Invented Boy Names

An attractive twist on an Arabic classic, with further twists being Zamari, Jamari, and Jamarion. It was a popular choice from the 70s onwards in the US but has fallen out of favor in recent years, replaced by Jamir.

Though it lends itself well to the pleasant nickname Ty, it's also the name of an antibiotic powder for animals.

Braxley is an invented name — a combination of two hot syllables — and therefore has no official meaning. It could, however, be interpreted to mean "Brock's field" from each of its elements.

A new-style name based on Kyle and a cousin of Dylan, in spelling if not sound or image. Currently in the US Top 600, it is given to more than 500 boys each year.

In the Top 1,000 since 1996, a less expected alternative to Omar.

Parents wanting to move beyond Jason and Mason, not to mention Taylor, have created Tayson. But like many smoosh baby names, this choice is less than the sum of its parts.

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 around 110 babies in 2023, the increased popularity of the name is likely owing to rock musician Jimi Hendrix, rapper Kendrick Lamar, and (female) Power Ranger, Kendrix Morgan.

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

One of the oft-mocked Zappa kid names; it supposedly was a nickname his father had for his wife's pinkie toe.

Brayden meets Jalen to make Braylen, another entry in this trendy group of names.

Brixton, a formerly rough but now cool-and-gentrified area of London, is also gaining notice as a baby name, especially for boys. About 20 baby girls were given the name in the US in the most recent year, vs. about 300 baby boys. Its similarity to the trendy Braxton and the x in the middle place help make it appealing to contemporary parents.

This rising name, possibly a variation of the Irish Kian, has been associated with several accomplished athletes.

Darren with a P.

Kallen is a versatile masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Irish surname Ó Cathalán, meaning 'descendant of Cathalan,' ultimately from 'cath' meaning 'battle.' Alternatively, it could be a variation of Kellen, with Germanic roots meaning 'powerful' or 'mighty.' In Finnish, the word 'kallen' relates to 'precious' or 'valuable.' The name gained some recognition through the anime character Kallen Stadtfeld from 'Code Geass.' With its strong consonants and modern sound, Kallen appeals to parents seeking a contemporary name with potential historical connections. Though still uncommon in most English-speaking countries, its familiarity to names like Cullen and Kellan makes it accessible.

Jaquan is a contemporary masculine name that emerged in the United States in the late 20th century. The name appears to combine elements of the popular prefix 'Ja-' (found in names like Jamal and Jabari) with possibly 'Quan,' which may derive from Arabic or other sources meaning 'strength' or 'power.' Another theory suggests influence from the name Juan (Spanish form of John). Jaquan experienced particular popularity in the 1990s, when it entered the U.S. Social Security Administration's top 1000 names list. Its usage patterns show regional variations across different communities in America. The name represents the modern naming trend of creating distinctive combinations that often blend sounds from various linguistic traditions. While fairly uncommon in most regions, Jaquan carries a strong, contemporary sound with a rhythmic quality.

Anduin is the Sindarin name for the Great River of Wilderland in Tolkien’s fictional Middle-earth. The word means "long river" or "great river".

We normally think of Cat and Kat as girls names -- nicknames, essentially, for Catherine and Katherine. But actor Katt Williams, Emmy-nominated for his role in Atlanta, presents the intriguing possibility of it working for a boy as well. He was originally born Micah, and so far, U.S. parents haven't shown much love for Katt as a whole name -- but with unique unisex names drawn from nature on the rise, we wouldn't be surprised to see it catch on.

The popular -ley suffix can be credited for this name's use in recent years. We're not loving that it sounds as trendy and of-the-moment as it is.

Fanciful name created by L. Frank Baum for a character in his book Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.