Ways to Bay

One of the most appealing of the newly hip occupational names, evoking sweet smells emanating from the oven. Much fresher sounding than than others that have been around for a while, like Cooper, and Carter.

Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls.

Benaiah is an unusual Biblical choice that can get you to Ben.

Derived from the Scottish Gaelic bàn, meaning "white, fair". It's also a name in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Elvish language, in which it means "beautiful".

Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights.

The Scottish surname Baird's most notable bearer was John Logie Baird, the Scottish engineer and inventor of the televisor, the world's first practical television system in 1926, and also the world's first fully electronic color TV tube two years later. Some might also remember puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird.

This ancient name is that of the hero of the epic Beowulf, which is thought to be the oldest-ever poem in English lit written in the vernacular. J. R. R. Tolkien used the poem as one of his inspirations for The Lord of the Rings.

An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin is a contemporary bearer of this unusual and evocative name.

The Spanish word for "berry" makes a deliciously intriguing word name possibility.

This fabric word name would be a one-of-a-kind.

Short form of Adebayo

Baylor is a possible occupational alternative to the tired Taylor, especially for a horse lover.

Bayne is a masculine name with Scottish origins, derived from a surname meaning 'fair-haired' or 'white.' In Scottish history, it was both a given name and a clan name. The name carries historical weight through its connection to Macbeth, where a character named Banquo (whose descendants formed the Bayne clan) appears. Bayne has a strong, concise sound that appeals to parents seeking short, powerful names for boys. Despite its ancient roots, the name maintains a modern feel with its single syllable and distinctive spelling. While never extremely popular, Bayne has maintained a steady, if uncommon, presence in naming records. Its rarity gives it a distinctive quality without seeming completely unfamiliar.

Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best known for penning the words to "America the Beautiful".

A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender.

Also written as Bayla, Baila is reminiscent of the Spanish word for "dance". Its meaning is debated: it may come from the Slavic root word for "white", or it may be a form of Bilhah, one of the four women who gave birth to the tribes of Israel. An offbeat approach to Bella.

French form of Urban or Urbanus, borne by eight popes.

Offers much less than Bay.

This possible word name, which rhymes with Maia, makes an even more distinctive alternative.

We'll have our sherry in the parlor, please, Bainbridge.

Sound-wise, Beige fits in with Sage, Gage, Boone, and Brooks, and you could argue it gives off calm, clean vibes. However, its links to total blandness and to the divisive "Beige Mom Aesthetic" mean that Beige has yet to make the US charts for boys.