By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 273 pages
of 273
Ishan is a masculine name with roots in multiple cultures, primarily Sanskrit and Hindi. In Sanskrit, it means "sun" or "lord," often referring to Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology. The name also carries…
Irish
"war"
A predominantly male name in the US until the late 1950s, the name continued to rise for both sexes for both sexes for a further decade, before starting to decline for boys. Despite dropping out of…
Cornish
"joy"
Could Lowen be the next Owen, Rowen, and Cohen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, and is rising dramatically for both boys and girls. About 80 baby boys were…
Spelling variation of Riley, Irish
"courageous"
The -ee suffix is decisively feminine, so it's no surprise that male usage of this name lags behind female usage.
English, modern invented name
"help"
A mash-up of Ezra and the popular -en ending for boy names, Ezren is a modern invention with legitimate and very on-trend sounds. Borrowing the meaning of Ezra, this name could mean "help" and has…
Kyron is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a modern variant of Kieran (from Irish Ciarán meaning 'little dark one'), a form of Cyron (from Greek 'kyrios' meaning 'lord'), or…
German surname or Hebrew
"landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
More common -- when it was common -- with the Meyer spelling.
Rakan is a masculine name of Arabic origin, meaning 'dignity' or 'pride.' In Arabic culture, it embodies qualities of honor, nobility, and steadfastness. The name has gained some international…
Yusef is a masculine name representing a transliteration variant of Yusuf, the Arabic form of Joseph. The name has deep historical roots in Islamic tradition, where Yusuf (Joseph) is revered as a…
Greek
"flax"
Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be…
American variation of Azariah or Azhari, Hebrew, Malay
"helped by God; shining, brilliant"
Azari is a rising name for both sexes, hitting a bunch of style trends at once — three syllables, strong Z, and an I ending. It's technically an invented name, likely inspired by the fashionable…
Arabic
"generous; steed"
A common Arabic name also spelt Jaouad, Javad or Javadd (the middle name of One Direction band member Zayn Malik).
Basque and Scandinavian variation of Michael
"who is like God"
A Basque and Scandinavian form of Michael, pronounced MEE-kel. In the US, it is sometimes chosen as a modern alternative spelling of Michael.
Italian, English, Greek
"order, beauty, universe"
With a touch of celestial power, a hint of clunky charm, and the totally cool -o ending, Cosmo may well be finally shaking itself free of both the Seinfeld association (which made it a punchline of a…
Scottish
"handsome, fair of face"
Irvin is an Old Man name that has an uncertain future. Losing the final g in Irving makes the name slightly less dated -- but just slightly. There's something about the 'erv' sound that makes Irvin…
Medieval German
"club"
A saintly surname that is used steadily for boys and occasionally for girls, mainly by Catholic parents. The Polish Franciscan priest St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe offered himself in place of another…
Jasir is a masculine name with Arabic origins, meaning 'brave,' 'courageous,' or 'bold.' The name carries strong positive connotations of valor and fortitude in Arabic-speaking cultures. Jasir has…
Variation of Kylo
"narrow spit of land"
Two beloved, fashionable names combined to make one: Kai, a simple and serene Hawaiian name meaning "ocean" and Kylo, created for Star Wars character Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. With Kailo, you…
Spelling variation of Sean
Shaun is the least popular spelling of the once-wildly popular name, more usually spelled Sean or Shawn. Parents who have a reason to choose this name now would (and should) most likely go with the…
English word name
"cross"
Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.
