By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
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Variation of Elian, Elyan, or Elio, Albanian, Hebrew, Greek, "Yahweh is God; pledged to God; highest; sun"
"Yahweh is God; pledged to God; highest; sun"
Cool and edgy but with a gentle sound, Elion is likely a variation of Elyan, Elian, or Elias. Chosen for just 15 boys in 2023, it more than quadrupled in use in 2024 when it was given to 70 babies.…
Latin
"flowering"
If Flora and Florence have returned full force, then Florian, with its strong Latinate ending and its botanical meaning in one to watch out for. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and…
German
"bold, brave"
Hardy is a spirited and durable un-Germanic German surname that is starting to be used in this country. British fashion designer Hardy Amies (born Edwin) is its best known bearer, and Thomas Hardy…
Modern Invented
Jayce has been trending the last few decades, and while Jaycee may have a more feminine feel it would work for a boy as well, perhaps as a twist on Biblical Jesse or initial name, J.C. As it is…
German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Estonian variation of John
"God is gracious"
An Old World name that might have a chance to rise again with other ancient and worldly forms. Be sure to say yo-HAHN-es.
Juno is a boy's name of Latin origin. Traditionally known as the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, Juno has crossed gender boundaries to become a distinctive masculine choice. The name…
Kaeson is a modern masculine name that has gained modest popularity in the United States in recent decades. Likely a contemporary variation of names like Kason, Mason, or Carson, it follows the…
French derivative of Mary
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Fun fact: Marion was the birth name of movie star John Wayne. Although commonly thought of as a female name today, it was actually more popular for boys until the late 19th century, and was given to…
Scandinavian
"son of Neil"
Perfect name for TV Frasier's effete brother. In the 2020 film Palm Springs , Andy Samberg plays a character with the updated spelling Nyles.
Hebrew
"salvation"
Variation of Hosea.
Osiah is a masculine name that appears to be a modern variation of the biblical name Josiah, after removing the initial 'J' sound. Josiah derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'God supports' or 'God…
Arabic
"safety"
Salman is an Arabic name dating back to Salman the Persian, one of Muhammad's companions. In this country it is strongly associated with Anglo-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic…
Modern invented name
This contemporary combo name burst onto the scene in tandem with the megasuccess of then-child singer Tevin Campbell in 1989, but has been losing its footing since the start of the millennium.
Yitzchak is the traditional Hebrew form of Isaac, a biblical name meaning 'he will laugh' or 'he will rejoice.' In the Old Testament, Yitzchak was the son of Abraham and Sarah, born to them in their…
French from German
"noble, ready for battle"
Rarely used, and for good reason. Alonzo is a preferable choice. Alphonse does have a mixed bag of notable namesakes—French novelist Alphonse Daudet, painter Alphonse Mucha, and it was the birth name…
Russian form of Andrew
"manly"
Russian, Belarusian, Romanian and Bulgarian form of Andrew
Literary surname and shortened form of Augustine, Latin
"great, magnificent"
Parents who love the great English novelist Jane Austen may choose this spelling of the popular name Austin to honor the author of Emma and Pride and Prejudice.
Diminutive of Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett, or similar
"son of the right hand; blessed"
A friendly nickname for several classic choices, Bennie has the charm of Ronnie, Reggie, Archie, and Alfie. Familiar in the US in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, some may be reminded of the Elton John song,…
Anglicization of Conleth, Irish
"chaste fire; constant fire"
Conley has a contemporary surname feel but is actually vintage in its usage. It was used as a masculine given name through the 1940s and peaked in 1905 at Number 709. Ready for revival? Definitely.…
Devan is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins, making it an interesting cross-cultural choice. In Sanskrit, it derives from "deva" meaning "divine" or "god," while in Irish it's a variant…
