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'Y' oh Why! (Boys Edition: A.B.C.)

Natural
By Natural
Updated Sat Mar 04 2023
Names that have a natural 'y' in its spelling. A list for those who may want to follow the 'y' trend, yet stick to legitimate spellings. Some of them may look 'trendy or yooneek,' but are spelled that way because of their original language. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sources: nameberry name database ; NB Berries ; and another name site. If any names are offensive or incorrect, please let me know and I will take them off or correct them.
  1. Cyrus

    • Origin:

      Persian

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      Cyrus is one of those surprising names that have always ranked among the Top 1000 boy names in the US. On an upward trend since the mid-90s, Cyrus now sits in that comfortable place between too popular and too unusual.
  2. Anthony

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Casey

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "brave in battle"

    • Description:

      Casey is a name with a big wide grin, Irish, friendly, and open, and associated with several American folk heroes--Casey Jones, the engine driver of the Cannonball Express who gave his life to save his passengers, and the legendary Casey at the Bat.
  4. Avery

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ruler of the elves"

    • Description:

      Avery is a unisex name that is used four times as often today for girls as for boys. But while Avery's popularity is starting to soften for girls, it continues to get stronger for boys -- in keeping with our finding that gender neutral names are becoming more favored for boys than for girls.
  5. Bellamy

    • Origin:

      English and Irish from French

    • Meaning:

      "fine friend"

    • Description:

      Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby.
  6. Barnaby

    • Origin:

      English variation of Barnabas, Aramaic

    • Meaning:

      "son of consolation"

    • Description:

      Barnaby, a genial and energetic name with an Irish-sounding three-syllable lilt, is an ancient appellation that manages to be both unusual and highly attractive and deserves to be used more than it is. A sweet-spot name that's a real winner.
  7. Brady

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "broad meadow or large-chested"

    • Description:

      The Irish name given to Miranda Hobbes's son on the dearly departed Sex and the City is a friendly and energetic choice. You well might want to make your son part of the Brady bunch.
  8. Cyril

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lordly"

    • Description:

      A British-accented Greek name with an intellectual image that has been off the U.S. charts since 1966, but was a Top 300 name at the turn of the last century. We have the feeling Cyril's ready for a comeback.
  9. Cody

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "helpful, pillow"

    • Description:

      In the early 1990s, Cody was in the Top 25 most popular boys' names in the USA; but it has been in decline since then. It retains a greater degree of popularity in the UK, however. Cody might be short for Dakota but despite its nickname feeling, it's a name of its own.
  10. Cy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cyrus, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      This evocative short name is suddenly chic — it was recently chosen by Jennifer Lawrence for her baby boy. JLaw's son's name honors Cy Twombly, the influential mid-century American artist. Born Edwin Parker Twombly Jr., both Cy Twombly and his father shared a nickname after baseball player Cy Young (himself born Denton True Young).
  11. Clyde

    • Origin:

      Scottish river name

    • Description:

      Even though in the past Clyde may have been identified as half of the infamous outlaw duo with partner Bonnie Parker—especially after the 1967 movie in which he was played by Warren Beatty—Clyde has always had an element of jazzy cool that could overcome all the rest.
  12. Brody

    • Origin:

      Irish, English, and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "broad eye or broad island"

    • Description:

      The energetic Brody is a name that claims different meanings and origins depending on whether you're looking at its Irish, Scottish, or English history -- and Eastern Europeans claim a version too. An alternate spelling is Brodie.
  13. Byron

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "barn for cows"

    • Description:

      For centuries, this name had a romantic, windswept image due to its strong connection to the poet Lord Byron, who inspired its use as a first name. It is one of those surprise names that's appeared on the Top 1000 every year since 1880.
  14. Clay

    • Origin:

      English word name; diminutive of Clayton

    • Description:

      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.
  15. Calloway

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pebbly place"

    • Description:

      Calloway is one of those irresistibly jaunty, animated three-syllable surnames, like Sullivan, Rafferty and Finnegan — but this one has the added attraction of jazzy ties to the immortal "Dean of American Jive," Cab Calloway. With its melodic sound, its similarity to Callahan, Caleb, Waylon, and Callum, and its fun, nature meaning, Calloway is a quietly rising choice in the US, given to 87 boys (and 22 girls) in a recent year.
  16. Aubrey

    • Origin:

      English from French

    • Meaning:

      "elf ruler"

    • Description:

      Once a popular choice in for boys in the Middle Ages and again during the 19th century, Aubrey has mostly been used for girls in the US since the 1970's. With its arty, surname-y, and sophisticated feel, however, it is rising up the UK charts for both boys and girls.
  17. Ashley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the ash tree meadow"

    • Description:

      It may have peaked at #1 for girls in 1991 and 1992 in the US, but Ashley actually has a long history as a male given name, as evidenced by the sensitive Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind. It's always been more popular for boys in England and Wales, where it currently ranks at #414.
  18. Barry

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "spear"

    • Description:

      This Anglicized form of Bearach or short form of Finbarr was in the Top 200 in the USA for 50 years until the early 80s when it rapidly fell out of favor. Barry has not yet found popularity in the modern era - but that may well change as people rediscover their love of classic figures like musician Barry White, baseballer Barry Bonds or even Barack Obama, whose nickname as a young man was Barry.
  19. Bobby

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      Bobby is the quintessential mid-century nickname, the name of the son on Mad Men and overused to the point of cliche. Though Robert is still a highly popular choice, most Roberts today are called by their full name or Rob or Robbie rather than Bob or Bobby.
  20. Bailey

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "law enforcer, bailiff"

    • Description:

      Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls.