One-of-a-Kind Names for Boys

Django

• Origin:

  Romani

• Meaning:

  "I awake"

• Description:

  Django — the D is silent as most everyone now knows — the nickname of the great Belgian-born jazz guitarist Django (originally Jean Baptiste) Reinhardt, makes a dynamic musical choice for any jazz aficionado. Reinhardt's nickname "Django" is Romani for "I awake." The name has become more familiar with the release of and acclaim for the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained.

Tarquin

• Origin:

  Latin, Roman clan name

• Description:

  One of the few ancient Roman names that doesn't end in us, the rarely heard Tarquin has a decidedly creative, even dramatic flair, which could appeal to the parent looking for a strikingly original name. Sir Laurence Olivier used it for his oldest child, who was named Simon Tarquin but called by his middle name.

Septimus

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "the seventh son"

• Description:

  Septimus is one of the more dashing of the birth-order Latin number names that were revived by the Victorians. So even if you don't anticipate son number 7, you might be bold enough to consider this relic, certainly preferable to sixth-son name Sextus.

Auberon

• Origin:

  English from German

• Meaning:

  "noble, bearlike"

• Description:

  Rarely heard in the US, Auberon has a gentle autumnal feel rare in a male name. Possibly starting as a pet form of Aubrey, it was also infuenced by Oberon, the king of the fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Acacius

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "thorny; or, innocent, not evil"

• Description:

  Acacius is a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Akakios and can be interpreted to relate to the same root as the name Acacia, for the thorn bush, or Akakios which means "not evil." With the modern taste for ancient names that end in "us," this obscure but attractive choice may have a chance of new life. Acacius is the name of three early saints.

Corentin

• Origin:

  French, Breton

• Meaning:

  "tempest, hurricane"

• Description:

  Corentin is an intriguing saint's name fashionable in France but virtually unknown here-- which you may consider a big plus. St. Corentin possessed a magical fish that regenerated itself each night, feeding himself and his lucky visitors in perpetuity.

Jem

• Origin:

  Diminutive of James or Jeremiah

• Description:

  This name of the ten-year-old boy in the much loved and acclaimed modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird could find favor along with that of the character's sister, Scout.

Finbar

• Origin:

  Irish

• Meaning:

  "fair-haired"

• Description:

  This is an ancient saints' name well used in Ireland but a rarity here and unlikely to ever reach the popularity of other Finn-ish names. St. Finbarr (the more common spelling) is the patron saint of Cork and in Irish folklore, Finbarr was king of the fairies.

Cadmus

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "one who excels"

• Description:

  Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents — especially since Cadmus Peverell is a human Harry Potter character, one of the three original owners of the Deathly Hallows.

Gawain

• Origin:

  Welsh

• Meaning:

  "May hawk"

• Description:

  This name of the courteous Knight of the Round Table, the nephew of King Arthur, has long been superseded by its Scottish form, Gavin.

Gulliver

• Origin:

  Irish

• Meaning:

  "glutton"

• Description:

  Gulliver is an obscure Gaelic surname known almost solely through its literary Travels until actor Gary Oldman used it for his son, instantly transforming it into a lively option. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland, and Helen McCrory also have a son named Gulliver.

Mingus

• Origin:

  Scottish, variation of Menzies

• Meaning:

  "tenants of a manor"

• Description:

  Supermodel Helena Christensen named her son in honor of jazz great Charles Mingus, opening up a whole category of jazzy possibilities: Kenton, Calloway, Ellington, Gillespie, Mulligan, Tatum, and Thelonius. 

Ox

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "working cattle"

• Description:

  Animal names are booming, but this is one that's never been used — although Boaz, which means "ox" in Hebrew, is starting to see more use. With its connotations of strength, teamwork and perseverance, and cool X sound, well, why not? It would work especially well for a child born in the Chinese Year of the Ox (February 2021-January 2022). If you need a longer version an obvious option is Oxford, but there's also Oxley, Oxton, or a slightly different sound like Oakley or Oswald.

Florent

• Origin:

  French from Latin

• Meaning:

  "flowering"

• Description:

  Historically, the English name Florence was used for both sexes. Now that it's female-only, we have to look to other European languages for a male equivalent. Florent is a steady classic in France, booming there in the 1980s. Maybe it's time to import it, and show that boys can be floral too.

Pim

• Origin:

  Dutch diminutive of Willem or William

• Meaning:

  "resolute protection"

• Description:

  The short, cute Pim is a Top 100 boys' name in The Netherlands though little-known outside that country. But in a family overrun with Williams, Pim could make an original nickname setting a modern child apart from father Will and grandpa Bill.

Scorpio

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "scorpion"

• Description:

  Of all the astrological names —think Leo, Aries, Gemini— Scorpio probably has the most dramatically potent presence, which could prove something of a burden to a young boy.

Finlo

• Origin:

  Manx

• Meaning:

  "fair Lugh"

• Description:

  FInlo is a name from the Isle of Man, deriving from that island's pagan Sun God, Lugh. Given the popularity of all names Finn/Finley etc, Finlo could be a great alternative for people who love the "Fin" sound but want a more unusual name.

Aletris

• Origin:

  Flower name, from Greek

• Meaning:

  "corn grinder"

• Description:

  The bell-shaped flower Aletris is also known as Colic Root, Blazing Star, Unicorn Root, and Stargrass. Its roots have medicinal properties and are used to aid digestive and muscle problems. Its name derives from Greek aletris -- a female slave who ground corn -- because of the mealy texture of the flowers.

Bard

• Origin:

  Irish variation of Baird, Scottish

• Meaning:

  "minstrel, poet"

• Description:

  Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.

Aubin

• Origin:

  French form of Alban

• Meaning:

  "white, blond"

• Description:

  More appealing than the English version, Aubin might be seen as a fresher and more decidedly masculine twist on Aubrey. This handsome discovery is now ranked at Number 311 in its native France.

Bramwell

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "well where the gorse grows"

• Description:

  The only boy in the Brontë family; the name has a lonely Wuthering Heights/Jane Eyre feel.

Geordie

• Origin:

  British English demonym

• Description:

  Though it looks, to the untrained American eye, like a yoonek spelling of Jordy, Geordie actually refers to people from Tyneside in Northeast England and the local dialect there. To give you a sense of what it implies to Brits, Geordie Shore is British MTV's long-running answer to Jersey Shore.

Aragon

• Origin:

  Spanish place name

• Description:

  Equally strong, dramatic and romantic, this name of an old kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula and a modern Spanish community as well, would give a boy an instant pedigree.

Clem

• Origin:

  , English, diminutive of Clement

• Description:

  Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm.

Tolliver

• Origin:

  English occupational name

• Meaning:

  "metalworker"

• Description:

  If you're tired of Oliver, you might consider this energetic three-syllable surname instead, so you could have a little Tolly instead of an Ollie.

Quartz

• Origin:

  Mineral name

• Description:

  This may be a bit quirky to make it as a name, especially in first place. If you love it, you might try it in the middle.

Cathal

• Origin:

  Irish

• Meaning:

  "battle rule"

• Description:

  The name of an ancient Irish saint is in the contemporary Irish Top 50. While it's one of the rare Irish names for boys that hasn't immigrated to the U.S., it may follow brothers Aidan and Declan to our shores. The t is not pronounced.

Romilly

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "man of Rome"

• Description:

  Originally a surname deriving from the Roman twin Romulus, this attractive name was introduced to the English-speaking world by painter Augustus John who used it for his son. Romilly John became Admiral of the Fleet in England. Now used for both sexes but highly unusual for either, Romilly was given to a dozen girls in the US last year and no boys.

Wilkie

• Origin:

  Scottish surname from a diminutive of William

• Meaning:

  "resolute protection"

• Description:

  William was such a popular name, thanks to the Conquerer, in early England that it gave rise to a range of nicknames, including the distinctly Scottish Wilkie. Heard mostly as a surname these days, it's the middle name of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's son James and the first name of writer Collins. While Wilkie could make an adorable short form for a little boy, we'd recommend a more substantial full name such as, well, William.

Tarian

• Origin:

  Welsh

• Meaning:

  "shield"

• Description:

  Country singer Travis Tritt is partial to the letter T for his children's names: he has a Tyler, a Tristan, and a son named Tarian. Tarian is a unisex Welsh name which, though used more for girls in Wales, would be perfectly acceptable here for a boy.

Bas

• Origin:

  Dutch, diminutive of Bastiaan and Sebastian

• Meaning:

  "person from the city of Sebastia"

• Description:

  Bas is a fashionable name in its own right in the Netherlands, where it's been in the Top 10. Used throughout Europe, it may have a future here as a straightforward-but-charming nickname name. Baz is another, similar and more appealing possibility.

Rodion

• Origin:

  Russian from Greek

• Meaning:

  "song of the hero"

• Description:

  Well used in Russia, this is a distinctive and undiscovered choice here. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the fictional protagonist of Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoyevsky.

Cabot

• Origin:

  French

• Meaning:

  "to sail"

• Description:

  Cabot is an attractive English surname associated with the daring early Italian-born British explorer known as John Cabot; his birth name was Giovanni Caboto.

Akello

• Origin:

  Ugandan

• Meaning:

  "I have brought forth"

• Description:

  Energetic but mellow.

Nat

• Origin:

  English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel

• Description:

  Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.

Grove

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Meaning:

  "grove of trees"

• Description:

  If you find Grover too fusty and furry, this is a much cooler-sounding alternative.

Crusoe

• Origin:

  Literary surname

• Description:

  Crusoe, as in castaway hero Robinson, is a literary invention by author Daniel Defoe. The character says his name is an Anglicization of the German Kreutznaer, which may be a place name or mean a crossing of the river Nahe. Short form Cru was given to nearly 50 boys in a recent year.

Puck

• Origin:

  Literary name

• Description:

  Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie whose only known real-life incarnation was the insufferable neohippie on an early season of MTV's "Real World." Now, though, the attractive bad boy character on "GLEE" is giving Puck new possibilities, at least as a nickname.

Roald

• Origin:

  Norwegian

• Meaning:

  "famous ruler"

• Description:

  This intriguing Scandinavian name is associated with Roald Dahl, author of the juvenile classics James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can honor an ancestral Ronald just by dropping that middle 'n'.

Cassio

• Origin:

  Italian variation of Cassius

• Meaning:

  "hollow"

• Description:

  Cassio is a notable Shakespearean name that's a member of the ever-more-popular Cassius family of names. Cassio was Othello's young, good-looking, and flirtatious lieutenant.

Ugo

• Origin:

  Italian variation of Hugh

• Meaning:

  "mind, intellect"

• Description:

  Ugo is very common in Italy, but here it might call to mind that little Yugoslavian car.

Rudyard

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "red enclosure"

• Description:

  Often thought of as a one-peson name because of Jungle Book writer Kipling, this was actually his middle name. He was middle-named for Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, the beauty of which inspired his parents to reference it in their first child's name. Trivia tidbit: Actress Kim Raver gave her son Leo the middle name of Kipling.

Pascoe

• Origin:

  Cornish variation of Pascal

• Meaning:

  "Easter"

• Description:

  Pascoe was popular in medieval times and is definitely deserving of revival, especially for a child born in the Easter season. Other spellings are Pasco and Pascow.

Spruce

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.

Piran

• Origin:

  Irish

• Meaning:

  "prayer"

• Description:

  It may be a longshot – especially since it was given to less than 5 boys in the US in 2018 – but Piran could conceivably be a future Kieran, which is shaping up to being the next Kevin. Piran is the patron saint of miners and of Cornwall.

Sim

• Origin:

  Scottish diminutive of Simon

• Meaning:

  "the listener"

• Description:

  The Biblical Simon has been rediscovered and this appealing short form, an alternative to Sam, might be a way to make your Simon even more special.

Flavian

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "yellow hair"

• Description:

  A Latin clan name that may rise again along with other things Roman.

Haldan

• Origin:

  Scandinavian

• Meaning:

  "half Danish"

• Description:

  If you fit this definition, this might be a clever choice, especially as a middle name.

Rancher

• Origin:

  Occupational name

• Description:

  Any name that combines two big trends -- in this case, occupational and western names -- has potential.

Tig