By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 755 pages
of 755
Jariel is a modern masculine name that blends elements of traditional names like Jared, Ariel, or Gabriel. With Hebrew roots, it can be interpreted to mean 'God teaches' or 'founded by God.' Though…
Jaxyn is a modern masculine name that represents the trend of creative spellings for traditional names. It appears to be a variant of Jackson or Jaxon, which themselves derive from the surname…
Variation of Jove
"father of the sky"
Joining Lennon, Bowie, and Hendrix in the realm of classic rock-inspired names that feel fashionable today is Jovi — as in Bon Jovi. Jovi is a variation of the Latin Jove — another name for the Roman…
Brazilian invention
Neymar was unheard of before Brazilian football sensation Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior came to fame. It is thought to be a "smoosh" name of Netuno (Neptune) and Mar (Mars).
Hebrew
"dark-skinned"
Famous violinist-conductor Pinchas Zuckerman is the most famous modern bearer; the biblical Pinchas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron -- both preferable name choices.
Saleem is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'peaceful,' 'safe,' or 'secure.' It derives from the Arabic word 'salima' meaning 'to be safe' and shares the same linguistic roots as the common…
Arabic
"virtuous, pure, chaste"
A virtuous Arabic name, familiar in Pakistan, Saudi Arabic, India, Nigeria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and England and Wales, Tahir may also be written as Taher, Tahir (with the dotted i) or…
Anglicized form of Greek Zenon, related to Zeus, king of the gods
Zeno, the name of two ancient philosophers, has a muscular dynamism that's lightened by its cheerful final vowel, resulting in a kind of offbeat sci-fi feel. Zeno of Citium was the founder of the…
"strong, firm, intelligent"
Strong-sounding Arabic name which appears many times in the Quran.
Darel is a masculine name that serves as a variant of Darrell, ultimately derived from Old French and Norman origins. The name originally comes from "d'Airelle," meaning "from Airelle," referring to…
Variation of DeShawn
"God is gracious"
DeShawn or Deshawn is the more popular variation, but Dashawn charted from the late 1980s until 2010, which means it's on its way to becoming a Dad Name. Traditionally, the De or Da prefix means "son…
Esa is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Finnish, it's a traditional name meaning 'God is my salvation' or 'God helps,' equivalent to the biblical name Isaiah. In Arabic cultures, Esa…
Jahsai is a masculine name with modern origins, likely developed as a creative variation combining elements from names like Josiah, Isaiah, or Jai with contemporary spelling preferences. The 'Jah'…
Spelling variation of Connor
Some creative spellings work, and then some just don't. We think this one falls into the latter category.
Italian vernacular form of Louis
"renowned warrior"
Italian classic Luigi, though it lacks the modern style of Nico, Enzo, and Rocco, does have some notable namesakes, such as Nobel Prize winning author Luigi Pirandello and composer Cherubini..
Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war
Marius, frequently heard in Germany and France, is a slightly fusty yet accessible name that has (Les Mis) to Anne Rice. With the rise in interest in such Latin names as Maximus and Atticus, Marius…
Mazen is a masculine Arabic name meaning 'one who balances clouds' or 'rain clouds.' This poetic name is well-established throughout the Middle East and Arabic-speaking communities worldwide. Mazen…
Mendy is a versatile name used for males in various cultural contexts. It can function as a nickname for names like Menachem (Hebrew, meaning 'comforter'), Mendel (Yiddish diminutive of Menachem), or…
French occupational name
"a merchant"
Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic…
Norse
"powerful army; wise warrior; counsel from the army"
An fearsome old Norse name with a long history in Scandinavia. It's gotten a boost in the States from popularity of the History Channel drama "Vikings," in which the protagonist is named Ragnar.…
