Inge12's list "Boy names - just the ones I like" of 20 great name ideas: Friedrich - Rafferty!

Boy names - just the ones I like

Bright and bubbly, smart and strong, these are names from near and far that make for great little boys through to big men.

One of the most familiar <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/160/german-names">German names</a>, with an upright Prussian image. Friedrich might just have been out for long enough to start coming back in.

Friedrich

Wilfred is one of those Old Man Names that still sounds fusty in the US but is fashionable in the UK. It comes with readymade short forms Will, Wilf, or Fred and might make an adventurous alternative to the ubiquitous William. The central character of Walter Scott's Ivanhoe is the knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe while Wilfred Owen is a well-known British poet, noteworthy for his war poetry.

Wilfred

In this country, more recognizable with the Alistair spelling. 

Alasdair

It's the French Steve yet feels oh so much more debonair. Well-used and still a popular classic in French-speaking lands, but one of the many <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/498/french-names-for-boys">French names for boys</a>unfamiliar to most English speakers, except maybe fashionistas who associate it with designer Etienne Aigner. A new way to honor Grandpa Steve?

Etienne

Clunky yet cuddly, Wilbur is a stylish name in the UK where it currently sits in the Top 600, as cool as Rupert or Wilfred. Its merits are starting to be rediscovered in the US, where it was last truly popular more than a century ago. A recent year saw it given to 42 boys. 
 
Wilbur, the loveable pig who Charlotte of the Web called Some Pig might be considered an inspirational hero and an appealing literary connection, while for others, its left the name far too associated with pigs. 
 
The etymology of the name is somewhat disputed, but one theory is that it derived from the Old English nickname Wildbor (meaning "wild boar"), though other possibilities are that it comes from the Germanic Wilbert ("bright will") or the Old English Wilburg ("wished for fortress").
 
Notable Wilburs include Wilbur Wright, an early aviationist, musician and YouTuber Wilbur Soot and writer Wilbur Smith.

Wilbur

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, Loic is one of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/498/french-names-for-boys">French names for boys</a> that is rarely heard outside its native land.

Loic

Piero is elegant, melodic, appealing. Just picture the muted frescoes of Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca.


Piero

Ferdinand is a traditional name among Spanish royal families and also appears in Shakespeare's The Tempest, borne by the handsome young prince shipwrecked on Prospero's island. Bold, daring, and poetic, it was a popular choice in the US in the 19th and early 20th century, but the 1938 movie Ferdinand the Bull has left it with a lingering clunkiness and it has been out of style since the 80s. 
 
Derived from Fredenandus, Ferdinand is made up of the element nanþa, meaniing "boldness, daring", combined with either friþus or farþa, meaning "peace" and "journey" respectively. As such, the name can mean "bold voyager", "peaceful and bold", or perhaps even "bold but peaceful voyager".
 
Notable bearers include the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (the first European to cross the Pacific and the first person to circumnavigate the earth) and the racing driver Ferdinand Habsburg, along with various political and royal leaders throughout history.
 
The sleeker Spanish and Portuguese version Fernando is more popular currently in the US, Spain, Mexico, and Chile, while other international forms include the Dutch Dinand, Catalan Ferran, and Hungarian Nándor.

Ferdinand

Friendlier french form of ancient Germanic royal name Amalric or Emmerich.

Amaury

If you can put aside the oil connection, Castor is a mythological option, borne by one of the (half) twins that make up the constellation Gemini, the other being Pollux. A son of Leda and a king of Sparta, and a sibling of Helen of Troy, Castor and Pollux are seen as patrons of travellers and sailors, and of athletes. 
 
The exact meaning of the name is unknown, though speculation suggests it means "shining" (from kekasmai), "wood" (from Doric Greek káston), or, in a more contemporary context, "beaver" from the Greek word for the animal. The latter is unlikely to be the original source, however, given beavers would not have been native to Greece. There's also the Greek katharos meaning "clean, pure" which might be another possible source. 
 
Used by Metallica's James Hetfield for his son in 2000, it may inevitably linked to the aforementioned castor oil, a substance of many purposes, used in soaps, lubricants, brake fluids, dyes, and waxes. Nevertheless, it first appeared in the US stats back in the late 1990s and was given to 21 boys in a recent year.

Castor

Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames. 

Icarus

In Celtic lore, Fergus was the ideal of manly courage, making it a charming, slightly quirky Scottish and Irish favorite.
 As a name, Fergus forms a link between Ireland and Scotland, as Gaelic tradition has it that Irish Prince Fergus Mac Eirc and his two brothers crossed the sea and founded the kingdom of Argyll in Scotland, thereby making this an excellent choice for parents of either country or those of combined heritage.
 Fergus has often popped up in children's literature, such as in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, and is the name of one of Shrek and Fiona's triplets. On a loftier level, there is the Yeats poem, Who Goes With Fergus? and Fergus MacIvor is a central character in Walter Scott's novel Waverley.
 With the nickname Fergie having been appropriated by two high-profile females, Gus might make a more approachable option these days.

Fergus

This might sound and look like a blend of Ryan, Riley, and Nigel, but it is in fact the name of the seventh brightest star in the sky. Found in the constellation of Orion, its name comes from the Arabic phrase, Rijl Jauzah al Yusrā, , meaning "the left foot of the central one."
 
Associated with stargazing and astronomy, it may appeal to those looking for a celestial choice, as it did for Danish astronomer, Ejnar Hertzprung and his wife Henrietta Kapteyn (the daughter of another astronomer), who chose it for their daughter in in the early 20th century.
 
Given to 15 boys in 2024, it could make a familiar but unexpected choice.

Rigel

The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its bold 'O' beginning has plenty of strength alongside its magical qualities.
 Oberon was also seen as a fairy king in old German legend, in French heroic song, a Ben Jonson masque, and several operas. And an Oberon appeared in Disney's animated film "Gargoyles."
 The name itself likely comes from the (usually) identically pronounced Auberon, a pet form of Auberi, the Old French form of Alberich, meaning "elf ruler" or "noble bear" depending on how you interpret the elements.

Oberon

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 and clear up the issue.

Yves

Heron may feel like a very usable nature name -- the heron is a long-legged wading bird -- but it was also the name of a 1st century Greek inventor and of an Egyptian saint. Highly unusual yet easy to understand and meaningful on several levels, Heron is a fantastic choice.

Heron

Sayid is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'master,' 'lord,' or 'chief.' The name carries connotations of respect, leadership, and nobility across many Islamic cultures. Various spelling variations exist, including Sayyid, Syed, and Said, though Sayid offers a straightforward spelling that maintains the authentic pronunciation. In many Muslim communities, the title Sayyid has historical significance, often designating descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hassan and Hussein. The name has gained some recognition in Western countries through cultural exchange and immigration, though it remains relatively uncommon. Sayid balances cultural richness with accessibility, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots and dignified meaning.

Sayid

Gives middle-aged Neil a new lease on life. 

Niels

In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America. 
 There is a one-act comic opera by Mozart titled Bastien and Bastienne.
 An alternate spelling is Bastian, which was used by Jeremy Sisto for his son.

Bastien

Jaunty and dapper, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son in 1996. Derived from the Irish, O'Raighbheartaigh, it means "(spring) flood tide", though some sources relate it to the Old Irish rath meaning "abundance" and "prosperity."
 Preppy and energetic but earthy too, it also comes with cool nicknames Raffy, Rafe, and Raffa. A rare choice in the US, it has been appearing in the England and Wales Top 1000 since 2003 and has more recently appeared in the Top 250.