Doctor is an honorific used as a name, somewhat like names such as Bishop, King, and Princess. Banned in New Zealand, Doctor can lead to the kind of confusion you may feel would be only positive for your child -- a bona fide Doctor before he even gets to kindergarten. At its zenith in 1884, Doctor was used for 12 boys, but last year it didn't even clear the five-baby minimum to make it onto the Social Security extended list.

This marvelously medieval name had a moment in the 1910s and 1920s but has dropped completely off the radar now.

If Hunter just isn't full enough for you, place name Huntington might be a better option.

A possible alternative to Anderson and a cool way to honor an Alexander, Sanderson has a slightly gentler sound and may appeal to those who also like Lysander, Sebastian, and Sullivan. With nicknames Sonny, Sander, Sandy, Sanders, and Sasha, it was given to just 8 boys in the US in a recent year.

Also an English surname, Sender derives from Alexander and has an attractive modern sound. Though given to only a handful of baby boys per year, it nevertheless is in step with the brotherhood of er-ending choices fashionable today.

There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name.

Brittle.

Dickinson is a possibility for Richard's boy, though that Dick nickname is problematic no matter how you get to it.

Though we usually think a name's image in contemporary culture supersedes its ancient meaning, this is a case where the definition could undermine a child's self-esteem.

Writer Anne Tyler gave this apt name to the hippie child in her novel Amateur Marriage, but she wasn't the first -- it was also used by the Puritans. Today it would be quite a loaded choice.

Charming Dickensian route to Nick.

Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.

Soft and creative update of Marsha.

See TERRY.

One of the rare cases where spelling a name with a y makes it less rather than more feminine. Birdie might be the freshest choice in this aviary.

One of several trendy boys' names now being adopted for girls with feminized spellings.

For 007 fans, a great middle name choice -- or even a first.

Not manly enough.

Not only did rocker John Mellencamp name his son Speck, but he appended the middle name Wildhorse to it.

Despite the presidential pedigree, it's still hard to shake the image of the cartoon cat (named after his creator Jim Davis's grandfather). However, there are other Garfields, such as Barbadian cricket player Sir Garfield Sobers, who carries it with gravitas.