By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 334 pages
of 334
Variation of Malachi, Hebrew
"my messenger"
Malachi is one of the surprise Biblical hits of recent years, in the US Top 200, and now spelling variation Malaki is in the Top 1000 too. Both names are pronounced with a long final i , as in "eye,"…
Scottish
"mouth of the Roe river"
Monroe is a presidential surname which feels fresher than Jackson, Lincoln and Taylor. Marilyn Monroe is a famous female namesake, but her smart Scottish surname feels equally usable for either sex.…
English
"strip of clearing in the woods"
The "Believe It or Not" jokes will get old fast, but this surname feels fun and on-trend for both girls and boys, reminiscent of Riley, Tripp, Bridger, and Oakley. Deriving from the Old English…
Jamaican Patois: "God Speaks"
"God Speaks"
Probably best associated with the rapper XXXTentacion , Jahseh is a modern invented name which combines the Hebrew word for God, Yah (as seen in Eli jah ), with the Jamaican Patois word "seh",…
English occupational name
"maker of slates"
Slater has a more genial, friendly feel than most trade names. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance used it for one of their twins. On the nineties TV show Saved by the Bell , the character A.C.…
Irish variation of James
"supplanter"
Parents who have tired of Sean are now contemplating Seamus, the Irish form of James, which has a lot more substance and verve. One of the name's most famous bearers is the 1995 Nobel Prize-winning…
Spelling variation of Colton
A form of Colton which leans more trendy-surname-name than cowboy, Kolten feels at home with Kaden, Casen, and Kyren. It featured in the US Top 1000 in the 2010s, but has since declined slightly in…
Irish
"hound of the plain"
Historically tied to country music legend Conway Twitty, it’s now gaining traction alongside names like Connor, Colton, and Corbin. Growing in usage along with other surnames as first names, Conway…
French word name
"house"
Mason with a French accent. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2012, and it will likely hang on for as long as its brother-in-spelling-variations, Mayson.
"charioteer"
Both offbeat and upbeat, this evocative traditional Irish name that runs through Celtic mythology is known here via award-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy (born Charles). The author's adopted name is…
"son of Harry"
When Harrison is too much, but Harry isn't enough, try this stylish surname name with a touch of British flair. It briefly reentered the US Top 1000 for the first time since 1988 in 2016, but has…
Spelling variation of word name Kaiser
"emperor"
A regal sounding name with a cool, trendy twist, Kaizer is a variation of the title given to the now-defunct German emperor. Deriving from Caesar (with the perhaps less appealing, hairy meaning), the…
Kallen is a versatile masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Irish surname Ó Cathalán, meaning 'descendant of Cathalan,' ultimately from 'cath' meaning 'battle.'…
Kolsen is a modern masculine name that blends contemporary styling with traditional elements. It appears to be a variant of Colson or a hybrid creation combining elements like 'Kol' (possibly from…
Spelling variation of Hayden
This play on Hayden is likely influenced by the popularity of the Aiden names. It has appeared in the US Top 1000 for eight of the past twelve years.
"ancient"
This name of three ancient saints, one Wayans brother, and an NFL wide receiver makes an energetic choice.
Spelling variation of Ruston, English
"rush town"
A contemporary spelling of the English surname Ruston, Rustyn originally referred to someone who lived in a marshy town where grass-like rush plants grew. In 2024, however, it became a fast rising…
Ukrainian; Serbian; Italian; Brazilian Portuguese, variation of Daniel
"God is my judge"
Makes a Biblical favorite new and interesting.
English surname
"one who lived in a town"
America has fallen in love with Hayes and Brooks and Banks and Rhodes, and now, parents are turning to Townes. With its fashionable S ending and image that can read as preppy or country or cowboy,…
Diminutive of William, German
"resolute protection"
There have been many great Willies (Mays, Nelson, Wonka), but a boy with this name could never ever go to England. Most people will also assume it is short for the more traditional William, which…
