Boho Boy Names

  1. Mccoy
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of McKay
    • Meaning:

      "fire"
    • Description:

      One of numerous usable Irish and Scottish surnames starting with Mac and Mc, this is the real McCoy. McCoy Tyner, the well-known jazz pianist, is one of the few to use this very cool name. Bonus: Nickname Mac.
  2. Pip
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Philip
    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"
    • Description:

      The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
  3. Rafi
    • Origin:

      Arabic, diminutive of Rafiq; Spanish, diminutive of Rafael
    • Description:

      Most people will assoicate it with the well-known children's singer.
  4. Mingus
    • Origin:

      Scottish, variation of Menzies
    • Meaning:

      "tenants of a manor"
    • Description:

      Supermodel Helena Christensen named her son in honor of jazz great Charles Mingus, opening up a whole category of jazzy possibilities: Kenton, Calloway, Ellington, Gillespie, Mulligan, Tatum, and Thelonius.
  5. Cashel
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "castle, stone fort"
    • Description:

      Cashel is one of the many appealing Irish names that have not yet emigrated to the US. Cashel was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller for their son.
  6. Bertie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Albert, Bertram etc
    • Description:

      Long a royal nickname in England, it's coming back there along with Archie and Alfie. British singer Kate Bush calls her little boy Bertie.
  7. Kermit
    • Origin:

      Irish, variant of Diarmaid/Dermot
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Kermit was a Top 500 name until the 1960s, not coincidentally the decade in which Kermit the Frog became well known, proving that it isn't easy being green, even for a name. But we think it's time for some of those appealing Sesame Street names--Kermit, Elmo, Grover--to be taken out of that context and be considered on their own.
  8. Urban
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "of the city"
    • Description:

      Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both urban and rural. Yet in this era of word name appreciation and trend for 'an'-ending boys' names, we're thinking it might be ready for a return.
  9. Urban
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "of the city"
    • Description:

      Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both urban and rural. Yet in this era of word name appreciation and trend for 'an'-ending boys' names, we're thinking it might be ready for a return.
  10. Humphrey
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful warrior"
    • Description:

      Humphrey is an old name that might have faded completely were it not for that Bogie flair. A royal name in Britain, where it's used somewhat more frequently, Humphrey might just have some life beyond Bogart here, especially with the recent interest in the names of Golden Age Hollywood stars. His first name was the maiden name of his mother, Maud Humphrey, a well-known illustrator who used baby H. as a model.
  11. Memphis
    • Origin:

      Greek and Coptic place-name
    • Meaning:

      "Enduring and beautiful"
    • Description:

      A place name with plenty of history, Memphis is associated with the place in Ancient Egypt where many of the pyramids were built, and with the bluesy US city that was named after it. With its lovely meaning and cool, musical vibe, it is currently in the US Top 500 names for boys.

      Deriving from the Greek form of the Egyptian name Men-nefer, Memphis has been notably borne by rapper Memphis Bleek and by Dutch footballer, known mononymously as Memphis (who likely inspired its brief appearance in The Netherlands Top 1000 in 2015). In the US, it is a unisex name, however, it is used three times more often for boys, with 610 receiving the name in 2023.
  12. Hale
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "someone who lives in a hollow"
    • Description:

      This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.
  13. Birch
    • Origin:

      Tree name
    • Description:

      Birch is a rarely used nature name that calls to mind the lovely image of the tall, strong but graceful white-barked tree.
  14. Zebulon
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "exaltation or little dwelling"
    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
  15. Zeb
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zebediah or Zebulon
    • Description:

      Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.
  16. Oswald
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine power"
    • Description:

      Despite the success of so many O-starting boys names--Oliver, Owen, Otis, Oscar--Oswald has not yet shown any signs of resurrection, though he does have the animating nicknames Ozzie/Ozzy and Oz. The name has some literary cred--in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's King Lear and a novel by H. G.Wells--and there was early cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
  17. Ludovic
    • Origin:

      English and Scottish variation of Ludwig
    • Meaning:

      "famous warrior"
    • Description:

      Euro-cool. Heard more in Scotland than in England or the US, Ludovic Lesly is a character in the Sir Walter Scott novel Quentin Durward and Sir Ludovic Kennedy was a noted Scottish broadcaster and writer. Cute nickname: Ludo.
  18. Benno
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.
  19. Puck
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell.
  20. Philo
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "loving"
    • Description:

      Could Philo be the next Milo?