Updated November 2023
Across 34 pages
of 34
French, intimate form of "you"
"you"
The onetime star of "Northern Exposure" named his daughter Tu Morrow. Think about it.
Latin, feminine form of Urban
"of the city"
If you live in the city, you might call your urban baby Urbana; if you live in the suburbs--don't even think of Surbana.
Word name or medieval English form of Otto
If Story and Poet and Sonnet can be names that work as well for girls as for boys, why not Ode?
Spanish, feminine form of Javier, Spanish version of Xavier
"new house, bright"
Javiera, pronounced ha-vee-AIR-a, is not as well used as twin brother JAVIER, but makes an attractive Latina choice.
Spanish, pet form of Aban
This is a Spanish pet form of the name Aban, which in Persian mythology was the name of the muse of liberal arts and mechanics.
French form of Albinus, Ancient Roman
"white, blond, bright"
Aubin might be seen as a fresher and more decidedly masculine twist on Aubrey, though the two are not related. This stylish French choice derives from the Roman Albinus or Albus, meaning "white,…
Short form of Angelo
Angie was an accepted nickname for boys at the same time that Patsy was, meaning, too long ago to be relevant now.
Word name or short form of Axel
Ax makes a somewhat threatening short form of the popular Axel, given to more than 3000 baby boys last year. It can also be used on its own, though it usually isn't. There were, however, seven baby…
Short form of Bardolph or Aboriginal
"water"
Bardo has a poetic beginning and upbeat ending, with roots in several diverse cultures. It may be most familiar today via George Saunders' novel Lincoln in the Bardo , which refers to the Tibetan…
French form of Bartholomew
While Barthelemy does not garner much attention these days, it has a storied history in French-speaking countries. Notable bearers include geologist and explorer Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond,…
Short form of Bartholomew
Bartholomew is one vintage name with Biblical antecedents that hasn't risen again in the modern world, perhaps because short form Bart, as in Simpson, would be too difficult for a contemporary boy to…
French
"blessed"
A French form of Benedict that makes a smooth and elegant choice, although the pronunciation may trip people up in an English speaking environment.
Welsh
"son of Evan"
Variant of Bevan
Short form of Jakub, Polish, Czech, and Slovak variation of Jacob, Hebrew
"supplanter"
Kuba is the attractive short form of Jakub, the spelling of Jacob commonly used in Poland. Much more distinctive than Jake!
Old form of Derek
Gaelic form of Donald
Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Domhnall Gleeson put this Irish and Scottish name on the international map. Sometimes Anglicized as Donal, its pronunciation is close to Donald without the final d.
Hungarian form of Francis
"Frenchman or free man"
Ferenc is well used in Hungary, where it has the intriguing nickname Ferko, it has been associated with the playwright Molnar.
French form of the Italian Gaetano
"of Gaeta"
It's unusual, but that may be its best feature.
Word name or short form of Ignacio
Not unless you want your son to grow up to be just like a wacky Jack Black character.
Medieval form of Julian
"youthful"
Galsworthy used this for "The Forsyte Saga," but in modern real life Julian would work better.