Five Letter Boy Names
Across 273 pages
of 273
Abush
Yiddish diminutive of Abraham
"Father of multitudes"
Whether you're looking for an unexpected nickname for the imposing Abraham or a fresh spin on the Biblical classic, this highly unusual variation might appeal to namers with a sense of adventure.
Savva
Russian
"grandfather, old man; wise"
Savva is the Russian variant of the Spanish name Sabas. Chekhov used it for a handsome charmer in one of his short stories.
Cager
Short form of Micajah, Hebrew
"Who is like God?"
Sounds a bit like a nickname in a Dickens novel, but this short form was used in New England a few centuries ago, back when names like Micajah were popular. Both short and long forms are now ripe for…
Jabin
Hebrew
"perceptive"
The name of two Old Testament kings that seems as ripe as you can get for modern use, given the popularity of sound-alike Biblical brethren Jadon and Jacob (and even mythological Jason). Note that…
Karmi
Hebrew
"my vineyard"
This rarely heard name belonged to a son of Reuben in the Bible. Might be too close to karma.
Mirin
Irish and Scottish, meaning unknown
The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn,…
Juelz
Modern invented name based on Jules, Latin
"sky father; youthful"
A modern spin on classic Jules, this name appeared in the US Top 1000 multiple times between 2009 and 2021. Notably borne by rapper and actor Juelz Santana, it was still given to more than 100 boys…
Kalel
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…
Aruna
Sanskrit, Hindi
"reddish brown"
This colorful Sanskrit name belongs to the Hindu god Aruna, the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna can also be masculinized to Arun. It can also be a female name in…
Salix
Latin, botanical name
An unusual name related to the willow family.
Malus
Latin botanical name
"the apples"
A name given to apple--specifically crab apple--trees. The first syllable rhymes with Cal.
Egypt
Place-name
"the house of the soul of Ptah"
We had Egypt listed as a girls-only place-name until singer Alicia Keys and rap producer husband Swizz Beatz used it for their son...and why not? Egypt certainly works as well for a boy as for a…
Thijs
Dutch short form of Matthijs
"gift of God"
Usually pronounced to rhyme with nice — though others may rhyme it with Jace — Thijs is a popular Dutch name short for that country's form of Matthew. Matt Lauer's half-Dutch son is called Thijs.
Manju
Sanskrit
"pleasant, sweet"
This attractive Indian unisex name has a number of interesting variations with equally appealing meanings, including Manjula and Manjusha.
Espen
Scandinavian
"god bear"
Strong and unusual Scandinavian name, but with two possible pitfalls: people might mis-hear it as Aspen, or associate it with sports network ESPN. Variants include Esper and Esben.
Ianto
Welsh
"God is gracious"
Ianto is a lively and unique spin on John, possible familiar to American sci-fi fans via the popular character on Torchwood .
Taffy
Welsh
"beloved friend"
Taffy, in addition to being a diminutive of Dafydd, is a slang term for Welsh people in general – probably from the River Taff. Too candy-like to be used in the US.
Cinna
Latin, family name
In The Hunger Games series, Cinna is the influential costume designer for Katniss. In ancient Rome, one Cinna was the father-in-law of Julius Caesar and another was a conspirator against Caesar.
Thanh
Vietnamese
"bright blue; brilliant"
A common Vietnamese name heard evenly for boys and girls in the U.S. Sounds like tahn or tong, depending on what part of Vietnam you come from.
Omega
Greek
"last"
Omega is an unusual name used now equally for boys and girls, though the a ending is conventionally feminine. More popular boys' names, like Omega, end in the a sound these days: Joshua, Noah, Micah.