'Y' oh Why! (Boys Edition: A.B.C.)
- Berwyn
- Aditya
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"belonging to Aditi"Description:
Aditi's seven children, Hindu Gods, are named Aditya.
- Ainsley
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"solitary meadow"Description:
This name will tick a lot of boxes for many parents: unisex; trendy sound; pretty instinctive to pronounce; and some great namesakes including British chef Ainsley Harriott and American footballer Ainsley Battles.
- Albany
Origin:
Scottish place nameDescription:
A capital place-name possibility.
- Aleksy
Origin:
Polish, from GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
An intriguing Polish form of Alexander that's both unique and familiar-sounding.
- Alimayu
Origin:
EthiopianMeaning:
"in honor of God"Description:
Wesley Snipes chose this distinctive East African name for his son.
- Aloys
Description:
Aloys is a masculine name with Germanic origins, functioning as a variant of Alois, which itself derives from the Old French Loys, a form of Louis. The name ultimately traces back to the Germanic name Chlodovech (composed of elements meaning 'fame' and 'warrior'). Aloys has been particularly popular in German-speaking countries, especially Austria, Bavaria, and Switzerland. It has notable associations with composer Aloys Fleischmann and the Catholic saint Aloysius Gonzaga, whose name variations include Aloys. The name carries an elegant, classical quality with its soft ending and historical resonance. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, Aloys offers a distinguished European alternative to more common names like Louis or Lewis, maintaining its sophisticated character.
- Amaury
Origin:
French form of AmalricMeaning:
"work power"Description:
Friendlier french form of ancient Germanic royal name Amalric or Emmerich.
- Amery
Description:
Amery is a masculine name with Germanic roots, derived from ancient elements meaning "work ruler" or "industrious leader." It shares origins with the more common Emery and Emory, all evolving from the Germanic name Emmerich. Historically, the name traveled to England with the Norman conquest and has maintained a quiet presence in English-speaking countries ever since. Amery has an aristocratic quality, possibly due to its association with medieval nobility and the English placename Amery, which itself derives from personal names. While never extremely popular, Amery sees occasional use as a distinctive alternative to more common names. Its soft beginning and two-syllable rhythm give it a gentle yet masculine quality that balances tradition with accessibility. The name carries connotations of diligence and leadership through its etymological roots.
- Amyas
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"loved"Description:
Alternate spelling Amias is one of the biggest hit names of the past ten years, going from very uncommon -- it had never been in the Top 1000 -- to a firm spot in the Top 1000. The Amyas version is much rarer, used for only five baby boys last year. Down side: The spelling of the name starting with the familiar Amy might make some pronounce is Amy-us, but it's more correctly ah-MYE-as.
- Andy
Origin:
Diminutive of Andrew, GreekMeaning:
"strong and manly"Description:
Although we prefer Drew to the old Raggedy Andy, Andy has overtaken Drew as a name in its own right. About twice as many baby boys are named Andy, just Andy -- though about eight times as many parents go with the full Andrew.
- Anthony
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Antium"Description:
Substantial, strong, and enduring, Anthony has remained a perennially popular name over the last century. With just a hint of playfulness and just a touch of clunky-coolness, Anthony is a versatile choice that seems comfortable anywhere.
- Antony
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"priceless"Description:
Variation of Anthony, and more true to the original Latin spelling. The Roman statesman Marcus Antonius is usually known as Mark Antony in English.
- Argyle
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"an Irishman, from the land of the Gaels"Description:
Nice Scottish sound, but too tied to sweaters and socks.
- Arkady
Origin:
Russian from GreekMeaning:
"from Arcadia"Description:
Arkady is a rhythmic Russian saint's name from the Greek meaning "from Arcadia." As a literary name, it belongs to a genteel character in Turgenev's Fathers and Sons and a much less benign one in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, and is also a key figure in Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith.
- Arley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the rabbit meadow"Description:
Similar in sound to Harley, Marley, Arlo, and Ari, this surname-style name was a fast rising choice in the UK in 2023.
- Arya
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"noble"Description:
A venerable boys' name in Persian and South Asian cultures that is increasingly used for girls in most parts of the world, thanks largely to the popularity of Game of Thrones character Arya Stark. In the U.S., for instance, there were 1890 newborn girls named Arya in 2016 and just 54 boys in 2016. The related Aryan remains mostly male, however, so it would likely be a better choice for a little boy, if you don't mind the other meaning.
- Aryan
Origin:
Indo-IranianMeaning:
"warrior, honorable"Description:
Aryan derives from the Sanskrit word ārya, meaning "honorable" or "high-born." As a term, Aryan was used to describe Indo-Europeans—particularly Iranians—who shared common religious, cultural, and linguistic history. It was later misapplied by the Nazis to refer solely to Germanic and Nordic Caucasians, ultimately corrupting the term.
- Arye
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"lion"Description:
This biblical name, pronounced ahr yeh, is a not uncommon boys' name in Israel. It can also be spelled Aryeh , the most popular form by far, or Arieh. The feminine equivalent is Levi'a. Possible down side: Its similarity to the hot girl name Arya or Aria.
- Aryeh
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"lion"Description:
Aryeh, which can also be spelled Arye or Arieh, is a Biblical name sometimes heard in modern Israel. In the US, this is the most popular spelling by far, given to 100 boys last year. But the girls' form Ariyah is much more popular than that, given to nearly 500 baby girls.