Bohemian Baby Names: Dinah, Lilou, Thoreau

Bohemian baby names feel artistic and unconventional. They’re vibrant, unexpected, and romantic. In a classroom full of Harpers and Liams, Ellies and Jakes, bohemian baby names stand out.

Many of these fail to make the current Top 1000, but nothing says a bohemian baby name can’t catch on.

The whole idea of bohemian comes from nineteenth century France. It described creative types, free-spirits, adventurers and vagabonds. Musicians and actors, artists and writers. They had style galore, but maybe not much in the bank.

But they’re not just for hippies anymore. And they’re often far more subtle than, say, Rainbow. Modern bohemian can appeal to plenty of parents, even those who have never picked up a paintbrush.

Boho baby names tend to be elaborate, sometimes slightly French, and oh so very appealing.

BOHO GIRL NAMES

ACACIA

A lovely tree name with a flowing sound.

ALMA

With multiple origins, Alma might mean nourishing. But the association that puts it on the bohemian girl names list is Spanish, with the meaning soul.

AMELIE

A sweetly French take on traditional Amelia.

AMETHYST

If Ruby is a mainstream favorite, then Amethyst is the bohemian baby name alternative.

AMORET

Borrowed from Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, Amoret is a throwback name that feels fresh and new.

ANAIS

Ann, Anna, and Anne are classics, but Anais is a creative French nickname with so much style.

ARWEN

Borrowed from Lord of the Rings, Liv Tyler played Arwen in the movie versions.

AURELIA

Golden Aurelia is slightly Italian, thoroughly romantic.

AURORA

Despite ranking in the current US Top 100, this name for the goddess of the dawn feels at home on this list of daring choices.

AVALON

A little bit Arthurian legend, a little bit Roxy Music.

AVRIL

The artist Toulouse-Lautrec famously painted dancer Jane Avril in 1890s Paris, making this a bohemian – and seasonal – possibility.

BIJOU

A French word meaning gem, Bijou Phillips is the daughter of John Phillips, of The Mamas and the Papas. That makes this an actual flower child name, as well as a bohemian one.

BIRDIE

Vintage Birdie fits in a surprising number of eras and places, a little bit antique, a little bit natural world.

BLUEBELL

A bold flower name that has never quite caught on, but would wear nicely.

BOHEME

The ultimate bohemian baby girl name, maybe? La bohème is the famous Puccini opera from the 1890s, and the French translation of the word.

BRONTE

A literary surname, Bronte feels at home on this list, even though the family pre-dates the beginnings of the original bohemian movement.

BRIONY, BRYONY

A nature name, Briony might bring to mind the 1930s-era novel and movie Atonement, but it fits with this era of elaborate nature names, too.

CALLIOPE

Greek mythology suggests so many gorgeous names, including Calliope. She was one of the nine muses, responsible for epic poetry.

CLAUDETTE

Take the strength of ancient Claudia and add the French -ette ending and suddenly this name feels creative and unexpected. Oscar-winning film star Claudette Colbert reinforces this image in 1934 classic It Happened One Night.

CLEMENTINE

There’s Oh My Darling and Mrs. Winston Churchill, but Clementine feels distinct from either image. It’s free spirited and vibrant.

CLEO and CLIO

Another borrowing from myth, with the added allure of Cleopatra and countless fictional adaptations of the Egyptian queen’s story.

CORALIE

Coralie is tied to the natural world and to the sea, as it means coral.

COSETTE

A name with a French origin, Cosette is the affectionate nickname of Jean Valjean’s adopted daughter in Broadway sensation Les Miserables.

COSIMA

The Italian form of a name with Greek roots, Cosima means order. But the style is out of this world.

DAHLIA

Lush and lovely, Dahlia is a floral name with a stylish, free-spirited sound.

DAISY

Versatile Daisy is a little bit flower child, but gently vintage, too. While it’s become a mainstream favorite, Daisy still feels at home with creative, artistic choices.

DAPHNE

Bridgerton helped change Daphne’s image from Scooby Doo sidekick to well-born English lady. Legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt’s sprightly composition Daphne cements the name’s place among bohemian favorites.

DELPHINE

French Delphine is slightly floral, associated with dolphins and Orphan Black, and delightfully bohemian.

DELIA

A distant cousin to Delphine, Delia shares roots, but has a different kind of energy. It’s more Americana, inspired by tragic, oh-so-dark song “Delia’s Gone,” recorded by Johnny Cash in 1962.

DINAH

Another name with a song attached, Dinah feels sparky and high-energy. It’s an offbeat and unexpected choice for a daughter.

DJUNA

Writer and illustrator Djuna Barnes got her unusual name from her father, who probably invented it. The D is silent. Barnes herself was part of the bohemian scene in New York City’s Greenwich Village in the early twentieth century.

DOVE

Nature names feel just right for this list, and Dove – symbolizing peace – clearly belongs with bohemian baby names.

EDIE

Edith is strong and sensible. Nickname Edie feels creative and unconventional. Maybe that’s down to Edie Sedgwick. A model and actor, she was part of artist Andy Warhol’s inner circle. She starred in several of Warhol’s avant-garde films. Besides Edith, it might also be short for Eden – but Edie is the name with the boho vibes.

ELARA

One of Jupiter’s moons is Elara, named for one of the god’s many lovers. Elara was mortal, and a princess, too. Their affair resulted in the birth of the giant Tityos.

ELOWEN

A twenty-first century hippie name, if there is such a thing. Elowen comes from Cornish and means elm tree.

EMBER

A fiery name, Ember succeeds former favorites like Amber and Emily.

ENDELLION

An obscure saint, Endellion is also the name of a Cornish village. When former British prime minister David Cameron welcomed a daughter while vacationing nearby, they named her Florence Rose Endellion.

EVENING

A possible word name seldom heard as a first, Evening fits right in.

EVER

An enduring choice, Ever is just slightly more daring than Everly.

FAE, FAYE

A slight, spare name with a meaning that’s both lovely and powerful: fairy.

FERN

Gentle Fern is a nature name with a certain amount of strength.

FLORA

Vintage and timeless at once, Flora feels like a logical name for a flower child.

FREYA

An Old Norse name borrowed from a goddess, Freya is associated with beauty and battle.

GAIA

The earth goddess from ancient myth, Gaia’s Greek origin literally means earth.

GEMMA

Slightly more subtle than Jewel, Italian Gemma was the name of late medieval poet Dante Aligheri’s wife.

GEORGETTE

Georgia is a mainstream favorite at-home in a gingham dress and cowboy boots. Georgette feels a little less conventional.

GOLDIE

Warm and colorful, Goldie is bolder than Sadie, but with the same feel as Edie.

HERO

Impeccably literary, a borrowing from Greek legend and Shakespeare, Hero is also delightfully unexpected.

INDIA

Place name India has been used for generations, both for love of the country and for the stylish sound.

INDIGO

A colorful choice with plenty of creative energy.

IO

Two syllables and just two letters, Io comes from Greek myth.

IRIS

A fast-rising flower choice, Iris appeals for so many reasons – it’s the goddess of the rainbow, an elegant, ecovintage name, and a rich color, too.

ISADORA

As in Isadora Duncan, the world-changing dancer from the early twentieth century.

ISLA

The hottest of the boho names, Isla has raced up the US popularity charts. It’s breezy, brief, and somehow still distinctive, even as we hear it more and more.

ISMENE

Greek legend gives this pretty name to the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. It means knowledge.

IVY

Another popular choice, Ivy is a nature name that feels easily accessible and powerfully creative.

JUNIA

A given name related to the goddess Juno. In fact, many of the June names would be right at home on this list.

JUNIPER

Ginevra is Italian, and Junipero is Spanish. But Juniper feels like a modern name of strictly English origin, borrowed right from the tree.

KAHLO

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s folk art-influenced paintings are usually considered surrealism, but her personal style feels bohemian.

LAKE

A bright nature name, Lake is a modern take on boho favorites. After all, River and Ocean also appear on this list.

LARK

Many bird-inspired choices feel carefree and creative. Or even consider Larkspur, to transform this avian name into a floral one.

LEDA

A Spartan queen from Greek myth, Zeus seduced Leda in the form of a swan. It’s a twisted tale, one often depicted in art. As names go, Leda reads a little more daring than Lena, too.

LILAC

We love Lily, but how about the less-expected Lilac?

LILLIE

Lily is among the most popular of baby girl names in the early twenty-first century. Spell it Lillie instead and it feels vintage enough to fit on this list.

LILOU

Sweetly French Lilou combines the sounds of Lily and Louise.

LOLA

The girl’s name on every list of boho chic possibilities. And, of course, Lola is the adventuring hero of many a fictional tale.

LORELEI

A German siren, and an offbeat possibility with all those romantic L sounds.

LUNA

A name that means moon, Luna is another Top 100 choice that would be right at home in 2020s America or 1890s Montmartre.

LUX

The Latin word for light, and one of several unisex bohemian name choices.

LYRIC

A unisex option, equal parts musical and literary.

MAGNOLIA

A bold, showy flower – exactly right for this style.

MARIGOLD

Another botanical option, with nickname Goldie as a bonus.

MARIPOSA

A butterfly name, Mariposa feels vintage and unexpected at the same time.

MARLOWE

Sleek Marlowe is less conventional than Margot, although not as popular as Willow.

MEADOW

A hippie, flower child nature name that gathers up all of the wildflowers into one.

MIMI

Remember La bohème, the opera mentioned earlier? The main character answered to Mimi – though her real name is Lucia.

MONET

Artist surnames can feel particularly boho.

ODESA, ODESSA

Odessa comes from odyssey – journey. Because bohemian names are often associated with world travel, that feels right.

OPHELIA

Shakespeare’s Ophelia went mad in Hamlet, but the name feels lush and romantic, just right for this list.

ORLA

A glittering Irish name from legend, Orla means golden princess.

PALOMA

Pablo Picasso became part of bohemian Paris in the 1920s. The artist named his daughter Paloma, the Spanish word for dove. She’s since become an established jewelry designer in her own right.

PEARL

Gemstone name Pearl can feel gently antique or surprisingly modern, a short name that’s part Nathaniel Hawthorne, part Minnie Pearl. With that eclectic pedigree, no surprise it feels bohemian.

PERSEPHONE

She’s the goddess who travels between the lands of the living and the dead, bringing the seasons on her journey. That makes Persephone something of a traveler, as well as a lush, romantic choice.

PLUM

Colorful, edible, and referring to something that’s first-rate, Plum is an effortlessly creative option.

POET

A modern word name at home on this list. In addition, Poem and Poetry might work, too.

POPPY

Bright and energetic, floral Poppy is a name meant for floppy hats and flowing skirts.

RAVENNA

As in the Italian place name.

REVERIE

It means daydream, originally from a French word meaning frolic or rejoicing.

SAFFRON

A spice name with a well-traveled appeal.

SASKIA

Surprising Saskia sounds a little bit sharp and completely surprising.

SCOUT

The original Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird wasn’t a bohemian. However, she excelled at going her own way and that makes the name a fit.

SONNET

Like Poem, a literally literary name that seems wearable and creative.

STELLA

With Latin origins, Stella means star. It’s the big sister of all the names on this list. And while Stella is powerfully popular, it remains quite stylish.

SYLVIE

Sleek Sylvie comes from the Latin word sylvan, referring to the woods.

TALITHA

A New Testament name with an intriguing sound.

TALLULAH

Flowing Tallulah might mean “leaping waters” in Choctaw. Or not. But it’s the name of Tallulah Bankhead, a Hollywood legend known for moving in bohemian circles in 1920s London.

TAMSIN

This might read differently in the UK, but in the US, this contracted form of Thomasina feels creative and unconventional.

THALIA

A goddess name, and a flowing, unconventional one, too.

TOSCA

From the Puccini opera.

TWILA, TWYLA

Possibly based on the word twilight, dancer Twyla Tharpe makes her creative name even more unforgettable.

VASHTI

An Old Testament name, Vashti might have Hebrew origins or Persian roots.

VESPER

As in the evening star. In addition, Vesper is another name for the god Hesperus in Greek myth.

YARROW

A nature name with an unconventional appeal.

YVAINE

Invented by Neil Gaiman for Stardust, Yvaine was probably based on Yvain, one of the Knights of the Round Table.

ZELLA

Possibly meaning shadow, flowing Zella is a textbook example of boho baby names.

ZORA

A Slavic name meaning dawn.

BOHEMIAN BOY NAMES

ALDER

A gentle tree name, less conventional than Rowan.

APOLLO

The Greek god of the sun, and an o-ending choice with all sorts of bright energy.

ARI

As in the Hebrew word for lion or the Norse element meaning eagle.

ARLO

Folk singer Arlo Guthrie earns his name a place on thist list.

ARROW

Aggressive weapon name Remington isn’t bohemain. But somehow Arrow is. Maybe it’s because of all the symbolism attached.

ASH

Nearly any nature name works nicely for this style, including Ash, as in the tree.

ATLAS

As in the book that gives us the wide world in maps, perfect for never-at-home, always-at-home bohemian parents.

AUGUST

Summery, laid back August fits right in with nature names.

BALTHASAR, BALTHAZAR

Elaborate, extravagant Balthasar feels at-home in velvet and paisley.

BANJO

Musical Banjo has a laid-back vibe that fits right in on this list.

BASIL

An old school British gentleman, but also a spice.

BAY

A color and a body of water, and a short, simple name that feels powerfully creative.

BEAR

A nature name, part-cuddly and part-fierce.

BECK

Maybe it’s the indie rocker Beck. Or maybe it’s the name’s meaning: brook or stream.

BODHI

Peaceful Bodhi means enlightenment in Buddhism.

BOWIE

As in the late, great, image-shifting, stereotype-defying rock star David Bowie.

BRIO

From the musical term, meaning vivacious.

BRUNO

Because Encanto’s Madrigal family was kind of boho.

CANYON

An outdoorsy place name that feels meant for parents pursuing the #vanlife.

CASPIAN

A literary prince and a place name borrowed from an inland sea.

CEDAR

Another nature name option.

COSMO

Cosmo refers to the universe.

COVE

A protected place along the coast, Cove is rugged and sheltered at the same time.

DJANGO

As in legendary Romani-French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

EVEREST

The tallest mountain on Earth.

EZRA

An Old Testament name that sounds smart and unconventional, even as it rises through the US Top 100.

FELIX

Vaguely feline and undeniably fortunate.

FINCH

As in both the bird and the legendary literary hero Atticus.

FORREST

A nature name for parents who love all things green and growing.

FOX

Something about this word is bigger than the animal itself.

HAWTHORN, HAWTHORNE

A mix of literary Americana and the natural world.

HUCK

As carefree as Huck Finn, with a daring edge, too.

IGNATIUS

Fiery and dramatic, Ignatius is an unforgettable name.

INDIO

The California town that hosts Coachella every year, there’s no other word for Indio than bohemian.

JASPER

Not every mineral or gemstone name feels specifically bohemian, but Jasper feels like the right kind of choice.

JUDE

The Beatles aren’t boho, but somehow Jude’s musical associations make it feel like a creative choice for a son.

JULIAN

A mainstream favorite, Julian is just elaborate and dramatic enough to belong on this list.

KAI

A mainstream bohemian name, Kai means ocean.

KIT

Christopher is a classic, but mini name Kit is bohemian – think Kit Marlowe, the scandalous, larger-than-life Elizabethan poet.

KOA

Like Kai, a nature name borrowed from Hawaii with a laid back energy.

LEANDER

A name from a tragically romantic Greek legend, Leander feels like an extravagant, offbeat choice for a son.

LENNON

The second Beatles-related name on this list, though John Lennon’s Imagine feels closer to bohemian.

LUCIAN

Julian, only slightly more obscure.

LUDOVIC, LUDOVICO

Ludovic – and the even more dramatic Ludovico – are the offbeat cousins to buttoned-up Louis.

LYRIC

Musical and poetic.

MARLEY

As in Bob Marley.

MARS

The god of war isn’t exactly free spirited, but this name brings to mind the night sky, Bruno Mars, and a certain unorthodox naming style, too.

MILO

Mainstream boho.

NICO

Another unisex option, one that still feels unconventional, even as it catches on.

OBERON

Shakespeare’s fairy king in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

OCEAN

Mysterious nature name.

ONYX

A gemstone name, Onyx feels a little bit magical.

ORION

Night sky name Orion sounds exactly right with names like Luna.

OTIS

A little bit hipster, a lot bohemian.

OZZY

Heavy metal isn’t boho. But Ozzy’s unconventional appeal puts it on this list.

PAX

The Latin word for peace, with extra style points because of that ending X.

PERCIVAL

Originally the name of a legendary medieval knight, Percival is now a choice that feels just eccentric enough.

PEREGRINE

Peregrine means traveler – just like the original bohemians.

PHOENIX

Rising from the ashes, Phoenix’s rich symbolism and undeniable style work.

QUEST

Once, bohemians were meant to travel. That makes Quest the perfect choice.

RAFAEL, RAPHAEL

A name that straddles the artistic and the traditional.

REEF

For a bohemian take on a surfer name, perfect for a baby boy growing up on the coast.

REMY

Delightfully French, and a contemporary favorite.

RIVER

A rising favorite, with a counterculture energy.

ROME

The eternal city, when spelled this way. Spell it Roam and it’s a vagabond’s daily to-do.

RUFUS

An old school name with an artistic sensibility.

SAGE

With ties to the natural world and wisdom, Sage checks lots of boxes.

SASHA

There’s something lush about Sasha. While it’s a traditional Slavic nickname for traditional Alexander, it stands on its own, too.

SHEPHERD

A gentle nature-adjacent name, with a mix of preppy and hippie vibes.

SONNY

Casual, breezy, and peaceful, Sonny also suggests enduring youth.

SOREN

A Scandi name worn by a famous philosopher, but creative and free-spirited, too.

STELLAN

It looks like Stella, from Latin for star, but it probably comes from an Old Norse word meaning calm.

THOREAU

As in transcendentalist Henry David, an unconventional thinker whose ideas still feel fresh all these years later.

TYCHO

Science might not feel especially bohemian, but stargazing does. Astronomer Tycho Brahe puts his name on the list.

WOLF, WOLFE

A nature name and a spirit animal, too. Wolves are, of course, known for their fierce, not-to-be-tamed natures.

WELLS

A water name, and one that suggests well-being, too, Wells could be the perfect boho boy name.

WILDER

A little bit outdoorsy, but more just plain daring.

ZEN

A calm state of mind, and a peaceful name for a son.

ZEPHYR

The west wind, Zephyr is straight out of Greek myth.

ZIGGY

Casual cool, just like musician Ziggy Marley.

Are you a fan of bohemian baby names? What would you add to this list?

First published on June 9, 2022, this post was revised and updated on February 29, 2024.