Invented Boy Names

A seldom-used Game of Thrones name, perhaps because its main originator, Tywin Lannister, is as ruthless as any character in the show. Yet the "ty-" beginning is so ubiquitous and popular that Tywin may have some potential... the fact that it's less well-known than Tyrion probably works in its favor.

Ginger-homonym created by L. Frank Baum for a General character in his Oz books.

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

This Russian name was created by Communist parents looking to reject traditional names (it is believed to derive from the French surname Jaures). One notable bearer is Nobel prize winner and physicist, Zhores Alferov.

Dalton with a B. The original is better.

Ryler is one of those names created by marrying two trending sounds, the Ry beginning as in Riley, Rylen, and the literary Ryle, and the er ending, as in hundreds of boys' names trending over the past several years.

Darren with a P.

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".

In "Star Trek" 's twenty-fourth-century scenario, Danar is the perfect human; that's a lot of pressure for a baby, but he may just live up to it.

A hybrid of trendy syllables, but less evocative than the original Taylor.

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.

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.

The etymology of Leontel is unclear, though it could be seen as a variation of Lionel. It has rarely been used anywhere, though it does have more French connections than anything. While the nickname Leon might seem a little dated, Leo is right on trend.