Baby Name Ideas Inspired by Foods and Cooking

The idea of naming a child after a food may seem strange at first, but there are really a lot of interesting names inspired by food and cooking, if you think about it. Also, food is not just fuel for the body. It is nourishment, comfort, tradition, celebration, an expression of love, a link to our heritage, part of our culture, and sometimes even healing. With all that in mind, consider these food-inspired name ideas for your baby.

Names inspired by herbs and spices

Herbs and spices inspire many baby names, including Cayenne, Ginger, Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Anise, Pepper and Thyme. Don't forget the names Herb and Spice, too.

Names inspired by fruits and vegetables

Names inspired by produce include Apple, Kale, Romaine, Cherry, Berry, Olive, Shallot and Chicory. For more unusual names, consider fruits and veggies from far-off lands, like Kalamansi (a citrus fruit popular in the Philippines), Kohlrabi (a cabbage-like vegetable), Pitaya (also known as dragon fruit) and Cheramoya (a fruit with a banana-like flavor).

Names inspired by grains

Names inspired by grains include Rye, Quinoa, Ryce (you could spell it Rice, of course, but I really like it better spelled Ryce) and Barley. Then there are names inspired by types of bread, like Challah, Pita, Luchi and Chipati.

Names inspired by desserts

Names inspired by desserts or sweets seem particularly appropriate for a sweet baby girl, although of course you could use these names for a baby boy, as well. In addition to the fairly common name Candy, consider Praline, Sorbet, Dulce and Caramel. The names of pastries from around the world provide many more ideas, such as Blachindla ( a German pastry with pumpkin filling), Carac (a Swiss chocolate pastry), Danish, Éclair, Galette (a French cake), Kolache (a European fruit pastry) and Yurla (a Tibetan pastry).

Other names inspired by food or cooking

Other names inspired by food and cooking include Cook (or Cooke), Baker, Wellington, Chai, Latte, Mocha, Tempeh, Seitan, Sesame, Tandoori, Tahini, Masala and Miso. Check out your own kitchen, a farmer's market or the menu at your favorite ethnic restaurant for more ideas.