By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 334 pages
of 334
Portuguese and Spanish variation of Adalfuns, German
"noble and ready"
Alonso is the Spanish and Portuguese diminutive version of Alfonso, itself deriving from an old Germanic name "Adalfuns" meaning "noble and ready." Although the Italian spelling Alonzo is more…
Latin from Greek and Persian
"possessing goodness"
Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings. His name today has an appealingly artistic image, which might well be…
Hebrew
"God is my salvation"
Creative name whose only limitation is that it looks like it would be pronounced akin to Alicia and Elissa — although as a Biblical boys’ name , it is traditionally pronounced ee-LIE-shah. With…
English, variation of Baron
"rank of nobility"
Names of royal ranks -- King, Prince, and yes, Baron -- have become more widely used in recent years, though they're outlawed in several countries. This spelling, the same as that of the financial…
Occupational name
"fisherman"
As a member of two trendy name categories, animal and occupational, this name broke into the Top 1000 in 2004 and would make a nice tribute to an angler Grandpa. The best known bearer, Fisher…
Variation of Jaxon or Jackson
Why use one x when you can use two?
"God is seeing; beheld by God"
An alternative form of Hazael, a King in the Old Testament, or a diminutive of Jahaziel, a Levite prophet, this quietly used Biblical name shares sounds with rising choices such as Azrael, Aziel, and…
Variation of Kaison
Kai is the it syllable of the moment, spawning this Kai - Jason hybrid. Kaisen made the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, along with similar name Kaizen.
Modern invented name
Raylan, one of an uncountable number of two syllable, surname-like boys’ names end in n that are in style these days, is inspired by Raylan Givens, the cowboy hat-wearing U.S. Marshall created by…
English, occupational surname
"one who brews beer"
Brewer is a surname turned first name that comes from the occupational name for someone who brews beer. Definitely a cool guy name, and one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2025, when it broke…
Irish
"lover"
A growing number of high-profile (and other) parents are choosing to honor their musical idols, such as Hendrix, Presley, Jagger, and now Lennon. Lennon first came to notice when Liam Gallagher and…
English
"son of Neil"
Nelson is a rather stiff and dated surname name that is sometimes used to honor distinguished South African activist Nelson Mandela, as Celine Dion did for one of her twin boys. Other notable…
Rayden is yet another example of the dozens of new boys' names with the 'aden' sound.
Spelling variation of Cason
A less-popular spelling of on-the-rise Cason.
German
"Emperor"
Kaiser, as in roll and Wilhelm, appeared for the first time on the US Top 1000 in 2017. It fits the two-syllable -er ending style that's all the rage, and it lends itself to the short form Kai. But…
African
"rejoice"
This name from the Shona language is a new entrant to the Top 1000 in the US.
Spanish variation of Yehudiel
"God has heard"
This name, which is the Spanish version of the Hebrew name of one of the archangels, Yehudiel, appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2008 and has been on and off the charts since.…
"wise counselor; elf counsel"
Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in…
English, variation of Waylon
"land beside the road"
Country singer Waylon Jennings bestowed a kind of outlaw image on his name, and parents have been loving the suave cowboy name Waylon in recent years — enough to crack to Top 100 in 2021. Alternative…
Sanskrit
"beginning, lucky"
Fast-rising boy name thanks to Indian actress Dia Mirza when she used it for her son in 2021. Avyaan is related to Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of beginnings and good luck. Avyaan entered the US and…
