Apple baby names lean surprisingly ordinary. You can enjoy the Alexander, the Anna, and the Annie Elizabeth – and that’s just the letter A!
I say surprising because Apple might be the most controversial celebrity baby name ever, right up there with Dweezil and Moon Unit, North West and Saint. We love to talk about how we’d never use a name so far out there.
But apples can inspire some names that strike a balance between the familiar and the unusual. You might think of apple baby names like Pomeline, rarities that refer to the fruit.
Or maybe you think of the thousands – actually over 7,500! – varieties of apples. A tremendous number of them might inspire apple baby names.
Apple Baby Names: A through C
Ariane – Just like Top 100 favorites Arianna and Ariana, this name traces its roots to the mythological Ariadne. The tailored French form strikes an appealingly different note. It works well in the middle spot, too.
Crispin – Little wonder that someone called an apple the Crispin. But Saint Crispin’s Day features large in Shakespeare’s Henry V. It actually derives from the Latin crispus – curly. While Crispin remains rare, it could fit right in with two-syllable, ends-in-n names for boys.
Cybele – An ancient goddess predating the Greek pantheon, Cybele serves as the equivalent of Gaia or Rhea. It sounds something like the stylish -bell names, and brings to mind Zoe, Chloe, and Penelope, too.
Apple Baby Names: D through G
Darcy – The D’Arcy Spice apple has history, plus it brings to mind Pride and Prejudice. That makes it a romantic, dramatic name that also happens to make the list of apple baby names.
Elise – As a variety, Elise debuted in the world of apples recently. As a name, Elise feels traditional without being quite as expected as classic Elizabeth.
Evelina – Evelina follows logically from Evelyn and Eva. A lovely, surprising name, Evelina also belongs to a variety of apple, a cousin to the Golden Delicious.
Everard – Saint Everard apples take their name from a Duke of Friuli born during the reign of Charlemagne. We know Everard as Everett, but the original also appeals.
Franklin – If you love names like Oliver and Henry, Franklin might appeal, too. Worn by a near-legendary president and an animated turtle, Franklin also grows on trees, making it a great choice for apple baby names!
Gala – Party and Festival fall flat, but Gala? As apple baby names go, Gala seems like one you’ll probably find in most grocery stores. But it’s also an interesting, unexpected word name possibility. It might be short for Galilea, or maybe even Galatea, too.
Apple Baby Names: H through J
Ingrid – Sweden’s Ingrid Bergman became a Hollywood legend. Her given name marries the fierce and the feminine. It makes a great Scandinavian heritage choice, but works for families of any background.
Jubilee – Jubilee shares the ‘oo’ sound of Ruby, Lucy, and Jude. A few high profile mentions of the namehave put it on some parents’ radar. As of 2015, Jubilee is poised just outside of the current US Top 1000 for girls. The spiritual associations suggest that it might work well for a daughter or a son.
Apple Baby Names: K through L
Katya – A Slavic and Scandinavian short form of Katherine, this name is also spelled Katia and Katja. Kaitlyn is fading today, but Katherine remains a classic forever open to reinvention.
Lilibet – Apple baby names should be sweet, right? The Sweet Lilibet apple might inspire some families. The current Queen Elizabeth answered to Lilibet as a during her childhood. Maybe this belongs with the intriguing smooshes. Or maybe it fits with all of those popular Lily names. Either way, Lilibet might belong with the wearable rarities.
Apple Baby Names: M through P
Marigold – Marigold counts as a botanical baby name, but it is also found in the apple orchard.
Milo Gibson – Milo feels bright and wearable, an upbeat name with history to spare. Gibson also intrigues, and the combination sounds like a super stylish first-middle combination.
Mollie – This Mary variant is typically spelled Molly. But the apple baby names version is Mollie with an ie.
Opal – Two apples are called Opal. While most see this as a gemstone name, that makes it a nature name, too.
Pendragon – You might remember Pendragon from the list of middle names other than Danger. Pendragon comes from Arthurian legend, and yes, it’s among the apple baby names, too.
Pilot – Gwyneth Paltrow’s Apple inspired this post, but Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor makes those same bad baby name lists. And yet we’re naming our children Mason by the thousands. Jett charts well, too. Wouldn’t you know it? There’s a large, stripy yellow fruit that puts this among the apple baby names.
Priscilla – Pretty, elegant Priscilla seems like a logical successor to names like Isabella and Penelope.
Apple Baby Names: Q through Z
Spencer – Spencer kept company with Tanner and Tyler in the 1990s, but has faded slightly since then. It makes the apple baby names list, too.
Tioga – Tioga comes from an Iroquois word referring to the place where tow rivers meet. Plenty appear on the map, and place names often make great choices for daring baby namers. It brings to mind Diego and Santiago, but it might work equally well for a daughter.
Yates – Poetic and preppy, Fox News’ Megyn Kelly gave the name to her son. Ends-in-s names are having a moment, like Brooks and Ames.
Zari – Zari fits with names like Zuri and Zoe, and yes, it’s on the list of apple baby names, too.
Pick your own bumper crop at Orange Pippin, the source of all the apple varieties listed here.
This post was published on October 13, 2011. Following substantial revision, it was reposted on October 21, 2016.
C in DC says
October 4, 2017 at 2:59 PMOur favorite apples are Fujis, Pink Ladies, and Grannie Smiths. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pink or Smith on future baby name lists.
Sarah Murray says
October 16, 2011 at 1:22 PMI just fell in love with Jubilee.
Saillie says
October 15, 2011 at 11:39 PMI personaly think Gala is very cute and have long been a fan of the name Jubilee. I was surprised not to see Braeburn on your list. Jonagold might work as well although it is a little “out there” for me.
Sara says
October 14, 2011 at 5:09 PMSo funny you posted this the day the iPhone 4s released. I was just teasing my hubs that his 0.4 kg “baby” from China just arrived and that I was going to name her Eve (for lack of creativity that was the only name associated with an apple that came to mind). Franklin has definitely been on our boy list as a middle and Jonathan would be a very subtle apple reference for the apple lovers out there…although it is not perhaps the most exciting apple in the world. 🙂
Joy says
October 13, 2011 at 10:47 PMI really like Gala and Jubilee–more noun names, of course! When my brother lived in Washington DC, he and his then-wife adopted a kitten they named Jefferson nn Jeff. A year later, they adopted another kitten they named Franklin, nn Frank.
jaime says
October 13, 2011 at 4:49 PMI also know a woman named Gala, she is originally from the Ukraine…although now that I think of it that may be short for something…
Saillie says
October 15, 2011 at 11:42 PMI would assume that Gala was short for Galina. I went to high school briefly with a Galina and always loved the name.
Emily says
October 13, 2011 at 4:36 PMFranklin is a definite contender for a boy’s middle name. It appears several times on my family tree, and I adore the nickname Frankie. I don’t quite like Franklin enough to use in the first name spot though. Lately I’ve been really liking Ingrid too. And you know what? I’m actually not all that opposed to Apple as a name. I think it works better in the middle spot.
Julie says
October 13, 2011 at 4:21 PMI had a Russian co-worker whose wife was named Gala, I think it was Anglicization of Galina, but it may have been her full name.
I adore Franklin, but I can’t sell the name to my husband. He thinks the full name is pretentious and that Frank is a hotdog.
In our backyard we have a Rome Beauty and a Honeygold. They sound an awful lot like names for ponies, but I could see Rome used as a name.
Catherine says
October 13, 2011 at 3:13 PMOne of my French teachers in high school was named Gala and she was awesome so it’s got all kinds of good memories for me! Plus they are my favourite apples 😉 I think Adanac (which is Canada spelled backwards AND is the name of an apple) would be so cute for a little boy. Ambrosia (which was discovered near me!) would be an intriguing choice too. Oh and Dulcet and Fortune (I know a Fortuna). I keep coming back to Pippin too but as a nickname for Philip.
Lou @ Mer de noms says
October 13, 2011 at 3:09 PMI really like the name Lilibet, she’s rather darling – I would definitely use her if given the chance. I also agree with you about Pendragon, he’s the right kind of quirkiness to suit the middle name spot.
Alecia says
October 13, 2011 at 2:55 PMI’m loving these names! And how cute would twins Gala and Jubilee be?
C in DC says
October 13, 2011 at 2:48 PMI really like many of these. I would probably spell Gala as Gayla if I were to use it as a name.
Nook of Names says
October 13, 2011 at 2:24 PMAround this time last year, on a trip to South Wales, there was a magnificent selection of different varieties of apples on disply at Tretower (an ancient house near Abergavenny). It was a beautiful sight!
I grow some rare Welsh varieties in my garden, some of which have great names, such as Bardsey, (Pig) Aderyn, Afal Deimwnt (Diamond Apple), Afal Champagne (Champagne Apple) and Marged Niocalas. There’s Croen Mochyn too, which has a great ring to it — but means “pig skin” :).
i.heart.nerds says
October 13, 2011 at 3:06 PMI have been to Abergavenny. I have genealogical roots from there.
Lady Gwyn says
October 13, 2011 at 2:13 PMI like Katya, Crispin (which has long been a favorite of mine), and Ariane, although I am still madly in love with the lovely-but-probably unusable Ariadne. I have considered using the Polish version of Katya, Katja, to honor both my Polish roots and my grandmother Kathleen.
namemuststay says
October 13, 2011 at 6:55 PMI definitely think Gala and Lillibet are coming up, and I love Pilot for the “Middle Names Other Than Danger” list – my cousin named her son Wolfgang Pilot (called “Wolfy”), and that totally works for me!
And is the Milo GIbson apple named with Mel Gibson’s son in mind? Assuming no, but what a coincidence!
British American says
October 13, 2011 at 1:08 PMJubilee is pretty.
And my almost-4-year-old wants to rename his baby brother “Franklin”. I’d probably pick Frank over Franklin.
countrylizb says
October 13, 2011 at 12:55 PMMy favorite eating apple is the Jonagold.
I think that it is neat that Ingrid is on the list. I just started liking it and put it on my list. Ingrid Susanna, that’s what’s on my list.
I read a fictional story once about a family with the surname of Apple. The father was determined to name all of his children after apples. He named them Jonathan, MacIntosh(Mac), Delicious(Delia), Snow, and Ann. Ann because Mrs. Apple liked it and insisted. It was called Mr. Apple’s Family by Jean McDevitt.
Eponymia says
October 13, 2011 at 10:40 AMI like Crispin and Cybele. Pomeline is nice, too.
I know a woman named Gala — she’s Colombian, though the other place I’ve seen the name is on the Russian-born wife of Salvador Dal
Jennifer says
October 13, 2011 at 10:29 AMAm I the only one that doesn’t find Apple to be that odd of a name? haha! Perhaps I’ve gotten so used to seeing it over the years that my “odd name detector” has become de-sensitized. I find it rather cute!
Ariane is lovely, although not as lovely as Ariadne, which has been one of my top favorites for years!
waltzingmorethanmatilda says
October 13, 2011 at 6:47 PMApple doesn’t seem too odd to me, but I’m really fond of nature and plant names. I think it was more the brand name Apple that made it “weird” to people more than the fruit meaning.
Sarah A says
October 13, 2011 at 8:58 PMApple doesn’t seem odd to me either. I think the problem is that people are only comfortable with what they know. Rose and Lily get passes, but Magnolia seems out there. Clementine is a name, but people balk at Apple and Plum. *shakes head*
Joy says
October 13, 2011 at 10:43 PMApple has grown on me, but at the time, it seemed about as logical as naming a child Banana or Asparagus.
Lauren says
October 13, 2011 at 10:29 AMWhat about… Granny Smith? 🙂
SilentOne says
October 13, 2011 at 11:22 AMThat was my first thought when I saw today’s theme was apple names.
Joy says
October 13, 2011 at 10:41 PMSmith Jerrod worked on Sex and the City! 🙂
katybug says
October 13, 2011 at 9:57 AMI love, love, love Jubilee! It feels like a celebration just saying the name! It’s one of those words that you think should have become a word name but hasn’t somehow.
Charlotte Vera says
October 13, 2011 at 9:56 AMI really like the idea of a Gala, short fo Galatea. It helps that Gala apples are my favourite.
As I just started over on last week’s post, Pendragon is AWESOME and I wish I had the guts to use him.
Ingrid has long been a favourite — she’s on my list of great girl’s names featuring “g”: Gertrude, Margaret, Ingrid, Gretl, Dagmar. . .
countrylizb says
October 13, 2011 at 1:08 PMI like Gertrude, too!
KatieB says
October 13, 2011 at 9:01 AMOooo! Lilibet would be an adorable nickname for a little Lily or Elizabeth! Though I agree that it is a bit too adorable for a stand alone first name. It brings to mind the lilliputians from Gulliver’s Travels.
I can’t find a single name on this list that I dislike 🙂 Though Tioga is a bit awkward and makes me think of Toga parties and Greek Fraternaties.
SilentOne says
October 13, 2011 at 11:23 AMTioga mainly makes me think of the Portuguese Tiago.
i.heart.nerds says
October 13, 2011 at 8:11 AMMy favorite apple is the pink lady variety….hardly a fitting name for a child. Lol.
waltzingmorethanmatilda says
October 13, 2011 at 6:41 PMThey’re my favourite too! But you could name a girl Pink, and Lady has been used as a girl’s name before.
Havoye says
October 13, 2011 at 6:53 AMI know a little girl named Galatea, which is a name with an interesting history, and I find it a little more wearable than Gala. Not an apple, though, unfortunately. 😉
I had a peek at the list of apple varieties; some names that jumped out at me are Newell, Rajka, D’Arcy, Sonya, Junami, Holly and Ingrid Marie. I doubt anyone outside the apple industry would recognize any the apple connection of any of those right away, though.
penguin says
October 13, 2011 at 5:05 AMBenjamin Franklin was never president. Oops. Milo Gibson is a little too close to Mel Gibson. I love Katja and Ariane.
appellationmountain says
October 13, 2011 at 5:08 AMPenguin, I was thinking of Franklin Roosevelt. 🙂
katybug says
October 13, 2011 at 9:54 AM…and I, thinking of Franklin Pierce, was going to quibble with your characterization of him as legendary. How did I think of Pierce before Roosevelt? Franklin is my grandfather’s middle name, named for his grandfather. Who could have been named for Franklin Pierce for all I know. It’s been derided as a terrible name by everyone in the family that I can’t bring myself to consider it, but Frank is very cute!
Panya says
October 13, 2011 at 3:03 AMMy great-great-great-grandparents were surnamed Matz and Apple — therefore Mott’s apple juices and sauces make me smile when I see them. A decade ago when I started my genealogical research and found those ancestors of mine, we had just started to seriously consider baby names and immediately added the middle name Apple, and the first name Matthew with the nickname Matz to our list. Now though, Apple has been done and there are simply other names I’d use before Matthew. I never considered another apple name to honor them!
appellationmountain says
October 13, 2011 at 5:11 AMOh, what a sweet pair to find on your family tree!
waltzingmorethanmatilda says
October 13, 2011 at 2:45 AMWell I just love apples (maybe predestined, given my apple-y name), but I think these are just fantastic. Can’t go past Crispin!
Gala Brand is the name of one of the Bond girls – it’s short for her real name, Galatea! (She was named after a ship her father was on). It’s a name that seems fun and flirty to me, without being insubstantial or fluffy.
Another apple name is the Rennet or Reinette – it’s from the French for “little queen”, and it’s the name of a character in “Cold Comfort Farm” by Stella Gibbons.
I’ve also always thought Russet would make a nice name.