Oregon Trail era names - boys

Baldwin

German

"brave friend"

One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.

Barnabas

Aramaic

"son of consolation"

Barnabas, whose birth name was Joseph, was one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem, who undertook missionary journeys with Paul the Apostle, His name is a bit Old World compared to the…

Barnaby

English variation of Barnabas, Aramaic

"son of consolation"

Barnaby, a genial and energetic name with an Irish-sounding three-syllable lilt, is an ancient appellation that manages to be both unusual and highly attractive and deserves to be used more than it…

Bart

Diminutive of Bartholomew, Hebrew

"son of the earth"

Permanent property of that devilish little Simpson kid.

Bartholomew

Aramaic

"son of the furrow"

Bartholomew is an apostle's name that's been out of favor for centuries but might appeal again to the parent in search of an old but rare choice. The challenge could be to avoid the Simpson-ish…

Bartlett

Diminutive of Bartholomew, Hebrew, "son of the earth"

"son of the earth"

This one may well be an undiscovered choice for many parents - it has a fabulous meaning, a sturdy surname-name appeal that is very on trend right now and several great namesakes including the…

Barton

English

"from the barley settlement"

More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.

Basil

Greek

"royal"

Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class…

Bernard

German

"strong, brave as a bear"

Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe…

Bertrand

French from German

"magnificent crow"

This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director…

Beverly

English

"beaver stream"

An English surname name which was originally used as a masculine first name in the 19th century, before becoming more popular for girls from the early 20th century onwards.

Bladen

Bladen is a masculine name with English origins, derived from an Old English surname meaning 'one who dwells near a blade of grass' or possibly relating to a grassy plain. It has historical…

Blaise

French

"to lisp, stammer"

As modern as it sounds, Blaise is an ancient Christian martyr name. In Arthurian legend, Blaise is the name of Merlin the Magician's secretary. Its relation to the word and name Blaze gives it a…

Bluford

Variation of Buford, English from French

"beautiful fort"

An offbeat form of Buford that you're unlikely to find on birth certificates today. Maybe for a pet.

Brien

Brien is a masculine name of Irish and Celtic origin, a variant of the more common Brian. Derived from the Old Celtic element 'bre' meaning 'hill' or the Old Irish 'brigh' meaning 'high, noble,…

Bryant

Variation of Brian, Irish

"strong, virtuous, and honorable"

Bryant has a longer history as a first name in the US than its father name Brian, ranking among the Top 1000 since the list began in 1880 while Brian only jumped on in 1925. That may be because the…