Aneurin

Rarely heard in the US, Aneurin is best remembered in the UK as the Welsh politician, Aneurin "Nye" Bevan, who was instrumental in setting up the National Health Service when he was Minister for Health.

Aneurin is a Welsh name, possibly derived from the Latin Honorius. While the Aneurin spelling might cause some confusion outside the UK, the more traditional alternative, Aneirin, might help just a little. There's also the possibility of jaunty nickname Nye, that fits right in with the likes of Kai, Rye, and Sky.

Poetic and meaningful, Aneurin is a bold choice, but one that people might actually have heard. It has appeared sporadically in the England and Wales Top 1000, most recently in 2022, likely thanks to the actor Aneurin Barnard, who starred in the hit show Peaky Blinders. A more recent year saw it fall just outside the Top 1000 when it was given to 27 boys.

Finally, a bit of trivia to end on: To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS in 2023, a train was named after Aneurin Bevan by the Great Western Railway. In a ceremony hosted in Wales, the train was unveiled by none other than the first baby born under the NHS - Aneira Thomas - who was indeed, also named after Bevan!

Pronounced ah-NAY-rin.