Invented Boy Names

Though not technically a one-person name, since 30 baby boys were named Shemar in 2016, Shemar stems from one specific person, prolific actor Shemar Moore. He has said that his parents came up with it by combining the first three letters of each of their first names, Sherrod and Marilyn.

The popular -ley suffix can be credited for this name's use in recent years. We're not loving that it sounds as trendy and of-the-moment as it is.

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

Just because Nicolas Cage gave his son Superman's birth name, Kal-el, that doesn't give you permission to use the name of Superman's father.

A rare smoosh of Dontae and Octavius, also spelled Dontavious.

Typical of the kind of newly created combination names being increasingly used, Travon sounds strong and distinguished but has no real substance behind it.

In its modern form, Casher is a hybrid of Cash and Asher that debuted in 2019. Historically, Casher — pronounced kah-SHARE — was used among Italian Jews.

A spelling variation of Kyson, possibly with a hint of pop cultural influence (via the Kardashians and Gigi Hadid). Sometimes recorded to mean "son of Kyle" (or maybe "son of Kylie"), in this case, it could mean "son of Khy" and therefore "son of the sea".

It's a little bit Jay, and a little bit J.V., and a little bit any name ending with -ion. A few hundred parents choose this name each year for their baby boys, placing it in the Top 1000, but we think there are better choices out there.

One of the new two-syllable boys' names with more style than substance.

Why use one x when you can use two?

The name of a minor character in Game of Thrones, Balon Greyjoy, the ancient lord of the Iron Islands and father to lead character Theon Greyjoy.

Trendy spelling of the Cash + Ashton hybrid.

Riggan found fame as the first name of the hero of the Oscar-winning film Birdman, played by Michael Keaton. Riggan has the two-syllable n-ending surname feel so trendy for boys' names today. It may be a variation of Reagan or Regan or it may be a play on the word rigging. Whatever its origin, we bet this is one fictional name that will find wider use in real life.

Khyree appears to be a modern variant spelling of the name Kyrie, which derives from Greek 'kyrios' meaning 'lord' or 'master.' The distinctive spelling with 'Kh' and double 'e' ending represents contemporary phonetic spelling preferences that emerged in the late 20th century. The name gained modest popularity in the United States beginning in the 1990s and continued rising in the early 2000s. The term 'Kyrie eleison' ('Lord, have mercy') is significant in Christian liturgy, which may influence some families' choice of this name. The spelling variation with 'Kh' might reflect phonetic influences from various languages where this sound combination appears. As with many contemporary names, creative spelling variations allow for personalization while maintaining the original pronunciation.

Treyson is a modern masculine name that exemplifies contemporary American naming trends. Created as a variation of the popular name Trey (which means 'three' or is sometimes used for a third-generation namesake), it incorporates the fashionable '-son' suffix that became increasingly popular in the early 2000s. The name has a strong, current sound that appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet accessible. Treyson began appearing on naming records in the early 2000s and has seen modest but growing usage, particularly in the United States. It represents the trend of blending established name elements to create something that sounds familiar yet unique, offering the benefit of individuality without straying too far from conventional naming patterns.

A recently-created Slovene name with no etymological roots. Naj debuted in the Slovenian Top 100 in 2019, when it was given to 23 baby boys. However, based on the use of Naja in Slovenia as a diminutive of Anastazija or Natalija as well as a stand alone name, Naj (and similar Nai) might have come about in a similar way, from Nikolaj or Nikolai, for example.

A trendy sounding choice--if we had to give it a meaning would be either "three cities" or "town with trees," but since it's a modern invention, you'd have to pick it for its current feel alone. Another option: TRENTON, a real place name.

Devante appears to be a modern variant of the name Dante, with the prefix 'De' added, possibly influenced by other 'De-' names like Devin or Deon. The base name Dante derives from the medieval Italian name Durante, meaning 'enduring' or 'steadfast.' Devante gained usage in the United States primarily from the 1990s onward, reaching its peak popularity in the early 2000s. The name shows a distinctive pattern of emergence in the late 20th century, similar to other creative variations of traditional names. While not among the most common names, Devante has established consistent usage across diverse communities in the United States. The addition of the 'De' prefix represents a pattern of name customization that became increasingly common in American naming practices during this period.

A character name in the Shadow and Bone book series, invented by author Leigh Bardugo. It is intended as a Ravkan form of Malcolm, meaning "disciple of St Columba".