Cat Names

Celebrated in song—the rock 'n' roll classic "Louie, Louie"—this is a gregarious, friendly spelling of Louis not often used as a full first name. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015. It's a highly popular choice in England and Wales.

Down-home nickname name once associated with the friendly dragon on kids' TV. As Oliver rises, we may well hear more Ollies.

Rigel is a distinctive masculine name derived from astronomy, referring to the brightest star in the constellation Orion. The star's name comes from Arabic origins, specifically from 'Rijl Jauzah al Yusrā,' meaning 'the left foot of the central one.' As a given name, Rigel has gained modest usage among parents interested in celestial or astronomical names. It carries connotations of brightness, guidance, and cosmic significance. The name has a strong, concise sound with its two syllables and a distinctive quality that sets it apart from more common names. Rigel appeals particularly to parents seeking names with scientific connections or those drawn to the imagery of stars and navigation.

This spirited Gaelic classic, which became popular in Ireland via the illustrious twelfth century king Rory O'Connor, makes a highly energetic choice, now used for either sex. Rory's gender split is still trending boyward; it's one of the coolest boys' names starting with R.

Sam has long been used on its own for boys, as accepted standing by itself as it is as a short form of Samuel. Straightforward and down-to-earth, Sam is the name of the son of the co-stars of The Americans, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. Sam is one of the most popular names that start with S in the Western world, ranking higher in several European countries than it does in the US, where it's trended downward since the 19th century, though it's always been in the Top 1000.