By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 47 pages
of 47
English
"dweller near the temple"
Rather formal word name that has been used occasionally over the years, most notably for the autism activist and animal expert Temple Grandin.
"temple settlement"
Butler name, and also that of the rat in Charlotte's Web .
"place with thatching"
The name of the famous British man of letters might just appeal to some English majors as a more interesting alternative to Zachary. An appropriate playmate for Russell Crowe's boy Tennyson.
"black well or stream"
Dark.
Medieval form of Theobald
"from bold people"
Similar in sound to the French "Thibault", which is far more popular, Tybalt is best known as the bloodlustful and brawling cousin of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Perhaps this…
"farm, village"
Brusque and charmless, two things you don't want your son to be.
Norse
"Thor the warrior"
Pleasant surname connected to humorist James Thurber, with a sound as happy as a baby's gurgle.
"falconer"
Faulkner is an old occupational surname that was used for someone who kept and trained falcons when falconry was a popular sport in medieval Europe. Anyone using it in contemporary America would…
"black brook"
Somewhat dashing surname, but with serious teasing potential.
English and Scottish occupational name
"metalworker"
If you're tired of Oliver, you might consider this energetic three-syllable surname instead, so you could have a little Tolly instead of an Ollie. Tolliver is a not-too-obvious occupational Scottish…
English word and nickname
One of the magical words of childhood (and beyond), and associated with actor Treat (born Richard) Williams, whose nickname came from ancestor Robert Treat Williams, a signer of the Declaration of…
"hill of birds"
Brittle.
"island of the brook"
Though they sound exactly alike, this spelling makes it much more elegant than Bernie.
English surname
"island with the brook"
Bernie, with airs.
"meadow belonging to a manor"
Let's hope he's "burly".
"meadow with the cow shed"
A surname with a decidedly burley image.
"divided in two"
Twain can be thought of as a modernization (and possible namesake) of the dated Wayne, seasoned with the humor of Mark Twain, who adopted it from a river term.
"birch coastland"
Birch or even Burke is better.
"yew-tree valley"
A secret nature name for boys.
"upper town"
Uppity name associated with muckraking novelist Upton Sinclair.
