Cool Boy Names
- Cooper
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"barrel maker"Description:
The genial yet upscale and preppy Cooper was one of the first occupational last names to catch on -- and Cooper remains a pleasing option.
- Robert
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Robert was the Number 1 boys' name in the US in both 1925 and 1950, and in fact was in the Top 25 for more than a century, giving it true classic status. Strong if not quite stylish, Robert remains in the Top 100 for baby boys as a family favorite.
- Magnus
Origin:
Scandinavian from LatinMeaning:
"greatest"Description:
Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.
- Colin
Origin:
English diminutive of Nicholas or Irish and ScottishMeaning:
"people of victory; pup"Description:
Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004.
- Myles
Origin:
Spelling variation of Miles, English form of Latin and Old GermanMeaning:
"soldier and merciful"Description:
This alternate spelling of Miles has its fans, among them Myles-parents Eddie Murphy and Lars Ulrich. Pro basketball player Myles Turner uses this spelling. The Myles spelling is also associated with Pilgrim Myles Standish and so can make one of the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
- Grant
Origin:
Scottish from FrenchMeaning:
"large"Description:
One-time beach-boy compadre of Glenn, Greg, and Gary that originated as a nickname for a tall person, Grant has become a no-nonsense, career-oriented grown-up and one that is seeing new appreciation. It was chosen for his son by actor Morris Chestnut. It has cultural cred via artist Grant Wood, whose best known painting is 'American Gothic.'
- Darcy
Origin:
English, French, IrishMeaning:
"from Arcy; dark one"Description:
The ultimate Jane Austen hero name, Darcy makes a handsome, surname style choice. Predominantly used for girls in England and Wales, across the pond in Australia, it is a stylish Top 100 name for boys. In the US meanwhile, it does lean feminine, however, 30 boys were given the name in a recent year, suggesting it is on the up across the board.
- Kenneth
Origin:
Scottish and IrishMeaning:
"born of fire, handsome"Description:
Kenneth may have lost much of its luster now, but Kenneth has had its moments of glory. The first king of Scotland was Kenneth, and Sir Kenneth, a Christian crusader, was the hero of the Sir Walter Scott novel The Talisman.
- Ryker
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"rich"Description:
As a stylish name, Ryker has three big things going for it: its Ry beginning (as in Riley, Ryder, and Rylan), its two-syllable rhythm, and its er ending. A nice surprise for many is it's "rich" meaning. While this may not be a factor beyond New York City, there is an infamous prison there called Riker's Island. Ryker is one of the trendiest German names for boys in the US.
- Scott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Scotland"Description:
A cool, windswept, surfer babe-magnet in 1965, a nice dad -- or even granddad -- today.
- Clay
Origin:
English word name; diminutive of ClaytonDescription:
Clay is a rich, earthy one-syllable name with a southern-inflected handsome-rogue image, featured on soap operas and reality TV. Its longer forms are Clayton and Clayborne.
- Toby
Origin:
Diminutive of Tobias, Greek, HebrewMeaning:
"God is Good"Description:
Sweet and spirited, kindly and handsome, posh and approachable, Toby is a versatile nickname, popular in the UK as a stand-alone choice, but familiar in the Netherlands and New Zealand too. In the US, it had its heyday in the 70s but has since been outranked by long form Tobias.
- Crispin
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"curly-haired"Description:
Crispin, which was introduced into the mainstream by actor Crispin Glover and which means "curly-haired" in Latin, has an image very much like its first syllable: crisp, autumnal, and colorful.
- Zach
Description:
See Zac.
- Fitz
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of"Description:
Any number of Fitz names -- Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, Fitzroy, Fitzwilliam -- have been used as Christian names, in fact Fitzwilliam was the given name of the dashing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Fitz can be a short form of any of them and is often, like Mac, a nickname drawn from a surname.
- Kristoff
Description:
Kristoff is a masculine name of Slavic and Scandinavian origin, serving as a variation of Christopher, which means 'bearer of Christ' from the Greek 'Christophoros'. The name gained significant recognition in modern popular culture through the character Kristoff in Disney's 'Frozen' films. Before this exposure, the name was more commonly found in Northern European countries, particularly in Russia, Norway, and Sweden. Kristoff has a strong, distinctive sound while maintaining a friendly accessibility. While not among the most common names in English-speaking countries, it offers families a slightly unique alternative to the more traditional Christopher, with the same meaningful religious connection but a more distinctive Nordic flair.
- Coal
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
This recently coined respelling of Cole darkens its image.