By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 73 pages
of 73
Selvyn is a masculine name of English origin, likely developed as a variant of Selwyn, which combines the Old English elements 'sele' (hall, manor) and 'wine' (friend), meaning 'friend from the manor…
English and Scottish occupational name
"ringer of the bell"
Simplicity and pleasant associations give the word Bell real possibility as a first name -- but somehow it seems better for a girl, a la Belle.
English, phonetic spelling of St
See ST.
English saint's name
St. JOhn is mainly (but rarely) used by Catholics in England -- there's one in Jane Eyre. This would probably be too cumbersome for most American kids.
English
"swift"
Kind of a combination of scoot and fleet, brought into public domain by actor Skeet (born Brian) Ulrich. We would recommend looking into the unsavory slang meaning of this name before choosing it for…
English from French
"pretty valley"
Belden is a little-used surname-name that might work in this age of Belles.
"pretty face"
Try telling the kids it really means "pretty face" and not "burper".
"prayer"
A famous seventh-century saint and church historian whose name has not survived as well as his works. Known as the Venerable Bede, this Benedictine monk is considered the first known writer of…
"trumpet player"
Might make a good middle name for the child of a musician, though people could think you were honoring your BMW.
English and Scottish
"divided field"
Has diverse links to a Groucho Marx character, a bouncing ball, and late performance artist Spalding Gray.
English word name, German surname
"speck; one from Speck, bacon, butcher"
Not only did rocker John Mellencamp name his son Speck, but he appended the middle name Wildhorse to it.
English word name
A video-game name ("Final Fantasy VII") with an unappealing sound and meaning.
English occupational name
"beekeeper"
This occupational choice is less appealing than such brethren as Baker and Baxter.
"fair, handsome"
Could be a possible and more modern, namesake for Uncle Neal.
French
"russet-haired"
An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin is a…
"baker's meadow"
A more unusual, if slightly snooty, masculine Bailey alternative.
"owner of a farmstead"
Most people's sole association with this name is Oprah companion Stedman Graham -- cool and sophisticated.
English, originally a nickname for a short person
Nothing but a hound dog.
"grain farm"
Perfect choice if your baby has grandpas named Barry and Eric, but also a bit military.
English contraction of "baron's home"
"baron's home"
Inevitable circus association.
