Different Kind of Boys' Names

Aleph

First letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Hebrew

"chief, number one"

Aleph came into the spotlight when chosen by Israel-born Natalie Portman for her son. Alef is a more common spelling of these related Hebrew baby names . In the Kabbalah, Aleph/Alef relates to the…

Dimitri

Russian from Greek Demetrius

"follower of Demeter"

Dimitri is a Slavic variation of the Russian Dmitriy, a name that comes from the Greek Demetrius. Demetrius was derived from Demeter, the name of the Greek goddess of fertility and farming. Among the…

Imre

Hungarian, from German

"strength"

Commonly heard in its native country, and might get a boost here too, now that Alanis Morrissette has used it for her son Ever's middle name.

Fifer

Scottish occupational name

"piper"

This musical choice fits right in with all the new hard-working Millers and Gardeners. It's also a Scottish demonym, referring to an inhabitant of the historic Scottish county of Fife.

Thibault

French from German

"courageous people"

Pronounced TEE-bow, this version, which is also a very common surname in France, has a lot more charm than the name it derives from — Theobald. A variant spelling is Thibaut. Trivia tidbit:…

Thoreau

French

"strength of a bull"

A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin…

Rashid

Arabic

"righteous, rightly advised"

This is a widely used Arabic choice — but Rashad is more popular here. Actress Rashida Jones represents the feminine version.

Ricard

Ricard is a masculine name with Catalan and French origins, representing a variation of Richard. Derived from Germanic elements meaning 'powerful' and 'brave' or 'hardy,' it carries connotations of…

Kito

Swahili

"precious jewel"

An energetic African name with a stylish o ending.

Raphiel

Raphiel is a masculine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Raphael, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God has healed.' In Judeo-Christian tradition, Raphael is one of the archangels, often…

Ruaidhri

Ruaidhri is a traditional Irish male name with deep Gaelic roots. It's the original form of the more commonly known Rory, derived from the Old Irish elements "ruadh" meaning red and "rí" meaning…

Krystof

Krystof is a masculine name that serves as a Central European variant of Christopher, particularly popular in Czech and Polish cultures. Derived from the Greek 'Christophoros' meaning 'bearing…

Okello

Ugandan

"born after twins"

Mellow and musical.

Edon

Edon is a masculine name with roots in several cultures. In Albanian, it means 'knowledge' or 'wisdom,' while some sources connect it to Hebrew origins meaning 'powerful' or 'strong.' The name shares…

Vance

English and Irish

"someone who lives near marshland"

Short and sharp with a nature related meaning, Vance was trending upwards in recent years thanks to the musicians Foy Vance and Vance Joy. 2024 saw it take a downwards dip however, likely due to its…

Ceallach

Ceallach is a traditional Irish masculine name pronounced roughly as 'KEL-akh' or 'KAL-akh,' depending on the dialect. It derives from the Old Irish word meaning 'war' or 'strife,' though some…

Garreth

Garreth is a masculine name that represents a variant spelling of Gareth, a name with Welsh origins. In Welsh legend, Gareth was a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian stories, known for his…

Mael

French or Breton

"chief or prince"

The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the…

Amiel

Hebrew

"God is with my people"

Amiel is a biblical name with lots of connections to those with a creative spirit, including director Jon Amiel, French pop singer Thierry Amiel, and medieval troubadour Gaubert Amiel. Ami (which…