Dad Names

On the Latino Hit Parade, heard much more often than the English version.

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.

Unique spelling chosen by singer Brian McKnight for his son.

Name hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000 that may move higher with the fashion for two-syllable surnames. You could do worse...but you probably could also do better.

One case where a spelling variation improves the name, Britton is used about four times as often as Britain for both genders. Currently, the count of baby Brittons is running at about 4 to 3 in favor of the boys.

Though a variation of Dion, this name made it into 2013's Top 1000 while the original did not.

A Latin classic, widely used here and abroad, though in the U.S. it has fallen on the charts in recent years.

Standard Latin classic.

Popular in the African American community, the De- prefix makes this a choice for sons of Marcuses.

We see no reason to add an extra "L" to Maximilian -- it's long enough as is.

Terrell feels like a modern invention based on Terrence, but Tyrrell has plenty of history as a surname name.

Simple and worldly, popular and carrying two positive meanings in two diverse cultures. A winner prime for wider use.

Another Spanish boys' name that relates to a goddess, the Egyptian Isis. San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid.

The German, Scandinavian and Czech variant of Joseph, borne by several notable European artists and athletes, as well as the brutal Soviet dictator Josef (or Iosif) Stalin.

Kelsey (ex-Frasier) Grammer is a famous male bearer, although most modern Kelseys are female. It derives from several English place names, possibly meaning "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce".

A fresh Dale relative that finds place amongst similar names like Cullin and Hamelin as well as the more common Allen and Dylan.

The jazziest nickname for Charles.

There are ordinary folk named Prince, Earl, and Duke, so why not this rank of nobility as well? Many spellings compete, the most common being Marquis, Marquise, and Marquez. Rapper 50 Cent chose the Marquise version for his son; David Caruso chose Marquez.