Latin Names for Boys

The kind of hybrid name -- it sounds like a blend of the popular Caleb and Colton -- that could catch on despite its lack of pedigree.

Pryor is for those in search of an unusual occupational name...or in memory of comedian Richard.

Widely used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has an air of generosity and could easily be adopted here.

Grandparents are sure to link this to disgraced Nixon vice president Spiro Agnew.

Appealingly peaceful and placid.

Grandmas will remember the old TV detective show; playmates won't. This is a name that has many variations in different cultures, from Columbus to Columba to Colum to Colm.

Durant's meaning signifies staying power, a good quality to impart to your child. Notables with the surname Durant include Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Will and Ariel Durant, most famous for their eleven-volume The Story of Civilization, and William Crappo Durant, co-founder of General Motors and Chevrolet.

The original version of an Old World name more often found as the Spanish Salvador or the Italian Salvatore.

One high-fashion brand that's actually a legitimate first name, though still linked to the tainted Adolph.

Saint Germain, the intellectual center of Paris, lends the name a creative aura. But most Americans would say jer-mayn. The Latin Germanus may mean sprout or bud, or brother.

Most parents looking for an ancient Roman name would probably prefer something less generic, like, say, MAGNUS or CLAUDIUS.

The names may sound the same, but they have different origins and meanings. Take your pick.

Dashing and highly unusual variation does the feminine original one better by sounding both more modern and more usable. Or you can spell it Monaco and call it a place name.

Rarely heard in modern times, it was used by Norman Mailer for the hero of his book The Deer Park.

One of the many rhythmically appealing Italian names newly up for consideration, with more substance than the modelly FABIO. Variations: FABIO, FABIAN, FABRIZIO

Soaring, speedy choice.

An adolescent boy might have problems with the first syllable.

The perv connection crosses this name off the list.