Invented Boy Names

With the trendiness of both X and Z, this spelling has it all. However, there's no real need for the added letter, unless you're looking for extra Scrabble points.

Xzavier

A creative spelling variation of Drew. Draya Michelle And Orlando Scandrick used it for their son in 2016.

Daylen is a D-starting spin on the trendy Jaylen. Day is an appealing nickname.

Daylen

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. 
 Percival is found in other forms of literature as well, including Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White, and Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" contains a section devoted to Sir Percival. Wagner transformed the name to Parsifal for his opera.
 Percy, which seems like a nickname for Percival but is really a stand-alone Norman place name, is beginning to attract some favorable attention from cutting-edge namers.

Percival

This spelling of popular Jalen ranks in the Top 1000 for both girls and boys.

Jaylin

A variation of Kyson, Kaison, Kayson and co., Kysen combines the stylish 'Ky' sound with a slightly softer looking -en ending. While a number of its sound-alikes rank in the US Top 1000, Kysen has yet to feature and has been trending downwards since it peaked in 2020 when it was given to 137 boys. Now, with so many other spelling options available, it has fallen to the wayside a little, though it still captures the same contemporary energy and will feel just as popular. 
 
Baseball player Slade Heathcott chose this spelling for his son in 2015.

Kysen

Rylen is the more-unusual spelling variation of Rylan and the even more popular Ryland.  It also takes a cue from the long-trendy surname-name Riley and adds the newly-trendy n ending.

Rylen

Zayvion is an invented name that blends the sound of Xavier with the popular '-on' suffix. This name follows a trend of combining familiar elements to create something distinctive, giving it a modern and unique appeal among contemporary names.

Zayvion

Kacen is a modern masculine name with several possible origins. It may be a contemporary spelling variation of Cason or Kasen, which themselves derive from English surnames. Alternatively, it could be a creative adaptation of names like Casey or Keegan. This distinctive spelling emerged primarily in the 1990s and gained modest popularity in the 2000s, particularly in the United States. Kacen embodies the trend toward unique spellings of familiar sounds. The name has a strong, contemporary feel with its crisp consonants and clean ending. Parents choosing Kacen often appreciate its balance between uniqueness and accessibility—uncommon enough to stand out but straightforward to pronounce and spell.

Kacen

Keon, a mashup of Kevin and Leon, has been in the Top 900 for a decade and a half, following in the wake of female cousin Kiana. Keon also has roots as a Gaelic variation of John.

Keon

Americanization of Trevor that is catching on, as are other versions Trevion and Trevin. 

Trevon

A modern spin on classic Jules, this name appeared in the US Top 1000 multiple times between 2009 and 2021. Notably borne by rapper and actor Juelz Santana, it was still given to more than 100 boys in a recent count. 

Juelz

The short, clipped Cru is one of those modern names that's starting to find favor -- it was given to about 100 boys last year, while Crew has vaulted onto the Top 1000. One inspiration is undoubtedly the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/161/spanish-names">Spanish name</a> Cruz, which came to wider attention via the third son of Victoria and David Beckham. Cru has a handsome sound and a modern feel.

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.

Zade is definitely an appealing name for parents who want to blend cultures, or sensibilities.

Zade

This modern mash up of Kendrick and Hendrix felt almost bound to happen. Perfect for parents wanting something cool and contemporary but also familiar, Kendrix has in fact been quietly used since the 70s. Given to 145 baby boys in 2024, up from 110 the year before, the increased popularity of the name is likely owing to rock musician Jimi Hendrix, rapper Kendrick Lamar, and (female) Power Ranger, Kendrix Morgan. 
 
Kendrick derives from the Welsh Cynwrig meaning "champion", the Anglo-Saxon Cyneric, meaning "royal ruler", and the Scottish and Gaelic surname, MacEanraig, meaning "son of Henry", or "son of the home ruler". Hendrix meanwhile comes from Hendrik, a variation of Heinrich and Henry, again meaning "home ruler", so it might make most sense to associate this hybrid name with this meaning in particular.

Kendrix

A contemporary reconfiguration of Tyler, although perhaps too close to Tylenol to warrant greater popularity. It nevertheless grew in popularity in 2023 and has been borne by actor Tylen James Williams, and music artist Young Thunder (Tylen Fowlkes).

Tylen

Classically, the De- prefix indicates "son of," so any variation of this name could work for the child of a dad named Shawn or Sean.
 DeShawn Stevenson is a former professional basketball player.

Deshawn

Jacari is a modern masculine name that has gained modest popularity in the United States since the late 1990s. With African-American origins, this distinctive name blends melodic qualities with a contemporary feel. While its exact etymology is not widely documented, Jacari may be a creative variation of names like Jakari or Jabari, the latter meaning 'brave' or 'fearless' in Swahili. The name features a rhythmic three-syllable pattern (ja-CA-ri) that contributes to its appealing sound. Jacari remains relatively uncommon, offering uniqueness without being difficult to pronounce. The name has gradually increased in usage but still maintains its distinctiveness, appealing to parents seeking a modern name with cultural significance and a strong, confident character.

Jacari

This name obviously has the prefix De- that denotes "son of"—in this form it can mean either "son of Angelo" or "from the angel."
 D'Angelo is an American singer-songwriter and record producer.

Deangelo

Raylen is a modern masculine name that has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in the United States. It appears to be a contemporary blend of the popular Ray prefix (meaning 'beam of light' or 'counsel') with the trending -len/-lyn suffix seen in names like Kaylen and Jaylen. The name has a contemporary sound that fits with current naming trends while maintaining a distinctly masculine quality. Raylen may also be viewed as a variation of Raylan, which gained visibility through the character Raylan Givens in the television series 'Justified.' The name carries connotations of brightness and illumination through its 'ray' element. While still relatively uncommon, Raylen has been steadily increasing in usage, appealing to parents seeking a modern-sounding name that balances uniqueness with accessibility.

Raylen

 start off as totally unique, but the best among them spread like wildfire (just ask Jax, Jamir, and Jiraiya).

 include Kashton, Braylen, Kason, Kyler, Raylan, Jamari, Zaiden, and Dax.

 are so well-established, you may not even know they were invented. Among the most surprising: Cedric, Percival, and Kyrie.

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.

Invented and made up modern baby boy names including history, origin, meanings, and popularity. (Page 6)