This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Johnathan Fuentes. Johnathan Fuentes is a writer based in the New York City region. His interests as a writer include space exploration, science education, immigration, Latinx cultures, LGBTQ+ issues, and long-form journalism. He is also an avid hiker and has backpacked in Alaska and Newfoundland, Canada. A son of Cuban immigrants, he is bilingual in English and Spanish. Prior to joining wikiHow, he worked in academic publishing and was a freelance writer for science websites. He graduated from Columbia University in 2021, where he studied nonfiction writing and wrote for the student newspaper. He is currently counting down the seconds until the release of Kerbal Space Program 2 in 2023—a game that will almost certainly take up what little free time he has.
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Being a parent can be both wonderful and challenging, especially if you’re nonbinary or gender-nonconforming. What do you call yourself, for instance, when words like “mom” or “dad” don’t apply to you, but “parent” certainly does? Well, Mx., we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of some new and clever gender-neutral parent names, plus some ways to create one for yourself. Go through these names and choose one that suits you—or use this list as inspiration for a special name that’s unique to you and your family.
Things You Should Know
- Doddy, Maddy, Poppy, and other combinations of “Mommy” and “Daddy” can be clever twists on gendered parent names.
- Creative and made up names like Zizi, Sasa, and Mimi are perfect if you prefer something with no connection to gendered names.
- Names from other cultures can work too: Pamá, Mapí, and Maizinho are all combinations of Spanish or Portuguese words—perfect for nonbinary Latinx parents.
- Nicknames, first names, and even traditional gendered names like “mom” and “dad” are perfectly valid choices too.
Steps
Hybrid Names
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1Doddy. Here’s one adorable combo of “Daddy” and “Mommy.”
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2Maddy. Another version of Daddy + Mommy. This one happens to be a nickname for both Madelyn and Madison.[1]Advertisement
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3Mapa. Like Mama and Papa, fused into one.
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4Poppy. This twist on “pop” also happens to be the name of a beautiful red flower.[2]
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5Mobby. A blend of Mommy + Daddy, with a tiny hint of “Bobbie.”
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6Dama. Like “mama” and “dada” combined. This one happens to be a formal word for “lady” in Spanish, but it has no such meaning in English![3]
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7Noddy. Not quite “mommy,” not quite “daddy,” but still 100% “parent.”
New and Creative Names
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1Zizi. Pronounced “Zee-zee,” this one’s a play on Ze/Zir, a gender-neutral pronoun that anyone can use.[4]
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2Momo. This one has a touch of “mom” in it, but the extra “o” adds something new.
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3Mimi. Another “m” name that pays tribute to many Mimis from LGBT history and lore—from Mimi Márquez to Mimi Imfurst.
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4Nini. Like “Mimi” and “Nana” combined.[5]
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5Nommy. A nod to “mommy” and “nonbinary,” all in one.
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6Sasa. Similar to “Sascha,” a gender-neutral name originating from Germany.[6]
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7Zaza. This one’s just cute. And besides, there’s something about the letter “Z” that’s both endearing and subversive—perfect for those who subvert the gender binary every day.
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8Abba. Pronounced “Ahh-Bahh” like a sheep’s bah, or “ABBA” like the iconic band.
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9Nony. Like “Nanny,” but with a twist.
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10Wawa. This one’s super easy for babies to pronounce, just like “Dada” or “Mama.” Keep reinforcing it and it’ll become their name for you.[7]
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11Obi. Pronounced “Oh-Bee.” Star Wars fans, this one’s for you.
Names from Other Cultures
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1Pamá. Pronounced “pah-MAH,” with emphasis on the last syllable. If you’re Latinx, you’ll know that this one is a blend of “mamá” and “papá,” common names for “mom” and “dad” in Spanish and Portuguese.[8]
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2Mapí. A combination of “mamí” and “papí,” the words for “mommy” and “daddy” in many Latinx cultures.
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3Pamita. Pronounced “Pah-MEE-tah,” this one is a fusion of “mamita” and “papito,” two more Spanish words for “mommy” and “daddy”
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4Pamito. Another twist on “mamita” and “papito.”
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5Maizinho. Pronounced “My-zee-nyoo,” this one is a blend of “Paizinho” and “Mãezinha,” two Portuguese words for “Father” and “Mother.” [9]
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6Didi. This one sounds a little like the English word “daddy,” but it’s also a respectful word in Hindi for “older woman.”[10]
Gendered Names and Other Options
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1Mom and Dad. Nonbinary parents can still go by “mom” or “dad” if they want to, just as some nonbinary people still enjoy wearing dresses or ties. Your name, like your outfits and pronouns, is yours to decide.
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2Papa and Mama. If “papa” and “mama” occupy a special place in your heart, you can use either or both—regardless of your assigned gender at birth.
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3Your nickname. If everyone you love calls you “Mikey,” why not your children too?[11]
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4A special nickname used by your kids. If you go by “Ollie” and your infant child mispronounces it as “Orrey,” let it stick. Whatever name they give you, it’ll be yours to keep. No gender required.
References
- ↑ https://nameberry.com/userlist/view/47752
- ↑ https://www.farmersalmanac.com/poppy-flower-facts-symbolism-and-gardening-tips
- ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/dama
- ↑ https://pronoun.fandom.com/wiki/Ze/Zir
- ↑ https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-gender-neutral-term-for-daddy-or-mommy
- ↑ https://nameberry.com/babyname/sascha
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/c812m.html
- ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/mam%C3%A1
- ↑ https://www.portuguesepod101.com/blog/2019/12/06/portuguese-family-words/
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