What’s in a name? A lot, actually. Names carry a lot of meaning, which is one of the reasons why parents spend so much time thinking through what they should call their children.
It’s common to name kids after family members you respect and love to honor them, or to find a name whose origin and definition resonate with a characteristic you want for your child (like naming a girl Emmy because it means powerful and strong).
And while names can have positive connotations, they can also have negative ones.
Sometimes this is at a personal level. For example, I loved the name Maggie as a potential girl name, but my husband had an ex-girlfriend with the name and didn’t want there to be any association with our daughter. Maggie isn’t an offensive name (I still love it!) but it wouldn’t work for our family.
Sometimes, though, the negative connotation is at a broader level. That’s why you won’t ever see the name Adolf appear in the Social Security Administration’s top 1000 names.
It’s fun to think about what baby name trends will be popular in 2026 and what names might be the most talked about. I don’t ever love all of the predicted top names, but I can usually respect a parent’s decision on what they decide to name their child.
But there’s one baby name trend that we’re ready to leave behind as we move into 2026: naming kids after weapons. Read on to learn more about this trend and suggestions for strong baby name alternatives.
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Colleen Slagen, Baby Naming Expert and Author
Colleen Slagen is a baby naming consultant, content creator, and author who is passionate about helping parents find the perfect name for their little one. Her work has been featured in the Today, Glamour Magazine, Insider Business, NPR, ABC News, and—most notably—in her book, Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love.
Carolyn Holmes, Master Celebrant
Carolyn Holmes is a Bedfordshire based Master Celebrant shaping ceremonies that feel relaxed, human, and beautifully grounded in story and lived experience. Specializing in weddings and milestone moments that are real and meaningful, she works with couples, pets and families who want something honest, personal and full of heart. She also offers naming ceremonies to families.
What weapons-related baby names suggest
Gun violence continues to be a major problem in the United States. 2025 isn’t over yet, and as of mid-December, there had already been 393 mass shootings around the country, like the recent one at Brown University.
As The Huffington Post reported, names like Remington, Gunner, and Wesson have been popular in recent years. Parents named over 1000 baby boys and nearly 600 baby girls Remington in 2024 according to the SSA’s database. Other weapon-related names mentioned in the HuffPost article include Cannon, Dagger, Blade, and Cutter.
Considerations if choosing a weapons-related baby name
But in a world where there’s so much unnecessary violence, naming your child after a gun manufacturer or other weapon suggests you’re normalizing the behavior associated with them, maybe even glorifying it.
“I personally would not want aggressive or violent associations with my child’s name,” says Colleen Slagen, baby-naming expert and author of Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love.
Maybe that isn’t the intention for some parents when they give their child one of these names. But names carry meaning behind them, so it’s important to think through what type of vibe a name will give off throughout your child’s life and how that might impact your child.
“Names carry meaning behind them, so it’s important to think through what type of vibe a name will give off throughout your child’s life and how that might impact your child.”
Carolyn Holmes is a UK-based celebrant who offers naming ceremonies as part of her services, and says she worries about the impact of a weapons-related name on a child.
“As they are growing up, they could be made fun of, or questioned a lot about [their name], since it is part of their identity,” she says. “Others may not have heard of a particular name before and react negatively towards them, through no fault of theirs.”
My daughter had a classmate named Remington, and every time I heard the name, I felt sad for the little girl. It could be a family name or have another connotation, but every time I hear her name, I instantly think of the gun. An outwardly sweet and innocent child having to carry a name that others might associate with so much violence doesn’t seem fair. Even if you agree with the current gun policies in the country, your child may not. Giving them a name with such strong connotations may only hurt them in the future.
Alternatives to weapon-related names
“I think people are going for a sort of macho energy when they’re choosing these names, and I think there are other ways to harness that,” says Slagen. She suggests looking for other names that have strong meanings instead.
Here are a few of Slagen and Holmes’ favorites, as well as some of our top picks for strong names.
Strong baby girl names
Marcella
This strong girl’s name has Latin roots. Mars is the Roman god of war, and Marcella is a female derivative of the name. It means warlike and strong.
Louise
Louise is a pretty name with a strong meaning. It means “renowned warrior,” and would be perfect for any parent looking for a name with significant meaning that’s unsuspecting.
Harriet
This is a classic name and means “heroine” and “home ruler.” You could call your daughter Hattie for a cute nickname.
Liv
Short and sweet, this name has roots in the words for “protection.”
Briana
This is the female version of the popular boy name Brian and means “strong, virtuous, and honorable.”
Strong baby boy names
Koa
This is a Hawaiian name that translates to brave, fearless warrior. Short names have been popular in recent years, and this three-letter name would check that box and give your child a strong name, too.
Bear
As one of the most powerful animals on the planet, this name will portray strength for your little one.
Anders
Anders literally means “manly”, as well as “courageous” and “warrior,” all characteristics that would work well for a parent looking for a strong name.
Oscar
This strong boy’s name has deep roots in Irish culture and translates to “champion warrior.”
Maximilian
You could also use Maximus and have Max as a nickname. This name translates to “greatest.”
Kingston
Giving your child a name that’s associated with being royal is a sure way to give off powerful vibes.
Leo
Despite being a short name, Leo projects power and strength as it means lion.
Gideon
This name translates to “great warrior.”
Everett
Translated to “strong as a wild boar,” this name rose to the 85th most popular name for boys in 2024.
Liam
Liam is an Irish name that means “strong-willed warrior.”
Strong gender-neutral names
Emerson
This is a beautiful, gender-neutral name with a German origin that means brave and powerful.
Sasha
After watching Nobody Wants This, you may infer this is a boy’s name, but it’s actually a great gender-neutral name that means “defender” and “helper of mankind,” which would be great for your little girl, too.
Riley
This name has a few meanings depending on what origin you’re crediting. One interpretation is derived from the Gaelic word “raghalach” which means “valiant,” a characteristic of any strong individual.
Terry
Terry is a name that spiked in popularity for girls in the late 1980s and was one of the most popular boy names throughout the 1940s and 1950s. It’s a great gender-neutral name that translates to “ruler of the people.”
Barrett
While Bear is decidedly more of a boy name, Barrett is a gender-neutral option that means “strong as a bear” and definitely conveys strength and power for your little one.
Wanting to give your child a powerful name is one thing, but naming them after a weapon is another. Remember that your child’s name will have a lasting impact on their psyche and how they’re perceived in the world. Perhaps it’s time to leave weapon-related names in the past for good.
Elliott Harrell, Contributing Writer
Elliott is a mom of two little girls and is based in Raleigh, NC. She spends her days running a sales team and doing laundry and her nights writing about the things that she loves. She’s passionate about all things motherhood and women’s health. When she’s not working, writing or parenting you can find her trying a new restaurant in town or working on her latest needlepoint project.
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