Invented Boy Names

Samuel Beckett, inspired by the French surname Godeau, created the name Godot for his play, Waiting for Godot.

Americans tend to pronounce Godot with the emphasis on the second syllable, but Beckett has said this is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is GOD-oh, with the first syllable stressed.

Leonato is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, the noble governor of Messina on whose property most of the play takes place. His daughter Hero and his niece Beatrice are the two main female romantic leads in the play. His character is ambiguous; he starts out friendly and amiable, but he reacts very harshly to rumors that his daughter has lost her "honor" before marriage.

Riggan found fame as the first name of the hero of the Oscar-winning film Birdman, played by Michael Keaton. Riggan has the two-syllable n-ending surname feel so trendy for boys' names today. It may be a variation of Reagan or Regan or it may be a play on the word rigging. Whatever its origin, we bet this is one fictional name that will find wider use in real life.

Invented in 1939 as the name of Marvel Comics character Namor the Sub-Mariner. Bill Everett, the creator, decided on Namor after writing noble, dignified names in reverse—Namor is Roman spelled backwards.

Dalton with a B. The original is better.

In its modern form, Casher is a hybrid of Cash and Asher that debuted in 2019. Historically, Casher — pronounced kah-SHARE — was used among Italian Jews.

Lagging about 400 slots behind the original.

Camari is a modern masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Italian word 'camara' meaning 'chamber' or 'room', or have connections to Arabic origins meaning 'moon'. Some see it as a creative variation of names like Cameron or Kamari.

Kordian was created by Polish playwright Juliusz Słowacki for his eponymous romantic hero, based on Latin cor, cordis "heart". Cordian is the Anglicized form.

Okay, it's a little bit like Trey, and a little bit like Taylor, but exactly like....trailer?

Amarion is a modern masculine name with multiple possible origins. It likely developed as a creative variation of names like Amari, Amarion, or Damarian. The prefix 'Amar-' may connect to roots meaning 'eternal' or 'immortal' in some languages, or 'to love' in Latin-based languages. Amarion gained modest popularity in the United States beginning in the 1990s and saw increased usage through the early 2000s. The name has a rhythmic, melodious quality with its three syllables and ending '-on' sound that fits contemporary naming trends. Amarion offers a distinctive yet accessible option for parents seeking a modern-sounding name with depth.

A number of parents took up the name of the TV talk show host in the early nineties, but it now seems to have lost momentum.

Jasai is a modern masculine name with unclear etymological origins, though it may be a creative variation of names like Jason, Isaiah, or Jai. With its melodic quality and distinctive sound pattern, Jasai exemplifies contemporary naming trends that favor unique, vowel-rich names with international appeal. The name has gained limited usage in the United States since the early 2000s, possibly influenced by the trend toward inventing new names or creating novel spellings. Jasai's appeal lies in its contemporary feel combined with a somewhat familiar sound that remains easy to pronounce. The name's uniqueness ensures its bearers stand out while still having a name that flows naturally in conversation.

Created in the style of Jabari, a fashionable Swahili name. Jakari is mainly used among African American families in the US.

Variations and elaborations of Ace have been popping up all over the place — Ayce recently broke the Top 2000.

Combine the Aiden trend with the ever-cool letter X, and you'll get something like Xayden.

No longer a forbidden choice, Messiah has risen up the US popularity charts in recent years, and as a result, some parents have been seeking alternative spelling options. Masiah is one such choice, though it may also link more closely with the Arabic word for Christ, almasih. Given to around 80 boys each year, it is considerably less popular than Messiah, which was chosen for 1909 boys in 2023.

Once strictly a surname--Chasen's was an old Hollywood hangout--it's now catching on as a first name, both as an elaboration of the popular CHASE, and in following the pattern of popular two-syllable boys' names.

The origins of Lucentio are a bit hazy — it's possible Shakespeare invented the name for his play The Taming of the Shrew, where Lucentio ends up marrying Bianca. However, it may have been an obscure Italian variation of Lucentius, existing before Shakespeare's time.

Name invented for the video game and anime series Angels of Death. Kazarion debuted on the charts in 2021 when it was used for five baby boys.