American Boy Names
- Jazz
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Jazz as a full name is used slightly more often for boys than girls and has a distinctive, well, jazzy feel. Jazz is also occasionally used as a nickname for Jasper, much more often for Jasmine or Jazlyn. Could work as a middle name.
- Zayden
Origin:
Modern invented name, ArabicMeaning:
"growth, increase"Description:
Used by parents who love that Z initial, Zayden is also part of the Rhymes-with-Aiden-Clan. This particular for form ranks in the US Top 300 and the UK Top 600, outranking spelling variations Zaiden and Zaden.
- Lebron
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"brown-haired one"Description:
The best-known bearer of this name by far is basketball superstar LeBron James. While LeBron James is a great athlete and American hero, only 19 baby boys were named LeBron or Lebron in 2021.
- Rowdy
Origin:
American word nameMeaning:
"noisy, disorderly, riotous"Description:
Rowdy was first famously used as a given name in the television series Rawhide, with the young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates. More recently, competitive swimmer Rowdy Gaines has been featured in a series of TV commercials, and a new badass baby name is gaining notice.
- Steel
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Hard and shiny, Steel projects an image that's smooth, macho...and cold to the touch.
- Chito
Origin:
Choctaw, Native AmericanMeaning:
"handsome"Description:
A short, snappy name of Choctaw origin, with a charming meaning, Chito might also be used in Georgian where it means "bird", and as a Filipino and Spanish short form and pet name.
- Montana
Origin:
Spanish place-name; "mountainous"Meaning:
"mountainous"Description:
Relaxed western place-name that still has some masculine punch, but be warned: this whole posse of similarly trendy names, like Sierra and Dakota, will soon ride toward the sunset.
- Kymani
Origin:
Eastern AfricanMeaning:
"adventurous traveler"Description:
One of the most popular African names for boys, Kymani was in the US Top 1000 list from 2008 until 2016. Spelled Ky-mani, it's the name of Bob Marley's son.
- Charleston
Origin:
American place-nameMeaning:
"Charles' town"Description:
Lovers of the languid South Carolina city might be attracted to this rich-sounding name. Could make an interesting update on Charles -- and can certainly work for a girl too. Actor Joey Lawrence used it for his daughter.
- Koi
Origin:
Japanese or ChoctawMeaning:
"carp; panther"Description:
The Koi is a variety of carp especially popular in ornamental gardens in Japan, where they are a symbol of good fortune. In Buddhist culture, the koi is associated with courage. Being one letter away from trendy Kai boosts its prospects as a cool unisex name.
- Gatsby
Origin:
German surname and literary nameMeaning:
"from Gaddesby"Description:
Gatsby is one of the most famous literary surnames, borne by the titular character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The book's Jay Gatsby gussied up his surname from Gatz, whose meaning is given variously as left-handed, cat, God, and person from Gat. As a first name, it's got a lot of energy and that great literary pedigree.
- Tiger
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"animal name"Description:
Other wild animals like Fox, Wolf and Bear are catching on as baby names, and Tiger is a rarer option with several famous namesakes, including golf champ Tiger Woods, who was born Eldrick. Other famous Tigers include Indian actor Tiger Shroff, born Jai, and British actor Tyger Drew-Honey, who spells his name with a Y.
- Enoli
Origin:
CherokeeMeaning:
"black fox"Description:
Perky Cherokee boy name with a great meaning. Foxes symbolize cleverness and playfulness in Cherokee culture.
- Minco
Origin:
Choctaw, Native AmericanMeaning:
"chief"
- Biff
Origin:
American nicknameDescription:
The quintessential midcentury nickname, famously found in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman."
- Teton
Origin:
Native American, Sioux tribe; also western American place-nameDescription:
Rare and rugged, though one of the baby names with a lot of teasing potential.
- Raylan
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Raylan, one of an uncountable number of two syllable, surname-like boys’ names end in n that are in style these days, is inspired by Raylan Givens, the cowboy hat-wearing U.S. Marshall created by writer Elmore Leonard and starring in the television series Justified. The Ray part of the name is of course a traditional choice -- it's usually said to mean "wise" -- but the lan takes it out of Old School Raymond territory. Other variations include Raylen, Raylon, Rayden and so on. The name is also sometimes given to girls, but not nearly as often as it is for boys.
- Lamar
Origin:
English from FrenchMeaning:
"dweller by a pool"Description:
While it may sound a little dated, Lamar is a name that has never been outside the US Top 1000, but it is in danger of falling off the list.
- Inali
Origin:
CherokeeMeaning:
"black fox"Description:
One of a handful of Cherokee names meaning "black fox," along with Enoli and Inola.
- Tex
Origin:
Place-name, nickname for state of Texas residentDescription:
Despite its rakish western charm, still remains a cowboy costume without a real persona inside.
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