Charming And/Or Unconventional Old-Time Baseball Player Names

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 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.

Let's hope he's "burly".

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

Mordecai, although it has a noble heritage, has never caught on in this country, because of its rather weighty image.

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.

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.