Charming And/Or Unconventional Old-Time Baseball Player Names

Brooks

English

"of the brook"

A nature name, a word name, and a surname name, Brooks has plenty of cool factor. It gives off cowboy vibes and a sporty feel, while also maintaining a smart, collected image. Used occasionally as a…

Wade

English

"at the river crossing"

Wade has never been outside the US Top 1000 for boys - there's a reason for that. It has a clean spelling, fresh sound and is neither too trendy (unlike Kade or Cade) or too old-school (like Richard…

Chance

French variation of Chauncey

Once a cavalier Mississippi gambler type name, Chance has entered the mainstream since being endorsed by such celebrity dads as Larry King and Paul Hogan. Chance the Rapper has also boosted the…

Deacon

Greek

"messenger, servant"

This name was transposed from the word for a church officer to a baby name when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe chose it for their son, after a baseball player ancestor, and Don Johnson followed…

Christy

Scottish and Irish diminutive of Christopher

"bearer of Christ"

Common nicknames for Christopher in Ireland, we think Christy or Christie have a certain cheery charm, especially now that Chris is feeling less ubiquitous.

Matty

Matty functions as both a standalone masculine name and a familiar diminutive of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name Mattathia meaning 'gift of God.' While traditionally used as a nickname,…

Branch

Word name

Branch is an attractive name with associations both with trees and with branching out into brave new worlds. Baseball's Branch (born Wesley, with Branch as his middle name) Rickey broke the color…

Tyrus

Latin, Phonecian

"city of Tyre; rock"

The full name of baseball great Ty Cobb and now the name of a popular board game, this name gained popularity due to its fashionable sounds – a combination of Tyrone and Cyrus. But it is also found…

Nap

Nap is an uncommon masculine name that can function as both a standalone name and a nickname. It may originate as a shortened form of Napoleon, the name of the famous French emperor, which derives…

Tris

Tris is a masculine name that typically serves as a diminutive of names like Tristan, Tristram, or Tristin. With Celtic and Welsh roots, Tris conveys strength and melancholy, derived from the Celtic…

Cy

Diminutive of Cyrus, Persian

"sun"

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…

Mordecai

Hebrew

"follower of Marduk"

Mordecai, although it has a noble heritage, has never caught on in this country, because of its rather weighty image. Nevertheless, with parents searching for rarer Biblical names that work as…

Gabby

Gabby as a masculine name typically functions as a nickname for Gabriel, derived from the Hebrew name meaning "God is my strength." While Gabby is more commonly associated as a feminine nickname for…

Jackie

English

"God is gracious"

A cute diminutive of Jack, already technically a nickname for John, famously borne by Hong Kong actor, director and martial artist Jackie Chan.