By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 755 pages
of 755
Dalvin appears to be a modern constructed name that may have emerged as a blend of traditional names like Dale, Calvin, Alvin, or Melvin. It first gained noticeable usage in the United States during…
German
"dweller near the fig tree"
The authentic pronunciation brings it perilously close to Donna, but most English-speakers would rhyme it more attractively with tanner or manner. A nature name for boys that's both unusual and…
Norse
"from the deer estate"
Spirited and bubbly, but handsome and preppy too, Darby is a surname style choice that fits in well with the likes of Alby and Lennox. Derived ultimately from Old Norse, as a surname, it likely…
Daryel is a masculine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Daryl or Darrell, which ultimately derive from Old French and Germanic elements meaning 'dear' or 'beloved.' This particular…
English, Latin
"to want, to desire God"
A word associated with want, wishes, and passion, Desire has been used (occasionally) since the 16th-century, introduced by the Puritans who likely associated it with "desiring the Lord". More…
Irish
"unlucky"
Devlin is an Irish name that's fresher and even more devilish than Devin. The earliest written record of this surname occurs in the thirteenth century, when an O'Devlin was appointed Bishop of Kells…
French
"desired, beloved"
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
Donell is a masculine given name that appears to be a variant of Donald or Donnell. The name Donald has Scottish Gaelic origins, derived from 'Domhnall' meaning 'world ruler' or 'world mighty.'…
"noble"
Rarely used independently, it's more often the start of a multisyllabic German mouthful.
Edon is a masculine name with roots in several cultures. In Albanian, it means 'knowledge' or 'wisdom,' while some sources connect it to Hebrew origins meaning 'powerful' or 'strong.' The name shares…
Welsh
"noble friend, elf friend"
A charming Welsh name with a great meaning, borne by E. B. White, author of Charlotte's Web .
Variation of Ephraim, Hebrew
"fruitful, fertile, productive"
Ephrem is a spelling variation of the Biblical Ephraim, most often used for an early saint, Ephrem the Syrian, who was a 4th century theologian. This makes a cool, religiously appropriate choice.
Dutch; Geman
"person from Eshe"
Most commonly associated with artist M.C. Escher, Escher makes a great hero name that would fit in nicely with the surname names of today.
Word name
Inventive name for the child of a writer.
Russian, Slovene and Polish variation of Felix, Latin
"happy, fortunate"
An Eastern European variation of the cheerful Felix, Feliks is a popular choice in Poland, and ranked in the Top 100 in a recent year. Associated with good fortune and good luck, this form would be…
English word name
"the quality or state of being free"
Like Justice and Peace, this word name makes a very strong statement. Ving Rhames chose it for his boy.
Nature name
Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games , it has new force for boys.
Italian variation of Julius
Giulio is a Top 50 name in Italy, and we think Giulio is a good candidate to follow, especially now that Giovanni and Gianni are in up in the US charts. It's an interesting alternative to popular…
English
"someone who lives in a hollow; strong and hearty"
This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming…
English surname
"deer ford"
British habitational surname that calls to mind the Connecticut capital
