Antagonists

This is the French version of Alcides, birth name of the Greek mythological Heracles (Hercules). You're more likely to recognize it as the name of the hot True Blood werewolf, Alcide Herveaux.

Rooted in Greek mythology, Ares entered the US Top 1000 in 2013, when it was one of the year's fastest rising names. Similar in style to Atticus, Atlas, and Ari, it has continued to climb up the charts, and now ranks in the Top 500, given to around 770 babies each year .

As modern as it sounds, Blaise is an ancient Christian martyr name. In Arthurian legend, Blaise is the name of Merlin the Magician's secretary. Its relation to the word and name Blaze gives it a fiery feel. Amanda Beard named her baby boy Blaise Ray.

It may be the hippest of hispter neighborhoods, but as a baby name Brooklyn is now on the decline: down from a peak of 120 births for boys in 1999, and over 7000 births for girls in 2011.

Cael is the name of the angel of the zodiac sign of Cancer and also of a warrior of Irish mythology. Its ascendance to the Top 1000 over the past decade probably has to do with its similarity to Cale and Kale (and Kyle and Cayden etcetera).

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. May be confused in the US with Cohen, which stems from the Jewish surname designating a priest.

Though closely associated with the great medieval Florentine poet Dante Alighieri -- who's so famous most people skip the last name -- it's not as much of a one-man name as you might think. Heck, it's not even a one-poet name, thanks to British pre-Rapahaelite Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Though especially well used in the Italian-American community, it would make a striking name for any little boy.

Darell is a masculine name representing a variation of Darrell, which originated as an English surname derived from Norman-French roots. The name ultimately comes from the Old French 'd'Airelle,' meaning 'from Airelle,' referring to a place name. As a given name, Darell gained modest popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century but has since declined in usage. The single 'r' spelling distinguishes it slightly from the more common Darrell. The name has a distinguished, somewhat traditional quality while maintaining accessibility. Notable bearers have included athletes and musicians, contributing to its association with achievement. Darell projects reliability and strength while avoiding trendiness, making it a solid but increasingly uncommon choice for parents seeking a name with subtle distinction.

The Welsh form of Tristan, and the name of a counselor to King Arthur.

Rugged and outdoorsy, Heath was an obscure choice until the 1960s when it was used in the television series, The Big Valley for character Heath Barkley. It peaked in the 70s when it reached the Top 200, but has since been in decline, dropping out of the Top 1000 in 2023.

Karlen is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. It can be found as an Armenian name meaning 'manly' or 'virile,' a Swedish variant of Karl (meaning 'free man'), or a variation of the Scandinavian name Carlen. The name has a strong, straightforward sound that translates well across different languages. Despite its international presence, Karlen remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, making it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce. It carries the strength associated with its various meanings while maintaining a contemporary feel. The name has never ranked among top naming trends but maintains steady usage within certain cultural communities.

Madden is an Irish surname relative of Madigan rising through the charts thanks to its trendy two-syllable, -en ending sound along with its appeal to Madden Football video game-playing dads. John Madden is a former pro football player who went on to coach the Oakland Raiders and become a popular NFL commentator. Madden is also the surname of groovy Nicole Richie baby daddy Joel Madden.

Pascoe was popular in medieval times and is definitely deserving of revival, especially for a child born in the Easter season. Other spellings are Pasco and Pascow.

Paxton stands out from a lot of other two-syllable surname names for two reasons: the dynamic letter X in the middle, and its admirable peace association, providing the great nickname Pax.