By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 88 pages
of 88
Hebrew
"date palm island"
In the Old Testament, Itamar (or Ithamar) was the youngest son of Aaron.
Scottish variation of Welsh Ifor, English form of Norse Ívarr
"lord; yew tree, bow warrior"
Ivor, a favorite choice for upscale characters in Brit Lit novels by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, is an interesting and unusual name just waiting to be discovered by parents in this…
Basque
"star"
Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.
"I have a light"
Spelling variation of Lior.
"clear, bright"
Positive meaning -- and a choice of spelling variations.
Surname and nature name
"willow tree or shoot"
A handsome nature name – and an intriguing alternative to Willow – that is also found as a rare English surname.
Saahir is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'vigilant,' 'watchful,' or 'one who stays awake.' It derives from the Arabic word 'sahar,' which refers to staying up late at night or being…
English
"saddle-maker"
Sadler is another new entrant in the trendy occupational surname category, one particularly prime for a horse lover.
Modern invented name
Though not technically a one-person name, since 30 baby boys were named Shemar in 2016, Shemar stems from one specific person, prolific actor Shemar Moore. He has said that his parents came up with…
German occupational name
"wagon maker"
Whether pronounced like the wag of a tail or as the correct German VAHG-ner, this might be something a devoted opera buff could consider as a middle name.
German
"protecting army"
Formal name lacking any sparkle or sheen.
Alexsander is a masculine name that offers an alternative spelling to the more common Alexander. This variant maintains the same pronunciation while giving the name a distinctive appearance with the…
Amaar is a masculine name of Arabic origin derived from the root word meaning 'to build' or 'to cultivate.' It can be interpreted as 'builder,' 'constructor,' or 'one who cultivates prosperity.' The…
English word name
"ability level; diameter of a gun barrel"
Caliber belongs to the class of tough boy names — along with Shooter, Wesson, and Trigger — that are given to a small but notable number of boys each year. We generally discourage parents from using…
Invented name
A combination of Cyrus and Tyler, or any similar names. It may also be a variation of the surname Seiler, which means "rope maker." Cyler first appeared on the charts for boys in 1985, and peaked in…
Daxter feels like a blend between Dexter and Baxter. If you like it better than either of those, then go for it.
Dekker is a Dutch occupational surname derived from the Middle Dutch word 'decker' or 'dekker,' meaning 'roofer' or 'thatcher' - someone who builds or repairs roofs. As a first name, Dekker…
"help"
A unique alternative to Ezra, with which Ezer shares a root. Only five baby boys were named Ezer in 2021, and though the name is technically unisex, no baby girls.
"kindness, benefit; support, approval"
A warm-sounding word and virtue name used by the Puritans and still popular in parts of Africa, especially with the Favour spelling. It may be used as a short form of Godfavor, as in "favored by…
Scottish form of Gregory
"vigilant, a watchman"
Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And…
