Boys Favorites Rebooted

  1. Balthazar
    • Origin:

      Phoenician
    • Meaning:

      "Baal protects the King"
    • Description:

      This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, though their names were not mentioned in the Bible.
  2. Tolliver
    • Origin:

      English and Scottish occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "metalworker"
    • Description:

      If you're tired of Oliver, you might consider this energetic three-syllable surname instead, so you could have a little Tolly instead of an Ollie.
  3. Alasdair
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      In this country, more recognizable with the Alistair spelling.
  4. Jarvis
    • Origin:

      English variation of Gervase, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Jarvis, one of the original two-syllable nouveau boys' choices, is a saint's name with a certain retro charm and a nice quirky feel. Though Jarvis peaked in the late 1880s, he is beginning to sound fresh again.
  5. Gregor
    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Gregory
    • Meaning:

      "vigilant, a watchman"
    • Description:

      Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And then there's Gregor Clegane, one of the most feared and purely evil characters in the world of Game of Thrones.