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Fresh Boys' Names from the Arts

Still Unusual Literary and Historical Names for Boys
  1. AbnerHeart
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "father of light."
    • Description:

      This neglected Biblical name--it was the name of the commander of Saul's army and appears twice in the New Testament--is ready to flee Dogpatch. It was regularly used in the nineteenth century, but was pretty much demolished by the long-running hillbilly comic strip L'il Abner, which began in 1934 and ran through 1977. A more respectable namesake is Abner Doubleday, who has been credited with inventing baseball.
  2. AlcottHeart
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the old cottage"
    • Description:

      Alcott evokes shades of nineteenth-century New England, and memories of the author of the books Little Women and Little Men. Louisa May Alcott was the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, noted educator, writer and philosopher, and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
  3. AlexandrosHeart
    • AnselmHeart
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "with divine protection"
      • Description:

        A somewhat solemn appellation, Anselm is a saint's name, connected to the twelfth century archbishop of Canterbury, and in modern times tied to the German neo-expressionist painter Anselm Kiefer.
    • ARRIANHeart
      • AtticusHeart
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "from Attica"
        • Description:

          Atticus, with its trendy Roman feel combined with the upstanding, noble image of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, is a real winner among boy names. Atticus entered the US Top 1000 in 2004 and is a firm Nameberry favorite.
      • AugustHeart
        • Origin:

          German form of Latin Augustus
        • Meaning:

          "great, magnificent"
        • Description:

          The name August is at its highest point since the 1890s, when it ranked among the Top 100 boy names in the US. And deservedly so, given its great meaning, historic roots, and cool nicknames.
      • AugustineHeart
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "great, magnificent"
        • Description:

          Augustine is more substantial (and saintly) than August, less pretentious than Augustus, and, along with its nickname Gus, is definitely a viable choice.
      • BertramHeart
        • Origin:

          German
        • Meaning:

          "bright raven"
        • Description:

          Old Norman name last current in the 1930s, and firmly in our 'so far out it will always be out' category – despite its appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter. This is the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster.
      • BurkeHeart
        • Origin:

          French
        • Meaning:

          "from the fortress"
        • Description:

          Simple, usable surname choice.
      • BYAMHeart
        • ByronHeart
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "barn for cows"
          • Description:

            For centuries, this name had a romantic, windswept image due to its strong connection to the poet Lord Byron, who inspired its use as a first name. It is one of those surprise names that's appeared on the Top 1000 every year since 1880.
        • CadeHeart
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "round; or, barrel"
          • Description:

            Strong, ultramasculine, and modern, Cade shot up the popularity lists around the millenium—it was as high as Number 201 in 2001—along with cousins Caden and Cale, but has been in decline since. It's Like Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, Melanie, and Beau; it was worn by a character in Gone With the Wind.

            There's a Cade Skywalker in the Star Wars universe, and Keith Carradine named his now-grown son Cade.

        • CalvinHeart
          • Origin:

            Latin
          • Meaning:

            "bald, hairless"
          • Description:

            Calvin is a slightly quirky but cozy name that has a fashion edge thanks to Calvin Klein. It has been steadily on the popularity list since records were kept, never lower than Number 250, peaking in the 1920s, the era of the Calvin (originally John Calvin ) Coolidge presidency.
        • CassioHeart
          • Origin:

            Italian variation of Cassius
          • Meaning:

            "hollow"
          • Description:

            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.
        • ChaucerHeart
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "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.
        • ClarenceHeart
          • Origin:

            Latin
          • Meaning:

            "bright"
          • Description:

            The name of the guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life is rarely heard the rest of the year because of its studious, near-nerdy image, but this could change in the current naming climate.
        • CliveHeart
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "lives near a high cliff"
          • Description:

            Clive started life as a surname for someone who lived near a cliff, making it a secret outdoorsy name.

        • ClydeHeart
          • Origin:

            Scottish river name
          • Description:

            Even though in the past Clyde may have been identified as half of the infamous outlaw duo with partner Bonnie Parker—especially after the 1967 movie in which he was played by Warren Beatty—Clyde has always had an element of jazzy cool that could overcome all the rest.
        • ConnollyHeart
          • Origin:

            Irish
          • Meaning:

            "fierce as a hound"
          • Description:

            Connolly, an alternate spelling of Connelly, could make a livelier and less common substitute for Connor.