Alternative to Prince, Duke, King, or Earl, but not an improvement on them.

With Yale and Brown in the mainstream, why not this upscale college name and surname as well.

Sheriff may sound law-abiding, but it also has a Wild West feel.

Colonel is an unusual masculine name derived directly from the military rank, which ultimately comes from the Italian word "colonnello," meaning the commander of a column of soldiers. As a given name, Colonel has never been common but occasionally appears in American naming records, particularly in the Southern United States. The name conveys authority, leadership, and a military connection, making it appeal to families with strong military traditions or appreciation for military values. Unlike many title-based names (like Duke or Earl) that have become more accepted as given names, Colonel has remained quite rare. The name carries a formal, commanding presence and might be chosen to honor a family's military heritage or to express aspirations of leadership for a child.

Shepherd is soaring in the charts, so why not Farmer? Perhaps because, unlike some of the occupation names that are so popular today, it is still an everyday word. Even so, if you're looking for a name that fits modern trends but no one else is using, Farmer could be the one.

Actress Shannyn Sossamon used this as the middle name for her son Audio; one of the most do-not-try-this-at-home combos we've heard.

Feilding is a masculine name of English origin, derived from an occupational surname meaning 'dweller in the field' or 'open pasture.' This aristocratic surname has occasionally transitioned to first-name usage, though it remains quite rare as a given name. The spelling with 'ei' rather than the more common 'ie' reflects its Old English heritage and adds a distinctive touch. Pronounced FEE-ling or FEE-ld-ing, the name carries associations with the English countryside, landed gentry, and literary connections through British author Henry Fielding. As a first name, Feilding projects an image of refined English heritage and upper-class sophistication. It appeals to parents seeking an uncommon name with strong historical connections and an aristocratic feel.

Cherokee is the name of a Native American tribe, the largest in the United States stretching from North Carolina through Oklahoma. The meaning of the word Cherokee is uncertain: It may be Choctaw for "those who live in the mountains" or "those who live in the cave country" or it may be an Anglicization of the word the Cherokee use to refer to themselves, Tsalagi. The name was given to 19 baby girls in the U.S. in 2013 but was not recorded on the boys' roster, though we'd consider it equally appropriate for either gender.