Abram was Abraham's original name in the Bible; it's more user-friendly but with a bit less gravitas. And it does offer that cool nickname Bram, as well as the friendly Abe. After some early American usage, in 1936 Abram completely disappeared for nearly forty years, until its return in the 1970s.
 It was the middle name of President James A. Garfield.

Abram

This biblical name is getting wider notice. While Adrian has had its time in the limelight since the late 70s, parents are beginning to look for fresher alternatives. 

In the Bible, Adriel was the husband of Merab, a daughter of King Saul. Adriel, like other names ending in -el like Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, is also the name of an angel. The angel Adriel is known as the Angel of Death.

Adriel entered the charts in 2002, and has risen now into the Top 200. 

Adriel

Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish name for boys</a> has made a seamless transition to this culture. Adding to its current impact: the Lady Gaga song Alejandro .

Alejandro

Friendly, unusual, but a decidedly Old Country version of Andrew and one of the classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/173/scandinavian-names">Scandinavian names</a>. It made a brief appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2006 and then reentered in 2010. Its rising popularity could be attributed to the interest in Anderson, which has been gaining steadily over the last fifteen years.
Trivia tidbits: The patronymic Andersson is the second most popular surname in Sweden, and in Denmark, Donald Duck is called Anders.

Anders

Old-school Italian name that could find new fans thanks to singer Adele, who chose it for her son after months of baby name mystery.  Angelo is in the same name category as Rocco, the name of Madonna's son, and may get a fresh coat of cool.

Angelo

Cultured and cultivated in an old-style, Old World way. Sometimes associated with the classic writer Anton Chekhov. Al Pacino has a son with this name.

Anton

Despite its distinguished pedigree and popularity in Israel, Disney's Little Mermaid cartoonized Ariel in the US, at least in some people's minds. But it was used for a male character in Shakespeare's The Tempest centuries ago.

 More recently, cool short form Ari has come into prominence via the character in Entourage, plus its similarity to short, breezy Biblical names like Levi and Eli. 

 Though Ariel has been on the rise for boys in recent years and flat for girls, the gender divide still leans heavily toward the feminine. But with parents increasingly drawn to uncommon Biblical boy names – especially those with that strong and gentle -iel ending – we think that gap could be set to narrow in the coming years.

Ariel

Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic.  This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of. 

Armando

A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame. 
 Asa was the name of an important biblical king of Judah, who reigned for more than forty years. In modern times, the name was long associated with the strong patriarch Asa Buchanan on the soap opera "One Life to Live," but since the character "died" in 2007, this gives the name plenty of room to rejuvenate. Popular with the Puritans, Asa can be found in the novels of James Fenimore Cooper and Theodore Dreiser. 
 A notable real-life namesake is the highly influential botanist Asa Gray, and Asa was the birth name of Al Jolson. Radiohead's Colin Greenwood has a son named Asa. 
 Asa could also be a path to the hip nickname Ace or an alternative to the rapidly rising Asher.

The increasing popularity of Camila may have pushed this underrated Spanish name into the Top 1000 — though it remains far less popular than its feminine counterpart. A perfect familiar-but-rare choice.

Camilo

Cedric was invented by Sir Walter Scott for the noble character of the hero's father in Ivanhoe, presumed to be an altered form of the Saxon name Cerdic. The name was later also given to Little Lord Fauntleroy, the long-haired, velvet-suited, and lace-collared boy hero of the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, who became an unwitting symbol of the pampered mama's boy.
 Since then that stereotype has been broken principally by the handsome Harry Potter character Cedric Diggory, played by the teen-aged pre-Twilight Robert Pattinson, and it, like cousin Cecil, is at the point of being rediscovered by cutting-edge namers.
 Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer has propelled this name into the spotlight in recent years.
 Cedric has been on and off the charts the last few years, but is currently back in the Top 1000 in 2022.

Cedric

Damian has sidestepped its demonic horror movie overtones, leaving a basically friendly and charming Irish image. A well-used upper-class name in England, it is growing in popularity here.
 There are several saints by this name, including an early one who was a renowned healer.
 Damian Lewis is a British actor, the star of Homeland and now Billions, Damian Marley, youngest son of Bob Marley, is a Grammy-winning reggae artist in his own right.
 The French spelling Damien is another option.

Damian

Though closely associated with the great medieval Florentine poet Dante Alighieri -- who's so famous most people skip the last name -- it's not as much of a one-man name as you might think. Heck, it's not even a one-poet name, thanks to British pre-Rapahaelite Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Though especially well used in the Italian-American community, it would make a striking name for any little boy.

Dante

Desmond is a sophisticated and debonair name, with noble ties to 1984 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop Desmond Tutu, and with some great nicknames: Des/Dez, Desi/Dezi.
 Another notable Desmond is British zoologist and anthropologist Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape and other popular books.
 The character Desmond David Hume on Lost was named in tribute to philosopher David Hume, and the name also appears on Oz. Desmond Harrington plays Detective Joseph Quinn on Dexter. Desmond Miles is the protagonist in video game series Assassin's Creed.
 And we can't forget all the references to Desmond in the Beatles song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"—possibly used in tribute to reggae singer Desmond Dekker.

Desmond

The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism. Over the years, it's been attached to a number of diverse real and fictional personalities—C. K. Dexter Haven, the witty Cary Grant character in The Philadelphia Story; Dexter Green, the protagonist of the F. Scott Fitzgerald story "Winter Dreams"; great jazz tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon; the boy-genius protagonist of cartoon Dexter's Laboratory; and the most recent TV series Dexter based on the books by Jeff Lindsay, whose lead happens to be a genial but sociopathic serial killer.
 Dexter was chosen by hip musical couple Diana Krall and Elvis Costello for one of their twin boys, and by singer Charlotte Church.
 Dex is an equally appealing nickname, now sometimes used on its own.

Dexter

One of the first of the appealing Irish surnames to take off in this country, this <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a> has long outgrown its "Mellow Yellow" association, which came via the single from a sixties singer-songwriter named Donovan. 
 Donovan was Scottish-born Donovan Leitch, whose name was probably inspired by his father Donald's. He proved to be an adventurous, celestial namer himself--three of his children are Astrella Celeste, Oriole Nebula and Ione Skye.
 Another potential namesake is retired pro bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.
 Donovan was in the USA Top 1000 as early as 1900.
 Related options are surname Donegan and place name Donegal.

Donovan

Edgar is an Old English name historically associated with the tenth century English king known as Edgar the Peaceful. There was also a King Edgar of Scotland.
 Edgar has been a stalwart on the US <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a> lists, not dipping below the Top 400 until 2022, and is especially popular (as is Edgardo) with Latino families.
 Edgar plays a key role in King Lear and has had several distinguished namesakes, including artist Degas, Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs, and author and poet Edgar Allan Poe. In terms of style, however, most would rate it a distant third to Edward and Edmund. 
 Trivia tidbit: Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa named her son Edgar after her father, but he is called by his middle name Cooper.

Edgar

Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today. 
While it may sound cool and fresh, Elias is a name with history and substance. It is the Greek form of the name Elijah, meaning “Yahweh is God,” and was used in both the Greek New Testament and medieval tales. Elias was then given to early saints, to honor the miracles and work of the popular Biblical figure. 
Revived by Puritans in the 18th century, notable namesakes include the inventor of the sewing machine, Elias Howe, writer Elias Canetti and Walter Elias Disney. 
Felix Mendelssohn composed a popular oratorio named “Elias”, while Sir Walter Scott, Anthony Trollope, and Thomas Hardy all have characters called Elias in their novels, giving the name literary and classical charm. 
In the US, Elias has seen significant usage from the 90’s onwards with its popularity doubling during the 2010’s. Given to over 6000 boys each year, Elias continues to climb the charts and has overtaken Eli as a go to El- choice. 
While still outranked by Elijah in the US, across Europe and South America, Elias is the preferred form. Popular in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Mexico, Elias travels well. Most recently, it entered the UK Top 100 in 2022, replacing Ollie. 
The name has been chosen for characters in the popular horror podcast, The Magnus Archives, Cassandra Clare’s trilogy “The Infernal Devices”, and the TV series “Person of Interest.” Elias has the celebrity seal of approval too, with singer Michael Bublé, actor Robert Downey Jr, tennis player Boris Becker and actress Barbara Becker choosing to use it for their sons. 
Handsome and refined as it is, the main problem with Elias is deciding whether you want to use it, or keep Elijah, Eli, Elliot, Elio, Eliza, Elizabeth, or Elise in the running. To avoid the problem, you could go with similar but lower ranking Tobias, Linus, or Ozias.

Elias

Dashing and suave, with a hint of poetry and gentleness, Emilio is an appealing and international choice. A solid favorite in Italy, it is also on the rise in the US, France, Austria, and the UK. 
 
Derived from the Roman family name, Aemilius, Emilio is part of the Emil, Emiliano, Emily and Emilia family, all with the meaning "rival". 
 
While Emilio isn't quite as popular as its feminine counterparts yet, it has received more attention in recent years. With other -o names such as Matteo, Arlo, and Leo all trending for boys, it broke into the US Top 200 for the first time in 2022 and is now given to over 2000 babies every year.

Actor Emilio Estevez has brought notable attention to the name, while Italian fashion designers Emilio Pucci and Emilio Cavallini give it an air of style. Other recent namesakes include footballer Emilio Nsue, actor Emilio Sakraya, and influencer Emilio Martinez.

Emilio

Emmett, honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, not to mention being a character in the popular Twilight series.
 Emmett originated in England as a masculine diminutive of the German Emma; the Hebrew characters pronounced eh-MEHT mean truth, so that might be considered another definition. Emmet is another, less popular spelling.
The death of young Emmett Till helped spark the civil rights movement.

Emmett

Fabian is the ancient name of a saint and pope that also has Shakespearean cred as Olivia's servant in Twelfth Night and more recently made an appearance in Harry Potter. In the U.S. Fabian became best known via the 1960s teen idol/singer who went solely by his first name.
 The name was brought to England by the French around the sixteenth century. Except for a few scattered earlier appearances, Fabian has been solidly on the U.S. pop list since 1959. It is a particularly <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular name</a> in the Latino community and even more well used in several other countries, including Austria, Chile, and Poland. Fabiano is an attractive <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/506/italian-names-for-boys">Italian name for boys</a>.

Fabian

Felix is one of those ancient but nontraditional names for boys that have come into favor over the past few decades, a favorite of parents who want a masculine name with history and heft that breaks ranks with the standard Franks and Freds. Felix is also an international darling, ranking in the Top 100 in several European and English-speaking countries.

Felix was originally a Roman surname but was adopted as a nickname by the ancient Roman Sulla, who believed that he was especially blessed with luck by the gods. It is the name of four popes and sixty-seven saints; in the Bible, Felix is a Roman procurator of Judea.
 
Felix, energetic and upbeat with a felicitous meaning, has finally transcended its negative associations to Felix The Cat and the persnickety Felix Unger. 
 
The name appears in literature as the central character in George Eliot's novel Felix Holt, the protagonist of Thomas Mann's Confessions of Felix Krull, in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Henry James's The Europeans, Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, and as a member of the Volturi Guard in the Twilight series. In movies Felix has popped up in everything from several James Bond films to Spy Kids and The Hangover.
 
Gillian Anderson and Elizabeth Banks are two modern celebrities who chose Felix for their baby boys. A notable namesake is Felix Frankfurter, a long-term Supreme Court Justice.
 
Popular in the Hispanic community, Felix is also celebrating a surge abroad. Felix has been on the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">U.S. popularity list</a> for as long as records have been kept and is rapidly becoming a Nameberry fave.

Felix

Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.
 Gideon was given a spike by the short-lived TV series Gideon's Crossing, and has been heard more recently as a main character in Criminal Minds, as Molly Weasley's brother Gideon Prewett in the Harry Potter series, and as an anti-hero, Gideon Gordon Graves, in the Scott Pilgrim series.
 The ubiquitous, in-every-hotel-room Gideon bibles were named because Gideon symbolizes great work done by few people.
 Among the celebs who have chosen Gideon for their sons are Neil Patrick Harris and Ziggy Marley.

Gideon

One of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish names for boys</a> in the US, Javier is embodied for many Americans in the magnetic persona of Spanish-born Oscar-nominated actor Javier Bardem.

Javier

Jonah, the name of the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by the whale, only to emerge unharmed three days later, is increasingly appreciated by parents looking for a biblical name less common than Jacob or Joshua, yet not too obscure. Plus, Jonah comes with a ready-made nursery-decorating motif.
 The appealing Jonah has been featured in such movies as Sleepless in Seattle and Knocked Up and is currently represented by actor/writer Jonah Hill.
 Jonas is the Greek version and Yona is a female spin.

Jonah

Long popular in Ireland and England, Kieran, the name of Ireland's first-born saint and twenty-five other saints, has been building its U.S. fan base thanks to its strong and attractive sound, and its fashionable Irish brogue. While Ciaran is the more authentic Irish spelling, Kieran is more popular this side of the Atlantic. 
 Julianna Margulies chose Kieran for her son, and Kieran is a Culkin brother to Macaulay and Rory. Kier is an attractive short form, and Kiera/Keira is Kieran's girl twin.

Kieran

Currently overshadowed by the bright and lively Leo, Leon feels a slightly more serious, more quietly confident than its short and trending counterpart. 
 
Just as leonine as Leo and Leonardo, Leon is popular across Europe, ranking in the Top 40 in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Germany and Finland. It has dipped in and out of the UK Top 100, but as of 2022, it is back. 
 
Leon peaked in the US in the 1920s, but it is on the rise again as parents turn to familiar-but-less-used alternatives to the most popular names. In 2023, it was in the US Top 200, and given to nearly 2500 boys. 
 A name with history, Russian Marxist revolutionary Lev Davidovich Bronstein is better known to history as Leon Trotsky. Leon (LAY-on) has been the name of three French prime ministers, while Leon Russell (born Claude) is a respected singer-songwriter.

Leon

Latinizing Lawrence gives it a whole new lease on life. Like Leonardo, Lorenzo has been integrated into the American stockpot of names, partly via actor Lorenzo Lamas. Other associations are with Lorenzo de' Medici, the Florentine Renaissance merchant prince and art patron, Renaissance artists Ghiberti and Lotto, and the upstanding young man who married Shylock's daughter Jessica in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
 It would work well with a simple one-syllable Anglo name--in the depths of radio history, there was a soap opera character named Lorenzo Jones. And Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi made this choice for her son.
 Renzo and Enzo are both appealing nicknames, sometimes used on their own.

Lorenzo

An Old Testament name with a Gaelic lilt, Malachi entered the list in 1987.
 In the Bible, Malachi (pronounced with the final syllable as EYE), was the last of the twelve Hebrew prophets, who foretold the coming of Christ. 
 In Anthony Trollope's Phineas Finn, Malachi is the name of the hero's father, and in James Joyce's Ulysses, Malachi Mulligan is a medical student. The lighter-hearted Irish version is usually spelled Malachy.

Malachi

Malcolm is a warm and welcoming Scottish appellation (originally Mael-Colium) that fits into that golden circle of names that are distinctive but not at all odd. A royal name in Scotland, Malcolm is also a hero name for many via radical civil rights activist Malcolm X. 
 Malcolm was the name of four Scottish kings — including the son of Duncan who succeeded to the throne after Macbeth murdered his father — and has been a standard in that country.
 Denzel Washington named one of his sons Malcolm, as did Harrison Ford.
 Actor Malcolm McDowell is one current bearer. Other namesakes are writer Lowry; bestselling author and trendspotter Gladwell; Sex Pistols musician McLaren; and actor Jamal Warner. There have also been several Malcolms on TV — e.g., in Malcolm in the Middle, Firefly and in the Outlander series. There were no fewer than three characters named Malcolm in the Harry Potter books.

Malcolm

This attractively energetic Italian version of the classic Matthew is primed to move further and further into mainstream American nomenclature. Mateo is technically the Spanish version, but many parents in the US use the two spellings interchangeably. 
 
In the US, about 12,000 baby boys were named Mateo, Matteo, or Teo in 2021, vaulting the name in all versions into the Top 10. Mateo alone, by far the most popular version, lies just outside the Top 10.
 Actor Colin Firth has a son called Matteo, as does Ricky Martin; the Benjamin Bratts and Tom Colicchios have boys named Mateo. We're sure that both these spellings will keep climbing in tandem, sharing the possibility of the lively nickname Teo.

Matteo

The bright, playful Micah feels like the middle ground between the safe, solid qualities of Michael and the flair and energy of Luca. Both Biblical and stylish, Micah is proving popular among parents today. 
A shortened form of Micaiah, Micah is an Old Testament name, meaning “who is like the Lord”. The biblical figure is a minor prophet who denounced oppression from the ruling classes and alternated between prophecies of doom and hope. 
Micah was among the Old Testament names revived by the Puritans in the 17th century, and it was used by early Pilgrim settlers in America. It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that it really saw significant usage. 
Entering into the Top 200 back in the 80s, Micah has since made a slow and steady climb to the Top 100. Given to over 3000 boys – and 200 girls – each year, Micah now feels established but not overused. 
In pop culture, Micah has been used for characters in the animated series She-Ra: Princess of Power and in television show Heroes. It was also selected by Arthur Conan Doyle as the central character for his non-Holmes novel, Micah Clarke. 
Other noteworthy namesakes include Micah Hyde, an American football player, Micah Kogo, a Kenyan long-distance runner, and Micah Richards, an English footballer. Celebrities including actress Sarah Drew, basketball player Moses Malone, singer Lauryn Hill, musician Willie Nelson, and singer Neil Diamond all have sons called Micah. 
Popular in New Zealand and climbing the UK charts too, Micah makes a sleek but sparky choice for anyone honoring a Michael or wanting a name with history that still feels fresh. 
If you like Micah but prefer something outside the Top 100, or just want more inspiration, you could try a lesser-known <a href=“https://nameberry.com/list/456/unusual-biblical-baby-names”> Biblical name</a>, like Nekoda, Neriah, Tekoa, Zaccai, Ira, Jethro, or Jarah.

Micah

Milo is most commonly considered to be Germanic name derived from the Latin word miles, meaning "soldier." However, there is evidence to suggest it also may have independently spawned from the Slavic root milu, meaning "merciful." Milo predates brother name Miles, a variation that evolved when the name immigrated to the British Isles in the Middle Ages. Mylo is an alternate spelling.
 
Milo has long been a favorite <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys' name</a> on Nameberry, also getting some well-deserved appreciation in the wider world. Milo combines the strength of the ancient Greek Olympic wrestler of that name—a six-time winner of the Olympic games—with the debonair charm of a WWII RAF pilot.
 More recently, Milo has been associated with the dashing Milo Ventimiglia of This Is Us fame, and it has also been the name of characters in books Catch-22 and The Phantom Tollbooth, and on screen in Milo and Otis, Alias, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
 Ricki Lake, Camryn Manheim, Sherry Stringfield, Liv Tyler, Craig Ferguson, and Alyssa Milano are six celebrity parents who share our enthusiasm for Milo, as do many Nameberry baby namers.
 Milo is often heard in Ireland. Milo O'Shea was a renowned Irish character actor.

Milo

Morgan, once split evenly between the sexes, is a strong and attractive Welsh favorite, still a common <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a> in Wales. Morgan is now more often a girls' name in the U.S. – about 2000 girls were given the name in one recent year, vs. 362 boys – though it's one of the most traditional unisex choices. Morgan was actually a Top 200 pick for boys in Victorian Britain!
 Distinguished actor Morgan Freeman is a worthy male namesake.

Morgan

Nehemiah is an Old Testament name used by the Puritans, whose white-bearded image kept it out of favor for centuries, until it suddenly reappeared in 1998, along with the more user-friendly Josiah and Isaiah.
 The biblical Nehemiah was the prophet assigned the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity—which could make it a fitting possibility for an architect or building contractor's boy. 
 In Sir Walter Scott's novel Woodstock, Nehemiah Holdenough is a Presbyterian minister. One modern namesake is football star Nehemiah Broughton.

Nehemiah

Nico is one of the great nickname names, full of charm, energy and effortless cool -- a neo Nick.
 Nico is commonly heard in Italy -- as a short form of Niccolo -- and also in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland and Spanish-speaking countries.
 As a unisex nickname name, Nico is associated with the German-born single-named Velvet Underground singer (nee Christa) promoted by Andy Warhol. And Nico Reilly was one of the female leads on the TV series Lipstick Jungle. But over 90% of the American babies named Nico are boys.

Nico

Russian forms, like Russian supermodels, are hot these days. This is a strong, worldly way to make Nicholas new; it was chosen for his son by Barry Bonds, Jr.

Nikolai also comes with several attractive nickname options, including approachable Nik, spunky Niko, or even hip Kai. A traditional nickname for Nikolai in Russia is Kolya. 

Nikolai

Noel is British, fey, and sophisticated, connoting wit and creativity, much like namesake Noel Coward. Noel has also been a character on Felicity and Pretty Little Liars. Thanks to their association with Christmas, Noel and Noelle make ideal <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for December babies</a> and <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">names for Christmas babies</a>.

Noel

Oscar is one of the most stylish Old Man Names of our era. While it's softened slightly in popularity over the past 20 years, that may be considered a very good thing.
 
In the nineties and the aughties, Oscar looked to be one of the grandpa names heading straight for the top of the charts, ala Elijah or Theodore. But instead of rising into the Top 100, Oscar has settled into that comfortable place between being too far in or out.
 
Oscar has Irish and Norse roots—Norse Oscar comes from the Old English Osgar, a variation of the Old Norse name Ásgeirr. The Irish form was derived from the Gaelic elements os, meaning "deer," and car, "loving." In Irish legend, Oscar was one of the mightiest warriors of his generation, the son of Ossian and the grandson of Finn Mac Cumhaill (MacCool).
 
Oscar also has remarkable international versatility. In addition to being a top name in Sweden, where it has royal connection, Oscar ranks high on popularity lists in all the English-speaking countries as well as in France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and other European and Latin American countries.
 
Actors Hugh Jackman and Gillian Anderson chose Oscar for their sons.Famous Oscars include Wilde (whose given name was Fingal), Isaac, Madison, Hammerstein, Peterson, de la Renta, the Academy Award, and the Grouch.

Oscar

Pedro is one of the most familiar <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/496/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish names for boys</a>, via baseball star Pedro Rodriguez and many others. 

Like its Anglo equivalent Peter, Pedro is not as popular as it once was. But it's among the elite group of boys' names that has ALWAYS ranked among the US Top 1000.

That final O sound, so fashionable today, gives this name an extra spin of style.

Pedro

There's Rhys and there's Reese (now more popular for girls) and there's Reece, and we particularly like the traditional Welsh spelling, which entered the list in 2004, possibly influenced by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, of The Tudors, and Welsh-born actor Rhys Ifans.
 Always widespread in Wales, where it has deep historic roots, Rhys is also a high-ranking name in England, Ireland and Scotland.
 Former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre named his son Rhys Edward in 2009.

Rhys

Riley -- one of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/unisex">popular unisex names</a> -- is trendier now for girls though for boys it's a classic, ALWAYS ranking in the US Top 1000. 

In fact, after a decade of softening, Riley has recently taken a turn upward for boys, along with a lot of other gender-neutral names. These days, parents are embracing unisex names even more enthusiastically for their sons than for their daughters.

Riley ranks in the Top 100 for boys throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, though interestingly not in its native Ireland. In the US, Riley is the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/753/best-irish-girl-names">Irish name for girls</a>.

There are lots of athletes and other notable real-life namesakes for a boy named Riley, as well as fictional ones in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight: Eclipse. And Riley can easily be shortened for a boy to Ry or Lee.

Riley

River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.

River's popularity is rising for boy genders, but it's still predominantly given to baby boys. Last year nearly 3500 boys were named River vs. about 1900 baby girls.

Keri Russell and the Taylor Hansons both have sons named River, Natasha Henstridge used it as the middle name of her boy Tristan, and Jason Schwartzman pluralized it for daughter Marlowe Rivers.

River

Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys names</a> in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.

Robin is one of the unisex names that switched predominant genders a couple of times. Initially a boys' name, it hit its high point for both genders in the 1950s, eventually becoming more popular for girls. Now Robin is used near-equally for both sexes, given to 290 baby girls and 256 baby boys in the US in 2021.

Robin is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>.

Robin

Madonna did much to polish up the image of this old-neighborhood Italian choice when she picked it for her son with British director Guy Ritchie, and several years later it was also used by Rose Byrne and Bobby Canavale for their son. It now feels much more mainstream than many <a href="https://nameberry.com/fameberry">celebrity baby names</a>, sharing the quirky appeal of some other so-far-out-they're-in <a href="https://nameberry.com">baby names</a> as Bruno and Hugo. 
 Legendary boxers Rocky Graziano and Rocky Marciano were both born Rocco. Rocco DiSpirito is an award-winning celebrity chef. Rocco Landesman, meanwhile, is a noted Broadway producer.

Rocco

Rhythmically appealing international spin on the stiff original. 

Rodrigo

Roman is an ancient name trending in a major way. A surprise hit name of recent years, Roman now ranks in the Top 100 not only in the US but throughout the English-speaking world, and is rising in other European countries as well.
 
Roman owes much of its current popularity to celebrity and pop culture references. It's the name of the youngest son, played by Kieran Culkin, in the TV show Succession. Roman was used for their sons by Cate Blanchett, Debra Messing, and Molly Ringwald.
 Well known Romans include disgraced director Polanski (born Raimund), Polish photographer Vishniac, and onetime star quarterback Gabriel. Francis Ford Coppola has a son named Roman, who is a director now himself.
 Several relatives of Roman are also newly stylish, from Romy to Romilly to Romeo. Definitely a romantic name, however you use it. 
 The French version is Romaine -- and literary parents might appreciate the fact that 'roman' is the French word for novel.

Roman

With its gentle sounds and earthy vibes, the name Rowan feels like a fusion of different styles. A word name, a surname, and a gender-neutral name, Rowan is rustic but trendy, blending the vibes of both Owen and Oakley. 
Just as it’s hard to fit Rowan into one category, it’s equally difficult to identify one definitive root. It could be considered an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ruadhán, meaning “little redhead” and it was used as an English surname before it became a given name. 
Alternatively, it could be linked to the rowan tree, whose name derives from Old Norse and means “to redden.” In folklore and mythology, rowan trees are seen as a symbol of protection and of life, adding extra meaning to Rowan. 
 To complicate matters further, some scholars identify Rowan as a girls’ name, deriving from Rowena and Rhonwen, meaning “famous friend” or “white spear.” This gives it solid credentials as a unisex name and lends it a slightly more rugged vibe. 
What is certain, however, is that Rowan has quickly become a stylish choice, chosen for over 3000 boys every year. Once an obscure name in the US, it rapidly climbed the charts during the 2010s and has now entered the Top 100 Boy Names for the first time. 
Rowan is popular in the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands too, but even more so among Nameberry users, where it ranks in the <a href=“https://nameberry.com/popular-names/nameberry/boys/allNameberry Top 1000”> Nameberry Top 30.</a> 
The most prominent bearer of the name is probably Rowan Atkinson, the British comic actor of Blackadder and Mr Bean fame. Other namesakes include the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Douglas Williams, and the Australian swimmer, Rowan Crothers. Pokémon fans and Sarah J. Maas readers might recognize it too as the name of a character in both the game franchise and in the Throne of Glass series. 
Gentle but powerful, stylish but not oversaturated, Rowan may well continue to climb the charts, so if you love Rowan but want to stray from the trends, Ruan, Sylvan, Lorcan, Lennox, Wren and Sloan might inspire you.

Rowan

Santiago is a spirited Spanish name with great crossover potential. It's a place-name (a city in Chile), a surname, and the name of the patron saint of Spain. 
 
Santiago has been rising through the popularity charts in the US for more than 30 years now, and shows no signs of slowing down. It might make a creative honor name for an ancestral James.
 Santiago has been featured in several works of fiction: it was the main character's name in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Paolo Coehlo's The Alchemist, and there was also a Santiago in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire.

Santiago

A name introduced here by The Godfather: James Caan played the anything-but-saintly Santino "Sonny" Corleone, and comedian Adam Carolla used it for his son.

Santino

Solomon, a name that evokes wisdom and peace, is an Old Testament name that, along with other patriarchal classics, is finally beginning to shed its long white beard and step from the pages of the Old Testament into modern nurseries. 
 Originating from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace, Solomon was a favorite of Charles Dickens, who used it for characters in three of his novels.
 Solomon Grundy is a name that moved from a nursery rhyme ("Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday") to a DC Comics character to the name of a California rock group.
 The biblical Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, succeeded his father as king of Israel, and was known for his wisdom ("People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon."). He is credited with writing the biblical books Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon—the latter also the title of an acclaimed Toni Morrison novel. The biblical Solomon is that reason that, while the name technically means peace, it also counts among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/128/boy-baby-names-that-mean-wise">names that mean wisdom</a>.
 Notable bearers of the name include philanthropist Solomon R. Guggenheim, for whom the New York museum is named, and singer-songwriter Solomon Burke, sometimes referred to as "King Solomon."

Solomon

This gentle Scandinavian name, soft and sensitive, is being discovered in a major way by parents in the US. It's most closely identified with the nineteenth century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, but there have been modern fictional Sorens as well, in The Matrix Reloaded and the book series Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Charlie and Lola, and Underworld.

 In Scandinavia this name would be spelled as Sören or Søren, leading to it being pronounced "Sur-en". But with a plain old English "O", "Sorr-en" would actually be the correct (and more English-speaker friendly) pronunciation.

Soren

Tristan -- known through medieval legend and Wagnerian opera -- has a slightly wistful, touching air. This, combined with the name's popular "an" ending, makes Tristan very appealing to parents seeking a more original alternative to Christian.
 One influence was the character Tristan Ludlow played by Brad Pitt in the 1994 movie Legends of the Fall, based on a Jim Harrison novel.
 Tristan is a dragon-slaying hero of Celtic legend, whose story was incorporated into Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, in which Tristan is one of the Knights of the Round Table, consumed by his doomed love affair with Queen Isolde. Wagner set the story to music in his opera Tristan und Isolde.
 Tristan and its alternate form Tristram have been found in later lit as well. Tristram Shandy is a famous early comic novel by Laurence Sterne (in which the hero's father calls Tristram the worst name in the universe); Tristan is a major character in James Herriott's All Creatures Great and Small, and there is an eponymous novella by Thomas Mann.
 Particularly popular in Canada, Tristan was chosen for their sons by Travis Tritt, Wayne Gretzky, Natasha Henstridge and, most recently, by Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth. Basketball player Tristan Thompson hails from Canada.
 Other variants of Tristan include Tristen, Tristin, Triston and Tristian.

Tristan

Romantic name used throughout Europe, though sure to lead to pronunciation problems here. Though it's never been too widely used in the US, it's quite popular in Switzerland, France, Austria, and Romania.

Valentin

undefined's list "Favorites Outside of the Top 100 (Boys)" of 54 great name ideas: Abram - Valentin!

Favorites Outside of the Top 100 (Boys)

My favorite names that rank in top 1000, but outside of the top 100.