According to the Oxford Dictionary a hipster is “a person who follows the latest trends and fashions in clothing and lifestyle, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream.” The tricky part about the hipster life is that the second something becomes cool, it is too mainstream to be hip. What a dilemma.
This also applies to baby girl names. Hipster baby girl names tend to be literary, quirky, and gender neutral. Sometimes, they even have a rich history or are mythological. The names on this list are a great place to start when considering a hipster name for your child. In early 2024, the names were still uncommon.
Isolde
The name Isolde is a triple threat because it’s old, literary, and based on a legend. The story goes that Tristan was charged with escorting Isolde from Ireland to marry his uncle but on the journey the pair accidentally drank a love potion that made them fall in love with each other instead. Isolde literally means “ice ruler” so it is a strong name for a young woman and is German and Welsh in origin.
Agnes
If you are looking for a name that is Greek in origin, Agnes might be an option. It means “pure” and “virginal.” The name served the medieval saint well. It is also found in the title of a Anne Brontë novel, Agnes Grey.
More from LittleThings: 60 Hipster Baby Names For Boys And Girls That Sound Effortlessly Cool
Ida
Found in the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem Oenone, Ida was a popular girls' name a century ago. It’s time for this German name to make a comeback. It means “industrious one,” so young ladies with this name are sure to be hard working and inventive. The moniker suited American journalist Ida B. Wells. It is also found in Greek and Hindu mythology as Mount Ida on the island of Crete is said to be Zeus’ birthplace.
Marigold
If you are looking for a floral name, consider Marigold. This moniker invokes thoughts of a British garden and literally means “golden flower.” It is found in the titles of several children’s books, including Magic for Marigold and Once Upon a Marigold. It is also the name of a Downton Abbey character.
Zelda
When one hears the name Zelda, one cannot help but think of Zelda Fitzgerald, a writer during the Jazz age who was married to fellow scribe F. Scott Fitzgerald. There is more to the name. It literally means "gray fighting maid" so girls with it are sure to not be afraid to stand up for themselves. The name is a variation of Griselda and is German in origin. It is also the name of a video game character. Marilyn Monroe enjoyed the name so much that she sometimes used the pseudonym Zelda Zonk.
Nightingale
If you are a bird lover, consider the name Nightingale. It is gender neutral and German in origin. These birds love signing in the evening, so be prepared for your child to be a musical and stay up late. The moniker was also the last name of Florence Nightingale. It is hip for last names to be first names and this one isn’t overdone yet.
Nyx
Another gender neutral and night-themed name is Nyx. It is pronounced like “nix.” Nyx literally means night. It was the name of the Greek goddess of the night so it is powerful.
