By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 599 pages
of 599
Spanish; Portuguese; Irish, variation of Thomas
"twin"
Tomás is one of the most popular names in Portugal, also used in Spanish-speaking countries and recently gaining popularity in Ireland, where it's the traditional spelling of Thomas.
Kurmanji Kurdish
"Mount Nemrut; grim, dark"
Nemrû is a name of Kurmanji Kurdish origin, referencing Mount Nemrut in Southeast Turkey.
Welsh
Either a rare Welsh variation of Alun or Alan, or a word meaning "full". Alawn has dubious traditional origins: it was listed as the name of one of the first three bards of the island of Britain by…
Animal name
"bamboo eater"
With Bear and Fox becoming hot baby names, why not Panda? Why not indeed. Both the name and its animal namesake are adorable. And Pan is a nickname right in line with the mythological name trend. The…
Japanese
"long exit"
Famously the name of Izuku Midoriya, the protagonist of the popular anime series My Hero Academia . It is not a common name among Japanese boys.
Icelandic variation of Ulf, Scandinavian
"wolf"
Úlfur is a top name in its native Iceland, although it isn't likely to travel outside the country.
Welsh, possibly "knowing cattle"
"knowing cattle"
O-ending boy names are on trend, and the Welsh language provides some interesting lesser-used ones...such as Beuno. St Beuno lived in the sixth century, established a monastery in North Wales, and is…
Welsh place name
Despite its similarity to Game of Thrones' Tywin Lannister, Tywyn is a genuine Welsh town name meaning "sand dune" or "sea shore".
Påvel is a Scandinavian variant of the name Paul, primarily used in Sweden and other Nordic countries. The distinctive 'å' character is pronounced similar to the 'o' in 'or.' Like its root name Paul,…
Kaapo is a Finnish masculine name that serves as a variation of Jacob, which ultimately derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.' In Finnish culture, Kaapo has been…
Gefen is a masculine Hebrew name with profound cultural significance. The name means 'grapevine' in Hebrew, symbolizing prosperity, fertility, and connection to the land. In Jewish tradition, the…
Arabic
"greatness"
Alternative transcription of Jalal.
Hawaiian place-name
Kauai is known as the Garden Isle of Hawaii. Ironically, it qualifies as a baby name based on spelling variation and homonym Kawhi, as in basketball star Kawhi Leonard.
English modern coinage
"electionic communication system"
Coined in the 1940s: an acronym of "radio detection and ranging".
Igbo
"praise, thanks"
A unisex Igbo name with a glorious meaning, perfect for a long-awaited baby.
English, Greek
"well born"
American footballer Geneo Grissom pronounces his unusual name Gene-o, so it's possible that it's a spin on Gene. Whatever the origin, it's an interesting and unusual choice.
English occupational surname
"one who measures by pacing"
Racer's slower brother.
Russian diminutive of Euphemios, Greek
"fair speech"
A large proportion of Russian names are derived from those with Greek origins. Yefim comes from Euphemios, the masculine form of Euphemia.
Kájik is a masculine name with indigenous roots, possibly originating from Central or South American native languages. The name is quite rare globally and may have regional significance in certain…
Diminutive of Hiram, Hebrew
"brother of the exalted one"
A vintage addition to the Riley/Miley/Wiley/Kylie brigade.
