By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 31 pages
of 31
Diminutive of Valentine, Latin
"strength, health"
Val as a boys' name is closely associated with the late actor Val Kilmer.
Ole is a masculine name with strong Scandinavian roots, functioning as the Danish and Norwegian form of Olaf. Derived from the Old Norse name Óláfr, comprised of 'anu' meaning 'ancestor' and 'leifr'…
Amr is a masculine name of Arabic origin with deep historical roots in Middle Eastern cultures. It means 'life' or 'to live long,' carrying positive connotations of vitality and longevity. The name…
Diminutive of Dexter
"dyer; right-handed"
Dex, the nickname for Dexter that is sometimes used on its own, has lots of energy and dynamism. It was chosen by comedian Dana Carvey for his now grown son. With the growing popularity of Dexter, we…
Hebrew
"happiness"
Pronounced zheel, it's a dashing conquistador; as gill, it's the nice and slightly boring guy down the street.
Nas is a masculine name with diverse origins. In Arabic, it means 'people' and can be a shortened form of names like Nasir ('helper' or 'protector'). It gained recognition in Western culture…
Invented name
A modern invention in the style of Kai. Long I is the hottest vowel sound right now, so Zai is destined for wider use.
Arabic
"powerful"
Aza's similarity to the biblical name Asa makes it ripe for adaptation. If you want something more elaborate, you might consider Azariah. Something simpler? It doesn't get much simpler and that is…
Boy is an unusual masculine name that functions as both a common noun and an occasional given name. While primarily recognized as the English word for a male child, Boy has been used as an actual…
Dio is a masculine name with rich historical and multicultural roots. In Italian, it directly means 'God,' deriving from the Latin 'Deus.' In Greek mythology, Dio can be a shortened form of Dionysos,…
Han is a name with diverse origins spanning multiple cultures. In Chinese, it refers to the Han dynasty and the majority ethnic group in China, representing strength and cultural heritage. It also…
Koy is a concise masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Thai culture, it means 'little finger' or can signify something small and precious. In Filipino contexts, particularly among Ilocano…
Japanese; Finnish
"born in the autumn; ancestor"
A name known in several cultures, also through animated book character Tiger Aki. Finnish author Aki Ollikainen is another notable bearer.
Modern Invented, possibly from "Kicks"
"Kicks"
While many Americans will likely think of the cereal brand, Kixhas been featuring in the US stats since 2009, given to a handful of boys each year. In a recent count, it was given to 16 boys, though…
"father"
Most names with the Ab beginning, including the more familiar Abigail and Abner, mean father, as does this streamlined Arabic choice. American children might recognize Abu as the name of Aladdin's…
Variation of Andre
"man"
Diminutive of Andre. Associated with the rapper Dr. Dre.
Short form of Huxley, English
"inhospitable place"
As Huxley and Huck become more popular and accepted, so does Hux, either as a full name or a diminutive.
"light"
Spiritual word name, Chinese
"large wave; the path; harmony of the universe"
Tao is the Chinese word for the underlying harmony of the universe, combining both yin and yang. Extreme kayaker Tao Berman made this one of the spiritual names prime for adoption, and more recently,…
Welsh
"fair, blessed"
Extremely popular in Wales, where it began as a nickname for someone with fair hair or a fair face, this bright and simple name is a winner by its very nature. Can also be spelled Wynn, Winn or the…
