New Boy Names

  1. Kyson
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Kyle"
    • Description:

      An update of Tyson for parents who prefer the Ky nickname to Ty. It was the middle name of a character on Heroes.
  2. Layton
    • Origin:

      Old English
    • Meaning:

      "settlement with a leek garden"
    • Description:

      This first name was once a surname derived from Old English. Used quietly a century ago, the current fashion for two-syllable boy names ending in n makes this one a new hit.
  3. Tadeo
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Thaddeus
    • Description:

      Has a lot of energy and charm, as does the Italian form, Taddeo.
  4. Decker
    • Origin:

      German occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "roofer"
    • Description:

      Brawny name chosen for his son by rocker Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.
  5. Zeppelin
    • Origin:

      German word name from Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "zeppelin; flail"
    • Description:

      In a baby name landscape where word names and names that start with Z are infinitely cool, there are few options for parents who want to combine trends. Zeppelin is one of the best names at the intersection of these two styles, and it's rising alongside the likes of Zen, Zephyr, and Zenith.
  6. Lux
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Lux, one of the light-filled names that include Lucy and Lucian, broke onto the scene as a girls' name but now it's decidedly gender neutral. In fact, at the last count there were slightly more boys named Lux than girls: 140 to 120. But that's pretty close, making this a truly nonbinary name.
  7. Eros
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "desire, love"
    • Description:

      The name of the Greek winged god of love (usually romantic and sexual love) may seem a lot to live up to, but like other deity names, it's on the rise. In a recent year, it was given to more than 130 boys in the US.
  8. Seven
    • Origin:

      English word and number name
    • Description:

      This number name first came to public attention when Erykah Badu and Andre 3000 chose if for their son, Seven Sirius Benjamin, born in 1997. Over a decade later, David and Victoria Beckham used it as their daughter's middle name, and now in these days of unisex word names, it's rising for both sexes. It's certainly one of the most name-like numbers: after all, it's only a letter away from Steven.
  9. Valor
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "courage and bravery"
    • Description:

      This modern virtue name gives a nod to ancient chivalry and could also work as an updated form of the classic Victor. A bold choice, but one that an increasing number of parents have been making in the last decade.
  10. Loki
    • Origin:

      Norse mythological name
    • Meaning:

      "lock"
    • Description:

      Loki is the shape-shifting, gender-bending god of mischief in Norse mythology. Taking several animal forms, from a salmon to a seal to a fly, Loki is alternately friend and foe of the gods.
  11. Darwin
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dear friend"
    • Description:

      Enough parents have found naturalist Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, a worthy hero to keep Darwin relatively consistently in the Top 1000. It has a lovely meaning too—"dear friend."
  12. Haven
    • Origin:

      Word name, English
    • Meaning:

      "a place of safety"
    • Description:

      Like Harbor, one of the new generation of word names with appealing meanings, though (female) memoirist Haven Kimmel has tipped it decidedly toward the girls' side.
  13. Peyton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fighting-man's estate"
    • Description:

      Peyton is the most-used spelling of this popular name, thanks to football star Peyton Manning. It rose to fame in the 90s and was solidly - or statistically - unisex in the early 2000s, however, the 2010s saw it shift to a more feminine leaning option. Nevertheless, with its surname-style and gentle sounds, Peyton could still fit in with the likes of Grayson, Everett, and Cameron.
  14. Chosen
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "one who is the object of choice or of divine favor"
    • Description:

      Chosen is officially a baby name thanks to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who chose (can't resist) the word as the name of his newborn son.
  15. Coen
    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Coenraad, variation of Cohen, or Australian place name, "bold advisor; priest; thunder"
    • Meaning:

      "bold advisor; priest; thunder"
    • Description:

      Like many short forms now popular as full names in the Netherlands, Coen—also spelled Koen—originated as the diminutive of the more old-fashioned Coenraad, the Dutch Conrad. In this case, it would be pronounced as KOON, with a short oo sound.
      Alternatively, it may be used in the US as a variation of Cohen, which stems from the Jewish surname designating a priest, and thus pronounced as CO-uhn. Additionally, it may also relate to the Irish surname McCown ("of Connacht") or to the Australian place name, Coen, meaning "thunder" from its Indigenous roots.
  16. Gianni
    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Giovanni, variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Gianni, the Italian equivalent of Johnny, sounds more substantial and fresh. Like many names starting with "Gian", it is on a rising trend (for both boys and girls, though it leans more male). TV star Jill Hennessey's son is named Gianni Mastropietro.
  17. True
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "true"
    • Description:

      Many parents seeking a return to more basic values and a simpler lifestyle are turning to such virtuous girls' names as Grace, Faith, and Hope, but there are a handful that work just as well on boys, including True.
  18. Santino
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "little saint"
    • Description:

      A name introduced here by The Godfather: James Caan played the anything-but-saintly Santino "Sonny" Corleone, and comedian Adam Carolla used it for his son.
  19. Arrow
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Words are not always easy to translate into baby names, but the implications of being straight and swift lend this one great potential as a name. It also has the popular o-sound ending, which brings it further into the realm of possibility. Rising rock star Aja Volkman pulled a gender switch when she named her daughter Arrow Eve.
  20. Harlem
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Meaning:

      "home on a forested dune"
    • Description:

      With Brooklyn, Trenton, and Camden on the rise, Harlem is one to watch out for. It has lingered down the lower end of the US Top 1000 since 2018 but has been trending upwards. It's already been picked by one celebrity, and it certainly has a stronger historical and cultural identity -- and it could work as an alternative to Harvey or Harley.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
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  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
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