Invented Boy Names

Leonato is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, the noble governor of Messina on whose property most of the play takes place. His daughter Hero and his niece Beatrice are the two main female romantic leads in the play. His character is ambiguous; he starts out friendly and amiable, but he reacts very harshly to rumors that his daughter has lost her "honor" before marriage.

A common Basque name first used in French Basque writer Agosti Xaho's 1845 work "The Legend of Aitor."

This variation of Jason and Jayce was the fastest-rising name of 2013 for boys -- leaping 845 spots in a single year to break into the Top 1000 for the first time ever. Its trendy sound, y spelling, and connection to rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor can be credited for this spike.

While Jamar fell out of the Top 1000 back in 2016, this sleek and modern elaboration remains popular. Inspired by Arabic Jamal and rising up the charts alongside Amari and Kamari, Jamari is given to around 500 boys a year.

Braelyn just barely qualifies as a unisex name, being used for girls over 89 percent of the time.

Jadon is the original Biblical form of this name, but Jayden is by far the most popular spelling, currently in the Top 20. Jaydon is borrowing from both versions, but not improving the name in the process. At Number 999 in 2015, it's in danger of dropping of the charts for good.

Kallen is a versatile masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Irish surname Ó Cathalán, meaning 'descendant of Cathalan,' ultimately from 'cath' meaning 'battle.' Alternatively, it could be a variation of Kellen, with Germanic roots meaning 'powerful' or 'mighty.' In Finnish, the word 'kallen' relates to 'precious' or 'valuable.' The name gained some recognition through the anime character Kallen Stadtfeld from 'Code Geass.' With its strong consonants and modern sound, Kallen appeals to parents seeking a contemporary name with potential historical connections. Though still uncommon in most English-speaking countries, its familiarity to names like Cullen and Kellan makes it accessible.

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

This recent riff on the theme of Kevin has a pleasant sound but no real history or meaning.

One part fantastical literary invention and one part Ancient Greek, Atreyus is a new and rising name for boys. It's could be viewed as a combination of Atreus, an Ancient Greek name, and Atreyu, created by German author Michael Ende for his novel The Neverending Story.

Classically, the De- prefix indicates "son of," so any variation of this name could work for the child of a dad named Shawn or Sean.

The name of the lead character -- a purple dragon -- in a long-running series of video games. Technically also a variant of the classic Greek name Spiro/Spyros.

Another of the many boys' names starting with k. Kyden emphasizes the "Kai" sound and nickname while fitting in with the Aiden/Camden/Madden crowd.

Anduin is the Sindarin name for the Great River of Wilderland in Tolkien’s fictional Middle-earth. The word means "long river" or "great river".

The -ah ending makes Jedah read feminine, but it was actually created for a male character in the video game Darkstalkers. One of the many unique baby names inspired by the gaming world.

Author Suzanne Collins created this soft-spoken Peter variation for one of her heroes in her series The Hunger Games.

Name with an Asian feel, thanks to a Japanese city and Imari porcelain.

Braxley is an invented name — a combination of two hot syllables — and therefore has no official meaning. It could, however, be interpreted to mean "Brock's field" from each of its elements.

Caison is a modern masculine name that has gained modest popularity in the United States since the early 2000s. It appears to be a contemporary variation of names like Carson, Mason, or Kayson, following the popular trend of surnames and two-syllable names ending in '-son' or '-sen.' The name has a strong, current sound while maintaining a certain softness through its initial 'C'. While the exact origins are unclear, Caison may have emerged as a creative spelling of 'Cayson' or as a unique variant of the surname 'Caison,' which has Scottish and English roots. The name appeals to parents seeking something modern and distinctive that still sounds familiar enough to be easily pronounced and remembered. Its relative newness means the name carries little historical or cultural baggage, allowing children to define their own associations with it.