A laid-back cowboy name which feels both cool and gentle, Dallas has ranked in the US Top 500 since records began in 1880. Never super popular but surprisingly never out of style, Dallas is given to nearly 1400 boys in the US every year.

Turner is a name that's both preppy and painterly, recalling the exquisite watercolor seascapes of British painter J.M.W. Turner. An occupational name in the Taylor-Carter mold, Turner is a more distinctive choice than many of the usual suspects.

Cason rose up the chart as a rhyming variation on the popular Jason, Mason and Brayson. Als spelled as Casen, Kasen and Kason, it may be considered a surname-style name, borrowed from Cawston meaning "calf town", or if could be a spin on Casey, meaning "brave in battle" or "vigilant". This spelling ranks in the latter half of the Top 1000, given to around 280 boys in a recent year.

Could join such up-and-comers as Miller and Gardener, though the "potty" and Harry Potter associations are strong and potentially unappealing these days.