By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 88 pages
of 88
Hebrew
"owner of many palm trees"
A Near Eastern favorite, with an agreeable, evocative sound.
Bosnian, Turkish
"iron"
This tough and attractive name is popular in its native Bosnia and Turkey, though globally, it might be better known in the form of Timur. Deriving literally from the Turkish word for the metal iron,…
Slavic
"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"
Vladimir is a cultured and deep-rooted Slavic name associated in this country with cultural figures including piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz and the author of Lolita , Vladimir Nabokov. The name…
Variation of Briar, English
"a thorny patch"
The trendy gender-neutral Briar leans slightly more masculine with the Bryar spelling, given to about 60 baby boys last year in the US vs. 50 girls. By contrast, Briar was used for about 500 baby…
Polish variation of Casper, form of Jasper, Persian
"bringer of treasure"
Jasper and its many international variations, from Kasper to Casper to Gaspard, is finding new popularity.
German surname or Hebrew
"landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
More common -- when it was common -- with the Meyer spelling.
English word name
"rescuer; redeemer"
Weighty, spiritual, and ambitious word names have become increasingly popular in recent years, with Messiah, Saint, and Chosen in the US Top 1000. Savoir feels a natural progression, and indeed, has…
Punjabi
"strong, brave"
A striking Sikh name with a strong meaning. It belonged to one of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh; Zorawar Singh is one of the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism. The name Zorawar (and its less common…
Cristofer is a masculine name that offers an alternative spelling to the more common Christopher. Derived from Greek elements meaning 'bearing Christ,' the name has deep Christian roots and…
Jasir is a masculine name with Arabic origins, meaning 'brave,' 'courageous,' or 'bold.' The name carries strong positive connotations of valor and fortitude in Arabic-speaking cultures. Jasir has…
"I have a light"
Lior is a unisex name frequently heard in Israel, capturing the popular light theme through its meaning. For English speakers, the one down side is possible pronunciation confusion with "liar,"…
Yiddish variation of Asher or English surname from French
"blessed; doorkeeper"
Strongly associated with the mega-popular single-named singer, who was actually the fourth Usher Raymond in his family. He could start a fad. The Yiddish variation of Usher is commonly used in the…
English
"harp player"
Harper got its start as a celebrity baby name when Paul Simon chose it for his now-grown son. Since then, other famous parents have followed suit: musician Tim Finn and actor Cecilia Peck both have…
Word name
The girls have dibs on Spring, Summer, and Autumn, leaving this name evocative of snowy landscapes as the one possible seasonal choice for boys. And naturally, it's one of the most obvious names for…
Abubakr is a masculine name of Arabic origin, representing a variant transliteration of Abu Bakr. The name carries profound historical and religious significance in Islamic tradition, as Abu Bakr was…
German occupational name
"cellar master"
Keller is a German surname that originated as an occupational name for a cellar or store master, which seems to be the background of several of the most stylish new German names for boys . One of the…
Theodor is a classic masculine name of Greek origin meaning "gift of God," derived from the elements "theos" (God) and "doron" (gift). This spelling variant is particularly popular in Germanic and…
Avir is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Hebrew, it means 'air' or 'atmosphere,' connecting the bearer to elemental qualities of freedom and expansiveness. In Sanskrit traditions, Avir…
Aamir is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'prosperous,' 'flourishing,' or 'commander.' This name is widely used throughout the Muslim world, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and…
English; French, from Polish
"destroyer of peace"
Casimir, a traditional name of Polish kings, could do quite well these days as we see the rise of Caspian, Cassius, Castiel, et. al. Like Leopold and Laszlo, Casimir is strong and worth considering…
