Macho

Not ready to go all the way to Malachi? Then take this Biblical shortcut name, with the second syllable rhyming with eye.

This Nordic-sounding name is ripe for wider usage, especially as a fresh alternative to Christian or similar-sounding Carl.

See RIO.

Intriguing name that's a Top 100 choice in Spain and virtually unknown outside that country. But has definitely possibilities for the adventurous baby namer.

Commonly heard in its native country, and might get a boost here too, now that Alanis Morrissette has used it for her son Ever's middle name.

This short form of Robert was borne by famous figures from Robbie Williams to Robbie Coltrane to Robbie Robertson. At one point, Robbie was the cool new Bobby, but now Robbie is cool only for girls.

This euphonious Italian Italian name for boys, often associated with the painter Modigliani, makes a recommended creative choice. The Spanish tend to spell it Amadeo.

No, not Ben (you'll say a million times), not Van -- Venn. John Venn was a British logician and philosopher famous for introducing the Venn diagram, which is used in several fields, including logic, statistics, and computer science.

Nacio is attractive and energetic -- one of the most appealing Spanish nickname names. Songwriter Nacio (born Ignacio) Herb Brown wrote many American standards, including Singin' in the Rain.

Breasal is one native Irish name virtually never used in the US. It's better known via its surname form, Breslin, as in classic New York columnist Jimmy.

Well used throughout The Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and Denmark, Lasse is a variation of Laurence, typically used as a nickname for the related Lars. While English speakers may be tempted to say "lass" or "lassie", the correct pronunciation would LA-suh in Denmark, LAHS-seh in Norway and Finland, and LA-seh in Sweden and Germany.

Piero is elegant, melodic, appealing. Just picture the muted frescoes of Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca.

A name sometimes used by Latino parents, perhaps relating to the popular Spanish TV mini-series of that name.

You can't get more Italian than this name of the daddy of legendary twins Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. A noted bearer is acclaimed Italian journalist and novel and short story writer Italo Calvino, author of Invisible Cities and . Trivia tidbit: Calvino was actually one of his middle names.

Timeo is a Top 100 name in France but is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. Appearing briefly in the New Testament and related to Timon, a Shakespearean name, Timeo is a valid possibility for parents looking for an unusual name with cross-cultural cred.

With the current craze for ancient Roman names, variations of the Latin Augustus with its majestic meaning are becoming more popular in many cultures. Month name August, also drawn from the original Augustus, is the most popular form in the US, but Augusto may start showing up on international popularity lists.

Manoel is a masculine name of Portuguese origin, representing a traditional variant of Manuel. Derived from the Hebrew name Emmanuel, meaning 'God is with us,' Manoel carries deep religious significance in Christian traditions. This spelling is especially common in Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil and Portugal, where it has been used for centuries. The name was popularized during the spread of Christianity through the Iberian Peninsula. While Manuel is more widely used globally, Manoel maintains strong cultural connections to Portuguese heritage. The name evokes a sense of tradition and dignity, often associated with respected family patriarchs in Portuguese culture.

This variation spelling of Balthasar is most often used in South America. Argentinian football star Joan Figallo recently called his son Baltazar.

Serzh is a masculine name primarily used in Eastern European and Armenian communities, particularly as a variant spelling of Serge or Sergei. These names ultimately derive from the Latin "Sergius," a Roman family name of uncertain original meaning. Serzh represents the phonetic pronunciation in certain languages, with the 'zh' creating the soft 'g' sound found in the French version, Serge. While uncommon in Western countries, the name carries strong cultural connections to Eastern Europe and Russia. Bearers of this name might appreciate its distinctive spelling that preserves the authentic pronunciation of their cultural heritage while differentiating it from more common Western variants like Sergio or Sergey.

This widely-used Romanian choice was the name of a medieval ruler who brought stability to the region of Wallachia.