User-created list
Names of Nobel Prize Winners
Across 36 pages
of 36
Tim
Diminutive of Timothy, Greek
"honoring God"
Tim is a boyish short form occasionally given on its own. There were 37 baby boys named Tim in the US last year, versus over 1700 named Timothy.
Barry
Irish
"spear"
This Anglicized form of Bearach or short form of Finbarr was in the Top 200 in the USA for 50 years until the early 80s when it rapidly fell out of favor. Barry has not yet found popularity in the…
Cornell
British from Latin, or Anglicized form of French
"corner or crow"
This name has not one but two impressive cultural connections: collage artist Joseph Cornell and photographer Cornell Capa--not to mention Cornell University.
Kim
English, diminutive of Kimball
Kim is forever feminized, despite memories of the Rudyard Kipling character.
Arvid
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
"eagle-tree"
Arvid, a Scandinavian name that's virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top baby names in Sweden . It might make a handsome, unusual choice for a parent in search of an original yet traditional…
Carlsson
Carlsson is a masculine name originating as a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning 'son of Carl.' The double 's' spelling is particularly characteristic of Swedish naming traditions,…
Gerard
English and Irish from German
"spear strength"
Gerard is currently in style limbo, after reaching peak popularity in the 1950s. With its strong meaning and gentle sound, it may be back in a generation or two. But for now, a boy called Gerard will…
Sen
Japanese mythology name
Simple, Zen-like name of a mythological forest elf.
Hume
Scottish variation of Holmes
Distinguished actor Hume Cronyn (who shared his father's name) put this unusual choice in the lexicon.
Laughlin
Irish
"dweller at the fjord-land"
First used for Norse invaders, this name, along with the similar Lachlan, is an attractive, worldly, and unusual choice — despite connections to the Nevada gambling resort.
Horst
German
"leap"
Heavy and horsey.
Myron
Greek
"fragrant, an aromatic shrub, myrrh"
One of many M names -- including Murray, Melvin, Morton, Milton, and Marvin -- given to first-generation Jewish boys to replace the old-fashioned Moses. Now we'd pick Moses over any of them. Myron…
Jody
Diminutive of Joan and Judith
One of the cute and bouncy nicknames so popular in the 1960s and 70s, but that hasn't made a comeback in the way Eames chairs and miniskirts have. Think of it as one of the original but now…
Boyer
English and French
"bow-maker, cattle herder"
Two completely different images come from its national pronunciations -- BOY-err or boy-AY -- the latter giving it an effete French accent.
Jens
Scandinavian variation of Johannes or John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
Short but substantial Nordic name that travels well -- although it runs the risk of being confused with all the feminine Jen names.
Phillips
Phillips originated as a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Philip' and has transitioned into occasional use as a masculine given name. The name Philip itself comes from Greek elements meaning 'lover…
Ximenes
Spanish variation of Simon
The J spelling -- both are pronounced as if they started with H -- is more common, but the X has more flair.
Doherty
Irish
"not loving"
Surname that could have pronunciation problems -- it's Dorrity -- as well as having an off-putting meaning.
Rolf
Abbreviated form of Rudolf, German
"famous wolf"
Like Papa name Rudolf, Rolf never quite emigrated from the Bavarian Alps. You might want to move on to Rollo or Wolf.
Coleman
English and Irish
"little dove"
The name of three hundred saints, a mustard, and your own baby boy. Coleman was off the US Top 1000 list for much of the 1960s and 1970s, but it was a mainstay before and has been for most years…