Boy Baby Names
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American Names for Boys
What we think of as American names include Native American names , word names, nicknames, and invented names rarely used in other English-speaking countries. It can be difficult to tease out the definition of an American name: Hunter and Cooper, for instance, are technically English names, yet they're very popular boys' name in the US but rarely used as a first name in the UK. And certainly boys' names that became popular thanks to American heroes, such as Landry or Lincoln or Langston, qualify. American names for boys that might be considered truly originating in the US include the following.
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Attitude Names for Boys
Attitude names for boys take the idea of cool baby names one step further: they're a little bit badass, a little bit distinctive, and a lot cool. Cool attitude names include animal names like Bear and Fox, in-your-face word names like Danger and Rebel, and "I dare you to make fun of my name" names like Waldo and Thelonious. The cool, creative baby names for boys here are some that we think have swagger, sass, and attitude.
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Best Cool Unusual Boys' Names
Here is a list of 100 cool and unusual baby names for boys with the most potential---they have genuine roots, are attractive, and work in the modern world. Best of all, the cool names here are still widely underused! You can also skip directly to our full menu of boys' names or unusual baby names.
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Best One-of-a-Kind Names for Boys
Unusual names that nobody (yes, really!) is using for their baby boys in America include the following, which all ranked below the five-baby cutoff to make the Social Security tally in 2016. Included here are many unusual yet classic boys' names as well as fresh, creative choices. If you are looking for truly unique names for your baby boy, any of these would be excellent choices.
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Bible Names for Boys
Bible names have been popular for boys for more than a generation now, with classic Biblical boys' names Aaron and Adam giving way to new favorites such as Asher and Ezra. No matter how many historic masculine names parents revive from Biblical sources, there always seem to be new choices on the table. If you like classic names for boys, the Bible is one of the best historic sources. Here's our collection of Biblical baby names for boys, both familiar and unusual.
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Boy Baby Names Moving Up Fast
Boys' baby names moving quickly up the popularity ladder, according to our deep dive into US statistics, include:
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Boy Baby Names That End in S
Boy baby names that end in S are a fashionable group. The S ending is commonly found in Roman names, stylish now for boys, as well as other fresh, cool choices. Stylish boy baby names that end in S include:
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Boy Baby Names That Mean Wise
Wisdom is a more valuable quality than ever. Here are some baby names that confer it by their meaning.
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Boy Names ALWAYS in the Top 1000
There are just over 200 baby boy names that have been on the Top 1000 since 1880, when the U.S. Social Security office began tracking baby names. The classic boy names here are included among that elite that has been perennially popular. For the full group plus analysis, see our blog on perennially popular boy baby names.
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Boy Names Dads Like More Than Moms
All parents bring their experiences with their own names to bear on the naming of a child, which is why dads may sometimes have stronger feelings about boy names while moms may be more sensitive around names for girls. Traditionally, dads have a preference for strong classic or he-man names for their sons, names that confer a clear measure of masculinity on a baby boy. Dads may also be more likely to favor names that reference athletes or sports, cool guys or rock gods, like the choices here.
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Boy Names from Africa
African baby names for boys from a range of cultures and tribes include the choices here. For our full list of African baby names, click here.
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Boy Names Kids Consider Cool
What are the cool boy names from the point of view of other kids? Choosing a name that other kids consider cool may be more important than one you think is cool yourself.
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Boy Names That Mean Powerful
To give your son an extra measure of strength, choose one of these baby boy names that mean powerful.
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Boy Names Trendier Than You Think
The trendiest baby boy names may be a very different group than you'd guess, especially for the first-time parent new to recent baby-naming fads and trends. Here, some surprisingly trendy baby names for boys.
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Boys' Nicknames with Attitude
Attitude nicknames? We never thought about it until we noticed someone searching for them, and decided, Well, yes, there are attitude nicknames for boys. (And for girls too, but one at a time). Here, some boys' nicknames with attitude.
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British Boy Names
British baby names have a style all their own, and fashionable English names are often a step or two ahead of American baby names. Some of the hottest baby boy names in England, Scotland, and Wales are still cool and underused choices in the U.S., as seen below. Other boys' names make this list because they're classic British choices that have emigrated to the US along with other parts of the world: Among these are Felix, Hugh, Jasper, and Leo. If you're looking for a distinctly British-sounding name for your baby boy, consider the following distinctive selection.
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C or K -- Your Choice
The C and K spellings have become interchangeable for many baby names. Here, a selection of boy names that work with either spelling.
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Classic Baby Names for Boys
Classic baby names for boys, those that have been well used in the English-speaking world over time, are an elite group. While many Biblical baby names certainly qualify, we've grouped most of those on their own list. Here are the classic boy baby names that remain.
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Colonial Names for Boys
Many of the baby names that were widely used during colonial times have fallen out of favor for long enough now to sound fresh and even cool again. If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian and biblical choices we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. The only caveat: The choices are much wider and more appealing for boys than for girls.
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Cool Boy Names From Ancient Cultures
Cool boy names are the order of the day, yet why invent a unique name when there are so many ancient names -- from Rome and Byzantium, from Olde England and Germany -- that deserve to be unearthed in the interest of cool? Here's a selection of worthy ancient choices, from a range of eras and places, that make cool unique baby names for boys.
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Cool Boy Names From Around the World
Cool boy names from Italy and Ireland, Scandinavia to the Middle East and beyond include a wide variety of choices. You may want to choose a boys' name that reflects your family's ethnic heritage or represents a culture you love. Or you may simply be looking for unique boys' names and want to consider international names as one source. Here, a selection of cool boy names from around the world.
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Cool Classic Boys’ Names — 100+ below the Top 1000
These classic boys’ names include choices from ancient cultures and the Bible, names sailing out of style along with those heading in.
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Cool Guy Names
Many of us name babies based on who we want them to grow up to be, and all of these names nudge your son toward cool guy status. These are the names of the guys who are good-looking but not pretty, tough but also tender, bad boys but in the best possible way. If this is your prime criteria for a name, forget name style (though many of these are stylish) and focus on names that convey the cool guy image.
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Coolator for Boys' Names
Cool boys' names can sometimes be made from less-than-cool ones. With a bit of ingenuity you can ramp up a name you like to a similar one that's cooler, or tone it down if you want to go in a quieter direction. Here are some examples:
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Cornish Baby Names
Cornish baby names -- names with Celtic roots connected to the gorgeous southwest corner of England -- are an evocative group. Some Cornish baby names you might want to consider for your child include:
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Cowboy Baby Names
Looking for a name that says cowboy boots and stirrups? Check out this list of cowboy baby names, many of them inspired by Westerns of the last century.
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Crazy Nicknames for Boys
What crazy nicknames have been given to boys over the years? We think these are some of the most unusual.
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Cute Baby Names for Boys
Cute baby names mix up the informal and the unexpected. They're names sometimes found on pets and comic strip characters, but most of them would wear well on a real boy, too. Formal name options can make these even more wearable for the long haul. For more information and many more names, check out our complete guide to cute baby names.
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Dutch Baby Names for Boys
Popular baby names for boys in The Netherlands range from familiar English nicknames such as Tom and Nick to Latinate choices like Guido and Adrianus to fashionably short European baby names like these.
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English Names for Boys
English names for boys -- that is, names that originate in the English language -- are more well-known than you might think. Whereas classic boys' names like Richard may be German and popular ones such as Noah and Jacob may be Hebrew, many names widely used today actually originate in English. These include occupational names such as Hunter and Mason and surname-names like Auden and Colton, as well as English word names such as the newly-trendy Bear. Some classics such as James and Edward are English, as are many common nicknames such as Joe, Jim, and Mike. Here are the best-known English names for boys. And here is a wider selection of all the in the Nameberry database.
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Finnish Baby Names for Boys
Although Finnish baby names are Scandinavian, they sound a lot quirkier to the American ear than Swedish, Norwegian and Danish baby names do. Here are some of the more accessible.
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French Baby Names for Boys
Charming French baby names for boys, far beyond old-fashioned Jean and Jacques, are just waiting to be discovered. Here: some of the best new French baby names for boys.
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Geek Chic Names for Boys
Cool names for boys come in all shapes and flavors. There are some baby names that, like thick black-rimmed glasses and heavy oxfords, are so uncool they're cool. Here are some geek chic baby names for boys.
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Geeks Forever
Some baby names just seem irredeemably geeky, on a permanent no list for the modern child. The baby names here qualify for now on the boys' side -- though we've learned in the world of baby naming, to paraphrase Heidi Klum, one day you're out, and the next day you may be very very in.
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Gladiator Baby Names
Gladiator baby names -- boys' names from Ancient Rome -- are suddenly hot again after a couple of millennia, thanks to Hunger Games, HBO's Rome, Atticus Finch, and Russell Crowe. If you're looking for a baby name for your own little gladiator -- or emperor or god, for that matter -- consider the following.
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Handsome Baby Names
Baby names that mean handsome can help your little boy's self-image. Good-looking baby names for boys include:
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Hipster British Baby Names for Boys
Hipster British baby names for boys feel fresher and funkier than the classic royal names most often associated with the British Isles. These quirky British boy names are popular — though, naturally, not *too* popular! — with hipster parents from London to Liverpool. There are some clear trends to be seen here: lively -o and -ee ending sounds are big with the Brits, old man chic is most definitely in, and nicknames as given names are everywhere. If you're looking for a great British baby boy name beyond James or George, you'll find a wealth of wonderful options in this list — no matter whether your taste leans more toward Milo or Marmaduke!
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If You Like Adam, You Might Love...
Adam is one of the oldest boy names in the book. While Adam is a classic, you might want to consider some fresher baby boy names.
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If You Like Dylan, You Might Love...
Dylan is a literary-yet-relaxed name with the style of Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas. But if you want to explore baby boy names that are similar-yet-different, consider these.
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If You Like Max, You'll Love.....
Love the name Max but fear it's overused? Consider these alternatives with a similar sound, feel, or flavor.
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If You Like Oscar, You Might Love....
Oscar is the grouchy old man name that rose from the ashes to become a recent stylish favorite. But now many parents who a handful of years ago might have chosen Oscar feel they need to look further abroad. If you like Oscar, you might love one of these other, more adventurous baby names.
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If You Like Zachary, You Might Love...
Do you like Zachary but fear it's overused? Here are some possible substitutes for Zachary.
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International Variations of Christopher
Christopher, one of the most popular baby boy names in the US over the past decades, has many intriguing international variations.
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International Variations of George
George is one of those classic baby names that bridges many cultures and languages, each of which feature of variation on the name. Here, the international variations of the baby name George.
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International Variations of Jacob
Jacob has been the Number 1 boy baby name in the US for so long now you might want to think about using one of its international variations.
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Irish Baby Names for Boys
Irish baby names for boys have been growing in popularity in the U.S. in recent years, with Liam reaching Number 2 and all the different spellings of Aiden climbing to the top of the list. While Irish names have become more popular for both genders, we see the style factor on the rise particularly in boys' names unheard of here a generation ago, such as Declan and Finn. Some of our favorite Irish baby names for boys you might want to consider:
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Italian Baby Boy Names Beyond Giovanni & Giuseppe
Italian baby boy names are heard more often in Rome, Italy than Rome, New York, but are eminently usable here as Italian baby names continue to grow in favor.
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Jane Austen Names for Boys
Looking for strength, masculinity and sophistication? Search no further. These traditional Old English baby names have lost none of their royal luster, and are shared by some of Jane Austen's bravest male literary heroes. And no, we're not just talking about Mr. Darcy.
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Jewel and Gemstone Baby Names
Jewel names were popular a century ago and they're back in style now as baby names. Long considered the exclusive province of girls, there are some precious stones and minerals that lend themselves to boys. Among the jewel names you might want to consider for your little gem are:
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Literary Names for Boys
These literary baby names for boys are derived from characters in books from all genres and periods. Here, a selection of the most distinctive baby names from books. In the literary names category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favorites.
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Middle Names for Boys
Middle names for boys are traditionally family names -- father's or grandfather's first name as an honorific, mother's maiden name, or perhaps a hero's name. These choices are typically used as middle names for boys.
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Military Baby Names
Military ranks and weapons--everything is fair game in the struggle to find the right baby name.
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Mythological Baby Names for Boys
Baby names inspired by mythological figures are on the rise, inspired by the use of mythological names for boys in the Hunger Games series. The pantheon of Greek and Roman deities and other classical mythological figures can provide an abundant source of audacious baby names, all combining deep history with not-heard-in-a-long-time freshness. Mythological names that might sound right for modern baby boys include:
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Names No Boy May Be Cool Enough For
You have to be pretty damn cool to name your kid Elmer, cool in that I-like-it-and-I-don't-care-what-the-world-thinks kind of way. Except you're not the one who's going to have to deal with having the name Elmer when you play Little League. You're not the one who's going to have to introduce yourself as Elmer to girls at parties. In fact, if you think it's so cool, maybe you should change your own name to Elmer rather than laying it on a poor little kid. The point: While we can appreciate the contrarian cool inherent in these clunky names, we fear that few children at this point in time are cool enough actually to live with them.
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Nicknames for Boys
Suddenly, nicknames for boys are cool again. Not the cutesy Jerrys and Larrys, Randys and Andys of the '60s and '70s, but rather older, funkier diminutives with a Victorian pedigree. Among the nickname names for boys that you can consider putting directly on the birth certificate include the following. Also check out our list of crazy nicknames for boys.
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Old Man Names
Old man names like Max and Sam and Henry have been used for babies for so long now that they no longer sound like old man names. But don't worry, there are plenty more where those came from. To qualify as a cool old man name, a name has to feel both classic and slightly moth-eaten, like the perfect vintage suit. Here are the names for boys we consider Old Man Names.
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One-Syllable Middle Names for Boys
While we are happy to see baby namers move beyond boring middle names that were mere connective tissue, there are still times -- like when first and last names are elaborate -- when you want a short, strong middle name. Here, some cool one-syllable middle names for boys.
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Operatic Baby Names
You don’t have to be an opera buff to appreciate the rich variety of baby names found in the classic repertoire. It’s an especially appealing category because it contains such an interesting mix of languages: there are frilly French female names, unusual Italian mens’ names, as well as some usable German and Russian character names. These range from leads such as Aida and Tristan, to featured players to those with minor roles. So, omitting common names like Amelia, Norma and Susanna, and the more uber-the-top names like Brunhilde, here are some lyrical opera baby names:
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Papal Names
The selection of Pope Francis I has added a new name to the ist of papal names, which began in the year 32 with St. Peter. Here are some other names of popes that are still usable today--many of them worn by multiple bearers.
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Popular Baby Names for Boys
The list of popular baby names for boys in the U.S. is more straightforward than the girls' list, which is skewed by spelling variations. Except for the Aiden/Caden/Jaden names, which are more popular than they look on the national list because of their many variations, most of the popular baby names for boys exist in one form only. Here, the current 25 most popular baby names for boys.
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Powerful Boy Names
Powerful boy names might be those that literally mean power or strength or those that simply sound macho: Rock is an exaggerated example. If you're looking for a decidedly powerful name for your baby boy, consider these boys' names that have strong or powerful in the meaning or give the impression of conventional masculinity. For more on this topic, see our blog on names that mean strength.
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Prince Names
The prince names here are those chosen by royal families around the world for their little boys over the past decade or so. Your idea of prince names can be expanded to include those used over past generations -- Charles and Andrew, say -- and to extend to fictional princes such as Phillip or...well, maybe not Charming. Some of the real little princes have three or four middle names. For more details, see our blog on prince names.
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Relaxed Baby Boy Names
These are baby boy names that are casual, laid back and friendly.
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Roman Names for Boys
Names from Ancient Rome are enjoying a major style revival. Among the Roman choices for boys are the following, all at home in the modern world.
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Royal Names for Boys
Royal names for boys on this list are those used by the British royal family for over a thousand years. Among current royals, Charles, William, and George are the names of the male heirs to the throne. Other royal male names in use in the UK now include Andrew, Edward, Philip, and James. Some of the royal baby names for boys you might consider are:
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Russian Baby Boy Names
Russian baby names for boys from the Nameberry database include the choices here. Russian baby names are becoming more international, especially favored in Italy. From the point of view of the US, politics have a strong influence on the taste for Russian names for either gender. Russian names for girls may be more familiar than those for boys thanks to the international stardom of many Russian models. Here, a curated collection of Russian names for baby boys.
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Saints' Names For Boys
It is tradition, though no longer a requirement, in the Roman Catholic Church for a child receiving baptism to be given a saint's name. However, even parents who don't find themselves particularly religious have begun to take interest in the rare, uplifting, and sometimes unheard-of names of saints for their sons and daughters. This list includes a wide range of appealing saints' names for boys.
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Scottish Names for Boys
Scottish names for boys are a handsome group, including choices that have traveled far beyond Scotland's shores, such as Douglas and Malcolm and the nouveau Knox, along with many names that are still most at home in the Highlands, from Hamish to Kelso to Baird. While boys' names from Scotland have not travelled as widely as Irish names for boys, they certainly have the same potential. The Scottish boys' names in the Nameberry database include the choices here.
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Son Baby Names
Baby names that end in son originated just the way you think: They designated that the person -- Jackson, say, or Jefferson -- was the son of Jack or Jeffery. Son makes a stylish first name ending today, mostly for boys but since the era of Allison, also for girls. Son baby names can make for an original way to honor an ancestor while slightly varying the name. Some prime examples:
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Spanish Baby Names for Boys
Spanish baby names for boys include lots of choices widely known through the Western World: Juan and Jose, Pablo and Pedro. The parent who wants to find Spanish boys' names that move beyond the obvious choices still has a lot of attractive options. Some of these Spanish names for boys are popular in Spain: Hugo and Iker, for instance, while others, such as Angel, are popular in the US.
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Supermodel Baby Names
It's not enough that supermodels are skinny, gorgeous, world-revered millionaires. They've got babies, too, and not just ordinary babies, but babies with incredibly cool names. Here is the recent crop of supermodel baby names:
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The International Variations of Stephen
Stephen is one of the classic baby boy names widely used in the middle of the last century. Some variations you might want to consider instead:
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The International Variations of Thomas
Thomas is among the most classic baby boy names, with variations in several Western cultures.
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The International Variations of William
William may be both the most classic AND the most fashionable of boy names today. Here are some of its international variations.
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Unique Baby Boy Names
Unique baby names for boys are more widely used now than ever before. Fifty years ago, the Top 20 boys' names represented 41% of all male children; by contrast in 2015, the Top 20 boys' names represented only 14% of all baby boys. Ironically, the greater variety of names being used today means that unique boy names are more likely to be accepted at school or in the workplace. There are lots of ways for names to be unique, from spelling to new creations, but here at Nameberry we're often most inspired by those names which are at once unusual and yet filled with history and meaning. Here is a selection of our current favorite unique names for boys, from A to Z. For even more choices, see our full list of unique baby names.
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Unique Middle Names for Boys
Unique middle names may be a way to add character and distinction to a son's name, especially if his first name is a more traditional name or a conservative family choice. Unique middle names can include word names, place names, surname names, names of heroes from history or the arts. Some Unique baby names that work in the middle for boys:
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Variations of John
For centuries the most popular of all boy baby names, borne by saints, kings, and countless other illustrious notables, John is still in the Top 20. For a new spin on one of the longest-running favorite baby names, try one of John's international variations.
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Variations of Joseph
Grandpa Joe's namesakes can take many forms, as the baby names here demonstrate.
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Variations of Michael
Michael is one of the most popular baby names of the past century. To honor a dad or grandpa named Michael, or find a fresh way to spin the old favorite, consider these international baby names that are variations on the original.
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Variations of Paul
Paul is one of those classic baby names that's neither in style nor thoroughly out. Paul's many international versions all start with P.
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Variations of Peter
Peter is one of the classic if not fashionable baby names that may be more appealing in one of its international variations.
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Video Game Names for Boys
Movie- and TV-character names may seem both inspired and inspirational to parents at the beginning of the twenty-first century, but what of the next generation of parents-to-be, those raised not on movies and television but on video games? Their idea of a cool name is sure to be way wilder than that of parents today. These names from popular video games will give you an idea of the kind of choices that could inspire the names of your grandchildren.
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Vintage Baby Names for Boys
Vintage baby names for boys are in style now, along with vintage clothes and furniture. The most popular and stylish vintage baby names for boys include the following.
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Vintage Nicknames for Boys
There's a group of nicknames that were used in distant past and are all but forgotten now. The following might be worth a fresh look. You may also want to consult the larger list of Nicknames for Boys.
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Vowel Baby Names for Boys
Baby names that start with vowels are growing the most in popularity. Here, some of the best baby names for boys starting with A, E, I, O, and U.
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Yupster Baby Names for Boys
Yupsters -- a blend of yuppies and hipsters -- prefer baby names that are to the left of the most popular list but far to the right of most choices on this site. The Yupster Baby Names are classic as well as cool, embodying style along with history. The only problem is that you may hear them far more than you want to in the years to come.
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