Handsome Underused Boys' Names
- Lucius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light"Description:
Lucius is an old Roman clan name that has lots of religious and literary resonance, yet is still vital today. It was the name of three popes, appears in several Shakespeare plays, and, like all the names beginning with 'luc' relates to the Latin word for light.It was one of a limited number of forenames used in ancient Rome, and because of its meaning was often given to boys born at dawn.
- Lynn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"lake"Description:
Long gone to the girls.
- Lexington
- Mackenzie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Kenneth"Description:
This lively Scottish name caught on for girls in a big way starting from the 1970s in the US, although it has remained much more gender-neutral in its native Britain, where it peaked at #109 for boys in 2005 (#303 for girls the name year). Mac would be a cool short form.
- Merrick
Origin:
Anglo-WelshMeaning:
"fame, power"Description:
A strong, attractive surname name with a mix of possible origins: either from the Welsh first name Meuric,which is a form of Maurice, and contains Germanic elements meaning fame and power, or from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning a fork in a river or a road, which led to the name of several places named Merrick in Scotland. The Supreme Court saga of Justice Merrick Garland almost certainly caused the bump in popularity that propelled Merrick to its US Top 1000 debut in 2016.Despite its ancient history, Merrick these days sounds more modern than the somewhat tired Derek.
- Macsen
- Nicodemus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"victory of the people"Description:
This rarely used New Testament name could make an unusual route to the cool nickname Nico. Nicodemus (Noddy) Boffin is a character in the Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend.
- Odysseus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"wrathful"Description:
The name of the brave, resourceful hero of Homer's epic saga has almost always been considered too weighty for a child to bear, but at this point, some brave, resourceful parents out there might be willing to take it on.
- Oaklen
- Peregrine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"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.
- Quade
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"son of Uaid"Description:
Quade is a confident, contemporary-sounding name that would fit right in with classmates Cade, Zade, Slade and Jade, boasting the quirky Q-beginning.
- Rio
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"river"Description:
Rio is a reductive ranchero place-name with an attractive Tex-Mex lilt. No Doubt's Tom Dumont has a son named Rio Atticus.
- Riordan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"bard, royal poet"Description:
Has a legitimate first name history in its native land and an appealing meaning, but pronunciation is far from obvious.
- Rune
Origin:
German and SwedishMeaning:
"secret"Description:
Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.
- Seeley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"blessed, happy"Description:
Seeley is a Medieval surname with a happy, fortunate meaning.
- Shiloh
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"tranquil"Description:
Haunting biblical and Civil War place-name; now unisex—especially after the mega-high-profile Brangelina couple picked it for their daughter. It debuted in the Top 1000 for boys in 2015.
- Sirius
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"burning"Description:
Yes, it's the name of the brightest star in the sky, but can't you just hear people saying, "Are you serious?" Singer Erykah Badu used it as a middle name for son Seven.
- Sutton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the southern homestead"Description:
Swanky sound via New York's ritzy Sutton Place. It fits with current popular boys’ names, due to its two syllables and -on ending. It debuted in the US Top 1000 for boys in 2015, though it is currently more popular for girls.
- Tannen
- Teague
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"bard, poet"Description:
If you like the idea of Tadhg but don't feel like the spelling works where you are, Teague might work as an alternative. It could also fit the bill if you're seeking a unique single-syllable first or middle name for your son.