Five Letter Boy Names
- Pedro
Origin:
Spanish; Portuguese variation of Peter, GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"Description:
Pedro is one of the most familiar Spanish names for boys, via baseball star Pedro Rodriguez and many others.
- Faris
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"rider, knight"Description:
A great uncommon English-Arabic crossover choice, easily pronounceable internationally.
- Hamza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"lion or strong"Description:
Hamza was the legendary uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, hero of The Hamzanama, the Story of Hamza.
- Story
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"an account of incidents or events"Description:
A new unisex word name with a lot of charm, especially appropriate for the child of writers. Soleil Moon Frye named her second baby boy Story and Jenna Elfman called her son Story Elias.
- Slate
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
One of the more unusual of the current crop of strong, single-syllable boys' names, evoking the images of both old-fashioned blackboards and modern stepping-stones and countertops.
- Léon
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"lion"Description:
This name, which is a French variant of Leo, is pronounced with the distinct French nasally N at the end. It is sometimes used in French to refer to popes named Leo.
- Emlyn
Origin:
Welsh, LatinMeaning:
"around the valley; rival"Description:
Gentle and poetic and most often heard in Wales, Emlyn joins Emrys as soft, interesting alternatives to popular Em- names like Emmett and Emery. Sometimes viewed as a Welsh variation of Emiliano, it more likely comes from the Welsh em and glyn meaning "around the valley" (or possibly from llyn, giving it the meaning "around the lake").
- Ophir
Origin:
HebrewDescription:
Biblical place name and masculine given name in the Old Testament.
- Nadir
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"precious, scarce"Description:
A relatively popular Arabic name that featured in the French Top 500 for much of the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st. It is also used as a given name in Turkey, Iran and Israel, as well as being a relatively common surname (also spelled Nader). Notable bearers include an 18th century Shah of Iran, a 19th century King of Afghanistan and a former Prime Minister of Jordan.
- Lowry
Origin:
English and Scottish surnameMeaning:
"from Laurentum"Description:
This artistic surname name derives from a diminutive of Laurence/Lawrence, and was famously borne by the English painter LS Lowry.
- Philo
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"loving"Description:
Could Philo be the next Milo?
- Aksel
Origin:
Danish, version of Hebrew AbsalomMeaning:
"the father is peace"Description:
Most American parents would choose to use the more commonly seen variant, Axel, but .this form is preferred in Denmark and Norway, and also ranks in the French Top 400.
- Enfys
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"rainbow"Description:
The Welsh name Enfys is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used as a feminine name. It is rare even in the United Kingdom, used on only a handful of children each year.
- Amiri
Origin:
Maori, Arabic, HebrewMeaning:
"the East wind; king, ruler; treetop"Description:
A commonly used name in Māori culture, Amiri refers to the wind that blows from east to west. A 2011 New Zealand film titled Amiri & Aroha is a modern Māori interpretation of Romeo & Juliet.
- Ashby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ash tree farm"Description:
This Ashley-like surname name actually made the US Top 1000 around the turn of the 20th century. Used very quietly today in equal numbers -- about a dozen each -- for boys and girls. Ashby is a major thoroughfare in Berkeley, California.
- Honor
Origin:
English word, virtue nameMeaning:
"honor"Description:
A classic virtue name for girls stretching back to the Pilgrim times, in more recent years, Honor has become one of the unisex baby names with a near-even gender split. Rarely used on boys before the 2010s, it has nearly doubled in use over the last decade.
- Osiel
Description:
Osiel is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, derived from the elements meaning 'strength of God' or 'God is my strength.' Similar to more common biblical names like Uziel or Azriel, Osiel carries spiritual significance while remaining distinctive. The name has gained some popularity in Hispanic communities, particularly in Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. Osiel has a melodic quality with its three syllables and vowel combinations, making it both distinctive and relatively easy to pronounce. The name offers a religious connection without being among the more commonly used biblical names, appealing to parents seeking a name with spiritual roots but contemporary appeal.
- Areli
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the voice of God"Description:
Most common among the Jewish community and Spanish-speakers, Areli might be a great choice for parents looking for a name with Biblical roots that still sounds trendy and wears well across cultures.
- Riker
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"rich; powerful"Description:
Riker gets relatively little use as a variation of Ryker, likely because of the connection to Riker's Island, the New York City prison. It was named after NYC magistrate Richard Riker, whose ancestor Abraham Rycken first purchased the island.
- Janus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"doorway"Description:
The meaning of this ancient Roman god's name relates to transitions, hence its connection to the name of the first month of the new year, a time of fresh beginnings. Janus is usually depicted as a two-faced god facing in opposite directions, since he looks both to the future and the past. It's no surprise then, that Janus is one of the premiere January baby names. The Slavic form Janusz is more commonly used than the English, represented by the Polish cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, who has shot all of Steven Spielberg's films from Schindler's List to Lincoln.