By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
Hebrew
"strength"
This name, with its great meaning, has seen a notable rise for boys since the mid-2010s. It debuted on the US charts for girls in 2021, while for boys, it was one of the fastest rising choices of…
Modern invented, variation of Drew
This phonetic spelling of Drew feels particularly distanced from the original classic Andrew. Jrue, along with other phonetic "Jr" names such as Jream, is on the rise in the US — even cracking the…
"ibex"
A common unisex name in Israel, more properly written as Ya'el, Yael rose more than 200 places in 2023 to become one of the fastest-rising boys' names of the year in the US. Yael is among the -ael…
English
"from Denmark"
Dane is a more masculine Dana alternative, with added style edge. Dane has been on the US Top 1000 for more than seventy years, having entered the list in 1945. Dane makes a great middle name, as…
Irish
"cloud"
Always the top spelling of the name; Neil peaked in the 1950s, but then enjoyed a second coming following the fame of such Neils as astronaut Armstrong and singers Sedaka, Diamond, and Young. Now…
Animal name
"bear"
Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his…
Diminutive of Joseph
"Jehovah increases"
This nickname for popular and traditional Joseph has a long history of being used as a given name all on its own. Nonetheless, everyone will always assume that Joey is short for the longer form. It…
Turkish
"saint, holy person"
Eren ranks among the Top 50 boys' names in Turkey, among the Top 1000 in England and Wales, and is virtually unknown in the US. With a sound that's similar to Aaron or Erin, it may be mistaken for…
Basque variation of Ethan or Japanese
"strong, firm; reliable mountain"
Izan, pronounced with the same vowel sounds and emphasis as Ethan, ranks among the Top 20 boys' names in Spain, where it's been popular for two decades. The US is starting to catch onto this…
"three"
Originally a nickname for a third-generation son, as in Thurman Thackeray III, Trey is now being given to others, and it has also expanded to Treynor and Treyton. The name also is popular among…
"swiftness"
Now that such Old Testament patriarchs as Elijah and Moses fill the playground, Boaz seems downright baby-friendly, having more pizzazz than many of the others, perhaps as a successor to Noah. A name…
Variation of Cale, Cael, or Gael
"dog; whole heart; slender; Gaelic"
Likely borrowed from Kale or Cale, both short forms of the Biblical Caleb, Kael may also be used as an Anglicization of the Irish Cáel or as a Spanish form of the Breton Gaël. As such, it could mean…
Diminutive of Nathanael or Gwenael, French, Breton, Arabic
"gift of God; generous; attainer, winner"
Nael - or Naël as it is often spelled - originated as a French diminutive of names ending in -nael, though in recent years, it has risen up the charts as a standalone choice. A Top 100 name in…
Variation of Koa or Koach, Hawaiian, Hebrew
"warrior; strength"
Koa and Noah are both contemporary favorites, so it was only a matter of time before Koah caught on too. Likely used as a variation of the Hawaiian Koa (meaning "warrior"), it may also be seen as a…
"small stream"
The popular single-named alternative singer (born Bek) has given this cool nature-meets-surname name a new lease of life. Another notable bearer is Beck Weathers, a Texan pathologist who survived the…
Swedish; Danish; Norwegian
"heir, descendant"
Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names , thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf. Leif Erikson,…
American word name
"circle of light"
Celestial and space-age, Halo is a contemporary choice that first appeared in the US stats for boys in 2008. Currently more popular for girls, it is nevertheless on the rise across the board. One on…
Variation of Crew, English word name
A little bit of Crew, a little bit of True, plus a K initial equals a recipe for one of the fastest-rising boy names of the year.
Sanskrit
"brave"
One of the fastest-rising Indian boy names of the past few years, Veer is a straightforward choice with visual appeal and a striking V initial. Sleek and simple, Veer has joined the US Top 1000 boy…
Spelling variation of Zion, Hebrew
"highest place"
With its sharp Z initial and similar sound to Ryan, Zion has shot up the charts in singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son in 1997. Following on in its footsteps, spelling variant Zyon entered the Top…
