By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Variation of Max, English and German
"greatest"
Max, with something X-tra.
Male variation of Calixta or Latin
"chalice"
Calix is once-obscure name that is starting to see some use in the US, where 62 baby boys were named Calix in 2024. An indirect influence is the actress Calista Flockhart, who introduced Americans to…
Variation of Phoenix, Spanish, Greek
"dark red"
Fenix is a spelling variation of the place name and mythological name Phoenix, possibly inspired by the Romani form, Fennix, or the Spanish Fénix. Derived from Greek and meaning "dark red", the…
Latin
"peaceful"
Pax, one of the variations of names meaning peace that are newly popular in these less-than-peaceful times, got a lot of publicity when chosen by Brad & Angelina for their Vietnamese-born son.…
Scottish
"round hill"
A updated spelling of stylish boy name Knox, which could be considered superfluous and totally cool, depending on your perspective. More than 60 boys were given this name in a recent year in the US:…
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
French
"cross"
Pronounced "crwa", this unusual name was chosen by Cedric the Entertainer for his son.
Variation of Banks, English
"one who lives on the hillside or riverbank"
Rising star Banks manages to sound both preppy and outdoorsy, both working the land and working in finance. Banx adds another layer of possibility to the name, giving it an edgy, ultra-modern vibe.…
Modern invented name
If Jimi Hendrix's last name was too tame for you, you could add an extra X to the end -- enough parents did so in 2017 to make this one of the fastest-rising boys' names.
Animal name
One of the fierce new animal names new to name lists, helped by its strong x-ending.
Maddix is a modern masculine name that adds a creative twist to the classic Madison or Maddox. With its strong consonant sounds and trendy 'x' ending, Maddix projects an image of confidence and…
Lennix is a contemporary masculine name with a modern, edgy feel. Likely derived as a variation of names like Lennox or Lenin, it combines trendy 'x' ending with familiar 'Len' root sounds. The name…
Short form of Brixton, place-name and surname, English
"stone of Brixi"
Brixi was a Saxon lord thought to have erected a stone boundary of an ancient meeting place on the site that is now Brixton, a suburb in south London. Brixton is a newly fashionable boys' name and…
Greek mythology name
"mourner, earth land"
Ajax is the name of two Greek heroes, both who fought in the Trojan war and feature in Homer's "Iliad". Distinctive yet familiar in sound, thanks to similar choices like Jack, Asa, and Ajay, Ajax is…
Maddex is a modern masculine name that emerged as a variant of Maddox, which itself originated as an English surname derived from Welsh elements 'mad' meaning fortunate or beneficent. The distinctive…
Place-name, nickname for state of Texas resident
Despite its rakish western charm, still remains a cowboy costume without a real persona inside.
"from Drewes"
This unusual name is a French place name, which became a surname and was brought over to Britain by the Normans. In modern usage, it's probably intended as a creative spelling of Drew.
Phenix represents a modern, alternative spelling of 'Phoenix,' derived from the mythological bird that cyclically regenerates from its own ashes. This spelling variation maintains the powerful…
Kalix is a modern-sounding masculine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Calix, which comes from the Latin word for 'chalice' or 'cup,' often with religious…
"night"
Nyx is the name of the Greek goddess of the night, and while it does lean feminine in the US, 27 boys did receive the name in a recent year compared to 69 girls. Short, snappy, and distinctive in…
