Personal Favorites

The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.

Atticus, with its trendy Roman feel combined with the upstanding, noble image of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, is a real winner among boy names. Atticus entered the US Top 1000 in 2004 and is a firm Nameberry favorite.

Bartholome is a masculine name with biblical and historical significance, representing a variant spelling of Bartholomew, one of Jesus's twelve apostles. Derived from the Aramaic 'bar-Talmay' meaning 'son of Talmai,' it carries ancient heritage and religious connotations. This spelling variation appears in medieval records and maintains popularity in some European regions, particularly with French and Spanish influence. Bartholome offers a slightly softer pronunciation than Bartholomew while preserving its distinguished heritage. Though not among today's most common names, it provides an option for parents seeking a name with deep historical roots and religious significance. The name's international variants and diminutives like Bart or Bartolo offer flexibility for everyday use.

Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.

Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a rock star figure.

Callum is a gentle, charming name of Scottish origin, that is a popular choice across the UK. In the US, it was a rare option until the late 2000s, however, since 2017 it's been rising up the ranks. Complete with easy, breezy and cool nickname Cal, it climbed more than 60 places in the US in 2024, placing it just outside the Top 150.

Forget the oil. It's one of the twins that make up the constellation Gemini, and a mythological name on the cutting-edge of fashion; used by Metallica's James Hetfield.

Pronounced "crwa", this unusual name was chosen by Cedric the Entertainer for his son.