Extra Unusual Boys Names
- Altair
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"falcon"Description:
The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
- Aegis
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"young goat"Description:
Often found as a brand name in the hi-tech and industrial worlds.
- Cielo
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"sky"Description:
Expansive, sunny Italian word name.
- Carmichael
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"fort of Michael"Description:
Most parents would prefer to leave the car part parked in the garage.
- Adley
Origin:
Variation of Adlai or HadleyDescription:
Adley is one of those rare unisex names that probably developed via different paths on the girls' and boys' sides, with the male Adley a phonetic spelling of the Hebrew Adlai, while the girls' version, which briefly made the Top 1000 in 2012, is an abbreviation of the trendy Hadley, an English place name and surname.
- Abbott
Origin:
English, Hebrew, AramaicMeaning:
"priest; father"Description:
Abbott is a neglected masculine surname with religious overtones, used to describe the head of a monastery or a prominent church figure, such as a priest. Though the feminine nickname Abby could be seen as a slight drawback, that's hardly stopped Abner or Abraham rising up the charts, and besides, there's nothing wrong with a gentler boy name.
- Colvin
Origin:
English surname nameDescription:
Colvin is an English surname with a distinguished history; the Colvins were one of the leading colonial families of early British India, and Shawn Colvin is a popular American singer. We suspect, however, that most of the 18 parents who used Colvin as a boys' name in 2016 were thinking of it as a less popular alternative to other "Col-" names, like Colin and Colton.
- Adlai
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is just"Description:
Adlai is an Old Testament name long associated with 1950's liberal presidential candidate Stevenson, who was named after his grandfather, who was Grover Cleveland's vice president in the nineteenth century. Now it's an unusual Biblical choice ripe for rediscovery.
- Arbor
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"tree"Description:
Arbor is a quirky nature name with holiday vibes.
- Arliss
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"pledge"Description:
Best remembered as one of the boys in "Old Yeller" and the title of a late 1990s HBO sitcom, "Arliss," featuring sports agent Arliss Michaels. Also sometimes heard as a girl's name and a surname (as in early film star George Arliss).
- Buchanan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"place of the cannon"Description:
A lesser-used presidential choice, with a charming, buccaneering sound. Fictional bearers include the Marvel Comics character James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, as well as the heroine of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan.
- Chaucer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"maker of breeches"Description:
One of the most distinguished names in literature could become a hero name in a family of poetry-lovers -- or be seen as a trendy new occupational name.
- Barden
Origin:
English "barley valley"Meaning:
"barley valley"Description:
Rarely heard last-name-first choice with nice gardenlike feel.
- Amory
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"industrious"Description:
Amory is the kind of executive-sounding surname name that became popular in the 1990s. Amory Blaine is the protagonist of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, This Side of Paradise.
- Beecher
Description:
Beecher is a masculine name derived from an English occupational surname that originally referred to someone who kept bees or was a beekeeper. With roots in Middle English and Old English, the name carries a strong connection to nature and traditional craftsmanship. Beecher gained some recognition through association with notable historical figures, particularly Harriet Beecher Stowe, the influential American author. As a first name, Beecher remains uncommon, giving it a distinctive quality that appeals to parents seeking names with historical depth and unusual character. The name has a crisp, professional sound with its two syllables and strong consonants, often evoking images of industriousness and reliability. Beecher combines traditional English heritage with a contemporary feel that works well in modern contexts.
- Burgess
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"inhabitant of a fortified town"Description:
Related to the word bourgeois; actor Burgess Meredith put this surname in first place.
- Buell
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"dwelling"Description:
The Dutch meaning (Buell is the Dutch occupational name for a hangman) is enough to keep most people away.
- Cabe
Origin:
Short form of Cabot, Cable, or CabelDescription:
You don't need to choose the longer form of this unusual name to arrive at Cabe, brother of Gabe and Abe. This earthy, unusual, friendly nickname-name was given to a handful of boys last year and can make an intriguing choice. But be warned: It will forever be mistaken, at least at first hearing, for the more familiar Gabe.
- Cagney
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"tribute"Description:
Cagney is one of the spunkiest Irish surnames around, and could make a lively and fresher successor to the tired Casey.
- Arlington
Origin:
English habitational surname, place nameMeaning:
"the noble's town"Description:
Similar in sound to Arlo, Remington, and Arthur, this surname style and place name could make a patriotic choice in the US, with its connections to Arlington National Cemetery. Given to 7 girls and 22 boys in a recent year, it is making moves up the charts, albeit small ones.
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