Boys Names that feel Fresh & Modern but not Made Up

Many of these names have more history than you think...
  1. Abel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "breath"
    • Description:

      Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing.
  2. Abram
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"
    • Description:

      Abram was Abraham's original name in the Bible; it's more user-friendly but with a bit less gravitas. And it does offer that cool nickname Bram, as well as the friendly Abe. After some early American usage, in 1936 Abram completely disappeared for nearly forty years, until its return in the 1970s.
  3. Adair
    • Origin:

      Scottish and Irish
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree ford"
    • Description:

      Adair has flair, the grace of a Fred Astaire. It's a Scottish surname which came from the first name Edgar.
  4. Alaric
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "all-powerful ruler"
    • Description:

      Alaric is an ancient regal name that sounds modern enough to be considered. Alaric was a traditional name for the kings of the Ostrogoths, the most famous of whom was Alaric I, the King of the West Goths who sacked Rome in 410.
  5. Asa
    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "healer; born in the morning"
    • Description:

      A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.
  6. Atlas
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "bearer of the heavens"
    • Description:

      Atlas is one of those names that was previously thought too powerful for a baby boy, who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Now Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo.
  7. Auden
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "old friend"
    • Description:

      The poetic, soft-spoken Auden has recently started to be considered as a first name option, used for both sexes, appreciated for its pleasing sound as well as its link to the distinguished modern Anglo-American poet W.H. Auden.
  8. Alder
    • Bastian
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Sebastian, Latin from Greek
      • Meaning:

        "man of Sebastia"
      • Description:

        In Spanish cultures, and spelled either Bastian or Bastien, this is a fairly common nickname name. The German fantasy children's book The Neverending Story features a young boy character called Bastian Balthlazar Bux, and it has also been seen in several screen versions.
    • Bay
      • Origin:

        English word, Old English
      • Meaning:

        "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
      • Description:

        Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"
    • Bellamy
      • Origin:

        English and Irish from French
      • Meaning:

        "fine friend"
      • Description:

        Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby.
    • Booker
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "scribe"
      • Description:

        Booker would make for a very cool name, for writers, reformers, R & B fans and those wanting to pay tribute to Booker T. Washington.
    • Calix
      • Origin:

        Male variation of Calixta or Latin
      • Meaning:

        "chalice"
      • Description:

        Calix is once-obscure name that is starting to see some use in the US, where 47 baby boys were named Calix in 2023. An indirect influence is the actress Calista Flockhart, who introduced Americans to the female version of this attractive Greek name to prominence.
    • Castor
      • Origin:

        Greek; Latin
      • Meaning:

        "beaver; pious one"
      • Description:

        Forget the oil. It's one of the twins that make up the constellation Gemini, and a mythological name on the cutting-edge of fashion; used by Metallica's James Hetfield.
    • Cato
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "all-knowing"
      • Description:

        Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
    • 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.
    • Darwin
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "dear friend"
      • Description:

        Enough parents have found naturalist Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, a worthy hero to keep Darwin relatively consistently in the Top 1000 (it dropped off in 2021 but is back in 2022)—though some might just like its trendy two-syllable sound. It has a lovely meaning too—"dear friend."
    • Dash
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Dashiell, meaning unknown
      • Description:

        Dash is a nickname that can stand on its own and sounds, well, dashing. Connected these days with Kardashian enterprises.
    • Dexter
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "dyer, right-handed"
      • Description:

        The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism.
    • Django
      • Origin:

        Romani
      • Meaning:

        "I awake"
      • Description:

        Django — the D is silent as most everyone now knows — the nickname of the great Belgian-born jazz guitarist Django (originally Jean Baptiste) Reinhardt, makes a dynamic musical choice for any jazz aficionado. Reinhardt's nickname "Django" is Romani for "I awake." The name has become more familiar with the release of and acclaim for the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained.