By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 21 pages
of 21
French form of Andrea or Andrew, Greek
"strong and manly"
While Andrea — without the accent) — is still currently the favored spelling in France for boys, Andréa is an up-and-coming star, that ranked just outside the French Top 100 in a recent year. Notable…
Gemstone name
Rare for girls and rarer still for boys, Topaz is a gemstone name with a cool -Z ending, reminiscent of stylish options such as Azriel, Azariah, and Azai, along with the more classic Christopher,…
Literature, Greek
"gift of beauty"
Majestic and poetic at the same time, Calidore appears in Edmund Spenser's 16th century epic poem, The Faerie Queene , in which Sir Calidore is a courteous and heroic knight. It may intrigue those…
French variation of Hyacinthus, Greek
"hyacinth flower"
Derived from the floral Hyacinthus, this is the French form of a mythological Greek name. Considered unisex in France, it ranked in the French Top 400 for both sexes in the early 20th century, though…
Lithuanian variation of Ares or Arius, Greek
"bane, ruin"
The mythological Ares has been on the rise in the US in recent years, while in Lithuania, this variant of war god's name ranked in the Top 20 in the latest stats. Ultimately from the Greek Ares and…
Greek
"flame-colored, red, fiery"
An unusual name form Greek mythology, Pyrrhus is an alternative name for Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. In this case, Pyrrha was the name of the woman Achilles once disguised himself as, and so it…
Nature name
"obvious claw"
An undiscovered nature name, Delonix is a distinctive choice that could make an intriguing middle name or a daring first. A type of flowering tree or plant with striking red petals, its name is taken…
Variation of Alexander, English, Greek
"defending men"
Sleek and poetic, Alisander is a Medieval form of Alexander, notably appearing in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur . An appealing choice to those who like the strength of Alexander, the literary…
French form of Alyosha, Russian, Greek
"defender, helper"
Ultimately derived from the Greek Alexius, Aliocha is the French form of the Russian name Alyosha. In Russia, it is used as a diminutive of Aleksey (meaning "defender, helper"), while in French, it…
Dutch and French form of Yuriy or George, Greek
"farmer"
Derived from Yuriy, the Russian and Ukrainian form of George, Youri is a Dutch and French equivalent of the name. Gentle yet hardy, it has an international feel and was saw some popularity in France…
Modern Greek form of Phoebus or Phoibos
"shining, brilliant"
A modern variation of Phoibus — more familiar in its Latinized form of Phoebus — this is one of the names of the sun god Apollo. Occasionally used in Greece, it has been notably borne by songwriter…
"gift of Artemis"
Blending the name of the goddess of the moon and hunting with doron meaning "gift", this rare Greek name was borne by a 2nd century author and diviner, famous for his work the Oneirocritica , or "The…
Variation of Illyria, Lirio, Lyra, or Lirija, Albanian, Portuguese, Greek
"Illyrian; lily; lyre; freedom"
Light and lilting, Lyrian has a number of different roots, including: the ancient place name of Illyria (fictionalized in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night ); the Portuguese Líria and Lírio meaning "lily";…
Spanish, Greek
"old man, grandfather"
An interesting, palindromic name, Sabas may appeal to those who like Silas and Sebastian but want something rarer (in the US at least). Derived from the Greek Sabbas , ultimately from the Aramaic…
The modern Greek transcription of the ancient Sabbas, this name is historically associated with the Patron saint of Serbia, a 4th century Christian martyr, and a 5th Cappadocian monk and priest. It…
Borne by a variety of early Christian martyrs, saints, and bishops, including Sabbas the Goth and Sabbas the Sanctified, Sabbas is a palindromic name with similar sounds to Sebastian, Silas, and…
"shining light, torch"
The classic Helen is typically used for girls, connected as it is to Helen of Troy, often described as the most beautiful woman in Greece and the Ancient World. However, it has in fact featured in…
"lark"
Used in ancient Greek pastoral poems and later in European Renaissance works too, Corydon is a stock name for shepherds and herdsman. It is believed to come from korydos meaning "lark". An intriguing…
Greek, English
"cheese; rock ; land of Eoghan, land of the yew tree"
Edgy and cool but ancient too, Tyro fits in with the likes of Kyro and Mylo. It appeared on the US stats for the first time on 2024 when it was given to 5 boys. In Greek mythology, Tyro featured as a…
"from Sparta; rope, coil"
If Roman can work, could Spartan be one to consider? Derived from the name of the powerful city state in ancient Greece (also called Lacedaemon), known for its military strength, Spartan is believed…
