Unusual Male Names

Alston is a distinguished masculine name of Old English origin, derived from a surname meaning "Ælf's settlement" or "Ælf's town," combining ancient elements referring to elves and a place of dwelling. Originally a family name and place name found primarily in England, it transitioned to occasional use as a first name. Alston carries an air of refinement and tradition, evoking images of English countryside estates and heritage. While never reaching mainstream popularity as a given name, it appeals to parents seeking something uncommon yet historically grounded. The name has aristocratic associations in British culture and provides the friendly nickname "Al" while maintaining a formal, dignified full version for professional settings.

A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.

Names of royal ranks -- King, Prince, and yes, Baron -- have become more widely used in recent years, though they're outlawed in several countries. This spelling, the same as that of the financial publication Barrons, was used by Donald and Melania Trump for their son.

Caius is classical and serious but also has a simple, joyful quality. There was a third century pope named Caius, as well as an early Christian writer, several Shakespearean characters, and a Twilight vampire. We would pronounce the name to rhyme with eye-us though at Cambridge University in England, where it's the name of a college, it's pronounced keys.

In the early 1990s, Cody was in the Top 25 most popular boys' names in the USA; but it has been in decline since then. It retains a greater degree of popularity in the UK, however. Cody might be short for Dakota but despite its nickname feeling, it's a name of its own.

Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004.

Colvin is an English surname with a distinguished history; the Colvins were one of the leading colonial families of early British India, and Shawn Colvin is a popular American singer. We suspect, however, that most of the 18 parents who used Colvin as a boys' name in 2016 were thinking of it as a less popular alternative to other "Col-" names, like Colin and Colton.

Perhaps too spicy for some, but this is a popular Gaelic surname that might appeal for those looking to honor a family branch or to fans of legendary British comedian Tim Curry.

Dannel is a masculine name that represents a variation of Daniel, a timeless biblical name meaning 'God is my judge' in Hebrew. This alternative spelling maintains the same pronunciation while offering a distinctive written form. Dannel emerged as a less common variant, giving the traditional name a fresh appearance without straying far from its origins. The biblical Daniel was known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams, lending the name associations with intelligence and spiritual insight. While much rarer than the standard spelling, Dannel appeals to parents who appreciate the name's rich history and meaning but desire something slightly more uncommon. The name's familiar sound makes it accessible despite its unusual spelling.

The "el-" sound is red-hot these days, and a myriad of place names and surnames give this name a wealth of possible namesakes. The main drawback is its kinship to the name of the hero of the Legally Blond series, Elle Woods, though that will fade with time.

Griffin is one of the newer and most appealing of the two-syllable Celtic surnames. In English, griffin is the name of a mythological creature, half eagle, half lion. It re-entered the list in 1983 after an absence of 75+ years.

Hudson has risen quickly up the charts over the past 30 years, getting a lot of its style value from New York's Hudson River. That makes it a nature name and a place name that's also got the fashion gloss of New York City.

A noble surname from northern England that has occasionally been used as a first name.

A variation of Jameson. Both names have climbed in popularity in recent years, though Jameson remains the preferred spelling.

Not a biblical name, but one with authentic Hebrew roots that's used in Israel; would fit in with the current trend for two-syllable J names. Jaaron, Jairon, Jaran, Jaren, Jarin, Jarone, Jarran, Jarren, Jarrin, Jarron, Jaryn, Jayron, Jayronn, Je Ronn, J'ron.

Jonah, the name of the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by the whale, only to emerge unharmed three days later, is increasingly appreciated by parents looking for a biblical name less common than Jacob or Joshua, yet not too obscure. Plus, Jonah comes with a ready-made nursery-decorating motif.