Modern industrial design is known for its juxtaposition of repurposed found materials and sleek modern minimalism. We’ve taken the cool sheen of polished concrete floors and the rough edges of exposed ceiling beams and translated them into baby names that give off the same restrained edginess of a warehouse-turned-loft.
So, lovers of all things industrial, here’s our list of baby names that feel like a modern industrial space, with their perfect balance of raw and refined:
Arte
A Celtic name meaning “bear,” this minimalist moniker evokes artistry and needs no nickname.
Asa
Perfectly symmetrical and straight-to-the-point, Asa makes a great Biblical alternative to Ezra.
Bates
We love surname Bates as a first name. It’s strong with its long-a sound and perhaps more easily worn than long-form Bartholomew.
Cielo
Cielo is an Italian word meaning “sky,” though we think its ch- beginning sound and strong -o ending keep this airy name solidly grounded.
Delano
This French name meaning “from the forest of nut trees” has us thinking less about nature and more about the sleek art-deco hotel, The Delano, in South Beach.
Dexter
If we could capture modern industrial design in a letter, it’d be X. Dexter is currently much more popular in England than it is in the US, though we’d love to see more baby Dexes here.
Emil
Emily is everywhere, but the traditionally male version, Emil, still feels refreshingly unusual.
Ernst
“Serious, resolute” Ernst has some industrial grit in its single syllable.
Fallon
An Irish surname that has been used across genders, Fallon might be most associated now with funnyman Jimmy Fallon.
Gage
Maybe it’s its similarity to gauge that put Gage on this list. But this French name makes us think of hard, sleek steel.
Hendrik
With the Hen- of classic Henry and a sharp consonant ending, Hendrik is a bit more formal. And it means “ruler of the home,” making it fitting for an interiors-inspired list.
Iona
The name of an island between Ireland and Scotland, this beauty of a name has a soft -a ending but is given a strength by the long vowel sounds of the I and O.
Katya
A Russian nickname name, Katya means “pure” and suggests a clean calmness.
Kent
Surname name Kent is classic and handsome–like Grant, Clark, or Dean–and its meaning, “edge” makes it just that much more cool.
Luther
Most popular from 1900 to about 1905, Luther might be so out it’s in. Currently unranked in the US, there’s a chance it could come back, along with trending lu- names Lucy and Luna.
Marca
A pretty little name with a fierce meaning (“warlike”), this variation of Marcella feels fresh right now with its hard C ending.
Maxim
A powerful name that means “greatest,” Maxim strikes us as bold and modern. And of course, it gives us nickname-favorite Max.
Oro
Unusual as a given name, palindrome Oro feels as on-trend as Otto. But it’s lended a bit of extra glitz from its Spanish meaning, “gold.”
Rennes
The capital city of Brittany, in northwestern France, is known for its architecture. And we think it is stunning as a baby name.
Xander
A diminutive of Alexander, Xander has some extra boldness with the soft “Alex” sound stripped away.
Zia
An ancient name traditionally used for males, Zia is now considered gender neutral. We love a good Z name, and this one would be right at home these days with all the little Mias.
That’s our list of Modern Industrial baby names! Are we the only ones crazy enough to think these work? 😜 What design style would you want us to tackle next?
How about college or university names?
Ooh! Just in time for football season!