Literary and Bohemian Influences

Malcolm

Scottish

"devotee of St. Colomba"

Malcolm is a warm and welcoming Scottish appellation (originally Mael-Colium) that fits into that golden circle of names that are distinctive but not at all odd. A royal name in Scotland, Malcolm is…

Caspian

Place name

"white"

One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of…

Izan

Basque variation of Ethan or Japanese

"strong, firm; reliable mountain"

Izan, pronounced with the same vowel sounds and emphasis as Ethan, ranks among the Top 20 boys' names in Spain, where it's been popular for two decades. The US is starting to catch onto this…

Arden

English

"valley of the eagle; high"

Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape…

Riven

English from Norse

"to split"

This ancient name makes an intriguing alternative to River, blending edginess with the outdoorsy vibe of the more popular name. Meaning "to split", it could be considered slightly violent, or it…

Brandt

German

"dweller on burnt land"

Less commercial-sounding than Brand.

Lucan

Irish variation of Luke

Lucan is a rarely heard Irish name, a Luke form with the trendy an ending.

Corin

Latin

"spear"

Corin was used by Shakespeare in As You Like It , an unusual name that could make a more distinctive alternative to Corey or Colin. It is a name used in the illustrious Redgrave family of actors.

Itzan

Itzan is a masculine name with possible Mayan origins, though it may also be a modern creation inspired by ancient Mesoamerican cultures. In Mayan contexts, elements of the name might connect to…

Doran

Irish

"stranger, exile"

Strong but gentle Irish last-name-first. Could bring to mind long-running rock group Duran Duran.

Izar

Basque

"star"

Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.

Aeneas

Greek

"the praised one"

In Greek and Roman mythology, Aeneas was the legendary son of Venus (or Aphrodite) who was the hero of Troy and Rome. Appearing in the Aeneid by the poet Virgil, he goes on to found the Roman state…

Frey

Scandinavian

"lord, exalted one"

Frey is the handsome Norse fertility god, a worthy namesake. Frey remains rare in the US even as the similar Freya picks up in popularity.

Iago

Welsh and Galician variation of James and Jacob

Iago, the villain of Shakespeare's Othello , was so treacherously evil that his name has hardly ever been heard offstage. Try the much-more-benign Inigo.

Adeon

Welsh

This name of a legendary Welsh prince could serve as a more original alternative to Adam or Aidan, though it does sound a tad chemical.

Aragon

Spanish place name

Equally strong, dramatic and romantic, this name of an old kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula and a modern Spanish community as well, would give a boy an instant pedigree.