Boy Names

Connolly, an alternate spelling of Connelly, could make a livelier and less common substitute for Connor.

This softer version of Adolf is sadly still off-limits due to the connotations with Hitler.

Worthy sibling for Oak, Elm, Juniper, and Spruce.

Gentle giant Rubeus Hagrid is the groundskeeper at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter novels (probably after Hagrid Rubes, the equally kind ancient Greek mythological giant), but that's not the only reason this name could prove a playground liability.

Rockers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz put a new baby name on the map when they chose this downscale New York borough name for their son. The Bronx, the place, was named for early Dutch settler Jonas Bronck. Might Bronx become the next Brooklyn? We'd be surprised if it did.

An evocative, windswept choice that is part of the third generation of western-influenced names, picking up where first Jesse and then Dakota left off, though with a slight feminine edge.

The girls have Apple, Plum, Peaches, Cherry, and Berry: here's one variety of fruit suitable for a boy.

Many African tribes have a tradition of naming children for the day or time they were born -- Friday, Afternoon -- a practice finding new life in the Western world as word names become more popular.

Provocative word name that may strike the right chord for an adventurous baby namer.

A strong, warm name and a strong warm color. Would make an excellent alternative to August or Aubrey.

A traditional French male name that could, with American pronunciation, become an admirable word name.

There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.

Ron Burgundy was Will Ferrell's fictional helmet-haired newsman, but this color name is much more suited to a girl.

Forget Patience and Charity: Here's a Colonial name (and sentiment) that seems perfect for modern times.

This recently coined respelling of Cole darkens its image.

Extremely attractive color name chosen by some African-American families for its reference to the West African Ivory Coast; more commonly used for girls.

One of the classic hippie word names. In the 1970s, actors Barbara Hershey and David Carradine gave this name to their son...who later changed it to Tom.

A possible Christmas name for a baby boy, if you find Noel too mundane. But we fear it doesn't sound very festive.