Boy Names Lists · Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Form of Herman or Armen
"soldier or wish, hope"
Possibly related to the Ermin- names (which gave us Emma and her variants) or to Herman OR to the Persian/Kazakh/Armenian names Arman or Armen, this is an unusual choice which fits current trends.
English tree name
"tree from the genus Quercus"
Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle. If you'd prefer to take the longer route to the…
German
"respected friend"
One of the many names with a strong "er" sound, like Bertram and Ernest, that was huge in the 1920s and is languishing in style limbo now. One famous bearer is the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, as in…
Greek
"star"
More common as a dog name than a baby name for now, but that hasn't stopped Milo and Rex rising back up the charts! Lovers of edgy o-ending names like Otto, Arlo and Cosmo might like this starry-eyed…
Japanese
"bright man"
Japanese name common among older generations.
Variation of Frankie
"from France; free man"
As a given name, Franky peaked for boys in 2007 when it was used 94 times.
"double happiness; peaceful boss"
Koji, also written as Kōji, is a common name among men in Japan. It is also featured as a character name in many anime series.
Variation of Toby, English
"God is good"
Tobi is typically used as an alternate spelling of Toby, a common nickname for Tobias. In the anime series Naruto , the name Tobi is written in kanji giving it the meaning "ten tails."
Kanon is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it relates to the Buddhist goddess of mercy (観音), representing compassion and perception. In Western contexts, it may be a…
English, Scottish, and Irish surname
"descendant of Hugh; one who lives near the wood clearing"
Modern way to honor an ancestral Hugh.
Irish or French surname
"champion; not land"
Noland exists as a surname among the Irish and the French. In Ireland, it's a variation of the much more common Nolan. As a French surname, Noland is derived from Germanic components not , "need" and…
"severe, dignified; jade"
Sharp and to the point, Rin is a unisex Japanese name, meaning "severe, cold", "dignified", or "ethics" depending on the kanji used. It may also be considered a variation of the Chinese Lin, lending…
Word name or diminutive of Rocco
"rock or rest"
Rock definitely has a macho image, if a somewhat caricatured one, ala The Rock. But with the rise of word names and also of tough guy names, Rock feels more plausible than it did a generation ago.
English, diminutive of Walter or Wallace
A Leave It to Beaver/old comic-strip name, vacationing for years with the Griswolds in WallyWorld, but now back as WALL-E?
English nature name
"small stream"
Now that the popularity of Brooke is waning, and surname style variant Brooks is on the rise, Brook seems live a newly fresh nature-inspired option.
Japanese, Frisian
"blessing, wise, intelligent, gemstone; horn, victory or the people"
A succinct Japanese with plenty of positive meanings, Kei can denote wisdom, celebration, and excellence, along with (square) gemstones and Japanese Judas-trees, depending on which kanji is used. In…
"sunlight; morning"
Commonly associated with the Japanese beverage company Asahi, which produces a beer by the same name.
"second love"
Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach , in which the kanji used for his name mean…
"relaxed and caring"
Yuji is among the most common male names in Japan, in part due to its positive meaning. Americans may recognize it from the anime series Jujustu Kaisen as the name of the humanistic and compassionate…
"snow; happiness"
Short yet impactful, this Japanese name with has two appealing meanings, depending on which kanji are used. It may be associated with joy, or with a wintery scene.
