By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 334 pages
of 334
Modern invented name, possibly derived from Xavier
Has lots of energy, perhaps due to its association with top tap dancer Savion Glover.
Hebrew
"peace"
Familiar as the most common form of greeting in Hebrew, but also associated with top female model Shalom Harlow.
"God is my rock"
Biblical name from the Old Testament.
Swahili
"hopeful, promising"
An upbeat and attractive Swahili name, also familiar as a surname. As names ending in -ari continue to rise, Bakari could be one to watch.
English
"rocky water"
A cool, rugged sounding name, Calder is connected to an ancient Scottish clan, an English village, and a Scottish River, along with the sculptor Alexander Calder, who invented the mobile (as in,…
"gladness, joy"
A celebratory choice with a bright sound, Simcha is also used as a word to describe Jewish festivities and joyful occasions such as a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah.
German
"determined fame"
The visibility of actor Wilmer (That 70s Show) Valderrama has highlighted this name, but it's not likely to spread because of its similarity to the feminine (and dated) Wilma.
Modern invented name
Nyaire ilikely emerged as a creative variation of names like Nyair or Nyier, possibly inspired by similar-sounding African or invented names. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables…
"the royal settlement"
Although Kenton has the trendy K beginning and on ending, and a jazz reference to Stan Kenton, it still manages to sound stiff and old-fashioned.
Keyler is a modern masculine name that has emerged in recent decades, likely as part of the trend toward occupational surnames and names with the popular '-ler' ending. It may have evolved as a…
English variation of Maurice
"dark-skinned"
Morris is as quiet and comfortable as a Morris chair, and has the same vintage feel. Once a Top 100 name in the early 1900s, Morris fell completely off the roster in 1995, probably due to lingering…
English surname
"dry wood + river bend; true and strong"
More popularly spelled as Truett, this form has also been climbing the charts, given to 92 boys in the US in a recent year. Derived from Old Norse and English, it's related to the place name…
Variation of Xavier
"new house"
A spin on the Basque name Xavier, Xavian was likely created with names like Damian, Adrian, and Julian in mind. Also spelled as Xavion, Zavion, and so on. A recent year saw 92 boys receive the name,…
Arabic
"eternal"
Khaled is a widely-used Arabic and Muslim name with a strong appealing meaning. Khalid is another popular spelling. Both versions are among the most familiar Arabic names for boys , perhaps thanks to…
Variation of Malcolm, Scottish
"devotee of St. Columba"
This may be a phonetic variation of Malcolm, but it just looks...wrong. Be prepared for spelling corrections.
"wealthy, fortunate ruler"
An Old English name that went out of style in the 11th century, but has been brought back into style, perhaps by Edrick Lee, the Australian Rugby player. Given to 84 boys in 2023, Edrick is sometimes…
Hindi
"dawn"
Haroon, also styled as Aroon and Harun, is the mythic charioteer of the dawn.
Scottish
"green river, sea friend"
It might be surprising to know that this name originated as a Scottish place and surname name, as in Washington Irving. It became a popular choice for first-generation Jewish-American boys, such as…
Spelling variation of Isaiah
Attempts to modernize traditional Isaiah has led to this overly creative spelling.
This name, which entered the US popularity list in 2000, is a creative mix of Jay plus Savion, as in the dancer, Savion Glover.
