By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 197 pages
of 197
Hebrew
"father of light."
This once neglected Biblical name is back on the scene, ready to shake off both its association with the long running satirical comic strip, L'il Abner and its historical Puritan image. The name…
English occupational name
"carter"
Jagger is a swaggering Rolling Stone of a name that's been picked up by a number of fellow celebs, including Lindsay Davenport and Brett Scallions--while Soleil Moon Frye pulled a gender switch when…
"God helps"
Eliezer is a Biblical name with an air of antiquity, a distinctive sound, and hint of mystery. The name has been in and out of the US Top 1000 since the 80s, with its most recent appearance being in…
English spelling of Alasdair, Scottish version of Alexander
"defending men"
With many British names invading the Yankee name pool, the sophisticated Alistair could and should be part of the next wave. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016. You have a triple choice with this…
"forester"
Foster is one commonly heard last name that makes a fine first. The word foster means "to nourish" — as in "fostering hope", or "fostering a relationship". The only problem with Foster might be its…
Dutch form of Jasper, Persian
"bringer of treasure"
This ancient name, also spelled Caspar, is finally shedding its ghostly image and moving into the 21st century. Popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where it's sometimes shortened to Cas,…
Sanskrit
"brave"
One of the fastest-rising Indian boy names of the past few years, Veer is a straightforward choice with visual appeal and a striking V initial. Sleek and simple, Veer has joined the US Top 1000 boy…
Spelling variation of Zamir, Hebrew, Albanian, Arabic
"song, bird; good voice; mind, heart, conscience"
Zamir in its various forms is becoming more familiar in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal, its zippy Z beginning and its uplifting meanings. From its Hebrew and Albanian roots, it is a…
"bringer of light"
The original form of the Hebrew Meyer.
Spelling variation of Amir
Spelling variant Ameer is much less popular than the original. An Amir is a ruler in the Arab world.
Slavic, Turkish, Russian, Arabic
"give peace; iron; heart, mind, conscience"
The most common form of Damir is of Slavic origins, deriving from the elements da , meaning "give" or "take," and mir , "peace." It's also seen as a variation of the Turkish name Demir, meaning…
English
"pilgrim; one who holds a palm"
Palmer is a name that derives from the fact that pilgrims often carried palms, thus the double meaning. It's a fresher sounding twist other surname style names, such as Spencer, Carter, Porter and…
Arabic
"the great"
Kabir is the 37th name of God in Islam. Kabir is also the name of an Indian poet and mystic saint. In the US, Kabir is on the rise as a boys' name, favored by Muslim parents.
English, variation of Cooper
"barrel maker"
This spelling of the popular surname ranks just inside the Top 1000.
Spelling variation of Xavier
This phonetic version is occasionally used and removes any confusion about whether the X is fully pronounced or not.
Animal name or Basque
"beautiful"
An eider is a sea duck whose feathers make ultra-soft eiderdown. Eider is also one of the fastest-rising boys' names that's still under the radar, increasing more than a thousand places in popularity…
Arabic, Urdu
"similar, counterpart; herald, warning; beautiful, radiant"
A strong, evergreen Muslim choice, also spelled Nazeer, this name has several possible meanings. Some sources suggest it comes from the word naziruh meaning "counterpart", while others interpret it…
"works with a lathe"
Turner is a name that's both preppy and painterly, recalling the exquisite watercolor seascapes of British painter J.M.W. Turner. An occupational name in the Taylor-Carter mold, Turner is a more…
"roof thatcher"
Thatcher is an open and friendly freckle-faced surname, fresher sounding than Tyler or Taylor, that dates back to the days of thatched-roof cottages. It is catching on with modern parents—it reached…
Variation of Cartier, French
"transporter of good by cart"
Kartier is on the rise for boys, along with a host of other luxury fashion related baby names.
