By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 273 pages
of 273
Portuguese diminutive of Santiago, Latin
"Saint James"
Tiago, also spelled Thiago, is a popular Portuguese boys' name. Derived from the more formal Santiago, these days it is often used on its own. Relaxed and charming while still maintaining the…
Hawaiian
"brave man, fearless"
One of the most popular native language names for boys in Hawaii, Makoa joins Nakoa and Koa as Hawaiian boys' names finding a wider audience in the US. Given to 125 boys in the US in a recent year,…
Diminutive of Santiago, Santino, or Santana, Spanish or Portuguese, Thai
"saint; peace"
Santi is a cute short form of these names popular in Central and South America, but it can also be considered a Thai name, meaning "peace".
English word and number name
This number name first came to public attention when Erykah Badu and Andre 3000 chose if for their son, Seven Sirius Benjamin, born in 1997. Over a decade later, David and Victoria Beckham used it as…
Arabic, Persian, Turkish
"resolved, determined; written by, writer"
A cool, zippy 'Z' in the middle, a member of the two-syllable--ending-in--n gang that are so consistently popular, and with an unusual initial - it is no wonder Yazan was one of the fastest climbing…
Place name
Rockers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz put a new baby name on the map when they chose this downscale New York borough name for their son. The Bronx, the place, was named for early Dutch settler Jonas…
Eidan is a masculine name with several possible origins. It may be a modern variant spelling of Aidan, the anglicized form of the Irish name Aodhán meaning 'little fire.' Alternatively, it could…
Invented name, variation of Tyler or Rylan
Though it lends itself well to the pleasant nickname Ty, it's also the name of an antibiotic powder for animals.
German
"with divine protection"
Ansel, primarily associated with the great western photographer Ansel Adams, famed for his magnificent photographs of the Yosemite Valley, could make a creative artist-hero choice. For Adams it was a…
Adiel is a masculine name with biblical Hebrew roots, meaning "ornament of God" or "God is my witness." Found in the Old Testament, it belongs to several minor figures, giving it authentic religious…
Arabic
"beautiful, handsome"
Hasan is a significant Muslim historical figure — he was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali and Fatimah. Shia Muslims consider Hasan a martyr — he died after being poisoned by…
Hebrew
"possession"
The biblical character Kenan was a great-grandson of Adam and a direct ancestor of Noah. As in Christianity, Kenan is honored in Islam. Kenan can also be considered a variation of Cianan, an Irish…
English word name, German surname
"crucifix; by the crossroads; maker of mugs, jugs and pitchers"
Kross is one of the new generation of Christian word names with a twist, and joins the ranks of Chozen, Kruz, Zyon, Kannon, and Tru as options for boys. Given to around 20 babies in 2018, by 2019, it…
Variation of Casey
Kayce — pronounced like Casey — is one of the hottest boy names of 2022 thanks to the show Yellowstone. This spelling was given to exactly 202 boys and 202 girls in 2022, making it one of the most…
"baby bustard"
Its most famous bearer was Prince Osman the First, founder of the Ottoman Empire, the third caliph of the Muslims, and a companion and son-in-law of Muhammad. Osman is sometimes written as Usman. And…
"wealthy, prosperous"
In this country, very much tied to PLO leader Arafat.
Spelling variation of Khalil
Kalel first entered the US Top 1000 as a one-off appearance in 2009, then reentered in 2013. It's possible that some parents see it as a spelling variant of the classic Arabic name Khalil, meaning…
Variation of Casey, Irish
"brave in battle"
Casey-with-a-K never quite reached the heights of the original, but it broke the Top 500 for boys in the late '80s and early '90s.
Spanish
"lover"
A romantic choice, this appealing Spanish name for boys is both accessible and distinctive.
Derivation and meaning unknown
Fans of versatile, rising African- American actor Mekhi Phifer have begun to adopt his unusual first name for their sons.
