Unique, yet not weird, names for boys

  1. Adonis
    • Origin:

      Greek, from Semitic Adonai
    • Meaning:

      "lord"
    • Description:

      The name of a figure from Greek mythology, Adonis is a high-pressure name often synonymous with masculine beauty. Nonetheless, many mythological names that would have previously been deemed off limits have made their way up the popularity charts—for instance, Penelope currently ranks highly for girls. And indeed, Adonis was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2016, moving up 307 spots on the U.S. popularity chart in just one year.
  2. Braylon
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Enough parents have appreciated this combinations of the sounds from Brayden and Jaylen to make it a widely used name. Its most noted bearer is former football player Braylon Edwards.
  3. Callan
    • Origin:

      Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "descendent of Cathalan; descendent of the battle ruler"
    • Description:

      This anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cathaláin links back to the Irish given name, Cathal. Similar to Callum, Caleb, and Calvin, it might feel more usable outside of Ireland and Scotland than its origin name.
  4. Cannon
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Cannon sits amongst other weapon names like Colt, Pistol, Lance, and Remington. Definitely a name that offers bombast.
  5. Cason
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Cason's entire raison d'etre: It's a rhyming variation on the popular Jason, Mason and Brayson. Casen, Kasen and Kason also have crept into the Top 1000 in recent years.
  6. Colter
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "colt herder"
    • Description:

      A variation on the popular Colton, Colter has been climbing up the US charts since 2010. Given to around 1000 boys each year, it is now in the Top 500, and ticks the boxes for being a cool occupational name with rugged, Wild West vibes, and for giving the familiar nickname Col, or the alternative, Colt.
  7. Casher (Cash)
    • Cutter
      • Dawson
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "son of David"
        • Description:

          Dawson was scarcely heard as a first name before the debut of Dawson's Creek in 1998, at which point it leaped up more than 550 places in one year. The character Dawson Leery, played by James Van Der Beek, was a teen favorite until the show's demise in 2003.
      • Daron (Dare)
        • Easton
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "eastern town"
          • Description:

            Easton is a stylish Ivy League-ish place and surname name, more modern than Weston, on its way up for both sexes as part of the new direction baby names are taking, as in North and West. Easton was used for her son by Jenna Elfman--and by Elizabeth Rohm for her daughter.
        • Fielder
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "dweller in open country"
          • Description:

            An uncommon surname name with that energetic -er ending. Might appeal especially to baseball fans.
        • Holden
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "hollow valley"
          • Description:

            Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the name of its hero, Holden Caulfield -- not coincidentally in tune with the Hudson-Hayden-Colton field of names. (Trivia note: Salinger supposedly came up with the name while looking at a movie poster promoting a film starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, though other sources say he was named after Salinger's friend Holden Bowler.) Another impetus was provided by a soap opera character introduced in 1985.
        • Houston
          • Origin:

            Scottish
          • Meaning:

            "Hugh's town"
          • Description:

            Looking for a Texas name more distinctive than Austin and Dallas? Houston is a lanky, roguish place-name, right in style with its Texas accent and cowboy image.
        • Jasper
          • Origin:

            Persian
          • Meaning:

            "bringer of treasure"
          • Description:

            Jasper originated as a variation of the Latin Gaspar, which ultimately derived from the Persian word ganzabara, meaning "bringer of treasure." As a given name, Jasper’s etymology is unrelated to that of the gemstone, which comes from a Semitic word meaning "speckled stone." Jasper is the usual English form for one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the infant Christ according to medieval tradition and appears in the Bible as a reference to the stone itself in Revelations 4:3.
        • Keegan
          • Origin:

            Irish
          • Meaning:

            "son of Egan"
          • Description:

            Keegan is one of a clan of spirited Irish surnames starting with K and ending with 'n'--this one with the cheery double 'e' in the middle-- that are appealing to an increasing number of parents. It derives from Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "son (or descendant) of Aodhagán," a diminutive of the Irish name Aodh--pronounced Aye.
        • Landon
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "long hill"
          • Description:

            Landon is a popular surname name; it's been dropping slightly in recent years but has surpassed its once more popular rhyming cousin Brandon. For some it may bring back nostalgic memories of Little House on the Prairie 's understanding Pa, played by Michael Landon.
        • Lorcan
          • Origin:

            Irish
          • Meaning:

            "little, fierce"
          • Description:

            Lorcan is a name rich in Irish history as belonging to several kings, including the grandfather of the most famous high king of Ireland, Brian Boru. Lorcan O'Toole, known in English as Laurence O'Toole, is the patron saint of Dublin, so it's not too surprising that Irish-born actor Peter O'Toole named his son Lorcan.
        • Nico
          • Origin:

            Italian diminutive of Nicholas, Greek
          • Meaning:

            "people of victory"
          • Description:

            Nico is one of the great nickname names, full of charm, energy and effortless cool -- a neo Nick.
        • Noble
          • Origin:

            Latin
          • Meaning:

            "aristocratic"
          • Description:

            With parents beginning to show an interest in virtue names for boys, this Puritan favorite just might be revived, for what could be more admirable than nobility in terms of having strength of character, dignity, and high moral ideals?