This classic, handsome Arabic name — cognate of the Hebrew Ishmael — was chosen by Tan and Rob France for their son born in 2021. Ismail is the preferred spelling in England, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey, while Ismael ranks higher in countries with native Spanish speakers, including the US.

Coined by Shakespeare for the main antagonist in his comedy Twelfth Night, the unfortunate Malvolio’s name literally means "ill will".

This spelling pares Will down to the bare minimum — and why not? It is also a Welsh diminutive of William / Wiliam / Gwilym.

This rare name is possibly a Romani version of William, or may derive from Old English elements meaning "wife" or "woman" and "land".

Medieval French diminutive of Gui (Guy), ultimately from William.

Unusual Italian name for boys that relates both to the vividly stylish Viv names such as Vivienne and Viveca, and to the Italian musician Vivaldi.

Cornish form of William

One of many Hebrew Y names kept alive in Israel and in American religious communities.

Unfortunately, everyone will just hear Jared.

This Hebrew and Arabic name hit the US Top 300 in 2004 via an unusual inspiration: A Mexican pop singer and telenovela star known simply as Yahir, who was himself named after a Brazilian soccer player. Possibly a variation of the Hebrew Jair the Arabic Zahir, Yahir has since declined since its peak in the 2000s, however, it does remain in the latter end of the US Top 1000.

Ethiopian name that would be difficult here.

Itta is a cute old-fashioned name that arose parallelly as a nickname for Yehudit, used among Ashkenazi Jews, and a variation of Ita, an Irish name.

Quirky form of Ishmael found in Nordic countries.

Variant of Yitzhak, the Hebrew form of Isaac.

Made most familiar in English-speaking countries by prize-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chimamanda has a wonderful meaning and can be shortened to Chima or the spunky Chi. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 1000 for the first time, and has been climbing ever since. A recent year saw it rank in at #547, when it was given to 70 girls.

Activist and Māori elder Dame Whina (pronounced FEE-nah) Cooper was born Hōhepine (Josephine), but Whina may also derive from the Māori name Āwhina, meaning "help, support".

Croatian short form of Josip, ultimately deriving from the Hebrew Joseph.

The biblical husband of the queen of Sheba; an unusual name with an interesting sound, rhyming with lanai.

Intriguing alternative to Jedediah.