Neutral names starting with L

An alphabetical list of neutral names starting with L, continued from the names page, which see for more information. These are neutral-gender names, otherwise known as unisex names. They are equally appropriate for girls, boys, and people of any gender. Nonbinary people don't have to have neutral names, and many notable nonbinary people have names that are usually either masculine or feminine. Neutral names can help make it safer for people to explore their gender expressions. In English-speaking countries, some of the most familiar gender-neutral names starting with L include Laramie, Laverne, Lee, Leslie, Lex, and Lynn. However, there are many more unisex names from around the world that start with L, more than 40 of them, as listed below. Previous page: neutral names starting with K. Next page: neutral names starting with M.
== The list ==
Lacy. English. A gender neutral name, from the surname Lacy, from the place name Lassy, a town in Normandy.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lacy Archived on 17 July 2023 United States Social Security Administration data shows about 15,360 people with this given name, and show it is used as a feminine name 77% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LACY/index.html Keywords: clothing, modern, places, style, two syllables
Lake. English. A gender neutral name, from the English word lake, meaning "An inland body of water" in English, ultimately from Latin lacus.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lake Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, one syllable, water
Laken. English. A gender neutral name, from an elaboration of the English word "lake."https://www.behindthename.com/name/laken/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 5,068 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 83% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LAKEN/index.html Keywords: two syllables, uncommon, water
Landry. English and French. A gender neutral variant of the ancient Germanic masculine name Landric, meaning "Land ruler." Saint Landry of Sées was a French bishop of the 5th century.https://www.behindthename.com/name/landry/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/landric/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, saint name, two syllables
Lane. English. From the surname. Meaning "Someone who lives near a lane or a path." Although it is traditionally masculine,https://www.behindthename.com/name/lane Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 33,083 people named Lane, and it is used as a masculine name only 89% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LANE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 A variant is Layne.https://www.behindthename.com/name/layne Archived on 17 July 2023 SSA data shows about 12,541 people named Layne, and it is used as a masculine name 72% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LAYNE/index.html Keywords: common
Lành. Vietnamese. Gender neutral. Meaning "Good, favorable, gentle."https://www.behindthename.com/name/la11nh Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, one syllable
Laramie. American English. From several place names in the US state of Wyoming, which themselves were named after the French surname LaRamie.https://www.behindthename.com/name/laramie/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 1,593 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 57% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LARAMIE/index.html Keywords: modern, neutral inclined, places, three syllables, uncommon
Lark. English. Meaning "the type of songbird called a lark" in English.https://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_03.htm Archived on 17 July 2023 Another meaning of lark in English is "a source of or quest for amusement or adventure," or "to engage in harmless fun or mischief."https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lark Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 1,313 people with the forename Lark, and it is used as a feminine name 88% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LARK/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: air, animals, birds, cute, feminine inclined, light-hearted, mischief, music, one syllable, uncommon
Larkin. From the Gaelic meaning "fierce", and related to Lorcan.Lansky, Bruce (2012). <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Very_Best_Baby_Name_Book.html?id=OdwPRcN8XAoC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&lpg=PA92">Very Best Baby Name Book</a> pp. 92 https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LARKIN/index.htmlKeywords: Neutral names, Gaelic, fierce, nature
Larri. Finnish. An alternative spelling of the name Larry or a variant of the name Lari.https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Larri Archived on 17 July 2023 According to US SSA data, 492 people have this name and it is used as a feminine name 78% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LARRI/index.html Keywords: feminine inclined, rare
Larue. American English. Etymology uncertain.https://www.behindthename.com/name/larue/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 2,363 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 72% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LARUE/index.html Keywords: two syllable
Lashawn. African American. A neutral name derived from the English masculine name Shawn,https://www.behindthename.com/name/lashawn Archived on 17 July 2023 which in turn comes from the Irish masculine name Seán,https://www.behindthename.com/name/sea10n Archived on 17 July 2023 from the English masculine name John, from the Latin masculine name Iohannes, from the Greek masculine name Ioannes (Ἰωάννης), ultimately from the Hebrew masculine name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious."https://www.behindthename.com/name/john Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 9,894 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 73% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LASHAWN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: two syllables, uncommon
Laurie. Pronounced LAWR-ee (English) or LOW-ree (Dutch. Laurie is of English, Indian and Dutch origin, and most commonly used by Christians. Originally meaning "Of Laurentum", which was an Italian city during the Roman empire.https://www.indiachildnames.com/mobile/genderof.aspx?name=Laurie accessed 28 February 2024. Laurie is also a diminutive of Laura or Laurence which was historically used equally for boys and girls born in England and Wales, but is recently more likely to be used as a masculine name.https://www.behindthename.com/name/laurie/top/england-wales accessed on 28 February 2024.https://www.behindthename.com/name/laurie accessed on 28 February 2024. Laurie is also often used as a surname, for example by actor Hugh Laurie.https://m.famousfix.com/list/celebrities-with-last-name-laurie US SSA data shows 99% of people with this name used it as a feminine name.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LAURIE/index.html Keywords: two syllable, rare, surnames
Lave. Swedish. A neutral variant of the Swedish masculine name Lage, which ultimately comes from the ancient Scandinavian name Félagi, meaning "Fellow, partner" in Old Norse. Lave is also a neutral variant of the Swedish feminine name Lava, which ultimately comes from the Old Norse masculine name Áleifr, meaning "ancestor's descendant." Lave is pronounced "LAH-veh."https://www.behindthename.com/name/lave/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/olaf Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/fe10lagi Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, two syllables
Laverne. English. A neutral name, from a surname that was derived from a French place name, ultimately derived from the Gaulish word "vern" meaning "alder tree". The word may also be connected with Laverna, the Roman goddess of thieves, or the Latin word vernus ("of spring").https://www.behindthename.com/name/laverne Archived on 17 July 2023 Variant: Lavern. US SSA data shows about 8,512 people named Lavern, and it is used as a masculine name 57% of the time,https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LASHAWN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 whereas with the spelling Laverne, there are about 26,166 people, 78% feminine.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LAVERNE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: common, deities, mischief, mythology, neutral inclined, places, plants, seasons, trees, two syllables
Lavi (לָבִיא). Hebrew. Masculine, possibly neutral. Meaning "Lion."https://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_03.htm Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/lavi Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: animals, extraordinary, two syllables
Lee. English. A neutral name, from a surname, from many place names. Meaning "a clearing, meadow, or glade" in Old English. This same word appears in many gender neutral names that are derived from surnames and places.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lee Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_03.htm Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 188,941 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 77% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LEE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Nonbinary characters in fiction bearing this name include Lee Serano in issue #19 of Supergirl. Keywords: places, one syllable, very common
Leith. A very rare name of Scottish origin, also the name of an area in Edinburgh.https://www.behindthename.com/name/leith SSA data also shows that LEITH is used as a boy's name 81% of the time but is most often used as a last name, 76% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LEITH/index.html
Léonide. French. A French neutral form of the Greek masculine name Leonidas (Λεωνίδας). Meaning "Son of Leon; lion's son."https://www.behindthename.com/name/le10onide Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/leonidas Archived on 17 July 2023 In France, this name was in use from 1900 to 1940, slightly more as a feminine name, but as a masculine name as well.https://www.behindthename.com/name/le10onide/top/france Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: animals, Edwardian era, fire, extraordinary, old-fashioned, three syllables
Lennon. English. This was first adapted into a masculine given name in the 2000s, and then started to be used as a feminine name as well in the 2010s. From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Leannáin. Meaning "Descendant of Leannán" in Irish. Leannán means "Lover" in Irish.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lennon Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 4,246 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 76% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LENNON/index.html Keywords: modern, love, two syllables, uncommon
Lennox. English. This was first adapted into a neutral given name in the 2010s. From a Scottish surname, from a district in Scotland, called Leamhnachd, possibly meaning "Place of elm trees" in Gaelic.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lennox Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 2,427 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 83% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LENNOX/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: modern, uncommon
Leslie. English. This has been a given name since before the 1880s, when it was chiefly masculine. In the US and Canada in the 1940s, feminine use became just as common as masculine use. After that, it became less commonly used as a masculine name. From a Scottish surname, from a Scottish place name. Possibly meaning "Garden of holly trees" in Gaelic.https://www.behindthename.com/name/leslie Archived on 17 July 2023 Variants: Lesley, Lesly. Short form: Les. US SSA data shows about 309,224 people named Leslie, and it is used as a feminine name 73% of the time;https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LESLIE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 with the spelling Lesley, there are about 35,248 people, 88% feminine.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LESLEY/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Notable nonbinary people with this name include the American revolutionary communist Leslie Feinberg (1949-2014).https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Leslie_Feinberg Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: one syllable, very common, two syllables
Lex. English. A short form of the gender neutral name Alex, or the gender neutral name Lexington, which see. In official records, the name Lex is strictly masculine, but it likely has more use as a neutral nickname.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lex Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 2,471 people with this name.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LEX/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: one syllable, uncommon
Lexington. US SSA data shows about 1,006 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 62% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LE/LEXINGTON/index.html Keywords: neutral inclined, three syllables, uncommon
Li (לִי). Hebrew. A neutral name. Meaning "To me."https://www.behindthename.com/name/li-2 Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, one syllable
Limbani. Southern African, Chewa. Meaning "Be strong" in Chewa.https://www.behindthename.com/name/limbani Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: courage, extraordinary, strength, three syllables, virtue
Limbikani. Southern African, Chewa. Meaning "work hard" in Chewa.https://www.behindthename.com/name/limbikani Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, four syllables, strength, virtue
Limon or Lemon. American English. A modern neutral name. From the English surname Lemon. This comes from a medieval Middle English masculine name, Leofman. In turn, this comes from an Anglo-Saxon masculine name, Leofman, meaning "Beloved" in Old English. In terms of etymology, the similarity to the modern English word for the citrus fruit is coincidental.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lemon/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/limon/submittedhttps://surnames.behindthename.com/name/lemon/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/lefman/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/leofman/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: affection, cute, extraordinary, food, light-hearted, love, modern, plants, two syllables
Linden. German. A modern given name, from the German family name, from the word meaning the linden tree.https://www.behindthename.com/name/linden Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows that it's used as a boys' name 70% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LINDEN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 A notable nonbinary person with this name is the Spanish science fiction author Linden A. Lewis. Keywords: masculine inclined, modern, nature, plants, trees, two syllables
Lin. Chinese. A neutral name. Meaning depends on the characters used to write it with the same pronunciation. Some options include "forest" (林 lín), or "fine jade, gem" (琳 lín).https://www.behindthename.com/name/lin Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 1,426 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 55% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LIN/index.html Keywords: earth, neutral inclined, one syllable, uncommon
Lindley. English. A neutral name. From the English surname Lindley, from the place name. Meaning "Lime tree glade."https://www.behindthename.com/name/lindley/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/lindley/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 999 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 57% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LINDLEY/index.html Keywords: neutral inclined, plants, rare
Lindsay. English and Scottish. This was usually a masculine name until the 1960s and 70s, in which it came to be a feminine name as well. From an English and Scottish surname, from the place name, meaning "Lincoln Island" in Old English.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lindsay Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 129,114 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 97% of the time, so it is now almost exclusively feminine.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LINDLEY/index.html Notable nonbinary people with this name include American activist Lindsay Amer.
Lindy. English. From the Swedish surname Lindbergh.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lindy Archived on 17 July 2023 Potentially, short for other names containing lind. US SSA data shows about 8,432 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 82% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LINDY/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: feminine inclined, two syllables, uncommon
Linh. Vietnamese. Meaning "Spirit, soul."https://www.behindthename.com/name/linh Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 1,528 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 88% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LINH/index.html Keywords: feminine inclined, one syllable, uncommon 
Lior (לִיאוֹר). Hebrew. Meaning "Light for me." In Israel, during the 2010s, this had about 360 masculine uses, and 216 feminine uses.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lior Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 520 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 65% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LIOR/index.html Keywords: light, neutral inclined, rare
Liraz (לִירָז). Hebrew. Meaning "Secret for me" in Hebrew.https://www.behindthename.com/name/liraz Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, mysterious, two syllables
Liron (לִירוֹן). Hebrew. Meaning "Song for me" or "Joy for me" in Hebrew.https://www.behindthename.com/name/liron Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 106 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 62% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LI/LIRON/index.html Keywords: happiness, light-hearted, neutral inclined, very rare
Lively. English. A gender-neutral Puritan name. Meaning "Full of life, energy." Referring to spiritual manifestations.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lively/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, spiritual, two syllables
London. English. This became a gender-neutral given name in the 1990s. From the name of the capital city of the United Kingdom.https://www.behindthename.com/name/london Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 30,510 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 80% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LO/LONDON/index.html Keywords: cities, common, feminine inclined, two syllables
Lauren. English. This is considered a gender neutral name, since it was used as a masculine name during most of the 20th century, but statistically, Lauren has been used as a feminine name 99% of the time, especially since it spiked in popularity in the 1980s.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lauren/top/united-states Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LA/LAUREN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Lauren and Lawrence come from the Roman name Laurentius, meaning "From the city of Laurentum in Italy." In turn, the city was named for laurus, the plant laurel, which symbolized triumph to the Romans.https://www.behindthename.com/name/laurence-1 Archived on 17 July 2023 Some variants of Lauren are statistically more gender-neutral today. Loren was masculine during the 19th century, but in the 1960s, it started to be used as a feminine name as well. Loren is short for the masculine name Laurence, or a variant of Lauren.https://www.behindthename.com/name/loren Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 40,205 people named Loren, and it is used as a masculine name 79% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LO/LOREN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 For the variant Lorin,https://www.behindthename.com/name/lorin Archived on 17 July 2023 SSA data shows about 5,381 people, a masculine name 63% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LO/LORIN/index.html For the variant Lorrin,https://www.behindthename.com/name/lorrin Archived on 17 July 2023 SSA data shows about 368 people, 53% feminine.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LO/LORRIN/index.html Keywords: two syllables, very common. Notable nonbinary people with this name include the filmmaker and athlete Lauren Lubin.
Louvain. English. From the place name, the city of Leuven in Belgium.https://www.behindthename.com/name/louvain/submitted Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, two syllables
Lou. German. Meaning ''the famous fighter''. Short form of Louis or Louise -> Derived from the name Ludwig. Keywords: strength, fighter, one syllable
Love. English. This was used as a gender-neutral name in the Victorian era. Simply the English word "love," from Old English lufu.https://www.behindthename.com/name/love-2 Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 2,060 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 79% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LO/LOVE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: affection, light-hearted, love, one syllable, uncommon, Victorian era 
Lucrèce. French. This had some use as a gender neutral name in France during the 1930s. A French neutral form of Roman feminine Lucretia and Roman masculine Lucretius. Meaning "Profit, wealth."https://www.behindthename.com/name/lucre11ce Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/lucretia Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, two syllables
Lucky. English. Meaning "Fortunate."https://www.behindthename.com/name/lucky Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 2,803 people with this name, and it is used as a masculine name 87% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LU/LUCKY/index.html Keywords: masculine inclined, uncommon
Lungile. Southern African, Zulu, Ndebele. Meaning "Correct, right, good" in Zulu and Ndebele.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lungile Archived on 17 July 2023
Lupe. Native American, American Spanish. A common gender-neutral name in the Hispanic and Latinx community. Short for Guadalupe. Named after Our Lady of Guadalupe, referring to a legendary event in the 16th century, in Guadalupe, Mexico. The Virgin Mary appeared in a vision to a native Mexican man, looking like a native Mexican person herself, and speaking his native Mexican language, Nahuatl. Today, she is known as the patron saint of the Americas. The name of the place where she appeared, Guadalupe, is thought to come from the Arabic word wadi (وادي) meaning "valley, river," and the Latin word lupus, "wolf." That is, "Valley of the wolf."https://www.behindthename.com/name/lupe Archived on 17 July 2023https://www.behindthename.com/name/guadalupe Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 14,950 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 77% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LU/LUCKY/index.html More people may go by Lupe as a nickname than official records show. Keywords: Catholic, Christian, common, Hispanic, Latinx, renaissance, saints, two syllables 
Lux. Netherlands. A gender-neutral name in the 2010s. Meaning "Light" in Latin.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lux Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: extraordinary, light, one syllable
Lynn. English. This name was originally masculine. Then, starting in the 1890s, this started to be used as a feminine name as well. It was a neutral name for most of the 20th century. It was at its most neutral in the 1930s and 1940s. From the surname, from the place name. Meaning “From the Lake.”https://www.behindthename.com/name/lynn Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 194,878 people named Lynn, and it is used as a feminine name 79% of the time,https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LY/LYNN/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 which is fairly neutral, whereas the spelling variant Lynne is 99% feminine, and not neutral.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LY/LYNNE/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023 Keywords: one syllable, very common
Lyric. English. This originated as a feminine given name in the 1990s, and then started to be used as a masculine name as well in the 2000s. Simply meaning "Song lyric" in English.https://www.behindthename.com/name/lyric Archived on 17 July 2023 US SSA data shows about 12,806 people with this name, and it is used as a feminine name 83% of the time.https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/L/LY/LYRIC/index.html Keywords: common, feminine inclined, music, two syllables
== See also ==
* Names
Category:Neutral names
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