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Favorite First Names

helenajanecollie
By helenajanecollie
Updated Fri Aug 06 2021
  1. Aaron

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "high mountain; exalted, enlightened"

    • Description:

      Aaron is a name of subtle contrasts: an unusual spelling that is easily recognizable; a solid Biblical choice that doesn’t feel exclusively tied to religion; a well-established name for boys but sometimes confused with the girls’ name, Erin; used internationally but with notably different pronunciations; classic like Andrew but not out of place with recent favorites like Weston or Jayden.
  2. Alois

    • Origin:

      Variation of Aloysius, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Alois and Aloysius are variation of Louis. Alois ranked in the US Top 1000 until the 1930s, and still ranks in the Top 1000 in Germany. Last year in the US, only seven baby boys were named Alois.
  3. Andrew

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      During its Top 10 heyday in the late 90s and early oughts, Andrew was one of the "cooler" classic boy names, an update on the old guard Roberts and Richards.
  4. Bedford

    • Description:

      Bedford is a masculine name derived from an English place name and surname meaning 'Beda's ford' - referencing a river crossing associated with a person named Beda. The name carries strong Anglo-Saxon heritage and projects a distinguished, aristocratic quality. Bedford has historical significance as a prominent English duchy and appears in place names across the United Kingdom and United States. While uncommon as a first name, it has occasionally been used by families with connections to Bedford locations or as a way to preserve a family surname. The name conveys strength and tradition with its strong consonants and two distinct syllables. Bedford might appeal to parents seeking a distinguished English name with historical weight that remains relatively unused.

  5. Bennett

    • Origin:

      English medieval form of Benedict, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blessed"

    • Description:

      Bennett is Ben with a bow tie, kind of a cross between Benjamin and Beckett. It's been trending up on the popularity charts in recent years, and its choice by The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Jane Krakowski could shoot it even higher.
  6. Blake

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired, dark"

    • Description:

      Blake -- an early unisex option -- dropped out of the Top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains a sophisticated choice. And yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. It originated as a surname in England derived from a nickname. Much of its masculine image was influenced by the wealthy, silver-haired character Blake Carrington in the massively popular 80s TV series Dynasty. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Blake.
  7. Boston

    • Origin:

      Place-name

    • Description:

      Unseen in the USA since 1901, Boston rocketed back into the Top 1000 in 2004 and, like other place-names such as Brooklyn, London and Paris, is now a reliable presence on the list.
  8. Bronsen

    • Description:

      Bronsen is a modern variant of the surname Bronson, which originated from the Old English meaning "son of Brown" or "son of the dark one." As a first name, Bronsen gained popularity in the late 20th century, reflecting the trend of using surnames as given names. It carries a strong, masculine image, possibly influenced by actors like Charles Bronson. The alternate spelling with 'e' instead of 'o' gives the name a contemporary feel while maintaining its rugged charm. Bronsen remains relatively uncommon, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive name with established roots but a modern edge.
  9. Cobalt

    • Origin:

      Color and nature name

    • Description:

      Even among the range of blue names on the current baby naming palette -- Blue itself, Azure, Cerulean, Teal, Aqua, Cyan, Indigo -- Cobalt remains the most unusual, not to mention the most masculine.
  10. Colton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the coal or dark town"

    • Description:

      Colton is a trendy two-syllable choice, with the popular 'on/en' ending.
  11. Coraline

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Coralie and Caroline, English

    • Meaning:

      "coral; man; army"

    • Description:

      Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is more distinctive and has a more mysterious feel. The 2002 novel Coraline was made into a 2009 animated film voiced by Dakota Fanning and nominated for an Academy Award.
  12. Cullen

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "holly tree"

    • Description:

      Cullen is an appealing Irish surname name that upped its cool factor considerably when it became the Twilight family name of Edward et al. It's considerably less popular than it was at its peak in 2010, but is still widely used.
  13. Cage
    • Ciel
      • Darlene

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "darling"

        • Description:

          A modern(ish) invented name, only in widespread use since the 20th century. It is a combination of the English word darling and the popular midcentury suffix -lene. It was recently used on a character in the BBC comedy-crime drama, Death in Paradise.
      • David

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "beloved"

        • Description:

          David is an enduring worldwide classic, used from ancient times to the present day.
      • Dock

        • Origin:

          English word name

        • Meaning:

          "enclosed area of water in a port for ships to load and unload"

        • Description:

          A sailing and sea-related choice, which also feels connected to the reparative powers of nature (via dock leaves) and to doctors generally, Dock made the Top 1000 in the first half of the 20th century, though today, it is only quietly and sporadically used.
      • Emma

        • Origin:

          German

        • Meaning:

          "universal"

        • Description:

          Emma has now been among the top girl names in the United States for several years, claiming the Number 1 crown in 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018 before dropping back to second place.
      • Emmett

        • Origin:

          English masculine variation of Emma, German

        • Meaning:

          "universal"

        • Description:

          Emmett, honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, not to mention being a character in the popular Twilight series.
      • Ephraim

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "fruitful, fertile, productive"

        • Description:

          Ephraim is an Old Testament name we would place high on the list of neglected Biblical possibilities, solid but not solemn.