By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 755 pages
of 755
French, German
"wise army"
A royal, European name, and a relation of Rayner and Ragnar, Rainier is also associated with the majestic mountain in Washington state. Traditionally pronounced as REH-NYEH in French and as ray-NEER…
Hebrew
"friend of God"
This soft-yet-sturdy Biblical name belonged to Moses’ father-in-law (also called Jethro) and was the second middle name of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Riyaan is a modern masculine name with Arabic origins, growing in popularity among Muslim communities worldwide. The name means 'watered' or 'satisfied with water,' symbolizing abundance, prosperity,…
"poison of God"
Samael is an archangel in Talmudic lore — a figure who is the accuser, seducer, and destroyer. He is often made to resemble Satan, although his jobs are not all necessarily evil (such as destroying…
Fula, African
"sheikh"
Sekou, also written as Sékou, is a given name as well as a title synonymous with the Arabic Sheikh . It comes from the Fula language of West Africa, and is widely used among the Fula people.
Shraga is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning 'light' or 'candle.' Primarily used in Jewish communities, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews, it appears in rabbinic literature and has been passed…
Stockton is a masculine name derived from an English surname and place name, originally denoting someone from a settlement built around a tree stump or log (from Old English 'stocc' meaning 'tree…
French or English
"stain or from the south meadow"
A jaunty offshoot of Sullivan, Sully will be associated by kids with the beloved character in the Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc . Some notable real-life namesakes are French poet and essayist…
Modern invented name
Parents wanting to move beyond Jason and Mason, not to mention Taylor, have created Tayson. But like many smoosh baby names , this choice is less than the sum of its parts.
Danish and German
"thunder bear"
A familiar name in the Nordic countries that hasn't yet gained popularity in the English speaking world. But it could, now that Old Norse names like Thor and Odin are on the rise. It derives from…
Tyshawn is a masculine name that emerged in American naming patterns during the 1970s and gained more visibility in the 1990s. The name may be a creative variation combining the popular prefix 'Ty-'…
Arabic
"help"
Arabic form of Ezra or Azariah
Arabic, Azerbaijani
"dove"
Azerbaijani and alternative Arabic spelling of Yunus, from Jonah "dove".
Russian form of Andrew
"manly"
Variant transcription of Andrei
Anias is a masculine name with multicultural roots. It may be considered a variant of Ananias, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God has been gracious.' Alternatively, it could be related to Aeneas…
Lithuanian, Turkish, Persian
"eagle; equal, balanced"
A sweet, simple name with roots in several cultures. In Lithuanian, Aras is a poetic bird name, while in Persian, Turkish, and Kurdish it is both a word meaning "equal", and the name of a river that…
English word name, Greek, Latin
"the smallest particle of an element; to cut"
Variation of Barrett or elaboration of Bear, English
"bear strength"
Barrett, but more Bear-like and more reflective perhaps of the US pronunciation, this form was chosen for 34 boys in a recent year. It could be read simply as an elaboration of the word, or it could…
Russian, Polish, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Romanian
"gift from God"
Popular in Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Russia, and familiar in the UK too, Bogdan is a rugged and strong sounding choice with a similar meaning to US favorite Theodore. Made up of the Slavic…
Irish
"small shoe"
Brogan is a cheerful Irish surname that would fit right in with the Logans and Br-starting names now trendy for boys. It's been on the pop list for the past three years, though it's sliding again.…
