Invented Boy Names
Updated Sat Sep 14 2024
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Invented boy names start off as totally unique, but the best among them spread like wildfire (just ask Jax, Jamir, and Jiraiya).
In addition to Jax and Jamir, other invented boy names in the US Top 1000 include Kashton, Braylen, Kason, Kyler, Raylan, Jamari, Zaiden, and Dax.
Some made-up boy names are so well-established, you may not even know they were invented. Among the most surprising: Cedric, Percival, and Kyrie.
Many trending invented boy names come from video games and fantasy media, such as Star Wars' Kylo and Anakin, Naruto's Jiraiya, and Game of Thrones' Renly and Rhaegar.
Many celebrities have given their sons invented names in recent years, including Anne Hathaway's son Jonathan Rosebanks, Kat Von D's son Leafar, and Adam Rodriguez's baby Bridgemont.
Many made-up boy names are a combination of trendy prefixes and suffixes, such as Bray-, Ja-, -son, and -den.
Below, see our entire collection of invented names for boys, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Cedric
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"bounty; loved"Description:
Soft yet solid, Cedric was invented by Sir Walter Scott for the noble character of the hero's father in Ivanhoe, presumed to be an altered form of the Saxon name Cerdic ("bounty"), or the Brythonic name Caratacus ("loved"), though surname Sedgewick ("sword place", "place of victory") may have provided inspiration too. A truly literary choice name was later also given to Little Lord Fauntleroy, the long-haired, velvet-suited, and lace-collared boy hero of the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, who became an unwitting symbol of the pampered mama's boy.
- Kyler
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"victory of the people"Description:
Kyler was once a creative solution for 90s parents who enjoyed the sounds of Kyle and Tyler but didn't want to use anything so popular. Now a well-established name on the US charts, it is given to more than 1000 babies every year.
- Percival
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"one who pierces the valley"Description:
There are several Percivals scattered through the Harry Potter series, which might help transform the old-fangled, fussy image it has accrued. Actually, the original Percival was the one perfectly pure Knight of the Round Table, a worthy hero. The name was invented in the twelfth century by a poet named Chretien de Troyes, for his ideal knight in the poem Percevale, a Knight of King Arthur.
- Rylan
Origin:
English and IrishMeaning:
"Rye land"Description:
Parents seeking alternatives to popular Ryan have flocked to this soundalike name, which peaked at #146 in 2011. Blending in elements of Nolan and Riley too, it remains in the US Top 500, and is given to around 850 babies each year.
- Zavian
Description:
Zavian is a modern masculine name that likely developed as a variant of Xavier or Zavier, or possibly as a unique creation combining popular name elements. The name has a contemporary feel with its strong 'Z' beginning and smooth flow. Its origins may connect to the Arabic 'Zavi' meaning 'bright' or draw indirect inspiration from the Basque-origin Xavier, meaning 'new house' or 'bright.' Zavian began appearing in the United States in the early 2000s and has gradually increased in usage, particularly appealing to parents seeking a name that sounds familiar yet distinctive. The name's combination of strength and style gives it versatility, working well for various personalities. Zavian exemplifies the trend toward creating unique names with familiar sounds and strong consonants.
- Brayden
Origin:
English or IrishMeaning:
"broad hill or salmon"Description:
Brayden is the top spelling of one of the epidemically popular rhyming cousins of Aiden, hitting the Top 100 in 2005.. It has dipped a bit recently, but is still widely used. Other popular spellings include Braden, Braeden, Braydon, Braiden, Braedon and Bradyn. Take your pick.
- Jax
Origin:
Modern invented name, EnglishMeaning:
"God is Gracious"Description:
With its cool -X ending, Jax is an update on the classic nickname Jack, likely inspired by the rise of Jackson. It garnered attention in the US thanks to the game, Mortal Kombat II back in the '90s, and was pushed up the charts when it was used in the show Sons of Anarchy, in which Jackson "Jax" Teller is the central character.
- Aizen
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"love, affection + good, virtuous"Description:
A succinct and stylish Japanese name with an appealing and powerful meaning, Aizen can be interpreted as translating to "love and goodness", "lover of good", or "one whose good deeds come from love" — all qualities that parents may hope for in their children.
- Greyson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the steward"Description:
Greyson and Grayson, nephews of Jason, are both on the fast track. Both variations have made their way all the way up to the Top 100 since 2016. Gray/Grey makes a nice nickname. The name of the child in The Nanny Diaries is Grayer, and actor Tyler Christopher opted for the unusual spelling of Greysun for his son. Some parents are considering Grayson -- or Gracen or Gracyn -- for girls as an androgynous spin on Grace.
- Kylo
Origin:
Variation of Kyle, ScottishMeaning:
"narrow spit of land"Description:
The original Kyle has sparked many variations, including Kylie, Kyler, and Kylo, after Kylo Ren, the villain played by Adam Driver in the seventh Star Wars movie, released in December 2015.
- Kyrie
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"Lord"Description:
Kyrie may be a name of God used widely in the ancient church refrain Kyrie Elieson, or Lord, have mercy, but it's rising in popularity for boys in the US on the strength of basketball star Kyrie Irving. Irving pronounces the first syllable of Kyrie to rhyme with my, whereas with the religious word it rhymes with fear.
- Kayden
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
This member of the aden/ayden extended family is a popular choice not only in the US but across the pond in England, Wales and Scotland as well. Angie Everhart has a son named Kayden Bobby.
- Daxton
Origin:
Modern invented nameMeaning:
"from Dax town"Description:
Following in the footsteps of Weston, Braxton, Clayton, and Paxton, Daxton has been climbing the US charts since the late 2000s. While recent years have seen it decline slightly, it remains a Top 500 choice, with the cool possibility of nickname Dax.
- Xavian
Description:
Xavian is a masculine name representing a modern variation of Xavier, which itself derives from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning 'new house.' The name gained prominence through St. Francis Xavier, a 16th-century Spanish missionary. Xavian combines the distinctive 'X' beginning of Xavier with the flowing ending of names like Adrian or Julian, creating a contemporary feel while maintaining historical connections. The initial 'X' gives the name an edge of uniqueness, while the overall sound remains approachable. Growing in popularity since the early 2000s, Xavian appeals to parents seeking modern-sounding names with subtle historical roots. The name projects qualities of strength and distinctiveness while offering the friendly nickname option 'Xavi.' Its relative rarity ensures individuality without being difficult to pronounce or understand.
- Jaxx
Origin:
Modern invented name, EnglishMeaning:
"God is Gracious"Description:
Unusual letters like X and Z are often considered badass and cool, so by that logic, does having two Xs in one name make it next level awesome? This seems to have been the thinking of the parents to nearly 3000 babies named Jaxx in America since the spelling first came into use in the 90s.
- Jaxon
Origin:
Spelling variation of JacksonMeaning:
"son of Jack"Description:
Jaxon has been mostly climbing in popularity since it entered the Top 1000 in 1997, proving that many parents have decided to rev up the cool factor of Jackson by giving it this streamlined spelling. (Though we still prefer the original.)
- Azari
Origin:
American variation of Azariah or Azhari, Hebrew, MalayMeaning:
"helped by God; shining, brilliant"Description:
Azari is a rising name for both sexes, hitting a bunch of style trends at once — three syllables, strong Z, and an I ending. It's technically an invented name, likely inspired by the fashionable Hebrew name Azariah, or by the Malay Azhari. Given to around 90 boys in a recent year, it is currently three times more popular for girls.
- Zade
Origin:
Modern invented name or variation of Zayd, ArabicMeaning:
"increase, growth"Description:
You might think of this as the zesty brother of Cade and Slade. Or Zade might appeal to you as an anglicized spelling of the Arabic Zayd or Zaid, the name of an enslaved man that Muhammad adopted as his son.
- Zayden
Origin:
Modern invented name, ArabicMeaning:
"growth, increase"Description:
Used by parents who love that Z initial, Zayden is also part of the Rhymes-with-Aiden-Clan. This particular for form ranks in the US Top 300 and the UK Top 600, outranking spelling variations Zaiden and Zaden.
- Atreyu
Origin:
Literary inventionMeaning:
"son of all"Description:
German author Michael Ende created the name Atreyu for the protagonist of his 1979 novel The Neverending Story. In the original German translation of the book, the hero was Atréju — Atreyu is the Anglicized variation. Atreyu was orphaned as an infant and raised by his village — his name is said to mean "son of all" in the local language.
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