Gem Names for Boys

Jewels, gems, minerals, etc. with a unisex flair. Lots of middle name potential. Boys can sparkle, too.
  1. Agate
    • Origin:

      French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of Agatha
    • Description:

      Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.
  2. Beryl
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sea-green jewel"
    • Description:

      Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
  3. Bronze
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Third place on the sports field, but potentially more wearable than either Silver or Gold, Bronze feels modern and edgy.
  4. Cobalt
    • Origin:

      Color and nature name
    • Description:

      Even among the range of blue names on the current baby naming palette -- Blue itself, Azure, Cerulean, Teal, Aqua, Cyan, Indigo -- Cobalt remains the most unusual, not to mention the most masculine.
  5. Copper
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "a reddish brown mineral"
    • Description:

      More unique than Cooper, and a favorite among pet parents. Copper was the loveable bloodhound from Disney's Fox and the Hound. Keep in mind that Copper is also slang for a policeman.
  6. Coral
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      First used during the Victorian craze for jewel names; it could rise again, along with Ruby and Pearl, though it doesn't have as much luster.
  7. Chalcedony
    • Emerald
      • Origin:

        Gem name; Persian
      • Meaning:

        "green"
      • Description:

        Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names.
    • Emeraude
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "Emerald"
      • Description:

        Gemstone names have a long history of use, from Ruby to Pearl. Emeraude is the French word for emerald. If the Spanish Esmeralda is stylish, why not Emeraude?
    • Fossil
      • Garnet
        • Origin:

          Jewel name, for the French
        • Meaning:

          "pomegranate"
        • Description:

          One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, for both boys and girls, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl. But interestingly, Garnet means pomegranate, the fruit who shares a deep red color with the jewel.
      • Gold
        • Origin:

          English word name
        • Meaning:

          "gold"
        • Description:

          Luxe baby name that could easily fit in among children named Onyx and Emerald. Goldie is a rising choice for girls.
      • Granite
        • Origin:

          Nature name
        • Description:

          There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.
      • Geode
        • Jade
          • Origin:

            Spanish
          • Meaning:

            "stone of the side"
          • Description:

            As a precious stone, Jade is known for its cool green hues, its importance in Chinese art, and its ability to transmit wisdom, confidence, and clarity. As a name however, Jade is a 90’s throwback in the UK, a Number 1 choice in France, and a returning gem in the US right now.
        • Jasper
          • Origin:

            Persian
          • Meaning:

            "bringer of treasure"
          • Description:

            Jasper originated as a variation of the Latin Gaspar, which ultimately derived from the Persian word ganzabara, meaning "bringer of treasure." As a given name, Jasper’s etymology is unrelated to that of the gemstone, which comes from a Semitic word meaning "speckled stone." Jasper is the usual English form for one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the infant Christ according to medieval tradition and appears in the Bible as a reference to the stone itself in Revelations 4:3.
        • Jem
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of James or Jeremiah
          • Description:

            This name of the ten-year-old boy in the much loved and acclaimed modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird could find favor along with that of the character's sister, Scout.
        • Jet
          • Origin:

            Mineral and word name
          • Description:

            This super-charged variation of Jett is on the rise -- along with the unlikely newcomer Jetson.
        • Jules
          • Origin:

            French form of Latin Julius
          • Meaning:

            "youthful; soft, downy"
          • Description:

            Though Jules hasn't been on the US popularity list in fifty years, it is a current hit in its native France—where it's currently in the Top 10—and we can definitely see it making a comeback here, being far more romantic than, say, Jim.
        • Lazuli
          • Origin:

            Persian place name
          • Description:

            Now deeply associated with the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, Lazuli is derived from one of the places where the stone was first mined. The word Lazuli is the root for words like azure. Lapis Lazuli is a deep and rich blue color and was used for pigments and jewellery.