By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 47 pages
of 47
English
"from the country, countryman"
Writer Anne Tyler gave this apt name to the hippie child in her novel Amateur Marriage , but she wasn't the first -- it was also used by the Puritans. Today it would be quite a loaded choice.
English, possibly originated as a nickname for pale eyes
Strong, friendly surname choice, à la Bailey.
"calf-herder"
Putting a C before Albert doesn't make this old occupational name any more contempo.
English variation of Byron
Why not stick with the original.
"little Peter"
To honor an ancestral Peter.
"enclosure"
Above par middle name possibility.
"pear orchard"
For now at least, Parton conjures up the larger-than-life image of Dolly. For an American boy, Patton or Peyton would probably be a better bet.
"scarred"
Though we usually think a name's image in contemporary culture supersedes its ancient meaning, this is a case where the definition could undermine a child's self-esteem.
Cornish variation of Pascal
"Easter"
Pascoe was popular in medieval times and is definitely deserving of revival, especially for a child born in the Easter season. Other spellings are Pasco and Pascow.
Diminutive of Patrick
"noble, patrician"
As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name . Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
English and Irish, diminutive of Patrick
"noble, patrician."
Patsy has been rarely heard for half a century, for either gender, and we're not expecting that to change in the near future..
"hallowed island"
Although this was the surname of rugged World War II admiral William Halsey, these days it's more closely identified with uninamed female singer-songwriter Halsey. Five baby boys were named Halsey in…
"son of Peter"
Paterson is a surname-name to continue a line of Peters and also the name of a city in New Jersey, hometown of poets William Carlos Williams and Allen Ginsberg.
"by the enclosure"
For fans of the (female) author A. S. ; makes an interesting alternative to Wyatt or the hotelish Hyatt.
"having the body of a gnat"
Peabody is a quintessentially Waspy surname that your child won't thank you for -- either the pea part or the body part, or the meaning part.
English word name
"pointed top of the mountain; highest point of achievement"
An ambitious geographical name, associated with mountains and success. In the UK, however, this is a slang term, meaning "bad, disappointing".
English occupational name
"bell ringer"
A child named Peale may have to endure more than a few banana jokes, but the Peales were a distinguished family of artists.
"tower, stockade"
Peel may seem at first like a cool name, until you consider the inevitable teasing. A peel was a tower that sheltered humans and animals against attack, though these days it's better known as the…
"hay meadow"
Young actor Haley Joel Osment to the contrary, this name in all its variations has become too popular for girls to survive as a boys' choice. Hailey, Haily Halley, Hallie, Hayley.
"chief manservant"
An English occupational name and surname that brings to mind old, stately homes, black suits, and white gloves, Butler peaked back in 1919 when 30 boys were given the name. It hasn't appeared in the…
