By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
French
"reborn"
Though it's used for boys, most non-French people would hear it as a girls’ name . Most would be surprised to learn that Rene has always charted in the US Top 1000 for boys.
Modern invented name, English
"God is Gracious"
Unusual letters like X and Z are often considered badass and cool , so by that logic, does having two Xs in one name make it next level awesome? This seems to have been the thinking of the parents to…
French or Breton
"chief or prince"
The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the…
Finnish, Arabic, Sanskrit "wise protector; father of multitudes; archer; pleasing"
"wise protector; father of multitudes; archer; pleasing"
Rami has gained notoriety in the English-speaking world as the first name of the Oscar-nominated actor Rami Malek, whose parents immigrated to the US from Egypt. Rami also feels more approachable…
Diminutive of Samuel, and Arabic
"exalted"
Soundalike cousin of Sammy, cute but slight on its own.
Spelling variation of Case
Kardashian style transforms many traditional C names to K s, and this is a kase in point.
Compound name blending Ryan and Milo, Scottish
"rye clearing + soldier; rye meadow"
With cool, on-trend sounds and a hint of Star Wars about it, Rylo is an up-and-coming name that has only seen notable use since 2016. It can be considered a Scottish diminutive of Ryland and an Irish…
German variation of Charles
"free man"
This no-nonsense German variation of Charles is strong and sturdy. A top choice throughout the 20th century, Carl is now verging on falling off the charts.
Diminutive of Isaiah and Isaias, spelling variation of Esai
This form, coming from various elements, has started to take off on its own.
Hebrew
"spear; possessed"
Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and…
Arabic
"flourishing, thriving"
A possible alternative to the more popular (and attractive) Omar.
Variation of Ralph, English
"wolf-counsel"
A top ranking choice in England and Wales, making frequent appearances on the Telegraph Announcments, Rafe feels equal parts rugged, amiable, and posh. Traditionally seen used a variant of Ralph…
French variation of John
"God is gracious"
One of the most enduring French names, this form of John has been borne by philosophers (Rousseau and Sartre), artists (Millet, Arp) and fashion designers (Gaultier) alike. Often used in a double…
Arabic or Hawaiian
"benevolence; sea"
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik notably chose this name for their daughter in 2020, as a variation of Gigi's grandmother's name, Khairiah. In 2021, the name caught on for boys — Khai was a new debut on the…
"laurel or pine tree"
Soft and sensitive name often heard in Israel.
English
"small bay"
Cove is an up-and-coming nature name whose cool sound and peaceful image saw it rising for both sexes... until COVID-19 hit. It remained steady in use for boys in 2021, but actually increased for…
"he shines"
In the Old Testament, Jair is a son of Manasseh as well as a judge of the Israelites. Jair is off its 2003 peak but is still hanging on in the Top 1000 and as a simple yet distinctive name with…
Diminutive of William
"resolute protector"
Will has definitely replaced Bill, not only as a nickname for William but as a stand-alone name as well, partly thanks to England's Prince William, also known as Wills. Currently outside the Top 1000…
English word name
"always, constantly, eternally"
Similar in sound to Evan and Everett, Ever is an evocative word name that's currently on the rise. Used by Alanis Morissette and Souleye back in 2010, Ever was given to more than 200 boys in 2024,…
Variation of Cruz, Spanish
"cross"
There's something about the K initial that modern parents just can't resist and Kruz is a trendy reboot of the already very cool Cruz. Derived from the Spanish word for "cross", Kruz could be…
