International Names That Work in the U.S.

Dominik

Variation of Dominic, Latin "belonging to the lord"

"belonging to the lord"

A variation of the classic Dominic, this is the German, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Polish, Hungarian, and Croatian form. Traditionally chosen for children born on Sundays (owing to its meaning), it…

Albie

Diminutive of Albert or Albus, English, Germanic, Latin

"noble and bright; white, bright light"

Gentle and friendly, but also full of energy and spark, Albie is a bubbly diminutive, usually of Albert, but also of Alban, Albus, Albie has become a big favorite in England and Wales in recent…

Alfie

Diminutive of Alfred, English

"wise counselor"

Alfie is a Top 20 name throughout the British Isles, where retro nickname names are mega-popular, but it hasn't really been picked up in the US yet, given to around 70 boys in a recent year.…

Andrin

Swiss, Romansh variation of Heinrich, German

"home of the king"

Antoine

French variation of Anthony

"priceless one"

Antoine is a venerable French name that is still stylish in its native habitat, where it is in the Top 30. In the US, it was most popular in the 1970s and '80s, reaching Number 262 in 1985. There…

Anton

German, Russian, and Scandinavian variation of Anthony, Latin

"from Antium"

Cultured and cultivated in an old-style, Old World way, Anton is popular across Europe. It may be associated with the classic Russian playwright Anton Chekhov and also with ballroom dancer Anton Du…

Dex

Diminutive of Dexter

"dyer; right-handed"

Dex, the nickname for Dexter that is sometimes used on its own, has lots of energy and dynamism. It was chosen by comedian Dana Carvey for his now grown son. With the growing popularity of Dexter, we…

Emil

Latin

"rival"

Derived from the Latin word aemulus , Emil is a name with international appeal. Concise and sturdy but with the gentle Em sound, Emil is popular across Europe, from Azerbaijan to Finland, from…

Ezio

Italian from Greek

"eagle"

An operatic Italian option via South Pacific star Pinza, one of several Italian names currently hot in France. Ezio is the Italian form of the Greek name Aetius. Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego Saldana…

Hamish

Scottish variation of James

"supplanter"

Just as Seamus/Seumus is Irish for James, Hamish is the Scottish form — one that's not often used here, but still redolent of Olde Scotland. If you're ready to go further than Duncan and Malcolm, out…

Leano

Italian, Greek, Spanish, Tswana

"lion man; brave lion; torch, shining light; God's plan"

A Top 10 name in Switzerland, Leano has a number of possible origins. On one hand, it may derive as a contracted form of Leandro or Leonardo, meaning "lion man" and "brave lion" respectively.…

Lenn

Dutch diminutive of Lennart, Swedish

"brave lion"

Old-school nicknames for boys are back, and Lenn is a great candidate for revival. Single-N Len may not be as cool as this Dutch version, originally a nickname for Lennart.

Lino

Italian and Spanish from Greek

"flax"

Lino has two separate origins. It can be a diminutive of Italian names like Angelino, Marcelino, and so on — and it is also the Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese form of Linus. With its bright and…

Mak

Mak is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Scottish and North English traditions, it functions as a short form of Marmaduke or Malcolm. In Southeast Asian contexts, particularly…

Marius

Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war

Marius, frequently heard in Germany and France, is a slightly fusty yet accessible name that has (Les Mis) to Anne Rice. With the rise in interest in such Latin names as Maximus and Atticus, Marius…

Mateus

Portuguese variation of Matthew, Hebrew

"gift of God"

Portuguese variation of Matthew.

Nolen

Nolen is a masculine name with Irish and English origins, typically considered a variant of Nolan, which means 'famous' or 'noble.' This surname-turned-first-name has gained moderate popularity as…