
With its exotic roots, simple pronunciation and appropriateness for both girls and boys, Kai take the spot for our Tomboy girl names list. The meaning of this adventurous Hawaiian name is ‘sea.’ The name reflects the tomboy’s love for style and diversity – all at the same time. The name also has the star power. Actress Jennifer Connelly chose the name for her son.
2. Anais
Don’t you think Anais has an alluring pronunciation? And how can you forget the famous namesake, Anais Nin, who was hailed by many critics as one of the finest writers of bold female erotica.
3. Aubrey
Aubrey is a German name meaning ‘ruler’. With its simple pronunciation, Aubrey gives a perfect tomboy angle to a classic name. It is best suited for a feisty baby girl. And if it worked with Hillary Duff, and Colin Firth, it will work for you too.
4. Evan
Evan is an Anglicized version of John. It comes from a Welsh name Lefan, meaning ‘God is good’. The popular tomboy name had been sitting among the top 100 for decades and is now slowly climbing back up the charts. In Celtic, the name means ‘young warrior’.
5. Sydney
The name Sydney goes beyond Australia. The destination name is perfect for your darling too. In the last century, Sidney was more popular for boys but is now common amongst girls.
Did you know?6. Tyler
Tyler was super-trendy in the nineties. It laid the foundation for the last-name-as-a-first-name movement. There is also another tradition associated with Tyler. It initiated the practice of using one’s profession as a surname.
7. Alex
In its full form, Alexandra is regal, feminine and saintly. It is dainty, but not in a flimsy way. The name has some perky short forms like Allie or Lexie and Alex. We like Alex the most, but you can consider Allie or Lexie too.
Trivia8. Gus
A girl with the name ‘Gus’? Sounds weird to you, right? Just like Alex follows from Alexandra, Gus is the logical short form of Augusta. Gus has been a tomboy name for years. This one-syllable name has a cuddly vibe to it.
9. Beatrix
Most of the time, weird spellings of traditional names often go wrong, for example, Jorja or Rybekka. But Beatrix is one example that sounds oh-so-right. All thanks to the letter ‘x’, you have got a name that falls between the old-fashioned Beatrice and the wickedly spunky Bellatrix.
10. Beckett
We don’t know whether it is the sporty ‘b’ or the chic double ‘t’ that make the name Beckett so attractive. It does not sound delicate or extremely feminine, just the kind you would want for your daughter. In fact, Freakonomics predicted that Beckett would be one of the most popular names of 2015. How could anyone be so right with his or her prediction?
11. Callie
Most of the names for girls are sweet, and a handful of names are strong. But a name like Callie manages to be a bit of both. Callie is one of those confident tomboy girls names that have a new school meet old-school twist to it.
12. Cleo
Cleo has a sassy and slick ring to it. It is also the pet name of one of the most influential women in history, Cleopatra. If you want, you can consider Cleo as the nickname and Cleopatra as the official name.
13. Clover
Violet? Been there! Rose? Done that! For tomboys, you have to think of a name that is obscure and old school. Clover, with its farmer’s market sound and Irish heritage, makes an apt name for a tomboy.
14. Django
Gypsy names like Django sound incredibly cool. The name has links with the jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Remember, the D is silent.
15. Ally
Ally is another excellent tomboyish name. It comes from the name Alison or Alice, a feminine name exuding the vibe of an independent individual. Alice was the most famous name in the English speaking countries. And now Ally is equally popular as a tomboy name.
16. Bobbie
Bobbie is a short form of the name Barbara. This unisex name will make a perfect pick for your tomboy. Barbara was the name of a tenacious and fearless saint in the Roman Catholic traditions. She was the protector against fire and lightning. The name Bobbie is very popular in European countries.
17. Iris
Iris was the name of the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of Zeus and Hera in Greek mythology. In ancient times, the iris flower was the symbol of majesty and power, with the three-petal segments symbolizing valor, wisdom, and faith. So if you want your daughter to grow up with these qualities, you can consider bestowing this name on her.
Quick fact18. Odette
The name Odette hit the headlines because of Odette Braily, the courageous and resilient French Resistance heroine. She supplied the information to the allies and narrowly escaped a German prison camp. Even Natalie Porter and Tchaikovsky are into it.
19. Phoebe
Phoebe is the goddess of the moon and hunting in Greek mythology. But if you are a fan of the famous sitcom FRIENDS, you will know her as the goddess of strange songs and music and the kooky stories. And do not forget her view about her name “If it’s a girl, Phoebe; if it’s a boy, Phoebo.”
20. Piper
The name Piper will evoke the images of a bright-eyed collegiate tomboy who is great at academics and singing. But you may not know that she has a tough side too, which she does not show to anybody.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the benefits of giving a tomboy name to a girl?
You can consider giving tomboy names to your girl because they are gender-neutral. Also, these names are incredibly unique and will make your baby stand out.
2. Are there any potential drawbacks to giving a girl a tomboy name?
Giving a tomboy name may not have any potential issue since it is not specific to any gender. However, when deciding to keep a name, the parents may consider how it sounds, what it means, and whether it may have any societal repercussions before deciding to keep it.
3. How can I choose a tomboy name that fits my daughter’s personality?
Research for tomboy-inspired, traditionally masculine, or nature inspired names that depict freedom and strength. You can use historic or fictional names also.
4. How do tomboy names for girls differ from gender-neutral names?
Tomboy names for girls differ from gender-neutral names in that the former has a more masculine touch, whereas the latter is not associated with any gender and can be used by both girls and boys.
5. Can a feminine name still be considered a tomboy name for a girl?
Yes. A feminine name can be considered a tomboy as long as it does not sound overly feminine or has any gender-neutral qualities.
Gone are those days when stereotypic tomboy names could only be used for sons. With the help of this list of tomboy names for girls, you will be able to find a great name that you could use for naming your daughter. Also, it should be noted that these names are not specifically tomboy and are more inclined towards the neutral side. Celebrities have also used names like Sydney, Beatrix, or Clover for their characters in movies or series. So scroll through and choose the name that you like the best.
Infographic: Cool Tomboy Names For Your Baby Girl
If you want your baby girl to stand out in a crowd, you may consider giving her a tomboy name. The following infographic contains a list of tomboy names you may choose from for your little princess. Have a look!
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- A tomboy is a term used to refer to a girl who behaves in a manner conventionally considered boyish.
- Gender-neutral names like Kai, Evan, and Sydney are a safe bet for avoiding the feminine stereotypes of tomboys.
- Tomboy names also tend to have historical and mythological connections. For instance, Alex derives from Alexander, while Iris has Greek roots.
References
- Names that increased in popularity from 2020 to 2021.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/popularity_increase.html
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