By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 31 pages
of 31
Kam is a concise masculine name with multiple cultural origins, giving it different meanings depending on context. In Vietnamese, Kam can mean 'orange' or 'citrus,' while in Chinese contexts it may…
French
"man from Lucania"
Luc is the sleeker Gallic cousin of Luke, and if you want to know the difference between their pronunciations, just watch Kevin Kline's hilarious description in the film French Kiss. Peter Gabriel…
Place-name, nickname for state of Texas resident
Despite its rakish western charm, still remains a cowboy costume without a real persona inside.
Diminutive of Dominic, Latin
"belonging to the Lord"
A bit slight to put directly on the birth certificate, but Dom is a pleasant nickname for a boy or a girl.
Zay is a concise masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may function as a shortened form of longer names such as Isaiah, Zachariah, Xavier, or Zayn. In Arabic, 'Zay' is the name of a…
Kaz is a compact, modern masculine name with multicultural roots. It can function as a standalone name or as a shortened form of longer names like Kazimir (Slavic, meaning 'destroyer of peace' or…
Short form of Obadiah or African, Igbo
"heart"
Strongly linked in the US to the complex "Star Wars" character, Obi Wan Kenobi, but also popular in Nigeria as a short form of names containing the element Obi "heart". Obi can also be a nickname for…
Rai is a multicultural masculine name with diverse origins across several languages. In Japanese, it means 'thunder' or 'trust,' while in Hindi it can mean 'king' or 'chief.' The name also appears in…
Aws is a masculine name with Arabic origins, pronounced to rhyme with 'house.' In Arabic, the name (أوس) means 'gift' or 'present.' It has historical significance as the name of an ancient Arab…
Dutch and German variation of Leo, Latin
"lion"
This alternative and modern spelling of Leo is popular with German- and Dutch-speaking parents and features in the charts in Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. While it's less…
English word name
A boy with this name is certain to be bombarded with "What's up, doc?" every day of his life. Even Doctor would be preferable.
Greek mythology name
"night"
Nyx is the name of the Greek goddess of the night, and while it does lean feminine in the US, 27 boys did receive the name in a recent year compared to 69 girls. Short, snappy, and distinctive in…
Vir is a concise and powerful masculine name with roots in several cultures. In Sanskrit, Vir means 'brave warrior' or 'hero,' making it particularly significant in Indian naming traditions. The name…
Adi is a multicultural masculine name with diverse origins and meanings across several traditions. In Hebrew, it means 'jewel' or 'ornament,' while in Sanskrit it can mean 'first' or 'beginning.' The…
Norse and Slavic
"dark or black-haired one"
Kol is a compact masculine name with Norse and Slavic roots. In Norse tradition, it derives from 'Kollr,' meaning 'dark' or 'black-haired one.' In Slavic languages, particularly Czech and Slovak, Kol…
Short form of Ronald, Norse
"ruler's counselor"
Ron is a masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a shortened form of longer names like Ronald, Aaron, or Byron. Ronald, its most common source, derives from the Old Norse…
Latin
"pious"
Though the variation Pius is too, well, popeish, Pio might work for an ordinary boy.
Jak is a compact masculine name with multiple origins. It can be a short form of Jacob or Jack, names with Hebrew origins meaning 'supplanter'. In Polish and Czech contexts, Jak functions as an…
Raj is a name of Indian origin that means 'king' or 'royal' in Sanskrit. It has been used throughout South Asia for centuries as both a standalone name and as part of compound names. The name carries…
A mini name that could be short for names such as Reverie, Revel, or Revon.
