Skip to main content

150 Tomboy Names for Girls That Are Non-Traditional

These tomboy names for girls make unique nicknames for girls or tough names for your little tomboy!
Tomboy Names for Girls
Updated: May 30, 2023

For those wanting to stick with the classic baby girl names, but love the idea of a tomboy epithet, consider choosing a cute nickname for a girl that is stereotypically used for males.

Interestingly enough, the term “tomboy” originally arose as a reference to rude and boisterous boys in the 1550s. It was not until almost half a century later that the meaning of the phrase shifted to refer to little girls who were high-spirited in nature.

Related: 75 Non-Binary and Gender-Neutral Baby Names

Popular Tomboy Names For Girls

While this term has had a negative connotation in the past, in the present day, being bold and exuberant are qualities that many hope to possess. These more masculine names are also becoming much more popular with many famous figures taking on these titles.

Here is a look at the top 150 tomboy girl names to give your brave and beautiful little babe!

Tomboy Names for Girls A to E

Tomboy Names from A to E

  1. Adrian — A Greek name meaning “rich” and a Latin name meaning “dark”.
  2. Aiden — An Irish name meaning "warm".
  3. Augusta — A Latin name meaning "exalted". August is a great pet name for this title that was once used to honor the women associated with Roman emperors.
  4. Ashton — An Old English name meaning “ash tree”.
  5. Austin — A Latin name meaning "useful".
  6. Bailey — A French name meaning "bailiff" and an Old English name meaning "fortification".
  7. Beatrix — A Latin name meaning “happy”.
  8. Beckett — An Old English name meaning “beehive” or “small brook”.
  9. Bellamy — An Old French name meaning "handsome friend".
  10. Billie — An English name meaning "resolution" or "wise". This is a recently popular name thanks to American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish.
  11. Blair — A Gaelic name meaning “plain”.
  12. Bryce — An Irish name meaning "swift" and an English name meaning "son of a nobleman". Actress Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Happy Days actor Ron Howard, has this distinct name.
  13. Carson — An American name meaning "anointed one".
  14. Channing — An Old English name meaning “knowing” and an Old French name meaning “cannon”.
  15. Christian — A Greek name meaning “anointed”.
  16. Cody — An Old English name meaning “round” and a Welsh name meaning "pure".
  17. Colbie — A British name meaning “faithful”.
  18. Collins — An Irish name meaning “youth” and a Greek name meaning “victor”.
  19. Cora — A French name meaning "beloved" and a Greek name meaning "heart" or “maiden”. Cory is a more masculine nickname for this title.
  20. Corey — A French name meaning “beloved” and a Greek name meaning “heart” or “maiden”.
  21. Cypress — A Greek name meaning “strong” or “adaptable”.
  22. Dakota — A Native American name meaning “friend” or “ally”.
  23. Delaney — A French name meaning "from the elder tree grove" and an Irish name meaning "dark".
  24. Devon — An English name meaning "from Devonshire".
  25. Drew — A Greek name meaning "courageous".
  26. Elliot — A Hebrew name meaning "high".
  27. Ellis — A Hebrew name meaning “the Lord is God”. While commonly a boy’s name, Ellis has gained popularity thanks to the television series Grey’s Anatomy.
  28. Emerson — An Old English name meaning "Emery's son".
  29. Evan — An Irish name meaning "young warrior" and a Russian name meaning "God is gracious".

Tomboy Names for Girls F to K

  1. Finley — A Celtic and Irish name meaning “fair haired one”.
  2. Gentry — An English name meaning “nobility of birth”.
  3. Geri — A German name meaning “hard spear”. This is the first name of Ginger Spice.
  4. Glenn — An Irish name meaning “secluded wooded valley”.
  5. Hadley — An Old English name meaning “heather field”.
  6. Harley — An Old English name meaning "rabbit archer".
  7. Harper — An Old Norse name meaning "whaler". This is number 10 on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) top baby name list of 2021 for girls.
  8. Hayden — An Old English name meaning "hayfield".
  9. Hayes — An Old English name meaning "hedged area".
  10. Holland — A Dutch name meaning “wooded land”.
  11. Hunter — An Old English name meaning “search”.
  12. Ira — A Hebrew name meaning “watchful”.
  13. Jackie — A French name meaning “supplanter”. While this is a stereotypically feminine name, it is also an affectionate nickname for Jack, making it a tomboyish choice.
  14. James — Another French name meaning “supplanter”. The SSA puts this as the fifth most popular name for boys for 2021, so why not change things up and give this title to your little tomboy?
  15. Jayce — A biblical name meaning “the Lord is salvation”.
  16. Jaylin — An American name meaning “calm”.
  17. Jody — An American name meaning “praised”.
  18. Jordan — A Hebrew name meaning "descender".
  19. Jude — A Hebrew name meaning "praised".
  20. Kai — A Hawaiian name meaning "sea" and a Native American name meaning "willow tree".
  21. Keegan — An Irish name meaning “small and fiery” or “bright flame”.
  22. Kiernan — An Irish and Gaelic name meaning “small and dark-skinned”.
  23. Kyle — An Arabic name meaning "beloved" and an Irish name meaning "narrow land".

Tomboy Names for Girls L to P

Tomboy Names from L to P

  1. Laken — An American name meaning “from the lake”.
  2. Lennox — A Scottish name meaning “amid the elms”.
  3. Logan — A Scottish name meaning "little hollow".
  4. London — An English name meaning “fortress of the moon”.
  5. Lux — A Spanish name meaning “light”.
  6. Mason — A French name meaning “stoneworker”.
  7. Merrill — A French name meaning “blackbird”.
  8. Merritt — A Latin name meaning "deserving".
  9. Micah — A Hebrew name meaning "prophet" and a Latin name meaning "a mineral".
  10. Michael — A Hebrew name meaning “who is like God”.
  11. Noah — A Hebrew name meaning “comfort” or "wanderer". The SSA has ranked this as the number two name for baby boys in the United States for the past five years.
  12. Oakley — An Old English name meaning “from the oak meadow”.
  13. Owen — An Irish name meaning “warrior”.
  14. Perry — A French name meaning “pear tree”.
  15. Phoenix — A Greek name meaning “mystical bird” or “dark red”.
  16. Piper — An English name meaning “pipe or flute player”.

Tomboy Names for Girls R to Z

Tomboy Names R to Z

  1. Ray — A Scottish name meaning “grace” and a Latin name meaning “ruler”.
  2. Reagan — An Irish name meaning "little king".
  3. Reed — An Old English name meaning “red haired”.
  4. Reese — A Welsh name meaning “enthusiastic”. Legally Blonde would not be the same without the iconic actress Reese Witherspoon.
  5. Riley — An Irish name meaning "rye" and a Gaelic name meaning "valiant".
  6. Rowan — An Old English name meaning "tree with red berries".
  7. Ryan — A Gaelic name meaning "little king".
  8. Sailor — An American and English name meaning “mariner”.
  9. Sasha — A Russian name meaning “defender of mankind”.
  10. Sawyer — A Middle English name meaning "woodsman".
  11. Scout — A French name meaning "watchman" and an American name meaning "the first explorer".
  12. Shane — A Hebrew name meaning "beautiful" and an Irish name meaning "God is gracious".
  13. Shawn — An Irish name meaning "God's gift".
  14. Sloane — A Gaelic name meaning "warrior".
  15. Spencer — An Old English name meaning "keeper".
  16. Sutton — A Norse name meaning "from the southern land".
  17. Sydney — A French name meaning "from Saint-Denis". This can also be spelled Sidney.
  18. Tanner — An English name meaning “leather worker”.
  19. Tatum — An English name meaning “cheerful” or “bringer of joy”.
  20. Teagan — An Irish and Welsh name meaning "attractive".
  21. Toby — A Hebrew name meaning "God is good".
  22. True — A German name meaning “adored warrior”.
  23. Tyler — A Middle English name meaning "roofer".
  24. Wren — A Welsh name meaning "chief".
  25. Wyatt — An Old English name meaning "little warrior" and a French name meaning "water".
  26. Zion — A Hebrew name meaning "a sign" or "guarded land".

Gender-Neutral Names For Tomboy Girls

Gender Neutral Tomboy Names

If you're looking for a name for your little girl, but want to skip the traditional feminine options, then consider giving her a gender-neutral name. This will not only make her stand out amongst her peers, but it will also ensure that your baby will have a truly unique name.

  1. Addison — An English name meaning “daughter of Adam.
  2. Avery — An English name meaning "counselor".
  3. Blake — An Old English name meaning "black" or "dark". Actress Blake Lively has made this common boy name a popular name for little girls.
  4. Brooklyn — A modern English name meaning “beautiful brook”.
  5. Cameron — An Old English name meaning "bent nose". Actress Cameron Diaz has this terrific title.
  6. Campbell — A Latin name meaning “beautiful field” and a Scottish name meaning “crooked mouth”.
  7. Casey — An Irish name meaning "vigilant", “watchful”, and “brave”.
  8. Chandler — A French name meaning “candle maker”.
  9. Dana — An English name meaning “bright as day”.
  10. Dylan — A Welsh name meaning "sea".
  11. Jamie — A French name meaning "I love".
  12. Kelly — A Scandinavian name meaning “clear mountain spring” and an Irish name meaning “church” or “warrior”.
  13. Kelsey — A Scottish name meaning “brave”.
  14. Kendall — A Celtic name meaning “ruler of the valley”.
  15. Kennedy — An Irish and Scottish name meaning “chief with helmet”.
  16. Kerry — A Latin and Spanish name meaning “dear” and an Irish name meaning “pure”.
  17. Kris — A Latin name meaning “follower of Christ”.
  18. Leslie — An Old English name meaning “small meadow” and a Scottish name meaning “gray fortress”.
  19. Morgan — A Welsh and Irish name meaning “bright” or "dweller by the sea".
  20. Parker — An Old English name meaning "cultivated land".
  21. Peyton — An English name meaning “fighting man's estate” and an Irish name meaning “warrior’s town”.
  22. Quinn — A Gaelic and Greek name meaning for "wise" or “queen”.
  23. Robin — An English name meaning "bright" or “famous”.
  24. Shannon — An Irish name meaning “wise one”.
  25. Taylor — A Middle English name meaning "tailor".

Tomboy Nicknames For Traditional Girl Names

Tomboy Nicknames

  1. Alex — A Greek and English name naming "defender of mankind". This is a great way to give the name Alexandra a tomboyish vibe.
  2. Andie — A Greek name meaning "strong and brave". This is an adorable nickname for a girl with the name Andrea.
  3. Bernie — A French name meaning "as brave as a bear". Bernadette is a classic name that has regained popularity thanks to the television series The Big Bang Theory and its bubbly character who is affectionately known as "Bernie".
  4. Bobbie — A Latin name meaning "foreign" or “strange” and an English name meaning "bright" or “famous”. This epithet is short for Roberta.
  5. Charlie — An Italian name meaning "valiant", “strong”, or “free” and a Spanish name meaning "little and womanly". This is a common nickname for the name Charlotte.
  6. Dani — A Hebrew name meaning “judged by God”. This is an abbreviation for Danielle.
  7. Eddie — An Old English name meaning “rich guardian”. Edith is another vintage name that gains a modern twist with this unique baby nickname.
  8. Freddie — An English name meaning “friend of peace”. This is a masculine way to shorten the name Frederica.
  9. Frankie — An Old French name meaning “free”. Frances is such an old school name and this is a great way to modernize this classic epithet.
  10. Georgie — A Greek name meaning “farmer”. This stereotypical baby boy name also works well as a nickname for a girl named Georgia or Georgann.
  11. Harry — A German name meaning “ruler of the household”. This is a strong title for a girl named Harriet.
  12. Henry — A German name meaning “house ruler”. This is the masculine variation of Henrietta.
  13. Jesse — A Hebrew name meaning “God’s gift”. This unisex name can stand alone or it can be a nickname for a baby named Jessica.
  14. Jett — An English name meaning “jet black mineral”. This is a fun pet name for a girl named Bridget.
  15. Joe — A Hebrew name meaning “he shall add”. Both Joe and Joey are baby names that serve as a nickname for Josephine.
  16. Jude — A Hebrew name meaning “praised”. Jude is a fantastic way to shorten Judith.
  17. Kit — A Latin name meaning “little cat”. This is an adorable way to abbreviate the name Catherine.
  18. Leni — A Greek name meaning “torch” or “light”. This adorable nickname is perfect for a little girl named Lenora.
  19. Lou — An Old German name meaning “warrior maiden”. Louise is a strong name and Lou is an excellent epithet.
  20. Mack — A Latin name meaning “the greatest” and a Scottish name meaning “charming”. This masculine form of Mackenzie is an obvious choice for any family’s little slugger.
  21. Max — A Latin name meaning “the greatest”. This is an easy way to shorten the old-fashioned name Maxine.
  22. Mickey — A Hebrew name meaning “like God”. This can be a nickname for a slew of girly titles including Michaela and Michelle.
  23. Nico — A Greek name meaning “victorious people”. This is an out-of-the-box abbreviation for the names Nicolette and Nicole. Instead of going with the overly used “Nicky”, try this tomboy title!
  24. Remi — An English name meaning “town of the raven”. Remington is another strong, masculine name that sounds beautiful in its shortened form.
  25. Roni — A Hebrew name meaning “shout for joy”. Veronica is a very feminine title, but Roni is a classic nickname that has a tomboyish feel.
  26. Rory — A German, Scottish, and Irish name meaning “famous ruler”. This epithet became popular thanks to one of the main characters on the television series Gilmore Girls. It is a great pet name for baby girls named Lorelai or Aurora.
  27. Sam — A Hebrew name meaning “to hear” or “like the Sun”. This tomboy name is the traditional way to shorten the name Samantha.
  28. Stevie — A Greek name meaning “crown”. This is a unique way to abbreviate the name Stephanie.
  29. Teddy — An Old English name meaning “rich warrior” and a Greek name meaning “gift of God”. This is a fantastic way to honor a family member named Theodora while still giving your daughter a modern epithet.
  30. Toni — A Greek name meaning “flourishing”. While most people pair Marie with Antoinette you can shorten it to Toni to give it a more boyish feel.
  31. Willie — A Teutonic name meaning “fierce protector”. This is the short version of Wilhelmina and the feminine version of William.

For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:

Considering one of these names? Pin it to save it for later:

pinterest graphic of tomboy names for girls

Heidi Butler

About Heidi

Heidi is an experienced journalist who worked in the television news industry for a decade,… Read more

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe