User-created list
By SophieDeWitt · Updated May 2023
Across 4 pages
of 4
Latin
"steadfast"
This Roman Emperor's name may once have been considered too grand for a baby but in an era of children called Atticus, Augustine, Valentine, Caspian, Thaddeus, and Maximus, Constantine might just be…
"destiny"
Synthesized name in the Justin/Dustin mold, but has an unpleasant similarity to the diaper rash ointment called Desitin.
Diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel, Hebrew
"given"
Six Feet Under transformed Nate's image from crusty uncle to cool guy. Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack.…
Russian variation of George
Common Russian name familiarized here via cosmonaut Yury Gagarin and a character in Dr. Zhivago , but we don't see it ever gaining permanent resident status.
Slavic
"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"
Vladimir is a cultured and deep-rooted Slavic name associated in this country with cultural figures including piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz and the author of Lolita , Vladimir Nabokov. The name…
English word name
"cross"
Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.
Darryl is a masculine name with ancient Celtic origins, derived from the Irish name 'Dáire' or 'Daire,' meaning 'fruitful' or 'fertile.' It entered common usage in English-speaking countries as both…
Dutch
"strength, might"
The name of Rip Van Winkle – and Rip (born Elmore) Torn – will probably never be ready for further consumption, if only because of the implications of R. I. P. The only thing that could save it is…
French occupational name
"a merchant"
Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic…
French or English
"stain or from the south meadow"
A jaunty offshoot of Sullivan, Sully will be associated by kids with the beloved character in the Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc . Some notable real-life namesakes are French poet and essayist…
Scottish
"clan chieftain"
This early Scottish title -- known to us via Shakespeare's Macbeth -- has recently surfaced as a baby name possibility, familiar sounding through its similarity to names like Zane and Wayne.
Word name
One of the new crop of boys' names that manage to be unconventional and macho at the same time — though Blade verges on the threatening.
Greek mythology name
Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames.
English
"dweller by the wood"
With the current taste for last names first, this sounds a lot cooler than Shawn; it also has creative connections to the great Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, novelist Irwin Shaw, and Big…
Quin is a concise, gender-neutral name with multiple origins. Most commonly, it's considered a shortened form of Quincy, Quinton, or Quintus, all deriving from the Latin 'quintus' meaning 'fifth.' It…
Slovak; Dutch, from Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Arabic
"falcon"
The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
Nature name
Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games , it has new force for boys.
"someone who lives in a hollow; strong and hearty"
This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming…
Modern invented name
Whether you think of it as Cale with a K, or a pet form of Kalen or Kaleb, this is just the kind of short, synthetic name finding a lot of favor now, but remember -- it's also the name of a vegetable.
