Dad Names

Simple and worldly, popular and carrying two positive meanings in two diverse cultures. A winner prime for wider use.

This Latinate form of Bernard hovered in the lower regions of the US Top 1000 from the late 1940s until 2006, possibly inspired by the character in West Side Story. It remains popular in Portugal and it does have a little more flair than the grandpa style Bernard.

Long considered Mr. Hall's exclusive property, it's now ready to be adopted by others.

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).

Terrell feels like a modern invention based on Terrence, but Tyrrell has plenty of history as a surname name.

Occasionally used as an alternative to Brandon or Brennan.

Jaren is a contemporary masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may have developed as a variant of Jaron (Hebrew for 'to sing' or 'to shout'), a masculine form of Karen (Danish, meaning 'pure'), or as a variation of Jared (Biblical, meaning 'descent'). The name gained modest popularity in the United States during the late 20th century but remains relatively uncommon. Jaren has a modern, streamlined sound that appeals to parents seeking a name that's recognizable but not overused. Its short, two-syllable structure and familiar phonetics make it easy to pronounce across various languages and cultures. The name carries a contemporary feel while maintaining subtle connections to traditional naming roots.

Synthesized name in the Justin/Dustin mold, but has an unpleasant similarity to the diaper rash ointment called Desitin.

Humberto lifts this ancient name out of the gross association to fictional pedophile Humbert Humbert, investing it with a good measure of Latin charm. It helps that the pronunciation is significantly different, much closer to the Italian Umberto than to the flat-footed original.

Popular in the African American community, the De- prefix makes this a choice for sons of Marcuses.

Romanticizes Rudolph and distances the name from the red-nosed reindeer. After remaining steadily in the US Top 500 for much of the twentieth century, Rodolfo has been slipping of late.

In the US, Rashad is one of the most popular and best-known Arabic names, through several sports and entertainment celebrities.

Ronaldo is a masculine name of Portuguese and Spanish origin, derived from the name Ronald, which has Germanic roots meaning 'ruler's counselor' or 'mighty ruler.' The name gained international prominence largely through Brazilian football (soccer) superstars, most notably Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima and later Cristiano Ronaldo. These sporting icons helped propel the name to global recognition, particularly in countries with strong football cultures. Ronaldo carries a dynamic, energetic quality and conveys strength and athletic prowess. While particularly popular in Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries, the name has gained international appeal. The association with sporting excellence has made Ronaldo an attractive choice for parents seeking a name with connotations of success, skill, and determination.

Rolando, along with brother name Orlando, are among the most attractive and appealing of Latinate names. It has been in the US Top 1000 every year since 1946.

Tyrell is kind of part Tyrone or Tyler, part Terrell, but less than the sum of those parts.

Even less popular than the rarely-used Deangelo. This spelling is likely helped by singer-songwriter and record producer D'Angelo.

Widely used in the Latino community, the name gained renown in the nineties for its association with rapper Gerardo Mejía of 'Rico Suave' fame.

A strong Arabic choice with a covetable meaning — one of the most important considerations in the Muslim baby name practice.

Tremaine (also spelled Tremain, Tremayne, or Tremaigne) derives from a Cornish place name and surname meaning 'stone town' or 'settlement with stone houses,' from the elements 'tre' (homestead/settlement) and 'maen' (stone). Following the pattern of many surnames, it transitioned to use as a given name in the 20th century. Tremaine gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1970s through the 1990s. The name reflects the broader trend of adopting surnames as first names, particularly those with attractive sounds or spelling variations. While never among the most common names, Tremaine has maintained consistent recognition across diverse communities in the United States, with various spelling variants adding to its distinctive character.