Patrick

Patrick, long tied to a hyper-Irish image, is enjoying something of a renaissance as a stylish classic, as it has long been considered in England. Along with such choices as Charles and George, Patrick has escaped overuse in recent decades.

Though it's still at a healthy Number 143, why has Patrick slipped from its high of #30 in the 1960s? Partly to blame might be its androgynous nicknames, Pat and Patsy. But with more and more parents calling their sons by their full names, this becomes less of an issue. Patrick is still a Top 20 name in Ireland.

An American hero name via Patrick ("Give me liberty or give me death.") Henry, there are also a number of more recent noteworthy Patricks, including Ewing, Swayze, Dempsey, Buchanan, Stewart and Wilson. And Patrick is still a presence on such shows as "The Mentalist" and "Desperate Housewives."

You also may want to consider the name's native version, Padraig, which was used for his son by Patrick Ewing, or a European version such as Patrice (French), Patrizio (Italian) or Patricio (Spanish).

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, credited with converting his people to Christianity in the fifth century, which would give a son with this name a widely--and raucously-- celebrated holiday.