Calm names may not exactly guarantee a calm baby — but it can’t hurt, right? After all, someone’s name says a lot about their personality. Studies have shown that names hold significant power in shaping perceptions and influencing behavior. So while high-energy names like Piper, Zoe, Roxy, Cannon, or Blaze might give the impression of someone who goes at full throttle all the time, calm names like the ones we’ve curated here will give the impression of a person who’s laid back and easygoing.
If you’re trying to manifest a baby that’s low-maintenance (well, as low-maintenance as you can ever hope for a baby to be), chill, and just happy to be here, then who knows: giving them a calm name might just give their personality a nudge in that direction. You could always give them a higher-energy middle name that they could go by if the chill-sounding one just doesn’t work for them later on!
Embrace the free-spirited boho aesthetic with these nature-inspired baby names! 🌸 https://t.co/d8KxTHLPVz
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) February 23, 2024
Names that are regarded as hyper-masculine usually have harder consonants like K, B, or X — think Ryker or Maximus — or just a more “forceful” feel overall. So since calm baby names tend to have softer sounds, many of the names on this list skew gender-neutral, which is perfect if you’re choosing the name before you know your baby’s sex (or waiting to be surprised at birth!). Gender neutral names are very much in style right now, so you really can’t go wrong.
For unfussy names with juuust the right amount of chill, read on.
Haven
According to Merriam-Webster, the word “haven” means a safe place or refuge. And if that doesn’t indicate calmness, we don’t know what does!
Serena
Derived from serenus, Latin for “clear, serene, tranquil,” the name Serena is the perfect name to convey a chill vibe. Similarly, you could use Selene, which means “moon” in Greek.
Callum
Derived from the Latin name Columba, Callum (or as it’s alternately spelled, Calum) means “dove,” which is of course a symbol of peace. And is it a coincidence that you can’t spell “calm” without “Callum?” We don’t think so!
Cove
Just like Haven, Cove is a gender-neutral word name. The word cove refers to a coastal inlet where the water is calm and clear due to a lack of currents.
River
From the Latin ripa, meaning “riverbank,” River is another tranquil-sounding nature name that calls to mind gently meandering waters.
Devin
There are multiple possibilities as to the origins of the name Devin: first, from the Old French word devin meaning “divine,” and second, from the Old Irish words damán or dubán, meaning “fawn” and “little dark one,” respectively. Whatever meaning you choose, its soft V creates a gentle buzz in the middle and makes this a perfect choice for a calm name.
Shepherd
Shepherd means, of course, a person who herds sheep — but its calm countenance is probably due to its association with the Bible verse Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”
Jonah
Jonah is a name of Hebrew origin — and like Callum, it means “dove!” It begins with a softer consonant and ends with a soft sound as well, which gives it a sound as peaceful as its meaning.
Mira
The name Mira has two possible origins, both with tranquil meanings. The first comes from the Slavic element mirŭ, meaning “peace,” and the second is Sanskrit and means “sea.”
Arden
What is it about the beautiful unisex name Arden that gives it a spot on our list of calm names? It originates from a Celtic word meaning “high,” so it isn’t necessarily its meaning. We think maybe it’s the proximity to the word “garden” that calls to mind something peaceful.
Elowen
This Cornish name meaning “elm tree” is comprised of soft, dreamy elements and calls to mind the word “flow,” so it’s a great pick for a calm name. It’s also a great alternative to more popular and mainstream choices like Eleanor if you’re looking for something similar, but a bit more unique.
Jude
Possibly derived from the Hebrew name Yehudah, meaning “praised,” there’s just a laid-back vibe about the name Jude. Maybe it calls to mind the Beatles’ hit “Hey Jude,” which isn’t exactly a fast and hyper musical choice. Or maybe it calls to mind the refuge provided to so many families by the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Either way, it’s a great pick — and can be unisex too!
Brielle
This name is a short form of the French name Gabrielle — the feminine version of Gabriel — which means “the Lord is my strength.” But while Gabrielle itself sounds a little harder thanks to the strong G at the beginning, the softer-sounding B of its nickname, coupled with the “-elle” ending, gives it a little bit more of a laid-back feel.
Enid
Enid is derived from the Welsh enaid, meaning “soul,” which gives it a vibe that’s … well, soulful. As an similar-sounding alternative there’s also the Scandinavian name Astrid, meaning “beloved.”
Milo
Like Mira, Milo may also be derived from the Slavic milŭ, meaning “peace.” And though Milo isn’t exactly gender-neutral (at least not yet), you could always choose the feminine form: Mila.
Ash
Whether you consider it as the name of the tree or the remnants of a cooled fire, Ash is a winner when it comes to calm names. It’s unisex, and it contains the word “sh” … which is literally a nearly-universal sound one makes to comfort a baby!
Quinn
There’s just something peaceful about the unisex name Quinn, which comes from the Old Irish conn, meaning “reason.” Could it be that it shares its first three letters with the word “quiet?”
Silas
And speaking of quiet — how about a name that’s strikingly similar to the word “silence?” Silas is derived from the Latin word silva, meaning “forest.”
Julian
Coming from the Greek ioulos, meaning “downy-bearded” (as in young), Julian has a soft and almost romantic sound and a dignified, refined vibe you can’t imagine as anything but calm.
Tatum
Tatum comes from the name Tatham, which is a combo of Tata (an Old English given name) and the suffix -ham, meaning “homestead.” So right off the bat, its meaning — Tata’s homestead — gives it a safe and comfortable feel. And it’s surmised that Tata, the root name from which Tatum is derived, may mean “cheerful.”
Enzo
With the soft buzz of that middle Z and its O ending — almost like a sigh — Enzo, of unknown meaning, posesses an effortlessly cool vibe that calls to mind a leisurely afternoon on the Italian Riviera.
Pin It!
Leave a Comment