​
​
Advanced Search

Unusual but acceptable - boys

  1. Byron

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "barn for cows"

    • Description:

      For centuries, this name had a romantic, windswept image due to its strong connection to the poet Lord Byron, who inspired its use as a first name. It is one of those surprise names that's appeared on the Top 1000 every year since 1880.
  2. Anders

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Andrew

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Friendly, unusual, but a decidedly Old Country version of Andrew and one of the classic Scandinavian names. It made a brief appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2006 and then reentered in 2010. Its rising popularity could be attributed to the interest in Anderson, which has been gaining steadily over the last fifteen years.

      Trivia tidbits: The patronymic Andersson is the second most popular surname in Sweden, and in Denmark, Donald Duck is called Anders.

  3. Fabian

    • Origin:

      Latin clan name

    • Meaning:

      "bean grower"

    • Description:

      Fabian is the ancient name of a saint and pope that also has Shakespearean cred as Olivia's servant in Twelfth Night and more recently made an appearance in Harry Potter. In the U.S. Fabian became best known via the 1960s teen idol/singer who went solely by his first name.
  4. Leighton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "meadow town"

    • Description:

      More popular in its Layton spelling, Leighton is rising in popularity in the US for both sexes simultaneously, although this spelling remains more popular for girls for now – no doubt helped by actress Leighton Meester. Lleyton – as in Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt – is another, even more complicated, variant spelling.
  5. Roux

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "russet"

    • Description:

      Roux is the name of the dashing Johnny Depp character in Chocolat. Roux is French from a Latin word meaning russet or brownish red; it's also a cooking term for a mixture of flour and butter that forms the foundation of many gravies or sauces. Most of today's children with this name, pronounced roo, will actually spell it Rue, for the female character in The Hunger Games.
  6. Laith

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "lion; wet"

    • Description:

      With a distinctive sound and a robust feel, Laith is a name that also has a touch of breezy charm to it. Currently in the UK Top 1000, it is a cross-cultural boy name that's also on the rise in the US.
  7. Francisco

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Francisco is one of the more popular Spanish names for boys in the US, which is unsurprising given its popularity back in Spain and Portugal as well as Latin America, coupled with its classic status. It also has a cool hipster vibe to it, given the reputation of the city of San Francisco.
  8. Raife

    • Description:

      Raife is a distinctive masculine name of English origin, representing a modern variation of Ralph. Deriving from Old Norse 'Ráðúlfr,' combining elements meaning 'counsel' and 'wolf,' the name carries connotations of wisdom and strength. This spelling variation offers a contemporary feel while maintaining the name's historic essence. Pronounced 'rayf,' it has a crisp, single-syllable sound that feels both strong and approachable. While Ralph has experienced fluctuating popularity over centuries, Raife remains relatively uncommon, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet historically-grounded name. In the United Kingdom, this spelling has gained some traction among families looking for traditional names with modern flair. The name projects masculinity without being overtly aggressive, combining the wisdom symbolized in its etymology with a stylish, updated appearance.

  9. Redmond

    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Raymond

    • Meaning:

      "wise protector"

    • Description:

      We love this partly for purely personal reasons, since it is one of our surnames. We used it as the middle name of a son –and it can make a good first choice too. Redmond – also found as Reamann or Raemonn – is the Irish form of the Germanic name that occurs in modern English as Raymond.
  10. Artem

    • Origin:

      Ukrainian variation of Artemis

    • Description:

      Ukrainian Artem (ar-TEM) and Russian Artyom/Artiom (which can also be transcribed as Artem, though still pronounced ar-TYOM in Russian) are ultimately derived from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis: goddess of the moon and hunting. The meaning of her name is unknown, though it may be related to the Greek for "safe" or for "butcher".
  11. Fenrir

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "fen-dweller"

    • Description:

      The name of a monstrous wolf in Norse legend, who kills the god Odin and is then killed himself by one of Odin’s sons. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling used the name for one of her most terrifying characters: the evil werewolf Fenrir Greyback.
  12. Ty

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of various Ty-beginning names

    • Description:

      As Tyler has begun to recede, a number of parents, including the Wayne Gretzkys, have cut straight to the livelier short form.
  13. Layton

    • Origin:

      Old English

    • Meaning:

      "settlement with a leek garden"

    • Description:

      This first name was once a surname derived from Old English. Used quietly a century ago, the current fashion for two-syllable boy names ending in n makes this one a new hit.
  14. Loxley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "lynx glade"

    • Description:

      An English place and surname with a fierce natural meaning. Loxley is a village and river name from Yorkshire, England, famous for being the purported birthplace of Robin Hood. Loxley Chase was an extensive historic forest bordering Sherwood Forest in the Middle Ages.
  15. Addax

    • Origin:

      Animal name

    • Description:

      The addax is a white antelope that resides in the Sahara Desert. A cool and usable addition to the pool of animal baby names.
  16. Caliban

    • Origin:

      Romanian

    • Meaning:

      "black"

    • Description:

      In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban is the name of the deformed son of a witch: not the greatest literary reference for a child. But Caliban does have an appealing international-yet-accessible feel and a rhythmic sound. As long as nobody knows its origin, it might make a great name for a boy or even a girl.
  17. Bohdan

    • Origin:

      Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak

    • Meaning:

      "given by god"

    • Description:

      Variant of the popular Slavic name Bogdan, meaning "given by god".
  18. Perris

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "rock, stone"

    • Description:

      With the rise of other S-ending surname names — Brooks, Hollis — we see a future for Perris. This unusual unisex name could make a modern honor name for an ancestral Peter.
  19. Lumi

    • Origin:

      Albanian

    • Meaning:

      "river"

    • Description:

      As a popular Finnish girl name, Lumi has the wintery meaning of "snow", however, from its Albanian origins, it is a unisex name, inspired by the name of the northern Albanian Luma tribe. Luma or lumë mean "river" in Albanian, adding another nature connection to this sparky choice.
  20. Chanson