By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
Hawaiian, Polynesian mythology
The name of the second-biggest (and third-most populous) island in Hawaii was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2017. A major factor was surely Dwayne Johnson's character in Moana , the…
English
"descendant of Moses"
This evocative green nature name, heard much more frequently as a surname, is associated with playwright Moss Hart (born Robert), who co-wrote (with George S. Kaufman) such enduring Broadway comedies…
Hebrew
"margosa tree"
Model Trish Goff's Nima is a boy, but the a ending gives this name a feminine feel.
Quin is a concise, gender-neutral name with multiple origins. Most commonly, it's considered a shortened form of Quincy, Quinton, or Quintus, all deriving from the Latin 'quintus' meaning 'fifth.' It…
Variation of Ryan, Irish
"little king"
Baseball player Ryne Sandberg's nickname is RYNO. Need we say more?
Vash is a concise, powerful masculine name with diverse cultural connections. It may derive from Persian origins where it appears as an element in names meaning "good" or "pleasant," such as in…
Zeek is a short, punchy masculine name that typically serves as a diminutive form of Ezekiel, a biblical name meaning 'God strengthens.' With its strong 'z' sound and concise single syllable, Zeek…
"gazelle, roebuck"
Zevi is an alternative transcription of the Hebrew name Zvi or Tzvi, the latter of which is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding name which would make for a great distinctive…
Akil is a masculine name with roots in several cultures, primarily Arabic and Sanskrit. In Arabic, Akil (عاقل) means 'intelligent,' 'wise,' or 'one who uses reason,' deriving from the root word for…
Sanskrit
"peaceful"
Arav (sometimes spelled Aarav) is a name popular in India and Pakistan. Jaipur-born actor Arav Choudhary is a well-known Indian personality. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar chose Aarav for his son's…
Catalan variant of Gabriel
A Top 10 boys' name in Catalonia that will likely be associated with actress Jessica Biel in the US.
Short form of Desiderio, Spanish
"desired one"
A Desi variation that moves the name away from Lucy -- though it's just as dizzy. TV star Jaime Pressly used it for her son.
Hays is a masculine name that originated as a surname derived from geographical locations, particularly places with hedges or enclosures (from the Old English 'hæg'). As a first name, Hays carries a…
Kohl is a masculine name with Germanic origins, derived from the Middle High German word for 'cabbage' or 'coal.' As a personal name, it emerged first as a surname for coal workers or those with dark…
Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, German
"of the valley; wealthy"
This old-timey nickname for Otis and Odell is strongly tied to Garfield’s canine companion in the Garfield comic, movie, and TV franchise. Actress Ashley Williams gave it signs of life when she used…
Ozan is a masculine Turkish name meaning "poet" or "bard." This concise, powerful name carries significant cultural meaning in Turkish traditions, where poets and storytellers (called "ozans") held…
Raad is a masculine name with Arabic origins, meaning "thunder" or "thunderbolt." This powerful name carries connotations of strength, impact, and natural force. In Arabic-speaking communities, it's…
Short form of Rafael
Rafa is an adorable short form introduced to the world by actors Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, who used the name for their second son. Rafael is the Latin cognate of the Hebrew boys' name Raphael,…
Renn is a concise masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from Welsh roots where it relates to 'rhen' meaning 'ruler' or 'chieftain,' suggesting leadership and authority.…
Word name or diminutive of Rocco
"rock or rest"
Rock definitely has a macho image, if a somewhat caricatured one, ala The Rock. But with the rise of word names and also of tough guy names, Rock feels more plausible than it did a generation ago.
