By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 76 pages
of 76
English
"descendant of Hilary"
Ellery is a rhythmic three-syllable boy's name that is familiar and yet rarely used--and just waiting to be discovered. It's long been identified with Ellery Queen--which was both the pen name of two…
"son of the king"
An English surname originally given to the illegitimate sons of a monarch. It might be a nice middle name choice to honor an ancestral Roy, though as a first, it does have a cool meaning.
Gerry is a friendly, approachable masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a diminutive of Gerald, Gerard, or Geraint. Derived from Germanic roots meaning 'spear ruler' or…
Khiry appears to be a contemporary name with several possible origins. It may be related to the Arabic name 'Khairi' meaning 'charitable' or 'benevolent,' with adapted spelling. Alternatively, it…
French
"dark skinned, mulberry"
A French nickname and surname deriving from Maurice, or possibly from the French word for mulberry tree, mûrier .
Diminutive of Nicholas or Nicole
Nicky is a forever-cute short form of Nicholas once used as a full name but now relegated to nickname (no pun intended) status.
Greek
"story of Odysseus; long journey"
Odyssey is a rare and weighty word name — following the footsteps of Hero, Legend, Prosper, and Story. Despite its literal connection to Odysseus, Homer's epic hero, Odyssey has always been slightly…
Rody is a masculine name with multiple potential origins. It can function as a diminutive of Roderick (meaning 'famous power' from Germanic elements), Rodney ('island near clearing' from English), or…
Diminutive of Tobias or Tobiah, Hebrew
"God is good"
Tobey is a masculine name that originated as a variant spelling of Toby, which itself began as a diminutive of Tobias. The biblical name Tobias derives from Hebrew Tobiah, meaning 'God is good.' The…
Chancey is a masculine name with French origins, derived from the Old French 'cheance' meaning 'luck' or 'fortune'. It developed as a variant of Chauncey, which came to England with the Norman…
Cortney, when used as a masculine name, represents a less common gender assignment for what is typically considered a feminine name in modern usage. Derived from the Norman French surname 'de…
Scandinavian
"lord, exalted one"
Frey is the handsome Norse fertility god, a worthy namesake. Frey remains rare in the US even as the similar Freya picks up in popularity.
English word name
"joyful"
Many emotional, virtuous word names are coming back into style, but Happy feels unlikely to be revived. This could be because it doesn't have a solid history of being popularly used (in comparison to…
Botanical name
Ivy is in the Top 50 for girls, but actually had some usage for boys for several decades. As more parents consider botanical choices for boys as well, Ivy could get some more love on both sides. In…
Jermany is a masculine name that appears to be a creative spelling variant of Germany, the European country name. It follows the pattern of geographical names adopted for personal use, though it…
Kassidy as a masculine name represents a contemporary gender crossover from what has become predominantly feminine usage. Derived from the Irish surname Ó Caiside, meaning 'descendant of Caiside'…
Ukrainian form of Matthew, from Hebrew
"gift of God"
"aggressive, warlike"
Pronounced "TAHL-a-mee," this was the name of one of Alexander the Great's generals and several Greco-Egyptian rulers, as well as the name of a famous Greek astronomer. Actress Gretchen Mol brought…
Rafay is a masculine name with Arabic origins, derived from the root word meaning 'to elevate' or 'to raise.' This gives the name connotations of high status, exaltation, or someone who is uplifted.…
"low-lying land"
A surname occasionally used as a first, as in former attorney general Ramsey Clark. This spelling is now closely associated with the psychopathic Game of Thrones villain Ramsay Snow (later Ramsay…
