Boy Names Lists · Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 3 pages
of 3
English, Arabic
"advisor; red; cool, extremely good; thunder"
The cool and edgy Rad might just work as a fresh spin on the likes of Brad, Chad, Rod, and Randy. Used as a word to describe something exciting and extremely good, it's a synonym for cool, awesome,…
Diminutive of Winslow, Winthrop, or Winston, English
"friend's hill or friend's village or wine town"
Win is an upbeat, can-do name that can be a short form of one of the buttoned-up British choices above or can stand on its own. Welsh Wyn is another possibility. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell…
Modern nickname
Brother for Biff and Bud. McFly rocker Tom Fletcher transformed this from midcentury short form to modern cool name when he used it for his newborn son.
Diminutive of Desmond
More of an abbreviation than a short form that can stand on its own.
Invented name
"red; rook"
Roxby "Roxster" McDuff is the improbable name of the Leo Woodall character in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy , the fourth instalment of the popular movie franchise. Cool boy nickname Roxster…
Word name or short form of Axel
Ax makes a somewhat threatening short form of the popular Axel, given to more than 3000 baby boys last year. It can also be used on its own, though it usually isn't. There were, however, seven baby…
Bix is a cool and jazzy nickname name, thanks to that final x. It's largely associated with the legendary and influential cornet player (and inspiration for the novel Young Man With a Horn ), Bix…
Diminutive of Fletcher, English
"arrow maker"
This snappy nickname may remind some of the 1985 Chevy Chase movie of the same name. Writer and actress Jill Kargman has a son called Fletch.
Nickname for Philip, Phillip, or Felipe
"lover of horses"
Flip is a cute, attitude-filled nickname for the very proper Philip and variations. A perfect choice if you're looking for a buttoned-up proper name with an informal short form.
Diminutive of Hitchcock
The charming Hitch played by Will Smith in the eponymous movie put this into the lexicon. Also known as the nickname of director Alfred Hitchcock and writer Christopher Hitchens, who titled his…
Scottish variation of Jack
This is a Scottish pet form of John, the equivalent of Jack in England. Has long been used as a generic name for a Scotsman, here it's a generic name for a--well--jock.
English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
Dutch diminutive of Willem or William
"resolute protection"
Short but spirited, Pim is in the Top 200 in The Netherlands, though it is little-known elsewhere. A diminutive of Willem (or William), it possibly emerged via its rhyme with alternative, more direct…
Italian river name
A river (in Italy), a writer (Bronson), a Teletubby: the Bo of the new millennium.
Literary name
Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell. We love Puck for its…
Diminutive of Simon, Hebrew
"the listener"
Si is an intriguing antique nickname for Simon and Silas, and we’ve also heard it as a short form of names that contain the "sigh" sound, like Josiah and Osiris. It’s too slight to stand solo on the…
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
With the plethora of Alexes around, Xan (and Xander) have emerged as hot new nicknames for Alexander. Xan also stands well on its own. It can be found--not surprisingly--in several computer games.
Short form of Sebastian, Latin, Greek
"person from Sebastia"
A nickname style choice derived from the popular Sebastian, Sebbie feels like it could fit in with the likes of Teddy, Reggie, Billy, and Toby. Rarely used as a standalone name, it is borne by a…
Italian form of Tatianus or Tatiano, Latin, meaning unknown
A zippy Italian choice, derived from a Sabine-Latin family name whose meaning is unknown, Tazio is a relation of Tatiano and Tatiana. Other sources suggest it might also be used as a short form of…
