Macho
- Earl
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"nobleman, warrior"Description:
Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but there are also younger Earls in pop culture, like the reformed criminal in "My Name is Earl".
- Gareth
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"gentle"Description:
Gareth, the name of a modest and brave knight in King Arthur's court, makes a sensitive, gently appealing choice, used more in its native Wales than anywhere else.
- Ashley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the ash tree meadow"Description:
It may have peaked at #1 for girls in 1991 and 1992 in the US, but Ashley actually has a long history as a male given name, as evidenced by the sensitive Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind. It's always been more popular for boys in England and Wales, where it currently ranks at #414.
- Simone
Description:
Simone as a masculine name originates from the Hebrew name Simon, meaning 'he who hears' or 'God has heard.' While Simone is primarily recognized as a feminine name in English-speaking countries, it maintains masculine usage in French and Italian cultures. As a male name, Simone has a sophisticated European flair, carrying associations with intellectualism and artistic sensibility. Notable bearers include Italian fashion designer Simone Porte Jacquemus and numerous Italian athletes and artists. The name's cross-cultural gender associations can create an interesting talking point for male bearers in English-speaking regions, where they might occasionally need to clarify its masculine usage in their cultural context.
- Colm
Origin:
Irish variation of Latin ColumbaMeaning:
"dove"Description:
Colm is a popular Irish name for boys that could immigrate, especially with its peaceful meaning. Colm Toibin is a contemporary Irish novelist and critic, author of The Master and Brooklyn; Colm Meaney is an Irish actor. Pronunciation is two syllables instead of one, like Colin with an 'm' at the end. Colm is related to Columba, Colom, Colum, Callum, and Malcolm.
- Vincenzo
Origin:
Italian variation of VincentMeaning:
"conquering"Description:
This classic yet poetic Italian name for boys, is a Top 50 choice in its native Italy, and has been climbing up the charts in the US and the UK too. It had sporadically made the US charts throughout the 20th century, but it has been consistently present since 2009.
- Eoin
Origin:
Irish, variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Though Eoin is a Gaelic form of John, its Anglicized pronunciation links it directly to Owen. Eoin is currently a Top 30 name in Ireland. Other variations: Ewan, Ewen, Evan and Eoghan (pronounced as Owen but also translated as Eugene).
- Eloi
Origin:
French, Catalan and Spanish from the Latin EligiusMeaning:
"the chosen"Description:
From the saintly name Eligius, Eloi is popular in Catalonia but rarely used by English speakers. There's potential for confusion with Eli - and with the Aramaic word eloi, said to mean "my God", which appears in the bible.
- Mathis
Origin:
French and German form of Matthias or MatthewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Very popular in France and Belgium, this name -- pronounced mat-tees, like the surname of the painter Matisse -- might make an appealing new way to say Matthew here.
- Caesar
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"cut"Description:
Caesar, the name of the greatest Roman of them all, is rarely used outside Latino families, where the Cesar spelling is preferred —as in activist Chavez and Dog Whisperer Millan. Its original meaning is debated — either "long-haired", "blue-gray" (as in eyes), or "cut" (because Julius Caesar was supposedly born by cesarian section) — it came to be the title to denote all Roman emperors and it is from the name Caesar that many other European royal titles are derived, including Kaiser and Tsar.
- Fionn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fair or white"Description:
Fionn, the modern Irish form of Finn, is more popular in Ireland these days than Finn, which is rising fast in the U.S. where Fionn is virtually unknown. That's probably a good thing, because few Americans would know that Fionn and Finn have the same root and are pronounced the same, like the fin of a fish. It's the namesake of a great hero from Irish mythology, Fionn MacCumhaill, who acquired divine wisdom by eating an enchanted salmon of knowledge.
- Gaspard
Origin:
French variation of Jasper, PersianMeaning:
"bringer of treasure"Description:
Jasper is an internationally-popular name that takes many forms, among them Casper, Gaspar, and the French version Gaspard. Virtually unknown in the US, Gaspard is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France.
- Gianni
Origin:
Italian, diminutive of Giovanni, variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Gianni, the Italian equivalent of Johnny, sounds more substantial and fresh. Like many names starting with "Gian", it is on a rising trend (for both boys and girls, though it leans more male). TV star Jill Hennessey's son is named Gianni Mastropietro.
- Ilario
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"cheerful, happy"Description:
Ilario's merry, jovial sound reflects a shared root with the word hilarious.
- Richie
Origin:
Short form of Richard, English, GermanMeaning:
"dominant ruler"Description:
Richie was once a popular enough nickname for Richard that it made the Top 1000 all by itself, blending in with Ronnie, Reggie, Robbie, and Randy. In the US, it last appeared in the charts back in the 70s, but its still in style in the UK where a recent year saw it rank at the latter end of the charts, alongside Drew, Wilf, and Bobbie.
- Anibal
Description:
Anibal is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the ancient Carthaginian name Hannibal, famously borne by the military commander Hannibal Barca who led forces against Rome in the Second Punic War. The name derives from Phoenician elements meaning 'grace of Baal' (a deity). Anibal has remained consistently used in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, though it's relatively uncommon in the United States. The name carries strong associations with strategic brilliance, courage, and determination, reflecting the historical Hannibal's legendary military achievements. Its exotic sound and historical connections make it appealing to parents seeking a name with depth and character. Anibal has a masculine strength while maintaining a certain melodic quality in pronunciation.
- Shaun
Origin:
Spelling variation of SeanDescription:
Shaun is the least popular spelling of the once-wildly popular name, more usually spelled Sean or Shawn. Parents who have a reason to choose this name now would (and should) most likely go with the original Sean. Alternate spelling Shawn is four times more popular.
Shaun (and Shawn) were considered the feminized spelling of the name back when it was becoming a unisex name in the early 1970s. In all spellings, Sean has become once again decidedly masculine.
- Franco
Origin:
Italian variation of FrancisMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"Description:
A classic Italian name still heard in the Italian-American community. Once tainted by the association with the Spanish dictator, it's now more likely to call up actor James Franco.
- Thijs
Origin:
Dutch short form of MatthijsMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Usually pronounced to rhyme with nice — though others may rhyme it with Jace — Thijs is a popular Dutch name short for that country's form of Matthew. Matt Lauer's half-Dutch son is called Thijs.
- Tavi
Description:
Tavi is a short masculine name with multiple possible origins. It can be a diminutive form of Octavius or Octavio, Latin names meaning 'eighth,' historically given to the eighth child in a family. In Welsh contexts, Tavi might relate to the name Dafydd (David). It's also found in Romanian culture as a nickname for Octavian. Additionally, in Hebrew, 'tov' (similar to Tavi) means 'good.' The name's brevity gives it a modern, punchy quality while its varied cultural connections provide depth. Tavi has gained some modest usage in recent years as parents increasingly favor short, distinctive names with international appeal. The name's compact structure and soft sound make it both memorable and approachable, combining traditional roots with contemporary styling.
