User-created list
Ancient (mostly) and/or Internationally-Inspired Names
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of 10
The names
Zohar
Hebrew
"light, brilliance"
Though this name is used for both boys and girls in Israel, in the U.S. it sounds decidedly masculine, with Zohara the feminine form. Has a futuristic macho feel.
Ianthe
Greek
"purple flower"
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the…
Amadeus
Latin
"lover of God"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's middle name could make an interesting pick for music-loving parents--if only in middle place. Amadeus is the title of a Peter Shaffer play which became an award-winning film…
Cadmus
Greek
"one who excels"
Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents…
Zamiel
German variation of Samuel
For Sam-lovers who want to make a slight detour off that well-traveled road.
Navin
Hindi
"new, novel"
Sleek, and fresh, Navin is a Hindi name that could fit in with the currently popular in/an/en/on-ending boys' names.
Rodion
Russian from Greek
"song of the hero"
Well used in Russia, this is a distinctive and undiscovered choice here. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the fictional protagonist of Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoyevsky.
Flavius
Latin
"yellow, blond"
Flavius is an ancient Roman family name associated with a dynasty of emperors. It has an appealingly flavorful first syllable, and is the name of a stylist in the Hunger Games series. Earlier…
Cianan
Irish, diminutive of Cian
This original spelling may present its challenges outside of Ireland, but it certainly has a more poetic look to it. Those daunted by the pronunciation obstacles may wish to consider Keenan.
Calix
Male variation of Calixta or Latin
"chalice"
Calix is once-obscure name that is starting to see some use in the US, where 62 baby boys were named Calix in 2024. An indirect influence is the actress Calista Flockhart, who introduced Americans to…
Celio
Latin
"belonging to heaven"
A welcoming name that seems to say "hello". Celio can be thought of as a much rarer male variation of Celia. With heavenly names in the ascendant, we may be hearing lots more of Celio.
Tulio
Modern version of Roman family name Tullius, meaning unknown
Heard in both Italy and Spain, Tulio could make a more unusual alternative to Julio. Or with the rediscovery of many Roman names, you might want to go to the original Tullius, the middle name of the…
Egon
German
"strong with a sword"
Muscular German name that never fully assimilated into American culture.
Boman
Persian
"great mind"
Unusual alternative to Roman, chosen for his son by Matthew Modine.
Perion
Perion is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from ancient Greek, potentially related to names like Periander, meaning 'very manly.' Alternatively, it could be a variation…
Caio
Variation of Latin Caius
"rejoice"
Joyful-sounding name that makes a really original option.
Calder
English
"rocky water"
A cool, rugged sounding name, Calder is connected to an ancient Scottish clan, an English village, and a Scottish River, along with the sculptor Alexander Calder, who invented the mobile (as in,…
Jubal
Latin
"ram's horn"
This unusual name might be a possibility for musical families: Jubal was credited in Genesis with the invention of the lyre, flute, harp, and organ. It also has a jubilant feel through its sound and…
Zoran
Croatian; Serbian; Slovene; Macedonian
"dawn"
Originating from the word "zora", meaning "dawn" in the South Slavic languages, Zoran is a handsome, edgy name with a distinct Z initial that could easily cross cultures.
Beacon
English word name
"signal light"
A word name with an appealing and illuminating meaning.
