Updated November 2023
Across 500 pages
of 500
Greek
"strength"
This male relative of the Emily family was borne by two Greek saints, one a fourth century martyr who destroyed pagan images and the other a ninth century bishop. Variations include Emilios and…
Gaelic
"life"
A popular name in medieval Scotland, it can be found in the surname Macbeth, meaning "son of Beathan" or "son of life." In later years it was increasingly anglicized as Benjamin.
"chief"
Also a medieval short form of Nicholas, it is still heard in Ireland and Scotland, where it has mythological resonance – Colla Uais was an ancient Irish prince who ruled over northern Britain before…
Hebrew
"chief, number one"
Alef was brought into the spotlight when Natalie Portman chose the alternate spelling Aleph for her son. This is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, similar to calling your child Alpha or Primo.
English Traveller, Romani
"born during a thunderstorm"
A name given by the Traveller community in England to a child born when it is raining.
Sanskrit, Hindi
"reddish brown"
This colorful Sanskrit name belongs to the Hindu god Aruna, the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna can also be masculinized to Arun. It can also be a female name in…
French
"cove"
Name of Faulkner's great emotional villain in As I Lay Dying , Anse is not ordinarily used as a first name. It literally means cove in French, though the element ans means God in Old German and is…
English word name
One of the aggressive new boys' names, ala Tracker and Heller, that have become fashionable among parents who are courting trouble.
Short form of Ferdinand
"bold voyager"
Dinand is popular in the Netherlands thanks to a local singing sensation. Dinand is one of many Dutch short forms that come from the middle or end of a name -- think Bas for Sebastian or Hans from…
Irish
"red, ruddy"
Flanagan is an elabortion of Flann, and cousin of Flynn and Finn: a member of the family of colorful Irish red-headed names. This one is lively and undiscovered.
"male descendant of a pirate or stranger from overseas"
Halloran could be your solution if you love the nickname Hal, but not Harold or Henry.
Welsh
"God is gracious"
Ianto is a lively and unique spin on John, possible familiar to American sci-fi fans via the popular character on Torchwood .
Latin, family name
In The Hunger Games series, Cinna is the influential costume designer for Katniss. In ancient Rome, one Cinna was the father-in-law of Julius Caesar and another was a conspirator against Caesar.
Place name, English
"landing place for chalk or limestone"
Chelsea for a boy? Yes — and we've got two maleberry Chelseas to prove it (one of whom even wrote a blog for us about his experience)! Boy Chelseas would more likely be named for the British football…
Word and comic book name
Flash Gordon makes this a superhero name, but Flash might just appeal to modern parents looking for one of the new active boys' names, ala Ace and Breaker and Ranger. We'd recommend something more…
Contemporary nickname, Armenian
"king; falcon, hawk"
Baze is a nouveau nickname that originated on the TV show "Life Unexpected," as the short form consistently used for the character Nathaniel (Nate) Bazile. Its similarity to the name Blaise lends it…
English occupational surname
"driver of sheep or cattle"
Drover, an ancient occupational surname, is right in step with today's styles and would make a distinctive choice. Drover and brothers are fresh updates of such now-widely-used names as Carter and…
Variation of Blake or Black
Blaque is a clever -- or should we say qlever -- spelling variation of either the androgynous surname-name Blake, as in Gossip Girl Lively, or Black, as in the color name. Either way, we prefer the…
Scottish surname, related to HUGH
"mind, intellect"
Hutchings, rarely heard as a first name, is a semi-patronymic denoting 'son of Hugh'. What it's got going for it is cute nickname Hutch, a cousin of Hitch and Huck.
Occupational word name
Drummer entered the baby name lexicon thanks to blogger No Big Dill, who chose it for her newborn son, who joins five older sisters. Drummer is right in step with other occupational names in vogue…