Invented Boy Names

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.

The name of a crucial character on inventive FX series Legion not found in the Marvel comics on which the show is based, a so-called "memory artist" who can help others recall past events with uncanny detail. The name probably stems from Ptolemy, the ancient Alexandrian polymath.

Spelling variation of Ryland

Xavion is a modern variant of the name Xavier, which derives from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "new house." The name gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, showing a distinctive pattern of increased usage beginning in the 1990s. Xavion maintains the strong 'X' sound of Xavier but adds a contemporary ending. The name experienced modest popularity peaks in the early 2000s, particularly in the southern United States. Xavion follows a naming trend of creating variations with distinctive suffixes added to traditional names. The name carries associations with Saint Francis Xavier, a notable 16th-century Spanish missionary, though Xavion itself is a more recent creation without the same historical depth as its root name.

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.

This Russian name was created by Communist parents looking to reject traditional names (it is believed to derive from the French surname Jaures). One notable bearer is Nobel prize winner and physicist, Zhores Alferov.

A clear reference to the Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli, known for his adaptations of Shakespearean plays such as The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. Zeffirelli was born out of wedlock, meaning he couldn't have either of his parents' surnames. His mother wanted it to be Zeffiretti, meaning "little breezes," taken from Mozart's opera Idomeneo. It was misspelled as Zeffirelli on his birth certificate.

An even more modern spin on Zayla.

Though it appears as if it could be Irish, Cilan is an invented name from the Pokemon universe, derived directly from the word "cilantro."

This name, which entered the US popularity list in 2000, is a creative mix of Jay plus Savion, as in the dancer, Savion Glover.

Could be an interesting alternative to London, now that that one is firmly on the girl's side.

Londo Mollari is a character from the TV show Babylon 5.

Much less popular than more traditional spellings.

A seldom-used Game of Thrones name, perhaps because its main originator, Tywin Lannister, is as ruthless as any character in the show. Yet the "ty-" beginning is so ubiquitous and popular that Tywin may have some potential... the fact that it's less well-known than Tyrion probably works in its favor.

With Messiah no longer a forbidden choice, alternative spelling options for the now Top 200 name are being considered. Massiah is one such option, thought there is also a chance it could link to the word mashiach meaning "anointed one". In Jewish tradition, this refers to the one who will be crowned king in the End of Days, not to the Biblical Jesus. It is more likely however that Massiah is being used as a form of Messiah, with around 80 boys receiving the name in a recent year.

One of several variations of Cason - a modern invention based on Jason and Mason, or an Old English surname, derived from Cawston, Caysen is less popular than its siblings Kayson, Kaison, Cayson, and Kason. It is however still given to around 160 boys in the US each year.

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.

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.

An invented name that has its roots in DeAndre or D'Andre, which springs from "the son of Andrew." Feels like half Don or Dion, half Andre or Andrew, but not enough of something unto itself.

See TADEN.