Middle Names for Boys (with Meanings and Popularity)

Chosen by one musician, Todd Rundgren, for his son, but unlikely to be emulated by others.

Rhymer feels right at home with names like Ryder, Ryker and Riley, but brings an artsy edge to this group of names.

Baby name as political statement.

In the US this is likely to conjure zebras, lions and elephants on the Serengeti, but its original meaning "journey" broadens its wearability. Safari is a name common in Africa for babies born while their parents were on a journey.

Gruff is a name that gets used on a handful of boys each year, in both the US and the UK.

Sure it makes a big statement, but if you can call your child Wren, Robin or Falcon, why not also Hummingbird. This pint-sized jewel of a bird is a lovely connotation for the baby that's full of energy and spirit.

Sarah Palin and husband Todd, creative baby-namers, named their oldest son Track because of their love for running.

Hiking enthusiasts might consider this nature name, though it also has the connotation of someone lagging behind. That hasn't stopped nearly 30 boys being given the name in the US since 2010, however. Ranger, Rocky, Bear, Forrest, Ridge, Canyon, and Falco could be some options with a similar vibe.

Actress Shannyn Sossamon used this as the middle name for her son Audio; one of the most do-not-try-this-at-home combos we've heard.

No longer a one-person name, as a number of parents have been inspired by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal to adopt it for their own future athletes.

Maybe if you're planning to have only one child -- and iffy even then.

A worthy honoree that would place a too-heavy expectation on a child, probably subjecting him to ridicule. Try Pablo instead.

Booker and Author are being used as names (the former is best known care of Booker T Washington), so why not Reader? Reader certainly fits in with both these and other "doing" names like Ryder, Brewer, Fifer, Miller and Cooper.

A word name in the Puritan vein, à la Remember or Experience, which a few daring namers are beginning to consider.

A video-game name ("Final Fantasy VII") with an unappealing sound and meaning.

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Finesse Mitchell often mocks his own and similar names when portraying the character Starkeisha on the show.

While nature names, even those of fierce animals and mountain peaks, are used for children these days, architectural features like this somehow seem a bit cold.

Alternative to Prince, Duke, King, or Earl, but not an improvement on them.

Perhaps too spicy for some, but this is a popular Gaelic surname that might appeal for those looking to honor a family branch or to fans of legendary British comedian Tim Curry.

The term Quarto comes to us from the Latin for "four", but it is used as a term in literature to describe a book from the early days of printing that was a particular size. An obscure and potentially intriguing choice for arcane, book-loving parents.