Cool and Unusual Gents

  1. Hawkins
    • Ibsen
      • Origin:

        Danish
      • Meaning:

        "son of Ib"
      • Description:

        Ibsen is a literary hero name possibility, after the great Norwegian dramatist, Henrik I. The name Ib is a short form of Jacob, so you might consider Ibsen as an honorific for or a twin of a Jacob.
    • Langston
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "tall man's town"
      • Description:

        The great African-American Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes put this one on the map; actor Laurence Fishburne adopted it for his now grown son, born in 1987. Despite these popular associations, the name didn't make it into the US Top 1000 until 2013. This name is even less used in England or Wales, where as recently as 2014 no births were registered using this name.
    • Ledger
      • Origin:

        English surname
      • Description:

        Ledger, another surname-turned-first name, carries associations of the great and late Australian actor Heath Ledger. It appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2017, perhaps bolstered by the potential of Lej and Edge as nicknames.
    • Macsen
      • Origin:

        Welsh variation of Maximus, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "greatest"
      • Description:

        Macsen may sound like a modern invention, cousin to Jackson and Maxon, but it's a longtime Welsh variation of Maximus with evocative roots in legend. Macsen Wledig is another name for the Roman emperor Magnus Maximus, was played an important role in Welsh history and was further immortalized in a poem celebrating his dream about his lover Elen. Macsen also appears in Arthurian legend.
    • Maddock
      • Meade
        • Meyer
          • Origin:

            German surname or Hebrew
          • Meaning:

            "landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
          • Description:

            Favored by first-generation Jewish families from the affluent Guggenheims to criminal-producing Lanskys; now Meyer is pretty much relegated to poolside gin games in Boca.
        • Maclin
          • Mayes
            • Raines
              • Origin:

                English
              • Meaning:

                "from Rayne or Rennes"
              • Description:

                The final s turns a nature name into a Waspy surname.
            • Rennon
              • Origin:

                English surname, meaning unknown
              • Description:

                Unusual surname occasionally used as a first.
            • Rhett
              • Origin:

                English from Dutch
              • Meaning:

                "advice"
              • Description:

                Rhett has been more tied to Gone with the Wind than even Scarlett, but now we're hearing rumblings of its finding new and independent favor among parents, perhaps emboldened by the growing popularity of Scarlett.
            • Roarke
              • Ryson
                • Stetson
                  • Origin:

                    English surname
                  • Meaning:

                    "cattle dealer"
                  • Description:

                    Best known as a popular brand of Western hats, this surname gives off rugged, cowboy vibes and a sense of confident coolness. A name on the rise, Stetson entered the US Top 200 in 2023 when it was given to nearly 2000 boys.
                • Schaefer
                  • Thane
                    • Origin:

                      Scottish
                    • Meaning:

                      "clan chieftain"
                    • Description:

                      This early Scottish title -- known to us via Shakespeare's Macbeth -- has recently surfaced as a baby name possibility, familiar sounding through its similarity to names like Zane and Wayne.
                  • Torben
                    • Origin:

                      Danish and German
                    • Meaning:

                      "thunder bear"
                    • Description:

                      A familiar name in the Nordic countries that hasn't yet gained popularity in the English speaking world. But it could, now that Old Norse names like Thor and Odin are on the rise. It derives from Torbjörrn, which seems less likely to translate outside Scandinavia. But if you're looking for Danish names for a baby boy, Torben could be a choice that's both accessible and unusual.