User-created list
Names I would NEVER use for my kid unfinished
Across 5 pages
of 5
Octavius
Latin
"eighth"
Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from…
Ody
Ody is a short, distinctive masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a diminutive of names like Odysseus, connecting it to the legendary Greek hero known for his journey and…
Olaf
Norse
"ancestor's relic"
Olaf, though sainted and regal in Norway, is slightly oafish here. It is one of those names that has become completely familiar in the U.S. without ever becoming assimilated. Now that he's a comical…
Pat
Diminutive of Patrick
"noble, patrician"
As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name . Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
Pax
Latin
"peaceful"
Pax, one of the variations of names meaning peace that are newly popular in these less-than-peaceful times, got a lot of publicity when chosen by Brad & Angelina for their Vietnamese-born son.…
Quinby
Norse
"queen's settlement"
Quinby is a fresh surname-y spin on the popular Quinn. A familiar surname with a zippy sound, it may appeal to those who also enjoy Darby, Toby, and Alby, but want something one of a kind, yet to…
Quan
Quan is a masculine name with East Asian origins, primarily used in Vietnamese and Chinese cultures, though with different meanings in each. In Vietnamese, Quan means "official" or "mandarin,"…
Rye
Diminutive of Ryder or Riley or word name, English
"cavalryman, messenger; rye"
Rye has the potential to become the masculine version of Rue—a short and sweet name for nature lovers (and whiskey fans too!). Rye might be short for Ryder or Riley or Rylan or any Ry-beginning name,…
Ry
Short form of Ryder or Rylan; spelling variation of Rye
Musician Ry Cooder brought this short form into the lexicon -- his full name is Ryland -- and it feels more familiar now that more Ry- beginning names such as Ryder and Riley are, ahem, riding up the…
Sergei
Russian variation of Sergius
Common Russian name of one of that country's most beloved saints, known for his kindness and gentility.
Timmy
Timmy is a warm, friendly masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Timothy. The root name Timothy comes from the Greek "Timotheos," meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God," and…
Tal
Hebrew
"rain, dew"
A unisex Hebrew name often found in combination with others, as in Tal-El and Tal-Or.
Umar
Arabic
"flourishing, thriving"
A possible alternative to the more popular (and attractive) Omar.
Unknown
Word name
"unfamiliar, not yet known"
Unknown was given to nearly 80 American babies in a recent year, but we can only hope they won't stay as such. Like Baby, Babyboy, and Infantmale, Unknown is probably used as a placeholder by parents…
Von
Norse
"hope"
One of those midcentury shortenings that are starting to sound cool again, though we prefer Van.
Vance
English and Irish
"someone who lives near marshland"
Short and sharp with a nature related meaning, Vance was trending upwards in recent years thanks to the musicians Foy Vance and Vance Joy. 2024 saw it take a downwards dip however, likely due to its…
Wil
Germanic
"will"
This spelling pares Will down to the bare minimum — and why not? It is also a Welsh diminutive of William / Wiliam / Gwilym.
Willis
Diminutive of William, German
"resolute protection"
A common surname that was popular as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th century, Willis dropped off the US Top 1000 back in the early 90s, just as alternative William diminutive, Liam,…
Xeno
Green
"of Zeus"
With an X at the start and an O at the end, Xeno is undeniably modern and cool. If you're looking for a derivation, it could come from either the Greek male name Xenon, meaning "foreigner"; of from…
Xayvion
Xayvion is a contemporary masculine name that emerged from the trend of creating distinctive names with unusual initial letters. It appears to be a creative variation of Xavier or Zavier, with the…