anon's ABC - boys

  1. Amias
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "loved"
    • Description:

      Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
  2. Bodhi
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "awakening, enlightenment"
    • Description:

      Bodhi is a Sanskrit name translated as "enlightenment" or "awakening" which relates to a Buddhist concept, wherein Bodhi is synonymous with the state of nirvana, being freed from hate, greed and ego. The Bodhi tree is a large fig tree under which the founder of Buddhism received enlightenment. Spelling variations include Bodie and Bode.
  3. Clement
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "mild, merciful"
    • Description:

      Clement, the name of fourteen popes and several saints, has a pleasantly, positive, slightly antiquated feel, like the phrase "clement weather."
  4. Diderick
    • Enoch
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "dedicated"
      • Description:

        A major figure in the Old Testament, Enoch was the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah, and the great-grandfather of Noah whose Book of Enoch provides a focal point for ancient Jewish mysticism. Another Enoch was the son of Cain. "Enoch Arden" is a famous poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. On the negative side, British politician Enoch Powell gave the infamously racist Rivers of Blood anti-immigration speech, taking the name out of consideration for many parents in the UK.
    • Faust
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "fortunate one"
      • Description:

        Because the legendary Faust sold his soul to the devil, few parents would choose this for a child, although Fausto is commonly heard in Italy and Spain.
    • Griffith
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "strong lord"
      • Description:

        A classic Welsh name, softer than Griffin and friendlier to spell than Gruffudd - that hasn't had as much love as it deserves elsewhere. Namesakes range from medieval kings to the philanthropist Griffith J. Griffith, who left land to the city of Los Angeles. It's great in full, but Griff is cool too.
    • Heller
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "bright, brilliant"
      • Description:

        A li'l hell-raiser name in the Ryder-Rogue-Rebel vein.
    • Ignatius
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "fiery"
      • Description:

        The striking Ignatius is making a truly surprising comeback, sparked by its selection by not one but two celebrities — Cate Blanchett and Julianne Nicholson. With its fiery qualities and magical feel, Ignatius might just fit in with Blaze, Griffin, Ember, or Atticus.
    • Jebediah
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "beloved friend"
      • Description:

        Like its better known cousin Jedidiah, Jebediah is one of those four-syllable Old Testament names that is being shorn of its long white-bearded image, with the help of its modern-sounding Jeb nickname.
    • Khalid
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "immortal, everlasting"
      • Description:

        Khalid has flirted with the Top 1000 for several decades now, climbing back on in 2015 after more than a decade's absence. Its return could be in part because of the popularity of snapchat personality and rap collaborator DJ Khaled. R&B singer Khalid may also be contributing to its newfound popularity. The name is important in Islamic history thanks to a 7th century military leader. Khalida is the feminine version.
    • Leander
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "lion-man"
      • Description:

        Leander was once an almost unknown name, however, with the popularity of Leo and the rise of Leandro, it now feels like a perfectly accessible alternative to Leon or Alexander. In Greek legend, Leander was the powerful figure who swam across the Hellespont every night to visit his beloved Hero, a priestess of Venus.
    • Magnus
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian from Latin
      • Meaning:

        "greatest"
      • Description:

        Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.
    • Nye
      • Origin:

        Welsh diminutive of Aneurin
      • Meaning:

        "honor"
      • Description:

        This can make an unusual yet simple middle name choice, especially for anyone with family ties to Wales.
    • Otto
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "wealthy"
      • Description:

        Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
    • Phineas
      • Origin:

        English, Egyptian
      • Meaning:

        "the Nubian"
      • Description:

        Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The Egyptians distinguished themselves from their Nubian neighbors through differences in skin tone.
    • Quinlan
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "descendant of Caoinlean, slender "
      • Description:

        An Irish last-name-first-name that could make a child feel distinctive, while still having the regular guy nickname of Quinn. Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller spelled their son's name Quinlin.
    • Ridley
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "cleared wood; reed clearing; channel clearing"
      • Description:

        Director Ridley Scott and actress Daisy Ridley made this surname-style name familiar, and with its outdoorsy meaning and rugged yet preppy sound, it could blend in with Oakley, Reid, Riley, and Ridge. Some parents might be put of by the first syllable (as in, "get rid of" or "horrid" or "riddles"), but since Scarlett (scar), Colton (cult), and Titus all rank in the Top 400, it could still work for those looking for a standout last-name first name.
    • Stellan
      • Origin:

        Swedish, meaning unknown, possibly "calm"
      • Meaning:

        "calm"
      • Description:

        Stellan is a strong, attractive, Scandinavian possible up-and-comer, known through actor Stellan Skarsgard, and his namesake, the son of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany. Its trendy 'an' ending and the similarity in sound to the popular Kellen/Kellan make it all the more accessible.
    • Theobald
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "courageous people"
      • Description:

        This is one of the least known or used of the Theo names, quite possibly because of its last syllable. In Samuel Butler's 1903 novel The Way of All Flesh, there is a clergyman character named Theobald Pontifex.