Iambic Boy Names

Yael

Hebrew

"ibex"

A common unisex name in Israel, more properly written as Ya'el, Yael rose more than 200 places in 2023 to become one of the fastest-rising boys' names of the year in the US. Yael is among the -ael…

Bjorn

Swedish, Icelandic, German

"bear"

Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names , thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a…

Ramon

Catalan variation of Raymond

The Latin Ramon has been in the U.S. Top 1000 since the beginning of baby-naming time, i.e. the past 130+ years. Ramon is the perfect blend of worldly and familiar, with a rocker edge via The…

Ishaan

Hindi

"the sun"

Ishaan is the guardian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion. Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De is a kids' television show on Disney Channel India, starring a teenage boy named Ishaan.

Eugene

Greek

"wellborn, noble"

Eugene is a classic that has rather lost its way. On the one hand, it's a grandpa, even great-grandpa name that hasn't been one of the cool kids recently—or to quote Jim Carrey, who bears this name…

Ameer

Spelling variation of Amir

Spelling variant Ameer is much less popular than the original. An Amir is a ruler in the Arab world.

Damir

Slavic, Turkish, Russian, Arabic

"give peace; iron; heart, mind, conscience"

The most common form of Damir is of Slavic origins, deriving from the elements da , meaning "give" or "take," and mir , "peace." It's also seen as a variation of the Turkish name Demir, meaning…

Maurice

English and French from Latin

"dark-skinned"

In the USA, Maurice was in the Top 200 for most of the 20th century; since 1990, however, it has been on a slow and steady decline. This name has the potential for some old-school cute nicknames such…

Stefan

German, Scandinavian, Polish, and Russian variation of Stephen, Greek

"crown, garland"

An elegant, continental name for the post-Steve era. It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 1949, fell off in 2008 for one year, then dropped off again in 2024 and seems to be heading downward along with…

Karim

Arabic

"noble, generous"

Kareem is the more popular form in the US, thanks to basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but Karim is right on his heels after being among the fastest-rising names of 2022. French soccer player…

Mael

French or Breton

"chief or prince"

The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the…

Yasir

Arabic

"wealthy, prosperous"

In this country, very much tied to PLO leader Arafat.

Denzel

Cornish

"from the high stronghold"

This old Cornish name took on a whole new identity via Denzel Washington, who has inspired several thousand namesakes. The actor was named after his father, who was named for a Dr. Denzel, who…

Mekhi

Derivation and meaning unknown

Fans of versatile, rising African- American actor Mekhi Phifer have begun to adopt his unusual first name for their sons.

Jamal

Arabic

"beauty"

Jamal is an Arabic boys’ name meaning "beauty." Jamal and its variants are popular in the Muslim community, although Jamal’s popularity within the US has decreased in recent years. Jamal has been…

Pierre

French variation of Peter

"rock, stone"

One of the most familiar — if not stereotypical — Gallic names. Pierre was a Top 5 name in France from the 19th century through 1940 and is now on a steady decline in its native land. In the US,…

Jerome

Greek

"sacred name"

Jerome has a bespectacled, serious, studious image, just like its namesake saint, who was a brilliant scholar. St. Jerome is the patron saint of students, librarians, and archaeologists. Musical…

Monroe

Scottish

"mouth of the Roe river"

Monroe is a presidential surname which feels fresher than Jackson, Lincoln and Taylor. Marilyn Monroe is a famous female namesake, but her smart Scottish surname feels equally usable for either sex.…

Emil

Latin

"rival"

Derived from the Latin word aemulus , Emil is a name with international appeal. Concise and sturdy but with the gentle Em sound, Emil is popular across Europe, from Azerbaijan to Finland, from…

Jael

Hebrew

"mountain goat"

A unisex Hebrew name sometimes given in Israel to kids born under the goat sign of Capricorn; it's also spelled Yael/Ya'el.