Adair has flair, the grace of a Fred Astaire. It's a Scottish surname which came from the first name Edgar.
 In recent years, it has also been used for girls.

Adair

The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline. 

Altair

Andreas is a beautiful name, with the patina of an Old Master painting, one that could make a dashing namesake for an Uncle Andrew. 
 In Europe, Andreas is currently in the Top 20 in Norway and is also popular in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Austria.
Some other international variations of Andrew you might want to consider — Andre, Andrei, Andres, Andrea, and Anders.
 Notable namesakes include photographer Andreas Feininger. One not-so-pleasant association: the San Andreas fault line in California.

Andreas

Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.

 A locational surname name deriving from several places in England, there are multiple legitimate derivations for this name. One is from Old English earn "eagle" + denu "valley", while another is from the Celtic ard meaning "high".

 For literature lovers: Arden is the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It (Shakespeare's mother's name was Mary Arden), and it also appears in the name and titular character of a poem by Tennyson, Enoch Arden.

Arden

Despite its distinguished pedigree and popularity in Israel, Disney's Little Mermaid cartoonized Ariel in the US, at least in some people's minds. But it was used for a male character in Shakespeare's The Tempest centuries ago.

 More recently, cool short form Ari has come into prominence via the character in Entourage, plus its similarity to short, breezy Biblical names like Levi and Eli. 

 Though Ariel has been on the rise for boys in recent years and flat for girls, the gender divide still leans heavily toward the feminine. But with parents increasingly drawn to uncommon Biblical boy names – especially those with that strong and gentle -iel ending – we think that gap could be set to narrow in the coming years.

Ariel

Better than Capricorn or Cancer, not as usable as Leo, the name of the Roman god of war becomes more possible as a baby name every day, as mythological names take the place of biblical names. 

Aries

The poetic, soft-spoken Auden has recently started to be considered as a first name option, used for both sexes, appreciated for its pleasing sound as well as its link to the distinguished modern Anglo-American poet W.H. Auden.

Auden

Since Aurelius was given the supermodel seal of approval by Elle Macpherson, this is one of the Roman emperor names, like Augustus, now in the realm of possibility. Like the female Aurelia and Aurora, Aurelius has a particularly warm golden aura.
 In ancient Roman history, the name is associated with Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, the last of the so-called "Five Good Emperors." He is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. He granted his name en masse to citizens of the empire who didn’t have one, making Aurelius a common and default nomen (family name) towards the later years of the empire.

Aurelius

Avery is a unisex name that is used four times as often today for girls as for boys. But while Avery's popularity is starting to soften for girls, it continues to get stronger for boys -- in keeping with our finding that gender neutral names are becoming more favored for boys than for girls. 

Avery

In the past this was seen as a jokey Southern colonel name, but we have heard of some parents considering it as a path to the likeable Beau. 

Beauregard

Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby. 

 Bellamy is rising simultaneously for boys and girls at the moment, making it a truly gender-neutral choice. It entered the Top 1000 for girls for the first time in 2018, before dropping out in 2019 and entering for boys. Since 2020, Bellamy has finally been in the Top 1000 for both genders.

 Muse frontman Matt Bellamy and Bellamy Blake from The 100 are notable male namesakes.

Bellamy

Bello is as handsome as Bella is beautiful, but rarely heard outside the Italian community. With its energetic 'o' ending, it could be ripe for export.

Bello

One of the first generation of cool surname names, now largely used for girls in the US, but still popular for boys in its native Scotland. A prominent association for Brits is former prime minister Tony Blair, who was leader at the time of the Iraq War.

Blair

A nature name, a word name, and a surname name, Brooks has plenty of cool factor. It gives off cowboy vibes and a sporty feel, while also maintaining a smart, collected image. 
Used occasionally as a given name throughout the 20th century, Brooks gained serious attention during the 2010’s. Following fast on the heels of stylish Kai and classic Jack, Brooks is now in the US Top 100. 
Derived from the English surname Brook, meaning “one who lives near the steam”, Brooks could appeal to anyone who wants an outdoorsy <a href=“https://nameberry.com/list/756/best-nature-names-for-boys”> name connected to nature</a> and to those enjoy the sleek, smart trend of <a href=“https://nameberry.com/list/358/surname-baby-names”>surnames as first names.</a> 
While it might feel very contemporary, Brooks has made its mark on history. Brooks Calbert Robinson played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977 and is considered one of the greatest third basemen ever. Other notable namesakes include: Brooks Atkinson an influential theatre critic; Brooks Betts, the guitarist of rock band “Mayday Parade”;E. B White, the author of Charlotte’s Web, who was born Elwyn Brooks; and Brooks Harris, a physicist. 
With a more masculine slant than Brooke or Brooklyn, Brooks is given to over 4000 boys each year. It could be set to rise higher in the charts over the coming years, so if you enjoy the cool, surname-y style, you could also consider Boone, Wilder, Mack, Adair, Boyd, and Briggs as less popular alternatives.

Brooks

Calixto is known in Spain as the name of three popes, one of whom was the martyr, Callixtus I, regarded as a saint. Calixto has a lot of energy and futuristic spirit, thanks in part to the attention-grabbing 'x.' He is the main character in the Spanish classic, Fernando de Rojas's Tragicomedy of Calixto and Melibea.

Calixto

Camden is a surprise hit, probably as a result of some star baby cred: it has been chosen by no less than four celebrity parents since 2012. Camden is a Jersey Boy name, along with equally popular Trenton -- these are two cases where the names are more attractive than the places that inspired them.
 Camden Town is a hip area of London, noted for its busy open-air market.

Camden

Cassio is a notable Shakespearean name that's a member of the ever-more-popular Cassius family of names.  Cassio was Othello's young, good-looking, and flirtatious lieutenant.

Cassio

Cassius, a Shakespearean name rooted in antiquity, is trending in a major way. It's one of a raft of Cas-starting names for both boys and girls, including Caspian, Cassian, and Cassia, that are enjoying a new moiment in the sun.
 
There were two notable Ancient Roman figures named Cassius. Cassius Dio wrote an 80-volume history of Rome. Gaius Cassius Longinus, a senator who led the assassination plot against Julius Caesar, is the main figure in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. 

 In more modern times, Cassius Clay was an abolitionist and also the birth name of boxer Muhammad Ali. It was chosen for their sons by singer Bobby Brown and Getty heir/actor Balthazar Getty. Vanessa Marcil and Brian Austin Green used the nouveau Kassius spelling for theirs. With these namesakes, it's no surprise this name has become popular in recent years. 

 Americans tend to pronounce the name CASH-us while Europeans, including the British, say CASS-ee-us. Cass and Cash are both accessible nicknames.

Cassius

Cielo

We all heard it on Seinfeld as the long-concealed first name of Kramer, then considered a punchline. Now some pioneering parents are embracing this expansive Greek name, which makes a creative and cool choice for a baby. Influential celebrity couple Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost chose it for their son, born in 2021, which will likely drive Cosmo up in popularity. In the UK, it currently ranks within the Top 1000 boy names and is trending upwards.

 In literature, Baron Cosmo Bradwardine is a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel Waverly and Cosmo Topper is the befuddled banker in Thorne Smith's humorous novel Topper. In modern times Cosmo has become the short form for Cosmopolitan – both the magazine and the cocktail. And for those wishing to honor a medic in the family, Cosmo is also the name of the Arabian-born patron saint of doctors.

Cosmo

Classical and Shakespearean name that may appeal if you like your names long, flowing and multicultural.

Demetrius

One of the four perfectly proper spellings of this name ranging from the spare (but poetic) Eliot to the full-blown Elliott. Elliott and Elliot are the two most popular, and they have given to almost the same number of baby boys in recent years. 

Elliott has that "-tt" ending that is so popular among parents today, with popular picks like Everett and Emmett, Beckett and Bennett. "El" names for both boys and girls have been trending in recent years, with Eli, Elijah, and Elias at the top of the charts for boys. 

Elliott has always been on the charts in the US, but is currently at its highest point ever. Elliott is also gaining in the UK, currently at number 107 in England. 

Elliott was the name of the dragon in the classic Disney film, Pete's Dragon.

Elliott

If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland -- he was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and of firefighters -- might sound a tad feminine and floral to English speakers. But as a middle name, Florian could be a great way to honor grandma Florence (or any other flower name).
 The second century Roman martyr St. Florian appears in Tennyson's poem "The Princess," and also in Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera "Princess Ida." Sir Florian Eustace is an off-stage character in Trollope's novel The Eustace Diamonds, Florian Fortescue runs an ice cream shop in Harry Potter, and Florian is the real first name of singer Dido.

Florian

Hayden – a formerly obscure name that's risen to huge popularity – has dipped in this year's ratings. Though Hayden is among the most distinctive of the bunch, it gets lost in the crowd of Jaidens, Bradens, Aidans, and endless variations. Associated with Hayden Christensen, of Star Wars fame. 
 Musical parents might prefer to give it a different twist as Haydn (pronounced HIGH-den), as in the composer.

Hayden

Jamal is an Arabic <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a> meaning "beauty." Jamal and its variants are popular in the Muslim community, although Jamal’s popularity within the US has decreased in recent years.
 Jamal has been used for at least one memorable character: the young hero of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. Other variations are the Bosnian Džemal (prn: Jemal) and Egyptian Gamal.

Jamal

A biblical place name with trumpeting verve and strength.
 Though rarely heard as a first name, Jericho has appeared in the titles of films, TV series, songs, bands, comics, and video games (Clive Barker's Jericho). It's perhaps these references that helped it enter the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013 -- as one of the year's fastest-rising names.

Jericho

Cool and charming, with plenty of flair and sophistication, Julian manages to strike the balance between being a sensible classic and contemporary choice. Appealingly international, it is no wonder Julian is a rising star.
 
The name Julian derived from Iulianus, which in turn came from the Roman family name, Julius. Its origins are hard to pin down, but possible roots include the Latin iuvenis, meaning “youthful”; the Greek ioulos, meaning “downy-bearded”; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means “sky father.”
 
A well-travelled name with plenty of history, Julian, rather fittingly, was the name of St. Julian the Hospitaller, the patron saint of travellers. Other famous Julians include Julian the Apostate, a 4th century Roman emperor, the activist and politician, Julian Bond, the singer and documentary maker, Julian Lennon, and the novelist, Julian Barnes.
 
Beyond the history books, Julian has also made its mark on popular culture. It was used by Shirley Jackson in her mystery novel, We Have Always Lived in The Castle and by Jessica Love in her award-winning picture book Julian is a Mermaid. It has also been given to characters on TV shows such as “Alias”, “Law & Order”, and BBC “Ghosts”.
 
Julian is currently a firm favorite in the US, where it has been given to 7000 boys each year and remained in the Top 50 for the last decade. It’s also made waves in Austria, Sweden, Chile, The Netherlands, and Mexico, where it ranks in the Top 100 of each country.
 
The name holds sway with celebrities too, with Robert De Niro, Lisa Kudrow, Jerry Seinfeld, Paula Patton, Robin Thicke, Daniel Wilcox, and Jennifer Paz among those who’ve chosen it for their sons.
 
Though significantly more popular for boys, in Medieval England, Julian was considered unisex. A handful of girls are still given the name today, though Julia and Juliet are parents’ current preferences.
 
If the handsome, versatile Julian appeals to you, but the popularity holds you back, then you could consider one of its variants, such as Guiliano, Jolyon, Julen, or Jules, or perhaps even Jupiter for something very bold.

Julian

Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries.
 
In the US, the name Kai is most commonly referred to as being of Hawaiian derivation, meaning "sea." In Europe, Kai is largely considered to have Frisian origin as a diminutive of the name Kaimbe, meaning "warrior", or as a short form of Gerard "brave spear". 
 
Kai is also found as an independent name in African, Chinese, Turkish and Native American cultures. Kai is a strong, evocative multi-cultural name that packs a lot of power in its single syllable. 
 
Famous as the name of the boy enchanted by the fairy-tale Snow Queen, Kai was chosen for her son by actress Jennifer Connelly and as a middle name for son Samuel by Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber. 
 
Kai is popular with Berries as both a first and middle name choice. Perhaps because of its international familiarity, Kai is popular in video games. Its most prominent namesake is Danish-born jazz trombonist Kai Winding.
 
Kai ranks in the US Top 1000 for girls, but is used more than 90 percent of the time for boys. Donald Trump, Jr. has a daughter named Kai Madison and Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai in 2020.

Kazumi can be used both as a masculine and feminine name. It is related to names like Kazuko, Kazuo and Kazuki.

Kazumi

The graceful, natural image of the verdant shade tree transcends any connection with President Johnson.
 A sturdy tree that can live for centuries, Linden was actually quite a popular boys' name from the 1930s to the 1960s--as was the presidential spelling Lyndon--but has now become unisex.

Linden

The related Lucas and Luke are both hugely popular boy names in the US and internationally, and now Luca has joined them on boys' popularity lists around the world.

That's an astonishing success story for a name that was virtually unknown a generation ago. Only 13 baby boys were named Luca in the US in 1980, and by 1990 it was still only 32. But by the turn of the century, Luca took off and has now surpassed his more familiar brother Luke in the US.

Boy names ending in vowel sounds may have felt too feminine to early generations who lived by more conventional gender rules. And that old school he-man America also may have rejected names like Luca for being too "foreign". But in this era of Noah and Mateo, Elijah and Ezra, Luca has finally found widespread acceptance.
Along with its popularity in the US, Luca ranks highly in a range of countries that speak English, Spanish, French, and German, among others. While Luca is technically related to Luke and Lucas and so takes their ancient Roman habitational meaning, you might also see it as a relative of Lucius or Lucian, meaning light.
 Colin Firth and his Italian wife chose Luca for one of their sons, as did Hilary Duff, Vincent d'Onofrio, Rebecca Minkoff, and Jacinda Barrett and Gabriel Macht.

Luca

Lucian is a sleeker, more sophisticated version of Lucius that is climbing in tandem with other Lu-starting names.
 Historically, the name was made famous by the ancient Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata--sometimes considered the father of science fiction-- and by the third century St. Lucian.
 A modern bearer was Berlin-born British painter Lucian Freud, grandson of Sigmund. In pop culture, Lucian the Lycan is a werewolf in the Underworld movies. 
 Lucian was picked by Indie actor Steve Buscemi. Lucien is the French version. The attractive Italian form is Luciano, as in Pavarotti.

Lucian

Lucius is an old Roman clan name that has lots of religious and literary resonance, yet is still vital today. It was the name of three popes, appears in several Shakespeare plays, and, like all the names beginning with 'luc' relates to the Latin word for light.It was one of a limited number of forenames used in ancient Rome, and because of its meaning was often given to boys born at dawn.
 In the Bible, Lucius is the name of three people; Shakespeare used it for the son of Titus in Titus Andronicus, a young servant of Brutus in Julius Caesar, a lord in Timon of Athens and a Roman general in Cymbeline.
 Other fictional bearers of the name can be found in Le Morte d'Arthur, The Golden Ass, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, Faulkner's The Reivers, Batman, Talladega Nights, and The Incredibles. Lucius Malfoy, the father of Draco, is a Harry Potter villain, and other Luciuses have been portrayed on screen by Morgan Freeman, Joaquin Phoenix and Luke Wilson.
 Real-life namesakes include renowned World War II General Lucius B. Clay, and writer, photographer, and bon vivant Lucius Beebe.

Lucius

An attractive and little-known member of the group of romantic, Euro-chic boys' names ending in -ian: think Julian, Fabian, Florian, Adrian.

The visually identical but etymologically unrelated female name Marian (and its variant Marion, both ultimately derived from Maria) were moderately popular in the first half of the 20th century, but Marian dropped out of the Top 1000 for girls in 1992 and hasn't returned.

Marian

A place name with so much history, from Ancient Egypt, where so many pyramids were built, to the US blues southern city. The name also has a great meaning. Although it's being given to babies of both genders, Memphis (unlike most place names) is much more common for boys than girls.

Memphis

Orion is a rising star, with both mythical and celestial overtones.
 The Greek mythological Orion was the legendary hunter who pursued the seven daughters of Atlas, was slain by the goddess Artemis, and then placed as one of the brightest constellations in the night sky by Zeus.
 Mark Twain had a brother named Orion, and Chris "Big" Noth picked the name for his son. It is also a Harry Potter name.
 Orion's Gaelic connection to O'Ryan/Ryan makes it familiar as well as unusual.

Orion

Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just might have modern possibilities along with other so-old-they're-new-again names such as Atticus and Orion. 

Perseus

A literary name figuring in the story of Ben Hur and the novels of Anthony Trollope that has the feel of Roman antiquity that is beginning to appeal to many parents. Quintus was one of only about twenty male first names in ancient Rome, and was often (though not exclusively) used for fifth sons.

Quintus

One of the seven archangels listed in the Book of Enoch, Ramiel is considered to be the angel of hope, guiding faithful souls to heaven and watching over those who will be resurrected. He was fictionalised in Neil Gaiman’s comic series The Sandman.
Ramiel feels like a thoroughly on-trend choice, and an interesting twist on familiar Biblical names like Daniel and Gabriel.

Ramiel

Raphael is a romantic archangel name that sounds both artistic and powerful. Raphael is also a great cross-cultural choice, with significance for people with both Latinate and Jewish roots, plus plenty of grounding in the English-speaking world.
 Raphael was one of the seven archangels (called by Milton "the affable archangel") who attended the throne of God and, as the angel of healing, is the patron of doctors as well as of travelers, science and healing. Another worthy namesake is the great Renaissance painter Raphael (born Raffaello Sanzio). Several celebs have chosen the name, including Robert De Niro, Ana Ortiz and Melissa George.
Rafael is the Spanish spelling, as represented by Spanish tennis champ Rafael Nadal. Rafi is the familiar Hebrew nickname.

Raphael

Richard is far from fashionable, but Ricardo is one of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish names for boys</a> in the US. And it does sound far more appealing that the English version.

Ricardo

More often spelled Romolo,a name sometimes heard in the Hispanic and Italian communities; this version was used by singer Monica.

Romelo

Virtually the only name that is feminine in one language and masculine in another.

Rosario

Rupin is one of those names that is virtually unknown in the Western world and yet is easily translated because it feels so familiar -- parts Rupert, Robin, and Reuben.  A handsome choice.

Rupin

Sebastian is an ancient martyr's name turned literary, and Little Mermaid hero—think Sebastian the Crab—that's more popular than ever, as a classic-yet-unconventional compatriot for fellow British favorites T Theodore and Oliver.
 Sebastian is derived from the Greek Sebastianos, meaning "from Sebastia." Sebastia was a city in Asia Minor—modern day Sivas, Turkey. Sebastian is a name with a substantial history, first as the third-century martyr whose sufferings were a favorite subject of medieval artists, then as the name of memorable characters in such varied works as Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and The Tempest and Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.
 Sebastian is high on the lists in countries as widespread as Austria, Denmark, Romania, Australia and Chile. Some more down-to-earth nicknames for the relatively elaborate Sebastian not often heard in this country are Seb, Baz and Bas. 
Several celebs have chosen the sophisticated Sebastian for their sons, including James Spader, Kim Fields, Malin Akerman and Tommy Hilfiger.

Sebastian

Though it has literary credentials--making an appearance in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and as the mean-spirited teacher Severus Snape in the Harry Potter books, most modern parents would find it too--well--severe.

Severus

Haunting biblical and Civil War place-name; now unisex—especially after the mega-high-profile Brangelina couple picked it for their daughter. It debuted in the Top 1000 for boys in 2015.
 Many people may associate this name with the 1990s family film about a dog.

Shiloh

A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling has several recent TV associations, with characters Roger Sterling (on Mad Men) and Sterling Archer (on Archer), and actor Sterling K. Brown (on This is Us).

Sterling

Tegan is a Welsh saint's name. While some may conflate it with the Irish Teagan, they have different roots and meanings though both are used for girls as well as boys. Teagan is the more usual spelling and tips more heavily girlward, though Tegan runs about four to one girls versus boys. Tegan is pronounced with a long e sound in the first syllable, while Teagan can be pronounced either tee-gan or tay-gun.

Tegan

Romantic name used throughout Europe, though sure to lead to pronunciation problems here. Though it's never been too widely used in the US, it's quite popular in Switzerland, France, Austria, and Romania.

Valentin

A short but sophisticated, long-neglected name you might want to consider.
 The name is currently getting a boost from two musicians: the Northern Irish Foy Vance and the Australian Vance Joy, born James Keogh. Vance Joseph is a head coach in the NFL.
 Chynna Phillips and William Baldwin used it for their son in 2002.

Vance

The name of minor characters in Shakespeare's two of Roman plays – Julius Caesar and Timon of Athens – and a noble Spanish surname. Though probably etymologically unrelated to the Latin word for truth, "veritas," it still carries the feeling of forthrightness and honesty. 

 It's also a Latin family name: Marcus Terentius Varro was one of ancient Rome's greatest scholars and a prolific author, and Gaius Terentius Varro was a politician and general in the 3rd century BC.

Varro

This striking name has a lot going for it: it's a self-confident Spanish surname, it identifies one of the most brilliant stars in the sky, and it has a musical reference to singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. 

Vega

Venturo

While this is usually thought of as a girls' name because of the Bond Girl connection, its sound is masculine and there's no reason it couldn't work for boys.

Vesper

Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house." Many Americans pronounce the initial X, as in ex-ZAY-vee-er, but it's equally accepted to pronounce the name ZAY-vee-er, closer to the French pronunciation.
 
Today's parents are beginning to reassess Xavier, and it's as popular now as it's ever been.
Xavier is one of the only X names most people know and use, often as a middle name following Francis, as in Saint Francis Xavier.
 
Xavier was chosen for their sons by Donnie Wahlberg and Tilda Swinton—as well as for the middle name of Larenz Tate's son Miles and Kim Fields' Quincy. 
 
The Spanish classic Javier, pronounced HAH-vee-ay, has come into greater prominence via Oscar-winning Javier Bardem.
 
Trivia note: the X-men comics introduced the kreeatif spelling Xzavier.

Xavier

If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind-- with many European variations, it's a name that's frequently seen in computer and video games, is a character in the children's book Silverwing, and appears in the Babar books--as a monkey.
 Robby Benson and Karla De Vito named their son Zephyr in 1992, and Zephyr Benson is now an actor himself. More recently it was chosen by tech entrepreneur Sean Parker for his baby boy.

Zephyr

Singular, strong, and rare outside East Africa.

Zuri

Fingerbones's list "Prettyboy Monikers" of 58 great name ideas: Adair - Zuri!

Prettyboy Monikers

Names befitting of dandies, playboys and fops. Names on the soft and pretty side of masculine, that evoke elegance, style, tailored suits and flowing hair. Intended for naming characters, not babies, unless they just tickle your fancy.