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Ellis is a former Old Man Name turned gender-neutral choice for the 21st century. It's one of the less used names in the currently popular El-family.

One of those simple, straightforward English surnames -- and with a presidential pedigree -- that's easy to translate into a first. Chosen by both Kevin Costner and Jessica Alba for their sons, it has been climbing the US charts since 2009.

Harrison, a name made viable by Harrison Ford, is increasingly popular with parents who want an H name that's more formal than Harry or Hank but doesn't veer into the stiff Huntington-Harrington territory.

Jackson is one of those names that's much more popular than you think, coming in near the top of our annual Playground Analysis, which ranks names by grouping all their spellings together. Last year, more than 13,000 baby boys were named Jackson -- along Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, and Jaxsyn -- which counted together makes it the Number 5 boys' name.

This pretty sea-born name was used to dramatic effect by Shakespeare in his play Pericles for the virtuous princess who says she is "Call'd Marina, for I was born at sea."

Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.

Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward, or the clunky-cute Howie.

Nature names like Ocean and River are flowing back into favor, especially with nature lovers and green-oriented parents. In 2024, it was given to 483 boys and 325 girls, making this a unisex favorite in the US, while in the UK, it is considerably more popular for girls.

Clay is a rich, earthy one-syllable name with a southern-inflected handsome-rogue image, featured on soap operas and reality TV. Its longer forms are Clayton and Clayborne.

This lovely orange-scented Spanish place-name would make an inventive namesake for an Aunt Valerie.

Francisco is one of the more popular Spanish names for boys in the US, which is unsurprising given its popularity back in Spain and Portugal as well as Latin America, coupled with its classic status. It also has a cool hipster vibe to it, given the reputation of the city of San Francisco.

Bryant has a longer history as a first name in the US than its father name Brian, ranking among the Top 1000 since the list began in 1880 while Brian only jumped on in 1925.

This name of a giant tree, itself named for a nineteenth-century Cherokee who invented a way to write his tribe's language, makes a strong, stately statement.

This is an energetic dance of an Irish surname, great for both genders. Could also be spelled Delancy.

One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.

Eddy, recently used by Celine Dion for one of her twin boys, was chosen to honor Eddy Marnay, who produced her first five records. Though less common a nickname for Edward than Eddie, Eddy is used more often on its own.

See DOLORES.

The Brits say BARK-lee, but we pronounce it the same as the name of the California college: either way it's quite pretentious and of another era.

Fillmore is a masculine name of English origin, classified as an occupational surname that has occasionally transitioned into use as a given name. It literally meant 'one who works with a file' (a metalworking tool), derived from the Middle English 'fyle' and 'more' meaning 'greater' or sometimes indicating a location. The name gained some recognition through Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, which helped establish it as a potential first name. Fillmore has never been common as a given name, maintaining an air of distinction and uniqueness. It carries a certain formal, traditional quality with literary and historical overtones, appealing to parents looking for a distinguished name with substance.

Brannan is a masculine name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Braonáin, meaning 'descendant of Braonán' (a personal name related to 'braon' meaning 'sorrow' or 'drop of rain'). This distinctive name carries a strong Celtic heritage while maintaining a contemporary sound that works well in modern contexts. Brannan may also be associated with Brannan Island in California, named after early American settler Samuel Brannan. As a first name, Brannan remains relatively uncommon, offering families a recognizable yet distinctive choice that avoids being overly popular. The name shares phonetic similarities with more common names like Brandon and Brennan, making it accessible while maintaining its unique identity. Brannan projects a strong, masculine image with its sharp consonants and has appeal for families seeking Irish heritage names that aren't overused.