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Names For Characters (Boys)

  1. Aurelian

    • Origin:

      English form of Aurelius, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "golden one"

    • Description:

      Aurelian is an ancient name gaining contemporary visibility along with many other forms of the Ancient Roman Aurelius, including Aurelia and Aurelio.
  2. Cael

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "slender"

    • Description:

      Cael is the name of the angel of the zodiac sign of Cancer and also of a warrior of Irish mythology. Its ascendance to the Top 1000 over the past decade probably has to do with its similarity to Cale and Kale (and Kyle and Cayden etcetera).
  3. Halloran

    • Origin:

      Gaelic

    • Meaning:

      "male descendant of a pirate or stranger from overseas"

    • Description:

      Halloran could be your solution if you love the nickname Hal, but not Harold or Henry.
  4. Zeno

    • Origin:

      Anglicized form of Greek Zenon, related to Zeus, king of the gods

    • Description:

      Zeno, the name of two ancient philosophers, has a muscular dynamism that's lightened by its cheerful final vowel, resulting in a kind of offbeat sci-fi feel. Zeno of Citium was the founder of the Stoic school of thought, Zeno of Elea was another early, original Greek thinker, famed for his Paradoxes.
  5. Madden

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little dog"

    • Description:

      Madden is an Irish surname relative of Madigan rising through the charts thanks to its trendy two-syllable, -en ending sound along with its appeal to Madden Football video game-playing dads. John Madden is a former pro football player who went on to coach the Oakland Raiders and become a popular NFL commentator. Madden is also the surname of groovy Nicole Richie baby daddy Joel Madden.
  6. Hadrian

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from the Adriatic; dark-haired"

    • Description:

      Most parents would find this old Roman name pretentious compared to the more accessible Adrian, but some history buffs just might want to commemorate the enlightened emperor.
  7. 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.
  8. Winslow

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "friend's hill"

    • Description:

      Winston meets Marlow in this surname-style choice, blending old-fashioned charm and a hint of stuffiness with a bit of modern edge and breeziness too. Borne by the distinguished American landscape painter Winslow Homer, it could make a creative and unexpected choice, though some may be put off by the 'slow' ending.
  9. Mordecai

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "follower of Marduk"

    • Description:

      Mordecai, although it has a noble heritage, has never caught on in this country, because of its rather weighty image. Nevertheless, with parents searching for rarer Biblical names that work as alternatives to Malachi and Matthew, Mordecai has seen increased interest in recent years and was given to 74 boys in the US in 2024.
  10. Lior

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "I have a light"

    • Description:

      Lior is a unisex name frequently heard in Israel, capturing the popular light theme through its meaning. For English speakers, the one down side is possible pronunciation confusion with "liar," though it's really lee-OR, with a long e sound and emphasis on the second syllable.
  11. Altair

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "falcon"

    • Description:

      The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
  12. Maro

    • Origin:

      Latin, Hebrew, or Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "from Mars; bitter; or, myself"

    • Description:

      Maro is an ancient saints' name -- he was an Italian follower of St. Flavia and was martyred -- rarely used in modern life. The name Maro may stem from the Roman Marcellus, related to Mars, the god of war, or it may be a feminine form of Maria, connected with Mario. Maro is also a Japanese name meaning "myself."
  13. Calixto

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"

    • Description:

      Calixto is known in Spain as the name of three popes, one of whom was the martyr, Callixtus I, regarded as a saint. Calixto has a lot of energy and futuristic spirit, thanks in part to the attention-grabbing 'x.' He is the main character in the Spanish classic, Fernando de Rojas's Tragicomedy of Calixto and Melibea.
  14. Corin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "spear"

    • Description:

      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.
  15. Thorn

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "prickle"

    • Description:

      Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorn? Add an E to give it a surnamey spin.
  16. Icarus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames.
  17. Riordan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "bard, royal poet"

    • Description:

      Has a legitimate first name history in its native land and an appealing meaning, but pronunciation is far from obvious.
  18. Torrin

    • Description:

      Torrin is a masculine name with Scottish Gaelic origins, derived from the Gaelic word "toirinn" meaning "thunder" or possibly from "tòrr," a Gaelic word for "hill" or "mound." The name also refers to a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, giving it geographical significance. Torrin shares some similarities with other Celtic names like Torran and the Irish Torcan. While never reaching mainstream popularity, Torrin has maintained a steady if minimal presence in English-speaking countries, particularly among families celebrating their Scottish heritage. The name carries connotations of natural strength and power, with its connection to thunder and highlands. Its distinctive sound balances uniqueness with straightforward pronunciation, making it accessible despite its rarity.

  19. Marcellus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "young warrior"

    • Description:

      This ancient Roman family name, first borne by the distinguished Marcus Claudius Marcellus and later by two popes, is a possibilty in the hot new category of names from antiquity.
  20. Thorin

    • Origin:

      Norse and Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "thunder or brave and daring"

    • Description:

      Some sources give Thorin as a variation of the thunder god name Thor, equivalent to Thoren, while others says it comes from the verb að þora, meaning "to dare." This is a dwarf's name that first appeared in the thirteenth century mythology compilation Prose Edda, which, along with the Poetic Edda, represents nearly all of pagan Scandinavian mythology. Tolkien later used the name for character Thorin II Oakenshield of The Hobbit.

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