2014 NBA Slam Dunk Names for Boys

Originating in Ethiopia, this warm-feeling name is now associated with Phoenix Suns basketball player Amare Stoudemire. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2005.

O-ending short forms are almost invariably appealing, though this might seem slight as the child grows up.

Conley has a contemporary surname feel but is actually vintage in its usage. It was used as a masculine given name through the 1940s and peaked in 1905 at Number 709. Ready for revival? Definitely.

Makes a Biblical favorite new and interesting.

Kenyon is a very engaging British surname name, the middle y giving it a kind of southwestern canyonesque undertone.

Heard more often as a surname in Italy, its meaning has also been linked to the dolphin--which would make a cool nursery motif.

A symbolic name for boys born during a period between Passover and Shavuot.

A name halfway between its old milquetoast image and a more jovial Irish-sounding contemporary one.

A form of Timothy that is popular in its native Russia.

Arron is a masculine name that represents an alternative spelling of Aaron, which has ancient Hebrew origins. The biblical Aaron was the elder brother of Moses and the first High Priest of the Israelites. The name may derive from an Egyptian origin meaning 'exalted' or 'high mountain,' or from Hebrew roots meaning 'bearer of martyrs.' This variant spelling with the double 'r' gives the traditional name a slightly different visual appearance while maintaining the same pronunciation. Arron gained some popularity in the late 20th century as parents sought variations on classic names. It shares the strong, masculine qualities of the original Aaron while offering a subtly distinctive spelling. The name conveys strength and leadership, carrying its biblical heritage into modern usage.

Tyreke is a masculine given name that appears to be a variant spelling of Tyreek or Tyrek. These names may be modern variations of Tyree, which itself could be derived from the Gaelic 'tír rí' meaning 'king's land,' though this etymology is uncertain. Alternatively, it could be a creative variant of names like Tyrone (from the Irish 'Tír Eoghain,' meaning 'land of Eoghan') or Derek. The name gained notable usage in the United States starting in the 1980s and 1990s. Basketball player Tyreke Evans, born in 1989, brought some visibility to the name when he entered the NBA in 2009. The name exemplifies the trend of distinctive spellings and phonetic variations that characterized naming practices in the late 20th century United States. Tyreke has maintained modest but consistent usage in recent decades.

Deron appears to be a modern given name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Darren (from the Irish Ó Dairinín, meaning "descendant of Dairin"), or could be derived from the Greek name Demetrius or from a surname. The name gained notable popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, possibly influenced by basketball player Deron Cherry who played in the NFL during that period. Another spelling variation, Daron, also saw similar usage patterns. The name's streamlined form fits with naming trends of the era, which favored short, strong-sounding masculine names. Deron has maintained steady though modest usage in subsequent decades, demonstrating its establishment as a recognized given name with particular popularity in the late 20th century.