Five Letter Boy Names

Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach, in which the kanji used for his name mean "second love" or "second romance."

Not long ago, the name of this central African republic was firmly in place-name territory and not seen as baby appropriate. But those boundaries are moving so quickly that all kinds of place-names that were once not considered as baby names, from Alaska to Morocco to Chicago to, yes, Congo are on the list. The place-name Congo is taken from the people and language of the Kingdom of Kongo. In that language, the word kongo means "gather".

Popular in Sweden — Ziggy would be English cognate.

Kishi is a common Japanese surname. Kishi is also a two-faced demon in Angolan folklore, as well as a separate figure in the Bible.

Unusual alternative to Roman, chosen for his son by Matthew Modine.

This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish or Estonian ancestry, you may want to consider reviving this one with a positive meaning.

Yes, nature lovers are starting to name their children after all forms of life, including fish, but consider carefully before you cast your line into these tease-infested waters.

Older form of Helge, and a masculine form of Helga.

A nouveau member of the Aidan/Braden/Jaden group. Yet another variation on a too-trendy genre -- never the most original way to go, even if there aren't yet many Zadens on your block. Still, a Z initial always adds zest and this is a name many boys would love to have for their very own.

Armando definitely makes Herman cooler and Mando or Mondo makes it cooler still. While Mando is usually short for Armando, it can be an abbreviation for any name containing Mando or Mondo.

The original southern Good Ol' Boy.

Sounds like the name of a new synthetic fabric.

This rising name, possibly a variation of the Irish Kian, has been associated with several accomplished athletes.

A Greek form of the rising star Otto, Othon was brought to public consciousness when a Bavarian prince named Otto became the first modern king of Greece in 1832. It was briefly popular in France in the early 20th century and might appeal today, due to its relation to Otto, and its slight similarity to Ethan and Nathan.

Derived from Welsh gwyn "white, fair" plus an intensifying prefix, Arwyn is a warm and unusual option.

Short and jaunty but perfectly tailored too, Raffi is a name that crosses cultures and blends styles. An appealing choice with its nickname-feel and established-but-contemporary vibe, Raffi entered the UK Top 1000 for first time in 2022.