The NeverEnding Boys List

  1. Killian
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "war strife or church"
    • Description:

      Killian – aka Cillian – is a spirited yet resonant Gaelic name that was borne by several Irish saints and could make a distinctive replacement for the dated Kelly. Kylian is another spelling that's gaining traction, thanks to French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Possible downsides: an unsavory first syllable and a connection to the trendy brew.
  2. Kit
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Christopher
    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"
    • Description:

      Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son.
  3. Lake
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Evocative modern unisex choice brought into the spotlight by actress Lake Bell.
  4. Lennon
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "lover"
    • Description:

      A growing number of high-profile (and other) parents are choosing to honor their musical idols, such as Hendrix, Presley, Jagger, and now Lennon.
  5. Lennox
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "elm grove"
    • Description:

      Lennox is an aristocratic and powerful Scottish surname name made truly special by that final x. The worldwide fame of British boxer--World and Olympic champion--Lennox Claudius Lewis brought the name into the spotlight as a first name, while as a last it's tied to Eurythmics singer Annie L.
  6. Leonello
    • Malik
      • Origin:

        Arabic; Greenlandic
      • Meaning:

        "king; wave"
      • Description:

        A name with many spelling variations, including Malek and Maliq. With Muslim roots, Malik ranks in the US Top 500 and is also popular in several European and Arabic countries. Malik can also be thought of as a nature name, via its Greenlandic meaning of wave.
    • Massey
      • Origin:

        English, Scottish, and French place-name
      • Description:

        Some definite downsides: Massive, Messy.
    • 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.
    • Murphy
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "sea warrior"
      • Description:

        This jaunty Celtic surname -- the most common family name in both Ireland and the US -- is totally viable as a first. The arguably most famous Murphy is TV's Murphy Brown, and indeed the name is twice as common for baby girls as for baby boys today. But still, it's solidly gender neutral and works equally well for all sexes.
    • Namid
      • Origin:

        Ojibwa
      • Meaning:

        "star dancer"
      • Description:

        Fanciful image distinguishes this Native-American name.
    • Nasir
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "helper"
      • Description:

        Similar to Nasser, with a slightly more altruistic meaning. Rapper Nas was born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones, and Nasir may have gotten a bump from 2016 show The Night Of, whose protagonist was named Nasir Kahn.
    • Nat
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
      • Description:

        Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
    • Novak
      • Origin:

        Serbian
      • Meaning:

        "new"
      • Description:

        Tennis star Novak Djokovic introduced this new first name to the English-speaking world, though it had long been familiar as a surname. The celebrity Novak, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, might be an inspirational role model for a baby Novak. And the name Novak goes well with other stylish names that mean new, including Nova, Neo, and Nouvel.
    • Natteo
      • Oak
        • Origin:

          English tree name
        • Meaning:

          "tree from the genus Quercus"
        • Description:

          Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
      • Ollivander
        • Origin:

          Literary Name
        • Description:

          A rare twist on modern favorites like Oliver and Alexander, this elaborate option is nevertheless familiar to most people as the surname of the eminent wandmaker Garrick Ollivander, from the Harry Potterbooks.
      • Olympus
        • Osias
          • Origin:

            Greek
          • Meaning:

            "salvation"
          • Description:

            Osias has a Latinate and biblical feel without making an appearance in the Bible. The related Ozias, on the other hand, is a form of Uzziah, found in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, and could make a distinctive path to the nickname Oz or Ozzie--both far cooler, in our opinion, than Oswald.
        • Ozymandias
          • Origin:

            Greek variant of Ramses, Egyptian
          • Meaning:

            "begotten by Ra, the Sun God"
          • Description:

            Percy Bysshe Shelley got the name for one of his most famous poems -- a sonnet about the insignificance of man's labors in the vastness of time -- from the Greek name for Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II.