Modern Baby Boy Names
- Korbyn
Origin:
Variation of Corbin, LatinMeaning:
"crow"Description:
Corbin joined the US Top 1000 during the latter half of the 20th century, first introduced to parents through actor Corbin Bernsen. It reached a peak in 2014 at number 203 and has been making a steady decline ever since.
- Jayceon
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
This variation of Jason and Jayce was the fastest-rising name of 2013 for boys -- leaping 845 spots in a single year to break into the Top 1000 for the first time ever. Its trendy sound, y spelling, and connection to rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor can be credited for this spike.
- Karma
Description:
Karma as a masculine name has cross-cultural origins but is most prominently associated with Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, where it represents the spiritual principle of cause and effect. While traditionally more common as a girl's name in Western countries, Karma has been embraced as a unisex or masculine name in recent decades. It carries profound meaning related to destiny, cosmic balance, and the consequences of one's actions. The name has a spiritual quality that appeals to parents drawn to Eastern philosophies or seeking names with deeper significance. With its simple pronunciation, universal recognition, and powerful conceptual meaning, Karma offers a distinctive choice for boys that feels both ancient and contemporary.
- Kamryn
Origin:
Spelling variation of Cameron, ScottishMeaning:
"crooked nose"Description:
With the rise of Cameron, we've seen more and more spellings join the Top 1000—Kamryn, Camryn, and Kameron are just a few, with Kamron, Camron, Kamren, and Camren also seeing reasonable use.
- Arcadian
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Arcadia; idyllic"Description:
Arcadia was a region of Ancient Greece that is now associated with a simple rustic life (way before Cottagecore was a thing). That means this name is not just long and lyrical, but also has a warm pastoral charm.
- Kolson
Origin:
Variation of Colson, EnglishMeaning:
"son of Nicholas"Description:
Colson was made familiar by author Colson Whitehead, who helped popularize the K variation as well. Both Colson and Kolson rapidly ascended the charts in 2017, the year following the release of Whitehead's celebrated book The Underground Railroad.
- Quarry
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Has the offbeat quality and macho feel -- like Stone and Flint -- that appeals to increasing numbers of modern parents.
- Braven
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"invented name"Description:
Take modern virtue Brave, add the trendy -n ending, and voilà! A cool new word-meets-surname name which feels bang on trend right now.
- Rey
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"king"Description:
Sounds exactly like Ray—but with an on-trend royal vibe. The central protagonist in the newest Star Wars trilogy is a woman named Rey.
- Aunyx
Origin:
Variation of OnyxMeaning:
"gem stone; claw, nail"Description:
Gem name Onyx entered the US Top 1000 for boys in 2018 and has since risen to the Top 400 with its cool X ending and sleek polished feel. Spelling variant Aunyx is far more obscure and has only been appearing in the US stats since 2021. Given to less than 20 babies each year, it might appeal to those who also like Austen and August.
- Majesty
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Alternative to Prince, Duke, King, or Earl, but not an improvement on them.
- Drexton
Origin:
English, GermanMeaning:
"turner's town; dyer's town"Description:
Inspired by the likes of Braxton, Paxton, and Daxton, Drexton is a modern sounding but little used option, given to just 5 babies in 2022. It likely derives from the occupational names Dressler and Dexter, combined with the Old English element tun meaning "town" or "settlement">.
- Nairobi
Origin:
African place nameDescription:
The capital of Kenya makes a melodic and worldly name.
- Jaxtyn
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
The American appetite for new names ending in the letters "yn" knows no bounds. This one, a close relative of popular Jaxson, was among the fastest-rising boys' names of 2017.
- Bridges
Origin:
English, word name and surnameMeaning:
"bridges"Description:
Bridges is one of the new last names as first names ending in S that are so fashionable right now, joining Brooks, Wells, and Banks.
- Jrue
Origin:
Modern invented, variation of DrewDescription:
This phonetic spelling of Drew feels particularly distanced from the original classic Andrew. Jrue, along with other phonetic "Jr" names such as Jream, is on the rise in the US — even cracking the Top 1000 in 2022.
- Grayton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"gray town"Description:
A last name style choice with the sounds of Grayson, Graham, Weston, and Clayton, but ranking well outside the US Top 1000, unlike its counterparts. Given to less than 10 babies in a recent year, Grayton is a familiar sounding but little used option.
- Artist
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
About 40 baby boys were named Artist -- not Picasso, not Art -- in the US in one recent year. But not so odd, when you consider all the occupational names, from Sawyer to Sergeant, stylish today. The name Artist is also starting to register on the girls' side of the ledger, making Artist a name as gender-neutral as the occupation.
- Jamari
Origin:
Variation of Jamar, African American, ArabicMeaning:
"beauty"Description:
While Jamar fell out of the Top 1000 back in 2016, this sleek and modern elaboration remains popular. Inspired by Arabic Jamal and rising up the charts alongside Amari and Kamari, Jamari is given to around 500 boys a year.
- Dilan
Origin:
Spelling variation of Dylan; TurkishMeaning:
"love"Description:
Dylan has become a go-to name for boys in the last generation, thanks to poet Dylan Thomas, musician Bob Dylan, and fictional characters like Dylan McKay of Beverly Hills, 90210. Spelling variations include Dillon and Dilan. Alternately, Dilan is a feminine Turkish name meaning "love." Due to the ultra-popularity of Dylan, Dilan will likely be misspelled frequently.
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