Nikki's Likes

Asher—an excellent, soft and sensitive Old Testament choice—is a baby boy name on the rise, and is a Nameberry biblical favorite.

In Spanish cultures, and spelled either Bastian or Bastien, this is a fairly common nickname name. The German fantasy children's book The Neverending Story features a young boy character called Bastian Balthlazar Bux, and it has also been seen in several screen versions.

Who knew there were so many soccer fans in the U.S.? Beckham -- as in British sensation David -- has exploded onto the baby name scene in the past decade.

Brock is a rock solid name, with a touch of preppy sophistication. It ranked solidly in the 200s-300s from 1975 until 2014, but has since tumbled a bit.

Desmond is a sophisticated and debonair name, with noble ties to 1984 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop Desmond Tutu, and with some great nicknames: Des/Dez, Desi/Dezi.

Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity.

Gawyn is a masculine name with medieval Welsh and Arthurian origins, representing a variant of Gawain, one of King Arthur's most famous Knights of the Round Table. The name derives from the Welsh 'Gwalchmai' or possibly the older Brittonic 'Uualchmei,' though some suggest connections to the Welsh word for 'hawk.' Historically, Gawyn appeared in medieval texts and records, particularly in Wales and Scotland. While never widely popular in modern times, the name carries noble associations and literary heritage. The Arthurian revival in literature and popular culture occasionally brings attention to this name, appealing to parents interested in names with legendary significance and Celtic roots.

Theron is best known these days as the surname of actress Charlize, but it does have a long history as a first name, ranking in the Top 500 in the early part of the 20th century and only dropping out of the Top 1000 in the early 1990s. Theon is a similar name made familiar by the popular series Game of Thrones: Might it and Theron rise in tandem?