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Names I like

  1. Benedict

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blessed"

    • Description:

      Parents who like Ben and Benjamin but find those forms too popular sometimes consider Benedict as a more distinctive choice. Unlike the Old Testament Benjamin, Benedict is the name of the saint who formed the Benedictine Order and of fifteen popes,including a recent one.
  2. Blade

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      One of the new crop of boys' names that manage to be unconventional and macho at the same time — though Blade verges on the threatening.
  3. Blair

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "dweller on the plain"

    • Description:

      In the USA, Blair is gaining momentum, rising quickly for the last 10 years and likely to continue to climb. In England and Wales, where Blair has political connotations – calling to mind former prime minister Tony Blair – it is much less common, although it is in use for boys in its native Scotland.
  4. Blake

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired, dark"

    • Description:

      Blake -- an early unisex option -- dropped out of the Top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains a sophisticated choice. And yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. It originated as a surname in England derived from a nickname. Much of its masculine image was influenced by the wealthy, silver-haired character Blake Carrington in the massively popular 80s TV series Dynasty. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Blake.
  5. Blaze

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "fire"

    • Description:

      Originally a form of the saint's name Blaise, though now more likely to be a hot word name used for both sexes, though heavily weighted toward the boys. It has been in the boys' Top 1000 since the year 2000. On the pop culture side of things, Blaze Bayley is a singer and musician who has been connected to the bands Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden.
  6. Blythe

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "happy, carefree"

    • Description:

      Blythe is Nameberry gem — one of those names that visitors to the site are often searching for, despite the fact it's never ranked in the US charts as a given name.
  7. Bobbie

    • Description:

      Bobbie, as a masculine name, originated as a diminutive form of Robert, derived from the Germanic elements "hrod" (fame) and "beraht" (bright), meaning "bright fame" or "famous brilliance." While Bobbie is more commonly used as a feminine name in contemporary times, it has a history as a casual, friendly nickname for boys named Robert. This spelling variation with an 'ie' ending gained popularity in the early to mid-20th century. Bobbie has a warm, approachable quality that conveys a down-to-earth personality. Its usage for males has declined since the 1970s, as nickname-names became less commonly used as formal given names for boys, though it maintains some usage, particularly in Southern regions of the United States.

  8. Callaway

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pebbly place"

    • Description:

      Another animated Irish surname, this one with jazzy ties to the immortal "Dean of American Jive," Cab Calloway.
  9. Calliope

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful voice"

    • Description:

      Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry -- and also the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016, and entered the Top 500 in 2023. Similar in rhythm and sound to Penelope with usable nicknames Callie, Clio, and Lola, it is no wonder it's on the rise.
  10. Callista

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "most beautiful"

    • Description:

      Calista Flockhart spotlighted this lovely Greek name that has a long future in the English-speaking world. Kallista is another spelling; Calixta and Calixto are related.
  11. Cashmere

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Cashmere is soft, luxurious -- and way out of the ordinary. One of the unique names found in The Hunger Games series.
  12. Caspar

    • Origin:

      Dutch and German variation of Casper and Jasper, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "keeper of the treasure"

    • Description:

      After half a century, this otherwise feasible name has at last started to lose its link to the friendly ghost; it certainly didn't scare model Claudia Schiffer, who chose it for her son, as did Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost. Iconoclastic namer Jason Lee switched genders and called his daughter Casper. Also related to the revived Jasper, Caspar seems headed towards the path to a similar resurgence.
  13. Caspian

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Meaning:

      "white"

    • Description:

      One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.
  14. Cassius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "hollow"

    • Description:

      Cassius, a Shakespearean name rooted in antiquity, is trending in a major way. It's one of a raft of Cas-starting names for both boys and girls, including Caspian, Cassian, and Cassia, that are enjoying a new moiment in the sun.
  15. Cato

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "all-knowing"

    • Description:

      Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
  16. Celine

    • Origin:

      French variation of Celeste

    • Meaning:

      "heavenly"

    • Description:

      French-Canadian singer Dion made us notice this variation. Although many parents would prefer the homonym Selene, which has a different derivation and means "moon," Celine has been a Top 1000 name every year since 2012, and was also on the list each year from 1994 to 2005. Celine is also a newly-chic French fashion label.
  17. Chanel

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the canal"

    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
  18. Charlie

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Charles, French from German

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Charlie derives, of course, from the classic name Charles which, in turn, comes from a German word meaning "free man." Charles became very popular in France during the Middle Ages due to the fame of Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne. Charley is an alternate spelling.
  19. Circe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      In Greek myth, Circe, daughter of Helios, the sun, was a sorceress living on the island of Aeaea, who could turn men into animals with her magic wand, which is just what she did to Odysseus's crew in Homer's Odyssey, transforming them into swine. All was forgiven, however, as Circe and Odysseus later had a child together—Telegonus.
  20. Cleo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "glory"

    • Description:

      Cleo, one of the few girls' names to boast the cool-yet-lively o ending, is of course short for Cleopatra, the name of one of the most powerful women in history.