The Coolest, Most Useable Celebrity Baby Names

Celebrities are known for their bizarre, out-there baby name choices (Audio Science? Bear Blu? Moon Unit?), but there are certain celebrity baby names that are actually quite lovely. And although some still have a unique quirk to them, there’s a classic, useable element to them.

Here are some of my favorite celebrity baby names for boys and girls — many of which might give you some serious name inspiration:

GIRLS

Penelope Scotland – Although Kourtney Kardashian recently made headlines when she chose this name for her daughter, let’s not forget that Tina Fey has a little Penelope as well.

Alice – Speaking of Tina Fey, she named her first daughter Alice — which is getting more and more popular each year.

Hattie Margaret – Tori Spelling surprised the world by picking this beautiful vintage-sounding name for her baby.

Pearl Bailey – Oh how I adore the name Pearl (it reminds me of The Scarlet Letter), which was chosen by funny-lady Maya Rudolph, as well as Jack Osbourne.

Adeline – The Big Bang Theory actor Simon Helberg went with this charming alternative to more common relatives Adele, Addie, and Madeline.

Olive – Drew Barrymore used this old-lady-turned-spunky-alternative-to-Olivia name on her daughter.

Iris – Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann used this pretty flower name on their daughter — which could be a useable alternative to Lily or Rose.

Maude – Another daughter of Apatow and Mann, which is becoming a “hipper” favorite among the naming enthusiasts.

Ruby - Actress Marley Shelton chose this gem name for her daughter.

Marlowe Ottoline – Sienna Miller paired these uncommon names together, but actor Jason Schwartzmann also has a little Marlowe.

Maple Sylvie - This name — which belongs to Jason Bateman’s daughter — veers more to the unusual side, but it sure is pretty. (Sylvie might be more a more useable option.) Maple’s sister, Francesca Nora, has a more traditional name — but just as pretty.

Eliza – Private Practice star Caterina Scorsone picked a name that just might start climbing up the charts.

Ivy (as in Blue Ivy) – “Blue” might be a little too far out for you, but the middle name of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter just might resonate.

Emery – Actors Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn used a traditional boy’s name on their little girl — and now it’s one of the fastest-growing name trends of the moment.

Harlow – Nicole Richie and Joel Madden picked this name a few years back.

Etta Jones – Carson Daley chose this jazz-sounding name for his little baby girl.

Poppy James – Grey’s Anatomy star Jessica Capshaw paired a spunky yet feminine flower name with a traditional boy’s name. (Poppy James sounds a little more useable than the similar celeb baby name Poppy Honey, which belongs to the daughter of Jamie Oliver.)

Mabel – Another old-lady-turned-modern name for the newest daughter of Bruce Willis.

Estelle – Sweden’s Princess Victoria’s chose this name for her baby girl this year.

BOYS

Flynn – A spin on the popular Finn (which is already reaching chart-topping popularity for 2012), this name was chosen by Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr.

Leo Grey – Of course Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney would pick the coolest name for their baby boy — joining cool-kid brother Axel Lee.

Luca Cruz – Hilary Duff chose this soft yet smart-sounding name for her baby boy — and I love it.

Milo Thomas – This handsome name belongs to Alyssa Milano’s little boy.

Arlo Robert – Son of Toni Colette, Arlo is another “o”-ending name.

Indiana August - son of Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix.

Levi – As in Matthew McConaughey’s cutie-pie — not of the earlier Palin-associated fame.

Samuel – The newest member of the Affleck/Garner clan, joining sisters Violet and Seraphina.

Roman – This name was picked by two celebs: Cate Blanchett and Debra Messing (separately, of course).

Camden John – Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo chose this name for their new baby. Coincidentally, reality star Kristin Cavallari named her August-born baby Camden Jack.

Weston – The name of Jenna Fisher’s little boy — with the cool-kid nickname “West.”

What are some of YOUR favorite celebrity baby names?

Photo: Flickr/Natalie Romay