It's In The Name

  1. Remember
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      No one will ever forget it. But Remember as a name came over on the Mayflower, so it has deep history as well as modern potential.
  2. Anchor
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "heavy object used to moor a ship; provide with a solid foundation"
    • Description:

      Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability, currently given to a small handful of boys in the US each year.
  3. Poet
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Poet is a new entry in both the trendy word and occupational categories as well as a member of the growing group of gender neutral names. A handful of baby boys received the name in the US last year. A perfect choice, especially in the middle, for the child of writers or those with a poetic bent. And Po is an adorable nickname for either gender.
  4. Painter
    • Origin:

      Occupational name
    • Description:

      Painter is among the most creative choices in this very fashionable category of names, with a particularly pleasant sound. Whereas most occupational names conjure up physical labor, this one feels like a gateway to the arts.
  5. Sergeant
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "to serve"
    • Description:

      Sargent, as in Kennedy brother-in-law Shriver, is the more familiar and usable form of this name.
  6. Bravery
    • Origin:

      Virtue name
    • Description:

      This one's cutting right to the chase, but with such names as Justice and Peace on the rise, why not? And we guarantee your seven-year-old son will love it, though your 17-year-old, maybe not so much. Could be used as a middle name, as Talisa Soto and Benjamin Bratt did.
  7. Judge
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Eighties star Judge Reinhold (born Edward Jr. , he was given this nickname at the age of two weeks) made this possible, but it could cause a lot of confusion.
  8. Peace
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      Peace may be an admirable sentiment to convey in a child's name, but the translated and thus more subtle versions, like Pax or Placido, might work better as first names.
  9. Falconer
    • Origin:

      Occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "falcon trainer"
    • Description:

      Falconer is one choice that has morphed rapidly from outlandish to possible, even attractive, thanks to the fashion for occupational names. And really, if Archer is getting popular and Miller seems normal, why not Falconer?
  10. Fleet
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a group operated under unified control"
    • Description:

      Fleet is one of the uncountable number of new word name possibilities, and a particularly cool choice at that. Connoting speed, Fleet beats Rush any day. Might be short for Fleetwood, but we prefer it on its own.
  11. Americus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "home ruler"
    • Description:

      Americus, the foundation for the place-name America, is a Latin name meaning "home ruler". Relatives include the Italian Amerigo and the German Emmerich.
  12. Eagle
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Meaning:

      "eagle, a bird"
    • Description:

      Solemn but soaring name with patriotic symbolism.
  13. Drummer
    • Origin:

      Occupational word name
    • Description:

      Drummer entered the baby name lexicon thanks to blogger No Big Dill, who chose it for her newborn son, who joins five older sisters. Drummer is right in step with other occupational names in vogue now, from Archer to Gardener. Let's just hope Drummer doesn't prefer to play the piano.
  14. Koal
    • Description:

      Koal is a masculine name that appears to be a modern, phonetic variant of Cole. While Cole derives from the Old English 'col' meaning 'charcoal' or 'coal-black,' this distinctive spelling gives the name a contemporary edge. The name is short, strong, and memorable with its unique orthography. Though uncommon, Koal emerged as parents began seeking alternative spellings for traditional names in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name's natural element connection evokes images of energy and earthiness. Its brevity makes it practical while still standing out on paper. Koal remains rare compared to the more conventional Cole, which has enjoyed substantial popularity since the 1990s.
  15. Manly
    • Description:

      Manly is an unusual masculine name deriving from Old English, literally meaning 'masculine' or 'resembling a man.' As a given name, it emerged during the Victorian era when virtue names and descriptive names were fashionable. Though uncommon today, Manly experienced modest popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name carries obvious associations with masculinity, courage, and strength. Some bearers may have been named after Manly Hall, a notable Canadian author, or in reference to Manly Beach in Australia. The direct meaning can make it feel somewhat heavy-handed in modern contexts, which has contributed to its decline. Today, it's an extremely rare choice that stands out for its straightforward meaning.

  16. Freedom
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "the quality or state of being free"
    • Description:

      Like Justice and Peace, this word name makes a very strong statement. Ving Rhames chose it for his boy.
  17. Glade
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Meaning:

      "clearing in a forest"
    • Description:

      Shady, leafy nature-boy name.
  18. Hanalei
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "crescent bay or garland valley"
    • Description:

      An appealing Hawaiian name which belongs to a town, river and bay on Kauaʻi island in Hawaii. The two possible meanings of the name, "crescent bay" or "garland (lei) valley" both describe the beauty of the place.
  19. Tan
    • Description:

      Tan is a succinct masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Chinese culture, it functions as a surname but can also be a given name meaning 'sandal wood' or 'flat, peaceful land.' In Vietnamese, Tân means 'new' or 'novel.' In English contexts, Tan might serve as a nickname for Tanner or Stanford, or stand alone as a distinctive minimal name. Its brevity gives it a modern, clean feel that aligns with contemporary preferences for short, impactful names. The simplicity of Tan—just one syllable and three letters—makes it easy to pronounce across languages and cultures. While uncommon as a standalone first name in Western countries, its multicultural associations and minimalist appeal make it an intriguing choice.
  20. General
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "general"
    • Description:

      General as a name sounds more like a military rank than another word for "widespread". You may find your little General ruling the household.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo