namelover75's list "Boys Names I Love 1" of 15 great name ideas: Baldur - Cassander!

Boys Names I Love 1

Baldur is a masculine name with deep roots in Norse mythology, where Baldur (also spelled Baldr or Balder) was the god of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun. The son of Odin and Frigg, he was beloved by all gods and known for his beauty, goodness, and wisdom. The name likely derives from Old Norse elements meaning 'prince' or 'bold.' Baldur has maintained consistent usage in Iceland and other Scandinavian countries, though it remains relatively uncommon elsewhere. In recent years, interest in Norse mythology and Viking culture has brought renewed attention to traditional Norse names like Baldur. The name carries strong connotations of light, beauty, and nobility, making it an appealing choice for parents drawn to names with mythological significance and distinctive Scandinavian character.

Baldur

More popularly spelled as Carey, this succinct unisex option was popular in the 1960s and -70s, predominantly for boys, though it did appear in the charts for girls in the 60s through to the early 90s. Similar in sound (or style) to Carrie, Kerry, and Cassie, it ultimately comes from the Irish element ciar meaning "dare, black".

Cary

Coda

Fledge

Middle name possibility for a nature-loving family -- Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke used it for their son's middle name. 

Green

Kiev

Typically spelled as Lonán in Ireland, Lonan is its Manx form, though it could also be considered the anglicized form too. The name comes from the Irish lon meaning "blackbird", paired with a diminutive suffix, making this a charming nature-related choice that could make a nice Logan/Conan alternative. 
 
Borne by a number of early saints, the name is pronounces as LUW-nawn (LUW like the sound in "look"), LOH-nawn (LOH like it "lock") or LUH-nawn (LUH like in "luck"), depending on regional dialect.

Lonan

Although Maguire is such a prominent Irish surname &mdash;it ranks in the Top 40 in the Emerald Isle &mdash;this lively and cheerful family name has rarely been used as a first, unlike more familiar examples like Ryan, Riley and Reagan.  The powerful and distinguished Maguire clan was known for their courage, leadership and resilience.  The name's many notable associations include the unionizing Pennsylvania coal miners known as the Molly Maguires, actor Tobey Maguire and Dixie Chick Martie Maguire. Other spellings are McGuire and McGwire; two other handsome Irish surnames to consider are Malone and Magee.


Maguire

Peadair is one way to reinvent a classic, though insisting on the authentic pronunciation could cause problems. 

Peadair

Associated with Reynard the cunning fox in medieval European animal tales. Reynard can make an unusual yet historic choice for a modern boy, a modern day Richard or Robert.

Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon is the hero of The Mysterious Benedict Society books.

Reynard

This intriguing Scandinavian name is associated with Roald Dahl, author of the juvenile classics James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can honor an ancestral Ronald just by dropping that middle 'n'.

Roald

If you're tired of Oliver, you might consider this energetic three-syllable surname instead, so you could have a little Tolly instead of an Ollie.
 Tolliver is a not-too-obvious occupational Scottish surname dating back to the time of armor makers. Heard much more often as a surname, there have been Tollivers in soap operas like General Hospital and Cy Tolliver was a character on Deadwood; in real life, Melba Tolliver is a barrier-breaking African-American TV journalist.

Tolliver

Energetic Willoughby is a familiar last name, but, as yet, makes for a unique choice in the first spot. An unexpected way to get to popular short forms Will and Billy, Willoughby could make an interesting alternative to William.
 
Despite its similarities to the popular classic, Willoughby has a different meaning and origin to the Germanic William. Derived from Old English and Old Norse, it means "farm near the willows" or perhaps "willow town" if you interpret the second element of the name as meaning "settlement". Outdoorsy and nature-connected, Willoughby may appeal to those who like Barnaby and Zebedee. 
 Willoughby Patterne is the protagonist of the George Meredith novel, The Egotist, while Willoughby Sharp was a contemporary artist, curator, critic and founder of the seminal art magazine, Avalanche. There is a classic 1962 British children's novel titled The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken that was made into a film in 1989.
 
The name was also selected by British reality TV star, Lucy Watson, for her son born in 2023.

Willoughby

Cassander is the masculine form of Cassandra, and the name of an ancient king of Macedon from the 3rd century BC. It could make a nice alternative to Alexander or a refreshing way to honour a female relative named Cassie/Cassandra/Sandra.
 
Despite its familiar sounds and elegance, Cassander didn't appear in the US stats for boys until 2024, when the rise of Cassius, Caspian, Evander, and Leander has likely allowed parents to separate it from its feminine form and worry less about it only ever being heard as Cassandra. Six boys were given the name in 2024, though we could see that number rise in coming years.