By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 31 pages
of 31
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
English tree name
"tree from the genus Quercus"
Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle. If you'd prefer to take the longer route to the…
Dutch
"strength, might"
The name of Rip Van Winkle – and Rip (born Elmore) Torn – will probably never be ready for further consumption, if only because of the implications of R. I. P. The only thing that could save it is…
Japanese
"dragon"
This attractive mini-name combines multiple trends: the R initial, vowel-ending boy names, and a fantastical meaning.
Dru is a masculine name of Welsh origin, derived from the name 'Drew' which means 'wise' or 'manly.' It can also be considered a shortened form of names like Andrew, which comes from the Greek word…
Yan is a concise, powerful masculine name with multicultural origins. In Chinese, it can mean "strict," "colorful," or "handsome," depending on the character used. It's also a Russian, Dutch, and…
Jin is a masculine name with multicultural origins, most prominently associated with East Asian heritage. In Korean, Jin (진) means 'truth' or 'gold' depending on the Chinese character used. In…
Diminutive of Isaac, Hebrew
"laughter"
Ike, once the quirky one-person nickname of President Dwight Eisenhower, has morphed into a cool kid nickname of the early 21st century. The rise of Isaac and the stylishness of short down-to-earth…
Diminutive of Ryder or Riley or word name, English
"cavalryman, messenger; rye"
Rye has the potential to become the masculine version of Rue—a short and sweet name for nature lovers (and whiskey fans too!). Rye might be short for Ryder or Riley or Rylan or any Ry-beginning name,…
Chinese
"great extreme"
Tai, which rhymes with Kai, is a unisex name with a range of international references. It means the equivalent of "too much" in Chinese but is also used as a Maori name meaning "the tide" and in…
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…
Russian variation of Eli
"ascended, uplifted, high"
Russian form of Eli mainly used today by families with Russian Jewish heritage.
Hebrew
"persecuted"
A rare and single syllable Biblical name with a hint of Jude, Jonah, Jacob, and Joseph about it, Job is a weighty choice that may appeal to those who enjoy both heavily Biblical names and short,…
Arabic, Sanskrit, Hebrew
"archer; pleasing; exalted"
One of the most familiar, and assertive, names found throughout the Middle East and India, Ram has an assertive and solid air about it. Derived from a number of different origins, in English speaking…
Portuguese diminutive of Rodrigo
"famous ruler"
This charming mini name began life as a nickname for Rodrigo but has since taken on a life of its own, ranking as an independent name in Portugal, it’s country of origin. If you’re looking to honor a…
"exceed; cool; refreshing; distant; reality"
Also spelled as Ryō, this Japanese name holds international appeal, thanks to its cool -O ending, and concise, stylish feel. Used as a unisex name in Japan and said with equal emphasis on both…
Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Polish, Slovene, German, and Catalan variation of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
A standard form of John in Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Polish, Slovene, German, and Catalan. Properly pronounced yahn (in most of these languages), most Americans will still equate it…
Tre is a short, modern name with several possible origins. It may be a shortened form of names containing the 'tre' element, such as Trevor or Tremaine. Alternatively, it could derive from the…
Variation of Cleo, Greek
"glory"
Khloe : Chloe :: Kleo : Cleo
English
"blue"
Blu is a new (nu?) spelling of an increasingly popular color name, also spelled Blue and Bleu. Blu is the spelling used for one of the Waldrop sextuplets.
