By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
Short form of Jalmari, Finnish
"helmet protector"
Sleek modern short form of a classic Scandinavian name .
Jori is a masculine name with varied origins. In Finnish, it is a diminutive of Jorma or Jorge, while in Hebrew it can be a variant of Yori, meaning 'my teacher' or 'my light.' In Hungarian culture,…
Modern invented name
Whether you think of it as Cale with a K, or a pet form of Kalen or Kaleb, this is just the kind of short, synthetic name finding a lot of favor now, but remember -- it's also the name of a vegetable.
Turkic
"king, ruler"
This surname and title spread widely across Asia thanks to the conquests of Genghis Khan in the thirteenth century. You may also recognise it from the emperor Kublai Khan, who hosted Marco Polo; The…
Ghanaian, Akan
"born on Monday"
The Ashantis of Ghana traditionally use this animated name for boys born on Monday. The girls' equivalent is Adwoa, pronounced ahj-wa.
Kyri is a masculine name with Greek origins, often considered a shortened form of Kyriakos, which means 'of the Lord' or 'belonging to the Lord.' It shares roots with the Greek word 'kyrios' meaning…
Breton
"shining hostage"
Malo, the name of an important sixth century Breton saint who founded St. Malo, the charming port town in Brittany -- is considered quite au courant in France right now, ranking firmly in the Top…
Latin
"greatest"
Diminutive of any of the stylish family of Max names, from Maxwell to Maximiliano.
Olly is a cheerful masculine name that originated as a diminutive of Oliver or Olive, names derived from the Latin word for olive tree, symbolizing peace and fruitfulness. This friendly nickname-name…
Orie is a masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Japanese, it means 'my light' or can be written with characters representing 'weaving' or 'fabric.' In African traditions, particularly…
Sanskrit
"lofty"
This name of a Hindu deity and central character of the epic, Ramayana , is heard throughout several cultures,
Diminutive of Roman et al
"citizen of Rome"
Best known as a feminine diminutive, Romy is used now for boys too, as a short form of Roman or Romeo or a name in its own right. Remy and Romi are other related choices, or you might want to go all…
Hebrew
"my song or my joy"
Looks modern, but sounds like the dated Ronnie.
French/Breton variation of John
"God is gracious"
This might be a better choice than the similarly pronounced Jan, to avoid gender confusion.
Abie serves as a diminutive form of Abraham, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning 'father of multitudes.' This friendly, approachable nickname variant has historical usage in Jewish communities…
Andi is a versatile name used for both boys and girls, though traditionally more common for males. As a masculine name, Andi typically serves as a short form of Andrew (from Greek 'andreios' meaning…
Arif is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'knowledgeable,' 'wise,' or 'learned.' It derives from the Arabic word for someone who possesses deep knowledge or insight. The name carries…
English
"peasant, farmer; connection"
For 007 fans, a great middle name choice -- or even a first, Bond fits into the trend of one-syllable surname-style names like Banks, Brooks, Boone, Beck, and Briggs. As an English surname, it comes…
Finnish variation of Eric
"eternal ruler"
Creative gem perfect for an architect's son, in tribute to modern Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen.
