By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
Welsh geographical name
This simple, solid Welsh name enjoyed moderate popularity in England and Wales in the '80s and '90s, after the success of choirboy Aled Jones.
Persian
"aryan"
Aryobarzanes or Aryo Barzan, meaning "exalting the Aryans", is the name of a Persian hero who fought against Alexander the Great in 330 BC.
Irish
"like a bird"
An unusual Irish name which belongs to several historic Irish kings and heroes. Easy to spell and pronounce, this bouncy nature name has potential beyond Ireland's shores. A famous contemporary…
Welsh
"white, fair, blessed"
Yet another member of the Gwyn/Gwen/Finn family of names ultimately deriving from a Celtic element meaning "white", Guin gets rare use in England and Wales; a notable bearer is Olympic- medal winning…
Literary name
The name and story of Shakespeare’s King Lear is based on that of Leir — a legendary king of the Britons, who supposedly reigned around the 8th century BC. According to 12th-century historian,…
Danish
"ancestor"
An awkward name for English speakers - we suggest the Old Norse version, Aki, might work better with modern names. One notable bearer was Nobel laureate Aage Bohr.
Aramaic
"great"
Sagi is a popular Israeli boy’s name, also found as a surname.
Armenian; Italian; Nigerian
As a masculine name Saro has three origins: In Armenia, Saro is a literary choice: he’s the lover of the eponymous heroine of the opera Anoush by Armen Tigranian — and is hence a Romeo-like figure.…
Japanese
"great (or eldest) son"
An energetic Japanese name that would make for an on-trend choice in the English-speaking world. Especially appropriate for a first-born son.
Scandinavian
A strong-sounding name with ancient roots, Toki comes from an Old Norse diminutive for names starting with Þór (Thor), such as Þórketill ("Thor’s cauldron"). Tyge and Tycho, as in Danish astronomer…
"winding river"
A geographical name of Celtic origin, which is borne by two British rivers: the Afon Wyre in Wales and the Wyre in Lancashire. A notable bearer is the Welsh journalist and BBC correspondent Wyre…
Yoruba
A short form of the masculine name Olufemi, which means "the Lord loves me". Femi is also used as a standalone name for both genders, meaning "love me".
Afrikaans
Wian, oe of the most popular of all Afrikaans names, has seldom been heard outside South Africa. It would doubtless prompt countless pronunciation issues, but might just be warm and friendly enough…
Hawaiian variant of James
An upbeat Hawaiian name with the fashionable -o ending, Kimo would theoretically be an appealing choice... were it not for its homophony with the grim word "chemo."
Hawaiian
"leaf bud"
A nature name from the Hawaiian islands that's vaguely reminiscent of trendy names like Luke and Luca. However, it's also the name of a Swedish company that makes mechanical lifts used in medical…
Modern invented name
We normally think of Cat and Kat as girls names -- nicknames, essentially, for Catherine and Katherine. But actor Katt Williams, Emmy-nominated for his role in Atlanta , presents the intriguing…
Spanish
An energetic Spanish surname with serious first name potential, thanks to its trendy initial V and -o ending. A famous bearer is Spanish surrealist artist Remedios Varo (1908-1963).
Color name or short form of Russell
Rust is one of the few color names for boys, sometimes short for Russell. As a diminutive for Russell, it's much more modern and cooler than Rusty. Whether you use it as a nickname or it stands on…
English word name
Five is a number name introduced to the lexicon by famous crazy baby namers The Novogratz Family. Five is, yes, their fifth child, who happens to be a boy, but there's no reason Five -- and Seven and…
German
"wedge"
Probably intended as a variant spelling of Kyle, this German word (meaning "wedge") is not used as a name there.
