Rustic Aristocrat Names

A rare but appealing and accessible member of the John family. It sees steady low-key use in England.

In Wuthering Heights, Cathy's milquetoast husband; Heath is so much more appealing.

The initial X is pronounced like a Z. Confusing? Potentially. But there are enough Alexandras and Xanders through the Western World these days that this spelling wouldn't seem outlandish.

There is a Hindi name for boys Aroon, for the mythic charioteer of the dawn, but for girls the name Aroon relates to the Irish word for darling. Aroon is the name of the heroine of Molly Keane's classic novel of the Anglo-Irish gentry, Good Behaviour.

Actor Wood Harris, best known for his role as Avon Barksdale in The Wire, brought this one into the lexicon. Wood is Harris's nickname -- his real name is Sherwin David -- but it's the name he's exclusively known by. And it fits right in with the current hot trend for woodsy names for boys.

One of the lesser-heard (but possibly most usable) members of the quirky, dintinguished "Fitz" names.

So many names sound better with a French accent, and Petronille is one of them -- it feels unusual in an elegant way. But in the US, you'd have to be adventurous to choose it.

A rustic yet aristocratic boy name, derived from an English surname and place name. It derives from the Old English name Hræfn and the element wic to create the cool meaning "raven's settlement".

An English surname with a nature and animal connection, Hartland also feels soulful and heartfelt thanks to its sounds. Hartley and Hart have been quietly on the rise and Hartland might be a longer form that appeals to those who also enjoy Landon, Leland, and Holland.

A preppy surname which could work as a tough and distinctive alternative to Ainsley, Ainsworth blends the sounds of the the 2000s favorite with a modern virtue-style ending. Originally a place name in the north of England, it combines the Old English given name Ægen meaning "to possess" with the element worþ meaning "enclosure" .