One-of-a-Kind Names for Boys

  1. Alamo
    • Origin:

      Place-name, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "poplar tree"
    • Description:

      The unique O-ending makes this name memorable, especially for someone with ties to Texas.
  2. Fitzhugh
    • Origin:

      English, from German
    • Meaning:

      "son of intelligence"
    • Description:

      All the Fitz names are hard to carry, but this one has a wonderful meaning and might be a good middle name choice to honor a brilliant lineage.
  3. Land
    • Origin:

      Word name or diminutive of Landon
    • Meaning:

      "long hill"
    • Description:

      One of the simplest, most down-to-earth yet evocative of the word names, which could work — especially as a middle.
  4. Fairfax
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "blond"
    • Description:

      If this name makes you think of Victorian novels, it's because Fairfax was part of Mr Rochester's name in Jane Eyre, and the surname of a minor character in Jane Austen's Emma. It has a distinctly aristocratic feel, despite its straightforward meaning. Fairfax is also a city in Virginia.
  5. Gower
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      This Old Welsh name associated with blacksmiths has never caught on, but it has the right two-syllable occupational feel to qualify for revival. Gower Champion was a successful midcentury dancer, choreographer and director on the Broadway stage, in films and on TV.
  6. Glenwood
    • Origin:

      Scottish, English
    • Meaning:

      "a narrow valley in the woods"
    • Description:

      A surname style choice with a gentle yet rugged feel.
  7. Averill
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "boar battle"
    • Description:

      Averill is an ancient name, most properly spelled Averil, that has a Boston Brahmin air – probably due to the image of statesman Averill Harriman. It's of the rare English surname names that originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild (Everild), meaning "boar battle".
  8. Kubo
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "sunken ground"
    • Description:

      The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may want to consider it.
  9. Kehinde
    • Origin:

      Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "second-born of twins or one who falls behind"
    • Description:

      This African name, which derives from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, is used for both girls and boys -- but in the US, its most notable bearer is (male) artist Kehinde Wiley. Wiley, who paints brown- and black-skinned people in the style of European Old Masters, was born in Los Angeles of an African-American mother and a Yoruba father and was also a twin, thus his name. An attractive and creative choice for either gender.
  10. Taddeo
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Thaddeus
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      A particularly charming spin on the original, as is theSpanish name Tadeo. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016.
  11. Ciprian
    • Origin:

      Romanian, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "man of Cyprus"
  12. Viceroy
    • Origin:

      Word name, English
    • Meaning:

      "ruler who represents the king"
    • Description:

      A new one for the ever-growing collection of royal baby names.
  13. Padgett
    • Origin:

      Variation of Page, French
    • Meaning:

      "page, attendant"
    • Description:

      Padgett is a last name turned first name, from the occupational term for a page or attendant. No babies of either sex were given the name in the US last year.
  14. Hammond
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "mountain home"
    • Description:

      A cross-cultural possibility, but a bit heavy and somber.
  15. Eisenhower
    • Origin:

      German occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "iron cutter"
    • Description:

      Eisenhower is derived from Eisenhauer, a German surname composed of the elements eisen, meaning "iron," and hauer, "hewer." In modern English, that translates to "iron cutter." It's best known as the surname of President Dwight D., "Ike" Eisenhower, making Ike an appropriate nickname (and you might need one, with a name this stately!)
  16. Reading
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of the red-haired"
    • Description:

      Inventive way to honor a redheaded ancestor, though most people would mispronounce it reeding, making it sound to some kids like a school assignment: Redding is a preferable spelling.
  17. Basquiat
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Description:

      As a first name, Basquiat is used as in honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the neoexpressionist whose art touched on themes of race, wealth disparity, and humanism.
  18. Raido
    • Origin:

      Proto-Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "ride, journey"
    • Description:

      Raido is the rune that corresponds with the Latin letter R in the Elder Furthark runic alphabet. In Old English, it was translated at Rad.

      Nowadays it makes an interesting baby name for linguists and language-enthusiasts.

  19. Cousteau
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Meaning:

      "coast dweller"
    • Description:

      Charismatic surname name borne by French explorer, conservationist, scientist, inventor and author Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who devoted his life to the study of the sea and all forms of life in water.
  20. 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.

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