JoMel's Boys List

Finlay is a Scottish royal name: it belonged to Macbeth's father, Finlay MacRory--or Findlaech mac Ruaidri--that has a bit of a split personality. It has two acceptable spellings--Finlay and Finley, the first more popular in its native Scotland, where it ranks in the Top 10, the second in the US. It is also becoming more and more unisex in the States, with the Finley spelling now split between girls and boys, while Finlay was used last year for TEN TIMES as many boys as girls, about 50 to only five.

An early and still one of the most popular unisex names, also a place name and name of a Native American people in the northern Mississippi valley, which makes it a controversial baby name choice. While the popularity of Dakota is trending downward for both genders, it's one of those rare genuinely gender-neutral names that is used for nearly equal numbers of boys and girls.

Cullen is an appealing Irish surname name that upped its cool factor considerably when it became the Twilight family name of Edward et al. It's considerably less popular than it was at its peak in 2010, but is still widely used.

Caedmon is a masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin with deep historical roots. It gained prominence through Caedmon, a 7th-century English poet considered the earliest known English poet whose name is recorded. According to the Venerable Bede's historical accounts, Caedmon was an illiterate herdsman who received divine inspiration to compose religious poetry. The name likely derives from Celtic elements meaning "wise warrior" or "battle wisdom." Though rare in modern usage, Caedmon has seen modest revival among parents seeking unique names with historical significance. It appeals to those drawn to medieval English heritage, literature, and names with scholarly associations. The name carries connotations of creativity, wisdom, and inspired eloquence.

The authentic Biblical form of a name that has become even more popular alongside Jaden, Jayden, Jaidan et al. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, whose children are named creatively after their parents as Willow and Jaden, helped launch the trend. This spelling peaked at Number 372 in 2003, though it has dropped drastically in usage over the last decade.

This cousin to Colton, a very widely used name, never matched its popularity and is now losing ground. One place where Colten does rank highly is on a list of names most popular among Republican voters. More than 80 percent of voters named Colten vote red.

Javen is a modern masculine name that likely developed as a contemporary variation of biblical names like Jason or Jacob, or possibly as a masculine form of the name Haven with the initial 'J' providing a more traditionally masculine sound. Emerging primarily in the late 20th century in the United States, Javen gained modest recognition through the 2000s as parents sought distinctive yet accessible names. The name has a contemporary feel while maintaining conventional pronunciation patterns, making it distinctive without being difficult to say or spell. Javen carries a fresh, vibrant quality with its soft consonants and balanced syllables. While not extraordinarily common, it has gained enough usage to be recognized as an established name while still offering individuality to its bearers.