Jubanshee's Favorite Boy Names
- Lachlan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from the fjord-land"Description:
Lachlan is as Scottish as haggis and tartan plaid kilts—a favorite used throughout England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand—and just beginning to be noticed in the US: it reached the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013. An ancient name, Lachlan was originally used to describe the Viking invaders of Scotland, those from the land of the lochs.
- Roland
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"famous throughout the land"Description:
Roland is a chivalrous old name made famous by the supposedly eight-foot-tall romantic hero and nephew of Charlemagne, celebrated in medieval poetry and song. It is more widely heard in the US now in its Spanish form, Rolando. You might want to consider rollicking short form Rollo, either on its own or as an abbreviation of Roland. Orlando is the graceful Italian form.
- Dexter
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"dyer, right-handed"Description:
The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism.
- Robin
Origin:
Bird name; or English, diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Gentle but solid, as much of a word as it is a name, Robin is a rising star in the US, and a favorite in Belgium, France, Czechia and Switzerland. With memorable namesakes like Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder, a recent year saw Robin feature as a gender neutral choice in the US, ranking at #703 for boys and #704 for girls.
- Errol
Origin:
Scottish, spelling variation of EarlDescription:
Errol was a swashbuckling name in the Errol Flynn era, which still has a trace of jazz cool.m thanks to jazz pianist Erroll Garner.
- Jericho
Origin:
Biblical place-nameDescription:
A biblical place name with trumpeting verve and strength.
- Reuben
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"behold, a son"Description:
Reuben is derived from the Hebrew words ra’a, meaning "to see, to understand," and ben, "son." As a phrase it translates to "behold, a son." In the Bible, Reuben is Jacob's first-born son by Leah and the founder of one of the tribes of Israel.
- Aloysius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"famous warrior"Description:
This name is a classic example of an underused golden oldie that ticks so many boxes - unusual yet traditional, heaps of cute nicknames, a statement name that exudes retro cool. Aloysius is the Latin form of many more common names like Louis, Luis, Luigi and the uncommon but symphonically familiar Ludwig.
- Brannon
Origin:
Irish variation of BrennanDescription:
Occasionally used as an alternative to Brandon or Brennan.
- Kellan
Origin:
Spelling variation of KellenMeaning:
"swamp; slender"Description:
Kellan Lutz is the attractive young actor who plays Emmett Cullen in the Twilight series.
- Michal
Origin:
Czech, Slavic, and Polish variation of MichaelMeaning:
"who is like God?"Description:
Michal may be one of several Eastern European forms of Michael, though there is a biblical Michal who is female, the daughter of Saul and wife of David.
- Kit
Origin:
English, diminutive of ChristopherMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"Description:
Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son back in the 2000s, while actor Kit Connor of Heartstopper fame may have introduced it to a wider audience.
- Duncan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"dark warrior"Description:
Duncan is jaunty, confident, and open, a Scottish royal name that's brimming with friendly charm and makes it into our golden circle of names that are neither too popular nor too strange. Popularity aside, Duncan is one of the most classic Scottish names for boys.
- Devon
Origin:
English place-nameDescription:
Devon, spelled like the lovely seaside county in Britain that inspired the name, has crashed since its heyday around the Top 100 in the 1990s. Despite its use as a female name, for example for Devon on the TV show The 4400, Devon continues to be far more popular for boys than for girls.
- Howell
Origin:
English variation of Hywel, an eminent Welsh kingDescription:
A familiar and usable last name turned first. Or you could look at it as a homophone of the verb howl, which gives it a wilder feel.
- Kelvin
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"narrow or wooded river"Description:
A tributary of the River Clyde in Scotland, called in Scottish Gaelic Abhainn Cheilbhinn: caol ("narrow") or coille ("wooded") + abhainn ("river"). As a surname, it derives from the name of the river.
- Seamus
Origin:
Irish variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Parents who have tired of Sean are now contemplating Seamus, the Irish form of James, which has a lot more substance and verve.
- Morris
Origin:
English variation of MauriceMeaning:
"dark-skinned"Description:
Morris is as quiet and comfortable as a Morris chair, and has the same vintage feel. Once a Top 100 name in the early 1900s, Morris fell completely off the roster in 1995, probably due to lingering fallout from his identification with Morris the cat's ("the world's most finicky cat") 9 Lives cat food commercials.
- Raleigh
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of roe deer"Description:
Attractive North Carolina place-name and surname of explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. Distinctive, classy-but-approachable choice for either sex.
- Ruskin
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from a family of tanners"Description:
British-sounding literary surname choice.
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