Softer Names for Boys

Espen

Scandinavian

"god bear"

Strong and unusual Scandinavian name, but with two possible pitfalls: people might mis-hear it as Aspen, or associate it with sports network ESPN. Variants include Esper and Esben.

Drury

French

"dear one, sweetheart"

Rhythmic and energetic, Drury is of French origin, with the wonderful meaning of "dear one, sweetheart."

Jory

Cornish variant of George, or diminutive of Jordan

A rarely-used name even in its native Cornwall, Jory nevertheless feels very wearable, thanks to its similarity to familiar picks like Rory, Corey and Joey. Jory Cassel is a minor character in the…

Billy

English, diminutive of William

"resolute protection"

Cute kid with freckles, bouncing a Spalding ball. Cool couple Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton put the name Billy Burton on their son's birth certificate. While the classic William, name of the…

Eben

Hebrew, diminutive of Ebenezer

"stone of help"

Though most parents would shy away from Ebenezer, short form Eben is affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it. This also makes a fresh new spin on the very…