57 Actually Cute Baby Names Inspired by Your Favorite Thing: Food (2023)

Question: Where were you when you found out Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their eldest child Apple? FWIW, I was in a corner deli with my dad on a Sunday morning and read it on the cover of the New York Post. It’s stuck with me ever since.

While The Post roasted the now “consciously uncoupled” couple’s choice, the name was the talk of the town for…ever, really. I mean, we’re still talking about it now! And it’s actually hella cute.

But you don’t have to be a celebrity of Gwyneth caliber to give your baby a name inspired by your favorite fruit, herb, or five-course meal! In fact, names inspired by food are probably more common than you think. I mean, it’s hard picking out a name for a tiny person you haven’t even met yet. So why not give them a name inspired by something you actually know and love? Like cheese. No, I’m not telling you to name your child Parmigiano. But Brie? Now that’s adorable as f*ck and the star of every charcuterie board.

Below, find 57 of the best baby names inspired by food that aren’t weird (no one’s gonna name their kid Broccoli).

1. Rye

A cute gender-neutral name for bread lovers everywhere. It’s usually short for Ryder, but Rye is cute enough to stand on its own.

2. Plum

This fruity name just oozes chicness in a way that other food-inspired names don’t. I know I’m right. Bonus points if you dress them in purple.

3. Poppy

Whether you’re a fan of the British socialite Poppy Delevingne or you really like poppyseed bagels, this choice is aggressively cute.

4. Java

I know you’ve joked about naming your firstborn Coffee during an 8 a.m. meeting, but what if I told you that you actually could without getting weird looks? Java is the perfect ode to your favorite beveragino.

5. Lemon

Perfect for a summer baby. According to Nameberry.com, around 25 babies are named Lemon every year. But I’m really in it for the matching outfits à la Kris Jenner and Penelope Disick.

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6. Julienne

Okay, not technically a food but it’s a tangentially related technique! This French name means “youthful” or “sky father” and looks so elegant written on the page.

7. Graham

This super-popular name most recently ranked #180 in the U.S. It’s short and dignified, and it will always remind you of your favorite snack: Teddy Grahams.

8. Honey

This sweet name may have been made famous by Honey Wilkes, Ashley Wilkes’s sister in Gone With the Wind, but Susan Sarandon brought it back to life when she revealed that her granddaughter calls her Honey instead of Grandma.

9. Melina

If you’re not ready to fully commit to the food name with Honey, then go with this one! “Melina” actually means “little honey” in Greek. It’s perfect for that little touch of sweetness.

10. Maple

Currently, Maple sits at #801, but given that Jason Bateman named his second daughter after the tree in 2012, Nameberry predicts the name will continue to rise the ranks in the coming years.

11. Colby

This cute and quirky name means “from a coal town,” but most importantly, it’s a semihard cow’s milk cheese.

12. Ambrosia

Incredibly pretty and ethereal-sounding, Ambrosia, which means “food of the gods,” is surprisingly popular. Recently, the name was ranked #497 on Nameberry.

13. Sage

An underrated herb that packs a punch, Sage ranked #438 on Nameberry. It means “wise and knowing.”

14. Brie

Brie is the name of a cheese-producing region in France. Ranked #606, Brie can also be spelled “Bree” or the fancied-up “Brielle.”

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^A famous block of Brie.

15. Clove

This spice-inspired name is short and sweet, and it will certainly keep you inspired in the kitchen.

16. Ginger

If you’re not intimidated by the idea of giving your baby the same name as a Spice Girl, Ginger is an adorable name for any child.

17. Dijon

A sweet and spicy name, Dijon is the capital city in the Burgundy region of France, which is famous for its wine and, yep, mustard.

18. Basil

Sitting at #431 is Basil, which, as we all know, tastes delicious on all the things, including pastas, salads, and pizzas. Not exactly mainstream yet, the name Basil, which means “royal and brave,” has been cropping up recently.

19. Charlotte

Yep, the über-popular name Charlotte is actually a dessert involving ladyfingers. Currently, it’s ranked #6, which is pretty dang high! And it’ll likely only continue to gain popularity thanks to Princess Charlotte.

20. Barack

The first name of our former POTUS—a name he inherited from his Kenyan father—is also a Hungarian brandy made from apricots.

21. Coco

Parents, including celebs like Courteney Cox and David Arquette, often opt to spell Coco without the “a” at the end, but the name sounds the same any way you spell it. Coco is ranked #499. (And for moms and dads who aren’t sure they want to commit, don’t forget that you can always use Coco as a nickname.)

22. Jasmine

Often associated with Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, Jasmine, which was ranked #136 in 2015, is the name of a spice and a Persian flower.

23. Bartlett

Fine, it’s not the same as naming your kid Pear, but it is a variety of the fruit. It also means “son of the earth.”

24. Madeleine

Calling to mind those pretty French cookies (and also meaning, quite literally, “woman from Magdala”), Madeleine is ranked #376. Note though: If you’re looking to name your baby after the girl in the old house in Paris that was covered with vines, she spells it without the second “e.”

25. Amandine

This name isn’t particularly common in North America, but it’s actually a French derivative of a name that is definitely familiar to you: Amanda. Amandine is a culinary terms that simply means something is prepared or garnished with almonds.

26. Bran

Whether you’re a fan of the fibrous cereal ingredient or the Game of Thrones character, Bran is a cute gender-neutral name that’s been growing in popularity in recent years.

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27. Tamarind

This sweet-and-sour fruit is a relatively uncommon name, but that’s what makes it special. The name translates from Arabic to mean “date from India,” so your little Tamarind might have some traveling in her future.

28. Angelica

Ranked at #546, the herb Angelica makes for a pretty name. And no, you don’t have to scream “CYNTHIAAA” if you’re named this like Angelica from Rugrats did, but it certainly helps.

29. Fig

If you’re a literary buff, you’ll know that Fig was the name of a character in Curtis Sittenfield’s novel Man of My Dreams.

30. Roe

Whether or not you’re a fan of the classic sushi accoutrement, Roe is a truly adorable name.

31. Sherry

While the drink has remained consistently popular, the name for babies peaked way back in the ’60s. But that just means there won’t be three other kids in the same class with the same name.

32. Candy

With a name like this, you’d really have no good reason not to blast Aaron Carter’s “I Want Candy” 24/7.

33. Harissa

The spicy chili pepper paste is a staple in North Africa, and it’s also a very pretty name.

34. Daisy

Daisy originally was primarily seen as a nickname for Margaret, but thanks to loads of pop culture inclusions (The Great Gatsby, Driving Miss Daisy, Mystic Pizza, to name a few), it’s now a popular name all on its own. Coming in at #169, a daisy is an edible flower that makes for a tasty addition to any salad.

35. Juniper

Channel your love of gin and tonics in a slightly more subtle way. Juniper ranks at #281 and is a great nod to the earthy, piney flavors of your favorite drink.

36. Anise

The spice anise tastes similar to black licorice (which is underrated!), but the sweet name is definitely a gem.

37. Dill

Not just your favorite kind of pickle. Dill is a solidly cute name that, of course, was held by Dil Pickles from Rugrats. (His full name was technically Dylan, go figure.)

38. Cinnamon

The perfect baby name for the parent who rushes out to get a PSL the second Starbucks starts offering ’em. Cinnamon isn’t super popular yet (it’s not even ranking on Nameberry), so if giving your kid an unusual name is important to you, you should definitely consider it.

39. Katniss

The name is famously associated with the badass Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Hard-core fans will remember that she was named after an edible plant.

40. Cherry

Cherry is a sweet name for a baby, although it has fallen in popularity over the years. But here’s hoping that the Harry Styles song of the same name boosts its popularity again.

41. Pepper

If you’re a fan of the Marvel Universe, you’ll recall Pepper Potts, played by the queen of food names herself, Gwyneth Paltrow. We love.

42. Reese

Okay, first of all, let’s not even pretend that Reese’s aren’t the best kind of candy. And it makes for a cute name for everyone. It ranks at #159, and I assume we have Reese Witherspoon to thank in part for its success.

43. Benedict

Benedict Cumberbatch is the only person I can think of right now with this name (even though it ranks at #981 in popularity), but I can easily think of at least five kinds of eggs Benedict I’d love to devour right now.

44. Chip

Who wouldn’t want to be named after the best character in Beauty and the Beast AND the most delicious form of snack food?

45. Quince

The quince fruit itself may be a bit lumpy and oddly shaped, but it sure does make for a cute name for babies of any gender.

46. Barley

A subtle nod to the unsung hero of grains that brings us the magic that is beer.

47. Hazel

If the prettiness of the name itself doesn’t convince you, consider that Emily Blunt and John Krasinski named their first bb Hazel. The rest of the world has followed suit, and now the name ranks #42 in popularity.

48. Reuben

Yes, the Reuben is a delicious smoked meat sandwich, but who could forget the iconic season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard? If you’re looking for a relatively uncommon name, know that Reuben ranks only #927, so you’re good there.

49. Lotus

The flower and its tubers are a staple in salads, soups, stir-fries, and teas, but it’s also a delicate name for an infant.

50. Saffron

British actress Saffron Burrows may have put this name on the mainstream map, but Saffron, which currently sits at #714 on Nameberry’s list, has seen an increase in popularity over the years.

51. Kale

No, it isn’t just the leafy green that’s having a moment. The name Kale is having one as well. The name peaked in the U.S. in 2008 after Shia LaBeouf played Kale Brecht in the movie Disturbia, but according to the Social Security’s baby name database, it ranked #972 in 2014.

52. Clementine

Both model Claudia Schiffer and actor Ethan Hawke chose the name Clementine, which means “peace and happiness,” for their baby girls. Clementine is sweet and unique, but considering it ranks #685 on Nameberry, don’t be shocked if there’s another Clemmy in your daughter’s school.

53. Peaches

Popularized by the late Peaches Geldof, the British TV personality and model, this name is both hip and cute.

54. Nori

Thanks to Kimye’s eldest daughter, North West, Nori has seen a steady rise in popularity over the past few years. Traditionally thought of as seaweed used for sushi, Nori is being used as a name for both boys and girls.

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55. Kobe

As the story goes, basketball star Kobe Bryant was named after a Japanese steakhouse, which, obviously, served Kobe beef. Clearly, the name has resonated with people, as it’s currently #574.

56. Olive

After Drew Barrymore named her daughter Olive, the world seemed to let out a collective “awww.” And then everyone immediately copied the actress. The Social Security database shows that Olive had a banger year in 2014, coming in at #282.

57. Rosemary

The deliciously scented herb is also a perennially popular name. Although you might think of Rosemary as rather old-timey, the name has had a resurgence recently—as recently as 2014, it was ranking #454, according to Social Security.