Invented Boy Names

Two beloved, fashionable names combined to make one: Kai, a simple and serene Hawaiian name meaning "ocean" and Kylo, created for Star Wars character Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. With Kailo, you get the best of both worlds.

Ryatt — which may be a combination of names like Ryan and Wyatt — gives you the sound of Riot without the violent connotations. Naturally, it's almost twice as popular among baby boys than Riot, even cracking the Top 1000 in 2022.

A respelling of Giovanni which makes the Italian pronunciation – three syllables, rather than four – more clear. Jovani and its variant Jovanni were both Top 1000 picks for the first decade and a half of the 20th century. They are particularly popular in the US's Latino community.

Raylan, one of an uncountable number of two syllable, surname-like boys’ names end in n that are in style these days, is inspired by Raylan Givens, the cowboy hat-wearing U.S. Marshall created by writer Elmore Leonard and starring in the television series Justified. The Ray part of the name is of course a traditional choice -- it's usually said to mean "wise" -- but the lan takes it out of Old School Raymond territory. Other variations include Raylen, Raylon, Rayden and so on. The name is also sometimes given to girls, but not nearly as often as it is for boys.

Kyan is a quintessential twenty-first-century name, a twist on the twentieth-century standard Ryan. Kyan is used by the grooming guru on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Kyan Douglas (born Eddie), and increasing numbers of parents.

A variant form of the Latin clan name Varius. It has been used for a major character in the online role-playing game World of Warcraft.

Not quite a nature name and not quite a surname — whatever Laken is or isn't, we know it's definitely a name to watch.

Binx is a popular name among black cats thanks to the character Thackery Binx in the cult classic Hocus Pocus. It makes a one-of-a-kind, spirited name for a boy. If it's too bold for the birth certificate, try Binx as a nickname for a B name like Benedict or Baxter.

A popular choice amongst the African American naming community in the 90s, Deandre has been falling out of style in favor of more contemporary choices.

Variation of Caden and Kaden.

Futuristic variation of Cyrus. Cyrax is a character in the Mortal Kombat video game series.

Beren is a Noldorin name created by J. R. R. Tolkien for his fantasy universe. A great hero in the books, Beren is notable for his love story with Luthien — so notable that Beren and Luthien are the names on the gravestone of Tolkien and his wife, Edith.

Keon, a mashup of Kevin and Leon, has been in the Top 900 for a decade and a half, following in the wake of female cousin Kiana.

Shakespeare seems to have coined this name for the Prince of Bohemia in his late tragicomedy The Winter's Tale. It's rarely been used as a name for a real person, but we think it has potential. The flowery flor sound will appeal to parents looking for less conventionally masculine boys names, but the "Z" gives it an edge and cool factor lacking in, say, Florian. Plus, the Shakespeare connection obviously gives it a lot of literary cred.

Kasen is one of several linked names, all spelled differently and pronounced the same. Kayson is the most popular spelling of the name, but they include Cason, Casen, Cayson and so on.

Kaylor is a faux surname name. It doesn't have an occupational meaning, unlike soundalike names Taylor ("tailor") and Baylor ("one who delivers goods"). It may be considered an Anglicization of surnames such as Keillor or Kohler, but its use typically arises from a combination of the names Kay and Taylor.

A new-style name based on Kyle and a cousin of Dylan, in spelling if not sound or image.

Zaiden grafts the fashionable first letter z onto the Aiden/Kaiden/Jaiden group of names, to popular effect. Soundalike Zayden is even more popular.

This trendy-sounding name peaked in the era of Aiden and Jayden and Ryder and Ryker. Many parents may have come to it on their own, but Ryden has ancient roots as a Swedish surname, from the component ryd, meaning "woodland clearing," and the common surname suffix én, a derivative of the Latin enius.

This spelling variation of Cason isn't quite as widely used as the original.