Boys names I do rather like.

  1. Leo
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "lion"
    • Description:

      Leo is a strong-yet-friendly name that was common among the Romans, used for thirteen popes, and is now at its highest point ever in the US thanks in part to Leonardo "Leo" DiCaprio.
  2. Leroy
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "the king"
    • Description:

      Leroy's heyday was in the early twentieth century, when it was in the US Top 100 until 1949. As a result, it's now more frequently seen as a father or grandfather name rather than a viable newborn option. Though it has dropped off the popularity charts several times in recent years, it hasn't fallen into complete obscurity yet.
  3. Linus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "flax"
    • Description:

      Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be yes.
  4. Llewellyn
    • Origin:

      Welsh, variation of Llywelyn
    • Meaning:

      "leader's image"
    • Description:

      Llewellyn/Llywelyn is a common patriotic first name in Wales, with its distinctive Welsh double LL's; in the U.S. Llewellyn would make a daring choice, though with the chance that some might find the ellen sound slightly feminine.
  5. Laurel
    • Madigan
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "little dog"
      • Description:

        A jovial and jaunty Irish name, the title of a long-gone TV crime drama, this would make an appealing choice. Slight downside: Maddy is already a mega-popular nickname for Madeline/Madelyn and Madison, so this Mad- name might not feel as distinctive as the stats would suggest.
    • Miles
      • Origin:

        English form of Milo
      • Meaning:

        "soldier or merciful"
      • Description:

        Miles, which has a permanent veneer of cool thanks to jazz great Miles Davis, is a confident and polished boys' name that's an American classic. Always ranking in the US Top 1000, it's been drifting up the charts for the past half century but has never been TOO popular.
    • Milo
      • Origin:

        Latin and Old German
      • Meaning:

        "soldier or merciful"
      • Description:

        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.
    • Montgomery
      • Origin:

        Norman
      • Meaning:

        "man power"
      • Description:

        This image of this distinguished Anglo-Scottish surname, drawn from the French place name of the ancient castle of Saint Foi de Montgomery, is rapidly shifting from fusty and formal to cool. And dashing short form Monty (or Monte) nudges it to cute.
    • Nikita
      • Origin:

        Russian cognate of Greek Aniketos
      • Meaning:

        "unconquered"
      • Description:

        Redolent of Khrushchev and la femme.
    • Noel
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "Christmas"
      • Description:

        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 names for December babies and names for Christmas babies.
    • Otto
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "wealthy"
      • Description:

        Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
    • Peregrine
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "traveler, pilgrim"
      • Description:

        Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the U.S., where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's not beyond consideration — in fact it's already been chosen by at least one Berry.
    • Phelan
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "wolf"
      • Description:

        Phelan, pronounced FAY-lan or FEE-lan, is an appealing Irish surname name, with a rich history in Irish myth and religious and secular life. One bearer was a fiercely loyal follower of the legendary warrior Finn MacCool, another was a missionary saint.
    • Phillip
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "lover of horses"
      • Description:

        Spelling variation of Philip. Exactly as many baby boys were named with the single 'l' spelling in 2017.
    • Quilliam
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "son of William"
      • Description:

        A really unusual choice that could be used to honor Grandpa Will.
    • Quinn
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence"
      • Description:

        Quinn is an engaging Celtic surname that is still on the rise for girls but beginning to flag for boys. As a female name, Quinn is in the Top 100, used for over 3000 baby girls last year, but toward the bottom of the Top 500 for boys, given to 700 baby boys.
    • Rollo
      • Origin:

        Latin form of Rolf
      • Meaning:

        "wolf"
      • Description:

        Rollo is a livelier, roly-poly, o-ending version of Roland.
    • Roscoe
      • Origin:

        Norse
      • Meaning:

        "deer forest"
      • Description:

        Fairly popular a hundred years ago but out of sight now, the quirky Roscoe deserves a place on every adventurous baby-namer's long list. It joins Rufus, Roman, Remy, Romulus, and Ray as one of the R names that sound fresh again after too many years of Robert, Richard, and Ronald.
    • Rowan
      • Origin:

        Scottish and Irish
      • Meaning:

        "rowan tree; little redhead"
      • Description:

        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.