European Boy Names

  1. Tai
    • Origin:

      Chinese
    • Meaning:

      "great extreme"
    • Description:

      Tai, which rhymes with Kai, is a unisex name with a range of international references. It means the equivalent of "too much" in Chinese but is also used as a Maori name meaning "the tide" and in Romanian means "yours." While it's only ever ranked in the U.S. Top 1000 as a girls' name, during the height of the popularity of Olympic skater Tai Babilonia, Tai makes a simple intriguing modern choice for either gender.
  2. Vincenzo
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Vincent
    • Meaning:

      "conquering"
    • Description:

      This is a classic Italian name for boys, but despite the success of Luca and Matteo, has yet to catch on in the US. Vincenzo has made the charts in the US in only a couple years throughout the 20th century, but has been consistently on the charts since 2000. As Enzo becomes one of the hottest boys names in recent years, the elaborated Vincenzo may follow suit.
  3. Yannick
    • Origin:

      Breton
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Yannick originated as a diminutive of Yann, the Breton form of John. However, it has since become popular as a standalone name in its native region of Brittany, as well as in France as a whole, where it peaked at #31 in 1973-4. It remains well within the Top 500 in France to this day, and has also seen regular use in Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Quebec.
  4. Bjorn
    • Origin:

      Swedish
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a rock star figure.
  5. Malo
    • Origin:

      Breton
    • Meaning:

      "shining hostage"
    • Description:

      Malo, the name of an important sixth century Breton saint who founded St. Malo, the charming port town in Brittany -- is considered quite au courant in France right now, ranking firmly in the Top 100.
  6. Rene
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "reborn"
    • Description:

      Though it's used for boys, most non-French people would hear it as a girls’ name. Most would be surprised to learn that Rene has always charted in the US Top 1000 for boys.
  7. Arvid
    • Origin:

      Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
    • Meaning:

      "eagle-tree"
    • Description:

      Arvid, a Scandinavian name that's virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top baby names in Sweden. It might make a handsome, unusual choice for a parent in search of an original yet traditional A name.
  8. Floris
    • Origin:

      Dutch variation of Florence, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "flowering"
    • Description:

      This Dutch favorite was the name of five Counts of Holland and many notable Renaissance artists, including still life painter Floris van Dijck. It is a variation of Florence, which was historically a unisex name.
  9. Diogo
    • Origin:

      Portuguese form of Diego
    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"
    • Description:

      Diogo is the much-less-known brother of Diego, both forms of James, which is itself a form of the Biblical Jacob. And Diego itself probably started life as a short form of Santiago, aka Saint Jago, aka Saint James.
  10. Thor
    • Origin:

      Norse and Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "thunder"
    • Description:

      Thor, the powerful name of the Norse god of thunder, strength and rain, would make a bold statement. Long a comic book staple, Thor has now invaded the big screen, and could land on birth certificates as well.
  11. Wilhelm
    • Origin:

      German variation of William
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"
    • Description:

      This dignified German form of William belonged to two German Emperors and Kings of Prussia, as well as a host of other important historical figures. These include composer (Wilhelm) Richard Wagner, philosophers Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, and physicist Wilhelm Roentgen, who discovered the X-ray. It now sounds rather dated in Germany, however, having dropped out of the Top 20 there in the late 1920s and continuing to decline since.
  12. Johannes
    • Origin:

      German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Estonian variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      An Old World name that might have a chance to rise again with other ancient and worldly forms. Be sure to say yo-HAHN-es.
  13. Zoltan
    • Origin:

      Hungarian
    • Meaning:

      "sultan"
    • Description:

      Though a common name in Hungary, the relatively rare Z sound is striking to English speakers. Penn Gillette used the Zolten spelling for his son; it was also the name of Dracula's dog, and was also a robotic character in Dude, Where's My Car?.
  14. Nils
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Nicholas
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.
  15. Till
    • Origin:

      German diminutive of Dietrich or Theodoric
    • Description:

      The modern name Till is in the German Top 100. Used in contemporary terms on its own, it's traditionally a short form of names beginning with Diet such as Deitrich, which is itself a form of Theodoric. Because of its English word equivalent, it's a bit slight to ever make it as a standalone name in the English-speaking world.
  16. Iker
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "visitation"
    • Description:

      Long an extremely popular name in Spain, Iker (usually pronounced EE-kuhr in the English speaking world) is the rare Basque name that's starting to make it big in the States also, thanks to soccer player Iker Casillas. Indeed, it's been one of the fastest growing boys' names of the decade.
  17. Sandro
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alessandro, Italian
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Lengthy, romantic Alessandro gives us the friendly and casual nickname Sandro, which works just as well as an independent name. It’s a popular international name, having ranked in Italy, France, Portugal, and Switzerland in recent years.
  18. Marceau
    • Origin:

      French variation of Marcel
    • Meaning:

      "little warrior"
    • Description:

      Mime Marcel Marceau actually had two versions of the same name. Marcel, Marceau, Marcella, Marcus, Mark -- all are variation of the Roman mythological name Mars, the god of war.
  19. Thijs
    • Origin:

      Dutch short form of Matthijs
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      Pronounced to rhyme with nice, Thijs is a popular Dutch name short for that country's form of Matthew. Matt Lauer's half-Dutch son is called Thijs.
  20. Sander
    • Origin:

      Dutch and Scandinavian, diminutive of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Sander is a more conventional form of Zander or Xander, heard frequently on its own in Europe. It is now a Top 20 name in Norway, and is also popular in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.