Favorite Boy Names

Auden

English

"old friend"

The poetic, soft-spoken Auden has recently started to be considered as a first name option, used for both sexes, appreciated for its pleasing sound as well as its link to the distinguished modern…

Edmond

English

"wealthy protector"

The sophisticated Edmond and its nearly-identical twin Edmund are coming out of mothballs now that Edward, inspired by Twilight, is once again a hot name. Parents looking for an alternative might…

Augustin

Greek variation of August

This form and its German variant Augusten are moving up fast as the preferred long forms of the trendy Gus.

Rain

Nature name

Mostly feminine, though "Office" star Rainn Wilson gives it a slight masculine twist. You might also use this as a short form of Raines.

Winter

Word name

The girls have dibs on Spring, Summer, and Autumn, leaving this name evocative of snowy landscapes as the one possible seasonal choice for boys. And naturally, it's one of the most obvious names for…

Waverly

Locational English surname

"from the quivering meadow"

Waverly, with its literary resonance and lilting three-syllable sound, could well become the next generation's successor to Kimberly. Although, like Kimberly, it's overwhelmingly catching on for…

Emmet

English; Hebrew

"universal; truth"

Honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, Emmet is a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, but the more common spelling is Emmett. Emmet dropped off the US Top 1000 in 1934 and reentered…

Éamon

Irish variation of Edmund

This friendlier Celtic version of Edmund has an upbeat feel and a good chance of competing with Aidan and Damon sometime soon.

Tiede

Tiede is a masculine name of Frisian and Low German origin, primarily found in northern Germany and the Netherlands. It derives from the Germanic element 'theud' meaning 'people' or 'tribe,' which…

Brennan

Irish

"descendent of the sad one"

Brennan is a winning Irish surname name, more modern than Brian or Brendan, more unusual than Conor and Aidan. The only possible problem with Brennan: people might think you're saying Brendan.…

Tiernan

Irish

"little lord"

Tiernan is the slightly edgier and sharper cousin of Kiernan. This is one Irish surname that is attractive but distinctive; Tierney is another, related, option. Tiernan was a popular name in early…

Niall

Irish

"cloud"

Niall is pronounced nye-al--something like Neil, but this Irish spelling of the name makes it much more current and cool. This is an ancient name borne by several of the high kings of Tara, the most…

Paris

French place-name

The first famous Paris was a mythological prince of incredible beauty. The most recent was media darling Paris Hilton, inspirer of a generation of baby-girl namesakes. But since Pierce Brosnan and…

Nate

Diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel, Hebrew

"given"

Six Feet Under transformed Nate's image from crusty uncle to cool guy. Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack.…

Grey

Color name

The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Grey/Gray is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative—if…

Lief

Lief is a masculine name with Norse and Germanic origins, typically considered a variant spelling of Leif, which means 'heir' or 'descendant.' The most famous bearer was Leif Erikson, the Norse…

Etienne

French variation of Stephen

"garland, crown"

It's the French Steve yet feels oh so much more debonair. Well-used and still a popular classic in French-speaking lands, but one of the many French names for boys unfamiliar to most English…

Dublin

Irish place-name

With Galway and Ireland in play as names (not to mention Shannon and Kerry), there's no reason this one can't work, too.

Tristen

Variation of Tristan.