Godschildren

Whit

English

"white"

Whit is an uplifting short form of any number of surname-y full names, for Whitman to Whitaker to Whitney. But Whit stands perfectly well on its own and makes for a witty spin on modern virtue names .

Rupert

German variation of Robert

"bright fame"

Rupert is a charming-yet-manly name long more popular in Britain (where it's attached to a beloved cartoon bear) than in the U.S. Yet we can see Rupert as a more stylish, modern way to honor an…

Corin

Latin

"spear"

Corin was used by Shakespeare in As You Like It , an unusual name that could make a more distinctive alternative to Corey or Colin. It is a name used in the illustrious Redgrave family of actors.

Rhodri

Welsh

"wheel, circle"

Rhodri, the name of an important ninth century Welsh king known as Rhodri the Great, a renowned warrior who was the ancestor of many of the later dynasties of Wales, was revived in modern Wales. Has…

Wystan

English

"battle stone"

Dignified first name of poet W. H. Auden, less exposed than his currently stylish surname.

Calder

English

"rocky water"

A cool, rugged sounding name, Calder is connected to an ancient Scottish clan, an English village, and a Scottish River, along with the sculptor Alexander Calder, who invented the mobile (as in,…

Cadmus

Greek

"one who excels"

Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents…

Embry

English surname

"flat-topped hill"

Embry became viable as a first name when it was used for the (male) werewolf character Embry Call in the Twilight series. But its Em- beginning and -y ending give it a feminine sound, so we call it…

Fedor

Fedor is a strong masculine name with Slavic origins, particularly prominent in Russian culture as a variation of Feodor or Theodore. Derived from Greek elements meaning 'gift of God' (from 'theos'…

Bromley

English

"broom meadow"

Bromley is an English surname-name that's more possible as a first name now than ever before. The -ley suffix has been adopted for many names, and surnames such as Bromley are fashionable. A short…

Sabin

Romanian, Bulgarian, Basque, from Latin

"from the Sabines"

Listed in the Quran as one of the "People of the Book," this male equivalent of Sabina is undiscovered and ripe for the adventurous baby namer. There was also an 8th-century Bulgarian Khan with the…

Savarin

Savarin is a sophisticated masculine name that likely derives from the famous French dessert 'Savarin cake,' named after Brillat-Savarin, an 18th-century French gastronome and writer. The name…

Melker

Modern Swedish variation of Melchior

"city of the king; king of light"

Melker, a modern phonetic spelling of ancient Three Wise Men name Melchior, is in the Swedish Top 100 though not used in the US, where it would be heard as "milker." Nickname Mel is not exactly a…