Amazing Boy Names
- Matisse
Origin:
Art nameDescription:
The surname of the great artist is pronounced the same way as Mathis, the German and French form of Matthew, so it's not a stretch for use as a first name.
- Mariner
- Meriwether
- Newt
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a small salamander"Description:
Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.
- Ovid
Origin:
Latin, meaning unknownDescription:
Ovid is the English form of the Roman family name Ovidius, which possibly comes from the word for sheep. It is the usual English name for the first-century poet Publius Ovidius Naso.
- Philippe
Origin:
French variation of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
Philippe, pronounced fill-EEP, is Philip with Gallic flair.
- Raife
- Rainier
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"wise army"Description:
European royal name, and to Americans a place-name evoking the majestic mountain in Washington state.
- Ricky
Origin:
Diminutive of Richard or FrederickMeaning:
"dominant or peaceful ruler"Description:
Gone with Richard and Rick, Ricky has been falling since the turn of the 21st century. Probably still suffering from overuse in the 1990s.
- Ritchie
- Rob
Origin:
English, diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Rob has claimed Bob's turf.
- Robbie
Origin:
English, GermanicMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Diminutive of Robert, borne by famous figures from Robbie Williams to Robbie Coltrane.
- Robinson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Robin"Description:
This can be a cool and unusual way to honor your family Robert, conjuring up memories of Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, as well as narrative poet Robinson Jeffers, born John Robinson, who shared his mother's middle name.
- Rutherford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"cattle ford"Description:
Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.
- Scott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Scotland"Description:
A cool, windswept, surfer babe-magnet in 1965, a nice dad -- or even granddad -- today.
- Seymour
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"marshy land near the sea"Description:
Out playing shuffleboard at his condo and not expected back for several generations -- unless it morphs into a girls' name, a la Sydney.
- Soren
Origin:
Danish, NorwegianMeaning:
"stern"Description:
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.
- Talmadge
Origin:
English surname, Old French, NormanMeaning:
"pouch, knapsack; ringing of the bell"Description:
Distinctive Talmadge could be an Anglo-Saxon name and English surname that was originally given to a person who carried a knapsack or pack, for example, a traveller or a pedlar. It comes from the Old French word, "talemache".
- Tangier
Origin:
Place nameDescription:
Unexplored Moroccan place name, conjuring up images of camels and palm trees and domed minarets.
- Tesla
Origin:
SlavicMeaning:
"from Thessaly"Description:
Tesla, the surname of Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla that has more recently been used as the brand name for an electric car, is gaining some use as a first name for girls. Exactly 100 girls were named Tesla in the U.S. last year. You might think of the name as a Tessa/Isla hybrid, though with Tesla the s is not silent. There was also a rock band named Tesla.