By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 334 pages
of 334
French derivative of Mary
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Fun fact: Marion was the birth name of movie star John Wayne. Although commonly thought of as a female name today, it was actually more popular for boys until the late 19th century, and was given to…
Arabic
"safety"
Salman is an Arabic name dating back to Salman the Persian, one of Muhammad's companions. In this country it is strongly associated with Anglo-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic…
Russian form of Andrew
"manly"
Russian, Belarusian, Romanian and Bulgarian form of Andrew
Literary surname and shortened form of Augustine, Latin
"great, magnificent"
Parents who love the great English novelist Jane Austen may choose this spelling of the popular name Austin to honor the author of Emma and Pride and Prejudice.
Diminutive of Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett, or similar
"son of the right hand; blessed"
A friendly nickname for several classic choices, Bennie has the charm of Ronnie, Reggie, Archie, and Alfie. Familiar in the US in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, some may be reminded of the Elton John song,…
Anglicization of Conleth, Irish
"chaste fire; constant fire"
Conley has a contemporary surname feel but is actually vintage in its usage. It was used as a masculine given name through the 1940s and peaked in 1905 at Number 709. Ready for revival? Definitely.…
Jariel is a modern masculine name that blends elements of traditional names like Jared, Ariel, or Gabriel. With Hebrew roots, it can be interpreted to mean 'God teaches' or 'founded by God.' Though…
Brazilian invention
Neymar was unheard of before Brazilian football sensation Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior came to fame. It is thought to be a "smoosh" name of Netuno (Neptune) and Mar (Mars).
Saleem is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'peaceful,' 'safe,' or 'secure.' It derives from the Arabic word 'salima' meaning 'to be safe' and shares the same linguistic roots as the common…
Scottish
"steward"
This ancient royal Scottish name had a brief vogue in midcentury America, but it would be far from a fresh choice for a baby boy now.
"strong, firm, intelligent"
Strong-sounding Arabic name which appears many times in the Quran.
Dandre combines two naming elements: 'Dan' (a shortened form of Daniel, meaning 'God is my judge' in Hebrew) and 'Andre' (derived from the Greek 'Andreas,' meaning 'manly' or 'brave'). This…
Elyjah represents a modern spelling variation of the biblical name Elijah, which comes from Hebrew and means 'Yahweh is my God.' This contemporary adaptation maintains the traditional pronunciation…
Jahsai is a masculine name with modern origins, likely developed as a creative variation combining elements from names like Josiah, Isaiah, or Jai with contemporary spelling preferences. The 'Jah'…
Variation of Chrome, English word name
"compounds of cromium"
The latest metal name to make it as a baby name, although interestingly, Chrome is nowhere to be seen on the charts.
Spelling variation of Connor
Some creative spellings work, and then some just don't. We think this one falls into the latter category.
Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war
Marius, frequently heard in Germany and France, is a slightly fusty yet accessible name that has (Les Mis) to Anne Rice. With the rise in interest in such Latin names as Maximus and Atticus, Marius…
French occupational name
"a merchant"
Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic…
Norse
"powerful army; wise warrior; counsel from the army"
An fearsome old Norse name with a long history in Scandinavia. It's gotten a boost in the States from popularity of the History Channel drama "Vikings," in which the protagonist is named Ragnar.…
Raife is a distinctive masculine name of English origin, representing a modern variation of Ralph. Deriving from Old Norse 'Ráðúlfr,' combining elements meaning 'counsel' and 'wolf,' the name carries…
