Not every little girl dreams of tea parties and princess gowns. Some girls are drawn to adventure, sports, and activities traditionally associated with boys. For these spirited and independent souls, "tomboy girl names" are a perfect way to reflect their unique personalities. These names often blend strength, history, and a touch of the unexpected, making them a wonderful choice for parents seeking something beyond the traditional frills. We’ve curated a list of our favorite tomboy girl names, drawing inspiration from various origins and meanings, to help you find the ideal fit for your maverick maiden.
What Defines Tomboy Girl Names?
"Tomboy girl names" often reside in unisex territory, blurring the lines between traditional masculine and feminine monikers. Unlike girl names laden with frillier suffixes like "-ella" or "-enna," these names often feature strong, grounded endings.
-
Suffixes like -ton: Evoking a sense of place and community, "-ton" signifies "town," as seen in names like Paxton (Latin, "peace town"), Sutton (English, "from the south town"), and Peyton (English, "from Pacca’s town"). These names carry an air of independence and self-reliance.
-
The -son suffix: Meaning "son of," this suffix traditionally links the bearer to a male lineage. However, in modern usage, it can be reinterpreted as "child of," honoring a beloved parent or ancestor regardless of gender. Well-known examples include Emerson (English, "son of Emery") and Ellison (English, "son of Ellis").
Occupational Tomboy Girl Names
Another popular category within "tomboy girl names" encompasses occupational names, reflecting a sense of purpose and skill.
- Harper: Currently trending, meaning "harp player".
- Scout: A literary classic from To Kill a Mockingbird, meaning "to listen."
- Sailor: Evokes a love for the water.
- Hunter: Appeals to outdoorsy families.
- Sawyer: From the English, meaning "Wood Cutter".
- Miller: From the English, meaning "Mill Worker".
- Cooper: From the English, meaning "Barrel Maker".
- Mercer: From the English, meaning "Merchant".
- Tanner: From the German, meaning "Leather Worker".
- Porter: From the English, meaning "Doorkeeper".
- Walker: From the English, meaning "Cloth-walker".
- Chandler: From the French, meaning "Candle Maker".
Popular Tomboy Girl Names
Many of today’s most sought-after girl names lean towards the tomboy aesthetic, blending popularity with a sense of individuality.
- Riley: Meaning "rye clearing" in Irish, this name exudes energy and charm.
- Avery: This name meaning "elf ruler," projects a sassy and confident image.
- Madison: Meaning "son of Maud," projects strength and modern appeal.
- Skylar: Meaning "Noble Scholar" in English, suggesting intelligence and ambition.
- Addison: Meaning "Son of Adam," conveying a sense of groundedness and heritage.
- Ryan: Meaning "Little King," conveys a sense of Royalty and Power.
Uncommon and Unique Tomboy Girl Names
For parents seeking something truly distinctive, a wealth of rare and unusual "tomboy girl names" awaits discovery.
- Brenley: Meaning "Burned meadow", This name balances trendiness with scarcity.
- Scotty: A youthful and adventurous moniker meaning "from Scotland".
- Kaylor: A modern, created name with a unique sound.
- Seren: This Welsh name meaning "star", offers a touch of celestial magic.
- Journee: From the English, meaning "To travel from one place to another".
- Laken: A modern name from the American Culture, meaning "Created name".
- Hadley: A calm name from the English, meaning "Heather meadow".
- Stevie: A graceful name from the Greek, meaning "Crown, garland".
- Arden: A mystical name from the Latin, meaning "Great forest".
- Timber: From the American, meaning "Wood, Strong".
- Harlyn: A dominant name from the English, meaning "Army land".
- Karter: An uncertain name from unknown origin.
A Comprehensive List of Tomboy Girl Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addison | Son of Adam | English | Yes |
| Adley | Impartial, just, honest | Hebrew | |
| Alix | Noble | German | Yes |
| Andi | Manly, virile | Greek | |
| Aniston | Unknown | American | |
| Arden | Great forest | Latin | Yes |
| Ashton | Ash tree town | English | Yes |
| Aston | East settlement; ash tree settlement | English | Yes |
| Aubrey | Elf ruler | English | Yes |
| Avery | Elf counsel | English | Yes |
| Bader | Full moon | Arabic | |
| Bailey | Bailiff | English | Yes |
| Bentley | Meadow of bent grass | English | Yes |
| Berkley | Birch tree meadow | Scottish | |
| Billie | A feminine diminutive of William. | English | Yes |
| Blair | Plain, field | Scottish | Yes |
| Blake | Black or pale | English | Yes |
| Blakely | Dark clearing | English | Yes |
| Blaze | Lisp, stutter | Latin | Yes |
| Bobbi | Foreign woman | Latin | Yes |
| Brady | Descendant of Br?ch | Irish | Yes |
| Brenley | Burned meadow | English | |
| Briley | Descendant of Roghallach | Irish | Yes |
| Brinley | Burnt meadow | English | |
| Bristol | Site of the Bridge | English | |
| Brogan | Sturdy shoe | Irish | Yes |
| Bryce | Spotted | Scottish | Yes |
| Brynn | Hilled area | Welsh | Yes |
| Campbell | Crooked mouth | Scottish | Yes |
| Camryn | Crooked nose | Scottish | |
| Carson | Son of Carr | Scottish | Yes |
| Cazzy | Pure | Greek | |
| Chandler | Candle maker | French | Yes |
| Charlie | Free man | English | Yes |
| Collins | Holly | Irish | |
| Cooper | Barrel Maker | English | |
| Dakota | Friend and ally | Native American | Yes |
| Davy | Beloved | Scottish | Yes |
| Dayton | Bright and Sunny Town | English | |
| Demi | Half | French | |
| Devyn | Poet | Irish | Yes |
| Drew | Manly and strong | Greek | Yes |
| Dylan | Great tide | Welsh | Yes |
| Ellison | Son of Ellis | English | Yes |
| Ember | Smoldering coal | English | |
| Emerson | Son of Emery | English | |
| Emersyn | Son of Emery | English | |
| Emery | Home strength | German | |
| Fallon | Superiority; descended from a ruler | Irish | Yes |
| Finley | Fair warrior | Scottish | |
| Frankie | From France | Latin | Yes |
| Georgia | Farmer | English | |
| Ginger | Pep, liveliness; ginger | Latin | Yes |
| Greer | Watchful | Scottish | Yes |
| Hadley | Heather meadow | English | Yes |
| Harley | Hare meadow | English | Yes |
| Harlyn | Army land | English | |
| Harper | Harp Player | English | |
| Hayden | Hay valley | English | |
| Hunter | One who hunts | English | Yes |
| Indie | Independent | American | |
| Ivy | Ivy plant | English | |
| Izzy | God’s promise | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jael | Mountain goat | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jamie | He who supplants | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jessy | He sees | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jett | Black | English | Yes |
| Joey | Jehovah increases | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jordan | To descend | Hebrew | Yes |
| Jordyn | To descend | Hebrew | Yes |
| Journee | To travel from one place to another | English | |
| Karter | |||
| Kayden | Form of Caden | American | |
| Kaylor | Created Name | American | Yes |
| Keagan | Descendant of the fiery one | Irish | |
| Keaton | Hawk’s Town | English | |
| Kendall | The Kent river valley | English | Yes |
| Kennedy | Helmeted head | Irish | Yes |
| Kimber | Cyneburg’s field | English | |
| Kingsley | From the king’s meadow | English | |
| Kirby | Church farm | English | Yes |
| Laken | Created name | American | Yes |
| Landon | Long hill | English | |
| Leighton | From the town by the Meadow | English | |
| Lennon | Dear one | Irish | Yes |
| Lennox | From Levenach, Scotland | Scottish | |
| Linzy | Lincoln’s marsh; island of linden trees | English | Yes |
| Logan | Little hollow | Scottish | Yes |
| Lyndon | From the flax hill | English | |
| Madigan | Dog, Mastiff | Irish | Yes |
| Madison | Son of Maud | English | Yes |
| Maren | Star of the sea | Latin | |
| Marley | Boundary wood | English | Yes |
| Mason | Stoneworker | English | Yes |
| Meadow | Clearing | English | |
| Mercer | Merchant | English | Yes |
| Miller | Mill Worker | English | |
| Morgan | Circling sea | Welsh | Yes |
| Morrigan | War Goddess | Irish | Yes |
| Navy | Military at sea | English | |
| Oakley | From the oak tree field | English | |
| Palmer | Palm tree | Latin | Yes |
| Parker | Keeper of the park | English | Yes |
| Paxton | Peace town | Latin | Yes |
| Perry | Pear tree | French | Yes |
| Peyton | From Pacca’s town | English | Yes |
| Phoenix | Dark red | Greek | Yes |
| Piper | Pipe player | English | Yes |
| Porter | Doorkeeper | English | |
| Presley | Priest clearing | English | |
| Quincy | Counsel; estate of the fifth son | Irish | Yes |
| Quinn | Descendent of Conn | Irish | Yes |
| Randi | Beautiful | Latin | Yes |
| Reagan | Descendent of Riagan | Irish | Yes |
| Reggie | Queen | Latin | Yes |
| Remi | Rower | French | Yes |
| Remington | Settlement by the stream | English | |
| Riley | Rye clearing | Irish | Yes |
| River | Flowing body of water | English | |
| Romy | Diminutive of Rosemary and Rosemarie | German | |
| Rory | Red king | Irish | Yes |
| Rowan | Of the rowan tree | Gaelic | Yes |
| Roxy | Dawn | Persian | |
| Ryan | Little king | Irish | Yes |
| Ryder | Knight, mounted warrior | English | |
| Rylee | Rye clearing | Irish | |
| Sage | Sage plant | English | Yes |
| Sailor | Boat Man | American | Yes |
| Salem | Peace | Hebrew | |
| Sasha | A short variant form, regarded as Russian, of Alexandra. | Russian | Yes |
| Sawyer | Wood Cutter | English | |
| Saylor | Sailor | English | |
| Scotty | From Scotland | English | Yes |
| Scout | To listen | French | Yes |
| Seren | Star | Welsh | |
| Shae | Admirable | Gaelic | Yes |
| Sheridon | Seeker | Gaelic | Yes |
| Shiloh | His gift | Hebrew | Yes |
| Skylar | Noble scholar | English | Yes |
| Sloane | Raid | Irish | Yes |
| Spencer | Provider | English | Yes |
| Stevie | Crown, garland | Greek | Yes |
| Stormy | Stormy | English | Yes |
| Sutton | From the south town | English | |
| Tanner | Leather Worker | German | Yes |
| Tate | Cheerful | English | Yes |
| Tatum | Tata’s homestead | English | |
| Taylor | Tailor | English | Yes |
| Teagan | Little Poet | Irish | |
| Tennyson | Son of Dennis | English | |
| Terri | Late summer | Greek | Yes |
| Timber | Wood, Strong | American | Yes |
| Tipper | Nickname and variant of the Irish name Tabar meaning a well. | Irish | |
| Tyler | A worker in roof tiles | English | Yes |
| Vale | Strong, healthy | Latin | Yes |
| Vesper | Evening star | Latin | |
| Viv | Lively | Latin | Yes |
| Vix | Victory | Latin | Yes |
| Vonnie | True image; womanly; brave | Latin | |
| Walker | Cloth-walker | English | Yes |
| Whitley | White meadow | English | Yes |
| Willa | Will helmet, protection | German | |
| Wren | Bird | English | |
| Xia | Guest, stranger | Greek | Yes |
| Yael | Mountain goat | Hebrew | Yes |
| Zena | Guest, stranger; life of Zeus; belonging to Zeus | Russian | |
| Zephyr | West wind | Greek | Yes |
| Ziggy | Victory | German |
This list is only a starting point, and we encourage you to explore names beyond these suggestions to find the perfect fit for your little girl.
Choosing a name is a deeply personal journey. Embrace your creativity, consider your values, and most importantly, select a name that resonates with your heart. With a little exploration, you’re sure to discover the ideal "tomboy girl name" that celebrates your daughter’s unique spirit and sets her on a path of confidence and self-expression.