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My Favourite Boys Names

  1. Donovan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dark"

    • Description:

      One of the first of the appealing Irish surnames to take off in this country, this boys’ name has long outgrown its "Mellow Yellow" association, which came via the single from a sixties singer-songwriter named Donovan.
  2. Jeremiah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "appointed by God"

    • Description:

      Jeremiah is a solid Old Testament prophet name that has gradually taken the place of the now dated Jeremy, Gerard and Gerald, joining other currently popular biblical 'iah' names like Josiah and Isaiah. In the Bible Jeremiah is a famous prophet whose story is recorded in the book named after him.
  3. Orlando

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Roland

    • Meaning:

      "famous throughout the land"

    • Description:

      Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
  4. Archibald

    • Origin:

      Scottish from German

    • Meaning:

      "truly brave"

    • Description:

      The short form Archie is so open and friendly --and very trendy in the British Isles--that some parents are now beginning to consider the formerly fusty Archibald as well. SNL comedians Amy Poehler and Will Arnett are one couple who made this breakthrough choice.
  5. Damien

    • Origin:

      French from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "to tame, subdue"

    • Description:

      Converting Damian to Damien – or Julian to Julien or Lucian to Lucien – adds a certain je ne sais quoi to names. But most people in English speaking areas will still pronounce this the same as the -an ending form. The French pronunciation is more like "dah-mee-u(n)".
  6. Jameson

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of James"

    • Description:

      This is a strong new James varietal, sometimes shared by girls. An original way to honor Grandpa Jim, Jameson is swiftly moving up the charts, entering the Top 100 for the first time ever in 2017. Jameson is one of the hottest boy names starting with J, still the most popular first initial for boys' names. One small caveat: Jameson is also a brand of whiskey.
  7. Cassidy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "curly-headed"

    • Description:

      A lean and lanky Irish cowboy name with great nickname potential to boot (Cass or Sid are both options). This is one of the great under-rated American names!
  8. Memphis

    • Origin:

      Greek and Coptic place-name

    • Meaning:

      "Enduring and beautiful"

    • Description:

      A place name with plenty of history, Memphis is associated with the place in Ancient Egypt where many of the pyramids were built, and with the bluesy US city that was named after it. With its lovely meaning and cool, musical vibe, it is currently in the US Top 500 names for boys.

      Deriving from the Greek form of the Egyptian name Men-nefer, Memphis has been notably borne by rapper Memphis Bleek and by Dutch footballer, known mononymously as Memphis (who likely inspired its brief appearance in The Netherlands Top 1000 in 2015). In the US, it is a unisex name, however, it is used three times more often for boys, with 484 receiving the name in 2024.
  9. Clancy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"

    • Description:

      Clancy, one of the original crossover Irish surname names, is as energetic and appealing as ever — full of moxie, more distinctive than Casey, and also one of the less obvious of the red-headed names.
  10. Carlisle

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the walled city"

    • Description:

      This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
  11. Emmet

    • Origin:

      English; Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "universal; truth"

    • Description:

      Honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, Emmet is a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, but the more common spelling is Emmett. Emmet dropped off the US Top 1000 in 1934 and reentered the list in 2014; Emmett, on the other hand, has never been off the charts.
  12. Stewart

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "steward"

    • Description:

      This ancient royal Scottish name and its equally-correct spelling French variation Stuart had a brief vogue in midcentury America--it was Number 286 in 1955--dropped off the list completely in the nineties.
  13. Rueben

    • Description:

      Rueben is a masculine name representing an alternative spelling of Reuben, which derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'behold, a son.' In the Bible, Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, giving the name significant religious heritage. This variant spelling with the 'e' before the 'u' creates a subtle distinction while maintaining the traditional pronunciation. Rueben carries the warm, friendly quality of its traditional counterpart with a slightly different visual presentation. The name enjoyed modest popularity in English-speaking countries throughout the 20th century but has become less common in recent decades. It has a timeless, somewhat old-fashioned appeal that connects to both Jewish and Christian traditions. Rueben's familiar sound paired with its less common spelling offers a balance between tradition and individuality.

  14. Azuriah

    • Description:

      Azuriah is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, likely a variant of Azariah, meaning 'helped by God' or 'God has helped.' The name appears in the Bible as several figures, including one of Daniel's friends who was thrown into the fiery furnace. Azuriah carries spiritual significance while offering a modern sound through its distinctive 'z' and flowing syllables. The uncommon name has increased in visibility in recent decades as parents seek unique biblical names with contemporary appeal. The 'azure' beginning might evoke associations with the blue color, adding an aesthetic dimension to its religious meaning. Azuriah strikes a balance between biblical heritage and modern distinctiveness, appealing to families seeking names with both spiritual roots and uncommon status.