Favourite Boys' Names

Cerulean

Color name

"deep sky-blue"

Cerulean is just beginning to be heard as a name thanks to its distinctive sounds and the appealing electric-sky-blue it evokes. Reminiscent of Ocean, Aurelian, Cyrus, and Caspian, it was given to…

Darragh

Irish

"oak tree"

Also Anglicized as Dara and also spelled Daire in its native form, Darragh has an undeniably rugged appeal. It's used for both girls and boys in Ireland, but it's very popular in particular for boys.

Doyle

Irish

"black stranger"

An Irish surname possibility for those who like Daley, Royal, Dougal, and Dolan, though it may sound too much like doily to catch on for modern boys. Nevertheless, it was fairly well used in the 20th…

Gallagher

Irish

"descendant of foreign helper"

Gallagher is, like so many of its genre, friendly, open, and optimistic. Some might associate it with the fraternal members of the band Oasis, Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Gill

Gill is a masculine name with multiple origins, functioning both as a standalone name and a diminutive of Gilbert or Gillian. Derived from the Old Norse 'gísl' meaning "hostage" or "pledge," it also…

Keane

Gaelic

"ancient"

Has a sharp investigative quality that's not a bad thing to impart to a child.

Latham

English, Norse

"the barn"

An outdoorsy but smart feeling choice, Latham could be perfect for those looking for undiscovered last names as first names. Similar in style to Graham, Layton, and Linden, it has its origins in the…

Leander

Greek

"lion-man"

Leander was once an almost unknown name, however, with the popularity of Leo and the rise of Leandro, it now feels like a perfectly accessible alternative to Leon or Alexander. In Greek legend,…

Linden

Variation of Lyndon

"linden tree hill"

The graceful, natural image of the verdant shade tree transcends any connection with President Johnson. A sturdy tree that can live for centuries, Linden was actually quite a popular boys' name from…

Lysander

Greek

"liberator"

Lysander is a distinctive Greek name that could be thought of as a more creative cousin of Alexander. In ancient history, Lysander was the name of an esteemed Spartan naval commander and his literary…

Madog

Madog is a masculine name of Welsh origin with deep historical roots. It derives from the Welsh elements 'mad' meaning 'fortunate' or 'good' and a diminutive suffix, essentially meaning 'fortunate…

Melchior

Dutch from Hebrew

"city of the king; king of light"

The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider. The exact origins of Melchior are unknown, but it is speculated that it derived from either the Hebrew…

Mercer

French occupational name

"a merchant"

Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic…

Mercury

Latin

"Roman messenger god"

Adventurous parents are starting to look back to names of ancient gods like Mercury, Zeus, and Apollo. This one is also a planet and a metallic element, and has a friendly nickname, Merc. The Roman…

Oberon

Variation of Auberon

"elf king; noble bear"

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…

Orpheus

Greek mythology name

"the darkness of the night"

Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.

Pollux

Greek

"very sweet"

Made cool by that final X (as seen in Felix, Lennox, and Rex), Pollux is the Romanized form of Polydeukes, the half-twin of Castor, and the son of Zeus and Leda. Associated with the Gemini…

Phineas

English, Egyptian

"the Nubian, the bronze-colored one"

Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The…

Praxis

Greek

"practical"

In mythology, another name for Aphrodite -- but the rare feminine name that sounds better for a boy.