All Time Favourite Baby Boy Names

Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree.

Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.

Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today.

Just the kind of casual, flippant nickname that upscale Brits are putting on their sons' birth certificates, but few U.S. parents are.

Harry is the medieval English form of Henry, which derived from the Germanic name Heimrich, meaning "estate ruler." Harry was the nickname of all eight King Henrys; it is also a diminutive of Harold and Harrison.

Hugo, the Latin form of Hugh, has more heft and energy than the original -- and of course we love names that end (or begin, for that matter) with an o. This one is especially appealing because it's backed up by lots of solid history and European style.

Isak is a Scandinavian and Eastern European variant of Isaac, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning 'he will laugh' or 'he will rejoice.' This spelling is particularly common in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and parts of Eastern Europe. The Biblical Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, giving the name deep religious significance in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Isak has maintained steady popularity in Scandinavian countries, appreciating its clean, simple sound. In recent years, the name has gained international appeal as parents seek distinctive alternatives to more common biblical names. Notable bearers include Swedish writer Isak Dinesen (pen name of Karen Blixen) and various European athletes and artists.

Jude is a modern star, maintaining a steady level of popularity -- but not TOO much popularity, in the US at least. Thank Jude Law and the great Lennon-McCartney song "Hey Jude", double-handedly responsible for propelling Jude up the charts.

Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.

Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.