Name Image
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
English, German
"enclosure, hedge"
A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks and Hayes, Haines ultimately comes from the name Hagen. Also spelled as Haynes,…
Spelling variation of Sergeant, Latin
"to serve"
One of the few military ranks used as a name, as in Kennedy in-law and Peace Corps creator Sargent (born Robert Sargent) Shriver. There's also a more creative, artistic association with painter John…
English
"cattle ford"
Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.
English and French variation of Page
"page, attendant"
This unusual offshoot of Page is one of the undiscovered unique baby names , with lots of energy and charm. Actress Paget Brewster, star of Criminal Minds , presents another spelling possibility. She…
English from German
"mountain home"
A cross-cultural possibility, but a bit heavy and somber.
French
"to sail"
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.
English surname
"one who lives near the heath"
Before there was esteemed actress Anne Hathaway, there was Anne Hathaway, wife of Shakespeare — the former being named after the latter. Either Anne Hathaway would be appropriate to honor with this…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an…
"dweller by the holly tree"
Familiar English surname now associated with the Abercrombie & Fitch offshoot.
German
"angel-raven"
An undiscovered surname possibility with upscale overtones, could be enlivened with nickname Ingo.
English variation of Yves
"yew wood"
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
English and Scottish
"small dwelling place, shed"
Short but not particularly sweet surname.
"farm near the river"
Wharton is a rather stiff banker name that becomes creative as a middle name choice for lovers of the novels of writer Edith.
English literary name
"kite"
Poetic and easy to pronounce (it's keets), this is one of many poets' names to consider, such as Auden, Eliot, Frost, Byron, Lorca, Marlowe, Blake, Emerson and Tennyson. Likely meaning "kite", in…
English, Irish
"bold, brave; battle"
Actor Mark Ruffalo honed this surname down to its basics when he chose it for his son. A more usable expansion might be the Irish surname Keenan/Keenen.
"where birches grow"
Americans may not realize Barclay is the phonetic spelling of the British Berkeley -- though both sound like old-fashioned butler names.
Irish
"dweller at the fjord-land"
First used for Norse invaders, this name, along with the similar Lachlan, is an attractive, worldly, and unusual choice — despite connections to the Nevada gambling resort.
Scottish
"son of Alasdair"
Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a…
"Mac's field"
This name may be related to the Latin Maximus, which means "the greatest," or to a British landowner's name, but for most modern parents, it's one of several ways to get to short form Max. Probably…
Irish surname
"son of Cárthach"
McCarthy is one of the most common Irish surnames, all fair game as first names for American babies, especially baby girls!
