STEM Baby Names

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, and it is a hot trend for baby naming right now. Careers in STEM have sky-rocketed over the last few decades, and more and more parents are encouraging their children to participate in STEM activities. STEM camps, classes, online groups, and even summer camps exist! Therefore, it’s no surprise that STEM names have picked up speed, and monikers like Darwin, Cosmo, and Stella are becoming popular.

If you’re interested in where this trend is heading and are considering a STEM name for your little scientist, we have a fun list of names for boys, girls, and gender-neutral options.

STEM Names for Girls

These strong and beautiful STEM names for girls are inspired by female mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. We also have some out-of-this-world names with cosmic and constellation meanings!

1. Ada is a German name that means nobility. Ada Lovelace was one of the first recognized female mathematicians and wrote what is considered the first computer program. She was also the daughter of the infamous English poet Lord Byron.
2. Astra is the Latin word for stars.
3. Aurora is a beautiful Latin name for dawn.
4. Cleo is a Greek name derived from Cleopatra or Cleophas, which means glory. CLEO is an industry leader in laser science.
5. Electra is Greek for shining and bright.
6. Grace is Latin for goddess. Grace Murray Hopper was an American naval officer and computer pioneer!
7. Hedy is a unique Greek and Hebrew name that means delightful or sweet. Film star Hedy Lamar was also a brilliant scientist who helped invent signal technology for the U.S. military during WWII, which is still used today!
8. Linnea is a Scandinavian name that means lime tree and comes from the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus.
9. Lyra is a constellation of stars containing the star Vega. It is Greek for lyre.
10. Luna is Latin for moon.
11. Marie is the French variation of the name Mary. Marie Curie is one of the most famous female scientists, having won two Nobel Prizes.
12. Meridian is Latin for midday or pinnacle. It is also the geographical term for the imaginary line around the middle of Earth.
13. Metis was a Greek titan and the goddess of wisdom, skill, and cunning, three traits needed for a STEM career.
14. Stella means star in Latin.
15. Vela has Sanskrit and Latin roots. It means shore or sail and is a Southern sky constellation.

Boy STEM Names

We found some inspirational and majestic STEM names for boys, taking inspiration from nature, world-famous inventors, and Greek gods.

1. Albert is a German name meaning noble and bright. It was Einstein’s first name.
2. Apollo is the Greek god of medicine, music, and poetry.
3. Carl is a German name that means free man. Carl Sagan was a renowned astronomer.
4. Cosmos has Italian, Greek, and Latin roots and means order, universe, and beauty.
5. Darwin is an Old English name meaning old friend. Charles Darwin was a renowned naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution.
6. Finch is the perfect name for those interested in the natural sciences. Finches are songbirds, and there are hundreds of different species.
7. Geo is Greek for earth.
8. Helix has Greek roots and means something twisted or spiraled.
9. Kepler is a German name referring to a hat maker. Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer who discovered the laws of planetary motion.
10. Leo is Spanish and Italian and means lion. It was the first name of the famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci.
11. Mars is the Roman god of war and the 4th planet from the sun in our solar system.
12. Nikola is a Slavic variation of the name Nicholas and means victory of the people. Nikola Tesla was an influential scientist who played a significant role in the invention of electricity.
13. Onyx is a type of black gemstone.
14. Theon was an ancient Greek mathematician.
15. Zenith is a name of English origin that refers to the highest place in the sky.

Gender-Neutral STEM Names

Our list of gender-neutral names has some unique and funky choices inspired by inventors, electronics, and Greek mythology-turned-science terms.

1. Atari was the first brand of home gaming systems. It is a Japanese name that means success.
2. Atlas is a unique gender-neutral STEM name that has multiple meanings. An atlas is a book of maps, but Atlas was also a Greek titan of navigation and astronomy.
3. Coda is an Italian word that refers to the ending section in music. It is also the name of a web development software.
4. Cousteau is a French name that means coast dweller. The name is ironic becuase Jacques Cousteau was a renowned oceanographer.
5. Edison is the English name for the son of Adam. Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the light bulb, among other things.
6. Elion has Greek and Hebrew origins and is connected to the sun.
7. Jemison is the last name of Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut to go into space! It is an English name that means son of James.
8. Lumen is a Latin term for the measurement of light. It makes for a unique STEM name.
9. Moon is a modern name with English origins.
10. Nova is the Latin word for new.
11. Phoenix is a small constellation in the southern sky. It is a Greek name that means dark red.
12. Sol is Latin for sun.
13. Solstice is Latin for when the sun stands still.
14. Vesper is the Latin name of the evening star.
15. Zephyr is a Greek name meaning Western Wind.

By L. Elizabeth Forry, July 31, 2024