Charming And/Or Unconventional Old-Time Baseball Player Names

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.

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 suit. Its popularity also got a boost from Nashville character Deacon Claybourne -- only to fall a bit in recent years.

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 or Albert). We think Wade is a winning name.

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).

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 alternatives to Malachi and Matthew, Mordecai has seen increased interest in recent years and was given to 74 boys in the US in 2024.

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 name's popularity.

A sweet Scottish short form of Alexander which is feeling newly appealing now the era of Sandra is far behind us. Sandy would also work well as a nickname for a child with pale red or dark blond hair.

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 in the King James Bible as a place name, the city of Tyre in modern-day Lebanon, whose name derives from the Phonecian word for "rock".

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 barrier by hiring Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers. Like Leaf, Branch makes a nice, not-so-obvious, addition to the tree category.

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

Attractive British place-name with a sense of humor. Fun fact: John Wayne played five characters with the first or second name of Kirby.

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, Matty has increasingly been used as a given name in its own right, reflecting the modern trend toward informal, approachable-sounding names. It maintains a youthful, friendly quality while still connecting to the ancient and widely-used Matthew. The name has particular popularity in English-speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom and Australia. Matty carries associations with warmth and accessibility, often evoking a friendly, unpretentious personality. Its -y ending follows the pattern of affectionate diminutives that have become increasingly accepted as formal given names in contemporary naming practices.

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

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 word 'drest' or 'drust' meaning 'riot' or 'tumult,' or potentially from the Latin 'tristis' meaning 'sad.' This concise, modern-sounding name has gained some popularity as parents seek short, distinctive names with historical connections. While not among the most common boys' names, Tris offers a streamlined alternative to longer traditional forms, appealing to those who appreciate its brevity and subtle literary connections, including its use in popular fiction.

First Woody Allen, then Spike Lee named their children to honor the great early black pitcher, Leroy "Satchel" Paige. A bit luggage-related for non-celebrity use, however.

Let's hope he's "burly".

As its parent name Roland comes back into style (yep, it’s happening), could there be an uptick in baby Rollies? Certainly as a pet form.

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 from Italian elements possibly meaning 'from Naples.' Alternatively, it could be a nickname based on the English word for a short sleep. Nap has never been widely used as a given name in English-speaking countries, remaining a rare choice throughout recorded naming history. The name's brevity gives it a punchy, informal quality that might appeal to parents seeking something uniquely concise. Its unusual nature means a person named Nap would likely face both curiosity about their name and occasional word-related jokes.