Five Letter Boy Names

  1. Regan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little king"
    • Description:

      A spelling variant of presidential surname Regan that briefly entered the Top 1000 for boys in the 1960s, but hasn't rejoined the list since. Shakespeare also used the name for a daughter of King Lear, inspired by an ancient king of the Britons in accounts of the medieval scribe Geoffrey of Monmouth.
  2. Marko
    • Origin:

      Variation of Marco, Spanish form of Mark
    • Meaning:

      "warlike"
    • Description:

      Marko is one of the many names derived from Mars, the god of war. Marco is the more usual Spanish form but Marko is a variation used in Spain along with Russia, Ukraine, and several Slavic countries.
  3. Erwin
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "respected friend"
    • Description:

      One of the many names with a strong "er" sound, like Bertram and Ernest, that was huge in the 1920s and is languishing in style limbo now. One famous bearer is the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, as in Schrödinger's cat.
  4. Sabin
    • Origin:

      Romanian, Bulgarian, Basque, from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from the Sabines"
    • Description:

      Listed in the Quran as one of the "People of the Book," this male equivalent of Sabina is undiscovered and ripe for the adventurous baby namer. There was also an 8th-century Bulgarian Khan with the name, and it’s still occasionally used in Bulgaria today. Albert Bruce Sabin is the Polish-American scientist credited for the oral polio vaccine
  5. Abban
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little abbot"
    • Description:

      Pronounced AY-bahn, this name of an early Irish saint is both accessible and distinctive.
  6. Lumen
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Lumen is a Latin word meaning "light", and the term used for the measurement of light output (making it an attractive choice for science-buffs).
  7. Novak
    • Origin:

      Serbian
    • Meaning:

      "new"
    • Description:

      Tennis star Novak Djokovic introduced this new first name to the English-speaking world, though it had long been familiar as a surname. The celebrity Novak, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, might be an inspirational role model for a baby Novak. And the name Novak goes well with other stylish names that mean new, including Nova, Neo, and Nouvel.
  8. Irvin
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "handsome, fair of face"
    • Description:

      Irvin is an Old Man name that has an uncertain future. Losing the final g in Irving makes the name slightly less dated -- but just slightly. There's something about the 'erv' sound that makes Irvin and brothers feel unappealing.
  9. Toren
    • Description:

      Toren is a masculine name with Nordic and Hebrew origins, carrying different meanings depending on cultural context. In Scandinavian usage, it derives from Thor, the Norse god of thunder, combined with elements meaning 'thunder' or 'warrior.' In Hebrew, Toren means 'mast' or 'pole,' symbolizing strength and stability. The name has a strong, concise sound with its two distinct syllables. While uncommon in most Western countries, Toren has seen modest usage in Scandinavian countries, Israel, and among parents seeking distinctive yet accessible names. The name travels well across different languages due to its straightforward pronunciation. Toren appeals to parents interested in names with cross-cultural significance, combining Nordic strength with Hebrew symbolism while maintaining a contemporary sound that works in modern contexts.

  10. Yahel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "to shine"
    • Description:

      Unisex Hebrew name more common among baby girls in Israel and boys in the US.
  11. Jaire
    • Origin:

      Variation of Congo Zaire, variation of Hebrew Jair, "the river that swallows all rivers; to shine"
    • Meaning:

      "the river that swallows all rivers; to shine"
    • Description:

      Inspired by the rise of the African place name, Jaire is a recently new creation. The original form derives from a Congo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers", and is currently a Top 500 choice in the US.
  12. Cairn
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "mound of rocks"
    • Description:

      In Scotland, a cairn is a heap of stones placed as a memorial or to support a beacon. This gives the name a rugged, timeless quality that is very appealing at present.
  13. Loyal
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "faithful, loyal"
    • Description:

      Loyal is one of the few virtue names suitable for boys, an honorable and principled Boy Scout-esque appellation with a surprisingly long and distinguished history.
  14. Jamal
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "beauty"
    • Description:

      Jamal is an Arabic boys’ name meaning "beauty." Jamal and its variants are popular in the Muslim community, although Jamal’s popularity within the US has decreased in recent years.
  15. Ulric
    • Origin:

      English variation of Ulrich and Wulfric, German
    • Meaning:

      "rich and noble heritage; wolf power"
    • Description:

      Also related to the word for wolf, this name has a first syllable that's not appealing to the American ear. Better ic-ending choices: Dominic, Frederic, Eric.
  16. Lenox
    • Origin:

      Variation of Lennox, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "elm grove"
    • Description:

      Lennox is one of the hottest unisex names of recent years, and this spelling retains the appealing surname vibe and cool -x ending. This form does distance the name slightly from the literary and boxing associations of the original, linking it instead to a tableware manufacturer, a 17th naval ship, and several American places.
  17. Nevis
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Meaning:

      "our lady of the snows"
    • Description:

      Nevis — as in the island in the West Indies making up the nation St. Kitts and Nevis — was derived from the Spanish name Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, meaning "Our lady of the snows"
  18. Kauri
    • Origin:

      Maori or Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "tree or deer"
    • Description:

      A Maori name derived from a type of tree native to New Zealand's North Island.
  19. Ramon
    • Origin:

      Catalan variation of Raymond
    • Description:

      The Latin Ramon has been in the U.S. Top 1000 since the beginning of baby-naming time, i.e. the past 130+ years. Ramon is the perfect blend of worldly and familiar, with a rocker edge via The Ramones. A cool name classic, if there ever was one.
  20. Mayer
    • Origin:

      German surname or Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
    • Description:

      More common -- when it was common -- with the Meyer spelling.