Unisex baby names make a comeback with parents who like to push boundaries

EDGY dual-gender names have made a comeback. Some parents do it to push boundaries, others want to remove gender stereotypes. So which name topped the list?

It?s not easy picking a name for your child.

GENDER-neutral baby names are nothing new, but we bet there's a few on this list you hadn't thought of.

Whether you're keeping your unborn baby's sex a surprise or you just want something different, unisex names are big right now.

Edgy dual-gender names have made a comeback in 2013 with Quinn, Rowan, Sawyer and Kai among the most popular, according to naming guide Nameberry.

Increasingly names that have historically been boys' names like Taylor and Jordan, are becoming common as girls' names.

There's a range of reasons parents choose unisex name, from wanting to use a family name to simply pushing boundaries.

Sometimes it's just a name that the parents like or they might want to be able to use a single name during pregnancy without knowing the baby's sex.

Would you choose a dual-gender name for your baby? Picture: Thinkstock

According to birth.com.au some parents choose a unisex name to remove gender stereotypes.

"For girls in the professional world, having a name that could be thought of as gender neutral might give them an advantage on paper, as they can prove themselves on their work ethic and skill instead of being judged initially on their gender," the website states.

There are cons associated with unisex names such as ambiguous gender implications. They can lead to schoolyard bullying and situations where the possessor has to clarify their gender.

Birth.com.au says celebrity popularity fuelled the gender-neutral naming trend.

"Cameron became popular among girls once Cameron Diaz shot to fame in the 1990s, while Kelly became increasingly prevalent as a boy's name after Kelly Slater emerged as a surfing legend," according to the website.

"Taylor shot up in the choices for both boys and girls since Taylor Lautner hit our screens in Twilight, alongside Taylor Swift topping the charts. And now recently, Harper, traditionally a male name, is starting to trend for girls since Harper Beckham arrived.

"TV characters have also contributed to the growing proportion of girls being given traditionally male names - Gilmore Girls with Rory, Grey's Anatomy with Addison, Gossip Girl with Blair - while Quinn, another traditionally male name, is predicted to be popular among girls this year thanks to Glee success."

It's not easy picking a name for your child.

Nameberry has published its top 20 unisex names for 2013 so far.

"To qualify as a unisex name for this list, a name needs to be given to at least 10 per cent of the minority gender," their website says.

"Our number one unisex name Quinn, for instance, is now 68 per cent female, a dramatic swing toward the girls' side thanks to its starring role on television's Glee. Number two, Rowan, meanwhile, is 63 per cent male.

"Names such as Sawyer and Kai are predominantly male, edging toward their 90 per cent cut-off, while choices such as Avery and Emery are more than 80 per cent female."

1. Quinn

2. Rowan

3. Sawyer

4. Kai

5. Avery

6. Charlie

7. Emery

8. Emerson

9. Elliot

10. Finley

11. Rory

12. Riley

13. Marlowe

14. River

15. Sage

16. Remy

17. Ellis

18. Teagan

19. Reese

20. Peyton

Are you thinking of giving your child a unisex name?

Continue the conversation via Twitter @nameberry | @BirthAustralia | @newscomauHQ

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