The baby name Unity seems like a virtue choice for our moment, but a historical figure makes it complicated.
Thanks to Tess for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME UNITY MEAN?
Unity means togetherness or harmony. It comes from the Latin word unitas, ultimately from unas – one.
It sounds like it ought to be a favorite among the Puritans, but that’s not the case. While choices like Constance did appeal, it’s possible that Unity would have been seen as rather Catholic. It’s a word often associated with the Holy Trinity. (Puritans could be very specific about such things. Even a classic name like Michael became rare. Why? Because borrowing the name of an archangel feels rather grand for a mere mortal.)
In the 21st century, Unity also suggests something like reconciliation. A bringing together of those who were previously in disagreement. That’s actually the verb unify, rather than unity – but the suggestion remains.
UNITY MITFORD
Born in 1914, Unity Valkyrie Mitford was the fourth of six Mitford sisters. The only Mitford brother, Tom, was killed in action during World War II.
The Mitfords were British aristocrats, landed and connected and maybe a bit eccentric. The sisters became debutantes and media darlings. But during the 1930s, the political landscape divided them. Unity visited Nazi Germany in 1933 and decided to stay. She learned German and eventually – deliberately – joined Hitler’s circle. She imagined a closer relationship between Germany and Great Britain. When Britain declared war on Germany, she attempted to take her own life.
Instead, Mitford came home to convalesce in England, dying from complications in 1948. She was
As for her very unusual given name? Unity was likely inspired by British actress Unity More, born Unity Morten.
Valkyrie was apparently suggested by her grandfather, taken from the war maidens from Norse mythology. Richard Wagner borrowed them for his opera Die Walküre, or The Valkyries. It’s part of his Ring cycle, but often performed independently. After debuting in 1870, it remained popular for decades, peformed across Europe, South America, and the United States.
Their story continues to fascinate. BritBox original series Outrageous put the sisters back in the spotlight in 2025. Shannon Watson played Unity.
But while the story might be fascinating, it makes the baby name Unity far more tragic -and less wearable.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME UNITY?
The baby name Unity has never ranked in the Top 1000 most popular names in the US.
Even in the 1880s and 90s, when names like Una, Ula, and Ursula ranked among the Top 1000 girl names, Unity failed to rank.
The name debuted in US data in 1972, with five girls receiving the name. It’s been used in tiny numbers since then. Unity reached peak popularity in 2022, with 57 births. As of 2024, 36 girls received the name.
While it might be considered gender-neutral, it has never appeared in the boys’ data in the US.
MORE USES OF THE NAME
Beyond the notorious Mitford sister, a few other uses of the name include:
- Fictional characters from 1918 silent film Stella Maris, starring Mary Pickford; animated series Rick and Morty; as well as comic series The Sandman. (Netflix’s adaptation in 2022 probably explains the brief burst of popularity for the name.)
- It’s the name of a British artist, Unity Spencer, as well as an American ballerina, Unity Phelan.
Unity also appears on the map, as a place name, and is sometimes heard in everything from song titles to ship names to the occasional political party.
A SISTER FOR TRUCE
In many ways, the baby name Unity fits with current trends. It’s a meaning-rich choice as powerful as Promise or Truce. And it straddles the line between vintage and modern, with a little bit of history and an arresting sound.
For the moment, Unity remains quite rare.
But it feels like it’s one good pop culture character away from catching on.
What do you think of the baby name Unity?
