100 Peppy, Spunky, Energetically Cool Names

Thad

Short form of Thaddeus or variation of Tad

Thad is a tad too slight to stand alone as a name, though as a short form of the imposing Thaddeus it's as serviceable as Ted or Ed.

Jed

Diminutive of Jedidiah, Hebrew

"beloved of the Lord"

Cowboyish short form that's both macho and cool. Got prime time exposure on The West Wing .

Che

Che is a masculine name with significant historical and cultural connections. Most famously associated with Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary, the name carries strong political…

Emil

Latin

"rival"

Derived from the Latin word aemulus , Emil is a name with international appeal. Concise and sturdy but with the gentle Em sound, Emil is popular across Europe, from Azerbaijan to Finland, from…

Dash

Diminutive of Dashiell, meaning unknown

Dash is a nickname that can stand on its own and sounds, well, dashing. Connected these days with Kardashian enterprises. Dash can stand on its own—as is evidenced by its entry into the US Top 1000…

Judd

Medieval short form of Jordan

"flowing down"

Judd is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own, the second 'd' giving it a lot more substance, and it would also be a good middle name choice. Two recent actors have given…

Nye

Welsh diminutive of Aneurin

"honor"

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

Yves

French

"yew wood"

On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler…

Lars

Scandinavian from Latin Laurentius

"crowned with laurel"

Lars is a perfect candidate for a cross-cultural passport: it has been heard often enough here to sound familiar and friendly, yet retains the charisma of a charming foreigner. In this country Lars…

Lio

Dutch and German variation of Leo, Latin

"lion"

This alternative and modern spelling of Leo is popular with German- and Dutch-speaking parents and features in the charts in Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. While it's less…

Jove

Mythological name

Another name for Jupiter, king of the Roman gods, this jovial name is eminently ready for modern use. Feminine variations include Jovita and Jovie.

Loic

French variation of Louis or Lucas

While there is some disagreement over the origins of this name, it's clearly fashionable and a new idea, for English speakers, of a way to spin either an old classic or a familiar favorite. Still,…

Javi

Javi is a masculine name most commonly used as a diminutive of the Spanish name Javier (Xavier). Javier originates from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning 'the new house,' and gained…

Hero

Greek

"demi-god; admired, courageous"

A bold, brave choice, that some may worry is a little heavy to bestow on a child, Hero wouldn't seem too out of place alongside Chosen, Merritt, or Noble. Though the mythological Hero was female, as…