20 Boys' Names Not Nearly Enough People Are Using

I know I'm not alone in thinking that coming up with good boys' names is way harder than coming up with good girls' names. I can list dozens of my favorite girls' names at the drop of a hat, but when it comes to the boys, my list is a lot smaller. As in, it only has three consistent contenders. What makes boys' names so hard, anyway? I think it has something to do with the tendency of parents to want something more conservative and classic for their son...even if they have a daughter named Juniper or Neveah. And not only do they want something more conservative, they want something that will still stand out. Michael? Matthew? James? Lovely names, but they're just so popular. So how do you choose a name that's handsome, strong, classy, and yet underused? It's tricky, but I hope the following list of names I've come up with will help out some future parents out there!

Alistair/Alastair/Alasdair- This elegant English classic is a form of the super-popular Alexander. It's easy to say, has a familiar rhythm, and sounds dignified. Plus, you get the choice of three different spellings. Alastair was the pseudonym of a famous artist (artwork pictured below).

Calvin- Forget Calvin Klein. Think Calvin and Hobbes--pure boyish cuteness and spunk. This vintage classic comes complete with the adorable nickname Cal (or even Vin) and has a long, solid history as a given name. It's not difficult to spell or pronounce. A real winner.

Boaz- With obscure Biblical names having a real heyday, I'm puzzled as to Boaz's continued rarity. It's got pizzazz with that Z ending, it's got the nickname Bo, it has a commendable Biblical namesake. Possible caveat is that people may assume you are very Christian, and if you're not, this may bug you.

Thaddeus- I love this name. It's got such a delightful sound, and it's deliciously antique and fusty-sounding. You'll find plenty of Thaddeus's in Revolutionary War records and the like. Only downside is the rather unattractive nickname Thad. I would just call him Theo.

Finnian- Just like Thaddeus, Finnian has a wonderful galloping rhythm...it's such a jolly name. It comes equipped with the perky nickname Finn and has a distinctly Irish heritage. A great underused choice.

Gideon- Another underused Biblical name, Gideon is one of my personal all-time favorites. It has that three-syllable rhythm that makes it sound happy and energetic, and yet, it's all boy. Strong yet peppy. I definitely recommend this one.

Otto- With O names all the rage, Otto would put you ahead of the curve and yet right on-trend. It's a palindrome, it's easy to spell and pronounce, and it's rare...a trifecta of awesome. Possible drawback? The Simpsons character.

Frederick- I mean, do I even need to defend Frederick? It's kingly, it's vintage, it's familiar, it's distinguished, it's got the adorable nickname Fred or Freddie. And for some reason, no one's using it...I'm baffled. Do the world a favor and pick Frederick.

Matthias- Matthew is ultra-popular, but his cousin Matthias is strangely neglected. Pronounced Ma-TEE-is or Ma-THIGH-us, it's attractive either way and puts a historical, yet updated spin on overused Matthew. A great choice, it was also the name of a character in the Redwall series.

Ewan/Euan- You probably know of Ians and Owens, but unless you're a Brit, I doubt you've met any Euans...and that's a tragedy. It's short, sweet, uncommon, and has that ever-popular "en, an, in" ending.  (Think Aiden, Jaiden, Brayden, etc. etc.) Actor Ewan McGregor gives the name a handsome image.

Louis- I'd put this in the same boat as Frederick--it's so classic and princely, yet has inexplicably slipped down the charts behind trendy usurpers like Henry and Theodore. Only Sandra Bullock has gotten the memo so far on Louis. It deserves to be used! Editor's Note: it's worth mentioning that the Luis version is actually in the top 100, as pointed out by Corey Rodriguez. Thank you! :)

Walter- This may sound too old-man-like for your taste, but think of it this way--Elijah and Sebastian used to be thought of in the same way, and look where they are now (hint--in the top 100). You can use cute nicknames like Walt and Wally, it has the popular 'er' ending like favorites Cooper and Archer, and yet it's a pure vintage classic. Of course, there is the TV villain Walter White...but really, who cares?

Lionel- Lionel deserves a lot more usage. It shares the same sounds as the stalwart classics Samuel, Daniel, and Nathaniel, and it has a cool meaning ("lion"). A very handsome name with a soccer star (Lionel Messi) namesake.

Arlo- If happiness could be embodied in a name, I think it would be Arlo. It's jovial like Milo, without the popularity. Arlo Guthrie is a famous bearer.

Tobias- I was shocked to find Tobias so low on the charts (#516) and yet, there he was. With a built-in nickname as cute as Toby, why aren't more people using this strong Biblical and vintage gem? Unless they're letting the notorious Tobias Funke character from Arrested Development influence their choice.

Ronan- Another great Irish boys' name that has yet to catch on in the States. Love the meaning, "little seal." Ronan Farrow is the son of famous actress Mia Farrow, pictured below.

Asa- With boys' names ending in A making a comeback (think Elijah, Isaiah, and Ezra), the Biblical Asa could fit right in--and it comes with the nickname Ace, which is pretty much the coolest nickname ever. Asa Butterfield is a child star who recently portrayed Ender in the film Ender's Game.

Lucian- It's ancient, it means "light," and you could conceivably use the popular nickname Luke. What's not to like? Lucian is a character in Underworld.

Raphael/Rafael- It's the name of an angel and an attractive tennis star...it could be a great name for your little boy, too.

Samson- Want another way to get to Sam without using the considerably more popular Samuel? Samson's your man.

Name Quiz: Identify Your Naming Style for Girls!

Recently, I put together some popular name games over on my Facebook Nifty Names page. The object was to pick your favorite out of the four listed names, all beginning with the same letter. Once you'd chosen the name from each of the ten lines that appealed to you most, you could then see your chosen names' style categories. For boys, I created these categories: Preppy and Sophisticated, Classic and Traditional, Stylish/Trendy Upcoming-Favorites, and Name-Nerdy/ Vintage. For girls: Name-Nerd Chic/Vintage-Lover, Short, Sweet and Sassy, Exotic Lite, and Stylish and Modern. Since I had so much fun making up those name lists, I decided to make up some longer versions of the lists for this blog post! And, in case you missed the game over on Facebook, here they are again. Once you figure out your style, check out some more names that belong in those categories! Since the extended lists are so long, I'm going to put the boys' extended lists and style diagnosis in a separate post. 

Pick your favorite out of each line of four!

Matilda, Madeleine, Maggie, Maura
Lorelei, Lyla, Lucy, Lucia
Georgina, Georgia, Gigi, Giada
Annika, Annabelle, Annie, Annelise 
Imogen, Isla, Ivy, Ingrid
Juliet, Jayden, Jovie, Juliana
Romilly, Raleigh, Romy, Ramona
Cordelia, Charlotte, Chloe, Carolina
Helena, Hayden, Hadley, Eleni
Winifred, Willow, Willa, Wilhelmina

If you picked: 

Nerd Nerd Chic/ Vintage-Lover

Matilda

Lucy

Georgina/Georgia

Annika

Imogen

Juliet

Romilly

Cordelia

Helena

Winifred/Willa/Wilhelmina

Stylish and Modern

Madeleine

Lyla

Georgia

Annabelle

Isla

Jayden

Raleigh

Hayden

Willow

Short, Sweet, and Sassy

Maggie

Lucy

Gigi

Annie

Ivy

Jovie

Romy

Chloe

Hadley

Willa

Exotic Lite 

Maura

Lucia

Giada

Annelise/Annika

Ingrid

Juliana

Ramona

Carolina

Eleni

Wilhelmina

So, here are the extended lists! 

If your girls' style is Exotic Lite, you may love:

Maura

Lucia

Giada

Annelise/Annika

Ingrid

Juliana

Ramona

Carolina

Eleni

Wilhelmina

Sanne

Saskia

Evelia

Veronique

Elodie

Samira

Sigrid

Dagny

Signe

Toril

Mariska

Priya

Tanaquil

Tamar

Xanthe

Zara

Nilsa

Anisa

Leandra

Viveca

Nina

Tatiana

Leilani

Midori

Sakura

Bronwen

Rhiannon

Olwen

Anwen

Carys/Cerys
Severine
Sabina
Simone

Kerensa

Iliana

Ivana

Oriana

Osanna

Helena

Minerva

Esperanza

If your style is Name-Nerd Chic/Vintage-Lover, you may love:

Edith

Sibyl

Matilda

Ivy

Alma

Eva

Georgia

Helen

Beatrice

Winifred

Wilhelmina

Violet

Vivienne

Eleanor

Arabella

Araminta

Theodora

Dorothy

Dorothea

Myrtle

Evangeline

Vera

Rosamond

Rosalind

Opal

Mabel

Lucille

Jane

Eliza

Loretta

Tabitha

Gertrude
Gladys
Ethel
Thelma
Leona
Marguerite
Blanche
Verna
Lorraine
Shirley
Marcella
Fern
Cleo

Cordelia

Cora

Hazel

Louise

Luella

Ophelia

Ottoline

Ottilie

Susannah

Annabelle

Eulalie

Eugenia

Evelina

Mary
Alice
Enid
Rosemary
Henrietta
Harriet
Bonnie
Garland
Beatrix
Clementine
Phoebe
Letitia

If Your Style is Short, Sweet, and Sassy, you may love:

Maggie

Lucy

Gigi

Annie

Ivy

Jovie

Romy

Chloe

Hadley

Willa

Ruby
Lola
Hattie
Sadie
Sally
Ellie
Phoebe
May
Evie
Noa
Nola
Nova
Nora
Cora
Wren
Niamh/Neve
Mae
Maeve
Quinn
Reeve
Reese
Blythe
Paige
Clare
Brooke
Sara
Faye
Elle
June
Joan
Jane
Gray
Paisley
Holly
Haidee
Heidi
Minnie
Molly
Polly
Rory
Nina
Dolly
Dottie
Daisy
Dinah
Dana

If Your Style is Stylish and Modern, you may love:

Madeleine

Lyla

Georgia

Annabelle

Isla

Jayden

Raleigh

Hayden

Willow
Sophia
Isabella
Olivia
Camden
Reese
Eva
Mira
Amelia
Mia
Hadley
Ivy
Violet
Coraline
Ramona
Eloise
Ellie
Lucy
Charlotte
Camryn
Anniston
Emerson
Juliette/Juliet
Payton/Peyton
Ruby
Emma
Julia
Emmeline
Elena
Genevieve
Lillian
Lily
Milena
Bryn
Serena
Sabrina
Veronica
Noelle
Avery
Camille
Bridget
Natalie
Isabelle
Piper
Harper
Gracen/Graysen
Avonlea
Bella
Seraphina
Savannah
Charlie
Matilda
Tamsin
Freya

Country Names: From Dolly and Dierks to Randy and Miranda

Is it me, or has country music been having a real moment lately? I never used to pay attention to it, but with artists like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift played on both country and mainstream music stations, country has reinvented itself into something less marginalized. Now, the genre seems more accessible and relatable than ever before, as do the names of the artists themselves. Here, I've put together a list of some of the best country names--names which, in the style of contemporary country music, can please a wide variety of parents.

Some trends I noticed:

1. To "countrify" a girls' name, take a nickname name and add a short, one-syllable name to the end to create a double-barrelled first name. Examples: Sally Mae, Winnie Lou, Laura Bell, etc.

2. To "countrify" a boys' name,  use a one-syllable, tough-sounding name like Beau or Clay, or simple, down-homey nicknames like Billy and Randy.

THE COUNTRY GIRLS:

ALABAMA

CAROLINA Rain

CARRIE Underwood

DIXIE Chicks

DOLLY Parton

EMMA MAE Jacobs

EMMYLOU Harris

FAITH Hill

GLORIANA

HEIDI Newfield

HOLLY Williams

JENNETTE McCurdy

JESSI Alexander

JESSICA Andrews, Harp, Simpson

JOANNA Smith

KATRINA Elam

KRISTA MARIE

LAURA BELL Bundy

LeANN/LEE ANN Rimes, Womack

LORETTA LYNN

MAGGIE ROSE

MARLEE Scott

MINDY MacCready

MIRANDA Lambert

REBA McEntire

SAWYER Brown

SHEA Fisher

SIERRA Hull

SUNNY Sweeney

SUZY Burgess

VERONICA Ballestrini

WYNONNA Judd


THE COUNTRY BOYS:


AARON Lewis, Tippin

ASH Bowers

ASHTON Shepherd

BEAU Davidson

BILLY Currington, Dean, Shaver, Cyrus

BLAKE Shelton, Wise

BLAINE Larsen

BRAD Paisley

BRADY Seals

BRANTLEY Gilbert

BRETT Eldredge

BROOKS & Dunn

BUDDY Jewell, Miller

CHASE Rice

CHUCK Wicks

CHRIS (many)

CLAY Walker

CLINT Black

COLE Deggs & The Lonesome

COLT Ford

CORB Lund

CRAIG Campbell, Morgan

DARIUS Rucker

DEAN Brody

DIERKS Bentley

EASTON Corbin

FRANKIE Ballard

GARTH Brooks

GEORGE Jones, Strait

GLEN Campbell, Templeton

HAL Ketchum

HANK Williams

HUNTER Hayes

JACE Everett

JACK (many)

JASON (many)

JOSH (many)

KEITH Anderson, Urban

KENNY Chesney, Rogers, Vaughn

KIP Moore

LEE Brice, Greenwood

LUKE Bryan

NEAL McCoy

RANDY (many)

RAY Charles, Scott

RHETT Akins

RODNEY Atkins, Carrington, Crowell

SHOOTER Jennings

SONNY Burgess

TOBY Keith

TRACE Atkins

VINCE Gill

WADE Hayes

WAYLON Jennings

Super-Popular Baby Names: Lesser-Used Substitutes for the Top 20 Names

Now, before we get started, let me say that there's nothing wrong with giving your child a popular name. Popular names become popular for a reason. They're often likable, beautiful, handsome, friendly-sounding--they appeal to a wide variety of people. So if you've always loved the name Sophia, don't hesitate to name your daughter Sophia, just because it's recently shot to the top of the charts. But if you would prefer a less-popular option, that still encompasses many of your favorite name's "top-of-the-charts" qualities, I've got some ideas for you!

On the-left hand side, you will find the Top 20 Baby Names, according to the Social Security Administration's data. On the right-hand side, you will see my suggestions for less-common names that still possess many of their star counterparts' qualities, sounds, and/or vibes.

Girls:

Sophia-  Louisa, Corinna, Sophronia

Emma- Elsa, Etta, Alma

Isabella- Isabeau, Isabeli, Isadora

Olivia- Olive, Lydia, Lavinia

Ava- Nora, Eva, Avis

Emily- Emmeline, Romilly, Amelie

Abigail- Aberdeen, Abilene, Adelaide

Mia- Gia, Lia, Maya

Madison- Madigan, Grayson, Weston

Elizabeth- Elspeth, Eliza, Elisabetta

Chloe- Cleo, Clea, Phoebe

Ella- Fiorella, Elva, Eleanor

Avery- Amory, Ellery, Everly

Addison- Alison (the only 'son' name I enjoy for girls), Gracen/Grayson, Payton/Peyton

Aubrey- Audrey, Lucy, Audra

Lily- Millie, Tillie, Sadie

Natalie- Natalia, Thessaly, Kirrily (a great Australian option!)

Sofia- Lucia, Alicia (the Alee-see-uh pronunciation!), Josefina

Charlotte (note: I LOVE Charlotte. But it is quite popular, so here are the substitutes)- Scarlett, Charmian (Charm-ee-in, a Shakespearean name), Lieselotte (Lee-za-lot-tuh)

Zoey- Zora, Zia, ZuZu (a nickname used in It's A Wonderful Life for daughter Susan)

Boys:

Jacob- Jachin (Jake-in), Jabez, Caleb

Mason- Macon, Mercer, Orson

Ethan- Egan, Eli, Nathan

Noah- Jonah, Beau, Ezra

William- Wilbur, Wilfred, Abram

Liam- Adam, Leland, Leon

Jayden- Eamon, Jabez, Jachin (I recommend Jabez and Jachin often, because I think they're fabulous and under-utilized options, that fit many of today's current trends)

Michael- Micah, Lionel, Lemuel

Alexander- Alistair, Xavier, Leander

Aiden- Eamon, Amos, Damon

Daniel- Lemuel, Lionel, Amiel

Matthew- Matthias, Bartholomew, Ewan

Elijah- Elias, Abijah, Levi

James- Seamus, Amos, Jones

Anthony- Antony (just drop the H like the Brits do, instant new name), Antonio, Timothy

Benjamin- Benajah/Benaiah, Benno, Tarquin

Joshua- Jonathan, Jory (Cornish form of George), Jonah

Andrew- Drew, Elihu (antique Biblical name rarely used these days, Eli-yoo), Anderson

David- Davis, Damien, Dane

Joseph- Jonas, Joachim, Owen

The Coolest Surname and Androgynous Names for Girls: From Afton to Willoughby

Mia Sara as Sloan Peterson in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 1986.

I think I started becoming fascinated by surname names on girls the first time I saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The stunning Mia Sara portrays Ferris's girlfriend, Sloan Peterson--I wanted her white leather jacket with fringe, I wanted her expressive eyes, and I wanted her carelessly-tossed hair. But more than anything, I wanted her name. It was just so--cool. It gave her character an instant sense of sophistication, class, and panache. Since then, I've heard a wide variety of surname-y, androgynous-sounding names on girls, and the best of these project the same aura as Sloan: an aura that is capable, confident, and sleek. Here are my picks:










Flannery

Sloane/Sloane

Winslow

Marlo/Marlow/Marlowe

Kensington

Kennedy

Rooney

Kingsley

Aberdeen

Walker

Baker

Willoughby

Windsor

Carson

Langley

Landry

Spenser

Greer

Quincy

Corgan

Obrien

Donnelly

Calloway

Prewitt/Pruitt

Truett

Milne

Fifer

Sterling

Cooper

Trilby

Eliot

Austen

Eyre

Bronte

Lawrence/Laurence

Locke

Lincoln

Parker

Bellamy

Jacoby

Foster

Morrissey

Murphy

Kipling

Courtland

Garland

Nash

Cade

Clark

Sullivan

Revere

Tenley

Tierney

Ferebee

Quinlan

Sutton

Tipper

Hollis

Harper

Hadley

Cameron/Camryn/Kamryn et.al

Keagan

Laramie

Greyson/Grayson

Afton

Nature Names: From the Conservative to the Adventurous

So you want a nature name for your child, but you're a little hesitant when it comes to the full-blown River, Willow, or Prairie? Not to fear! There are plenty of names you can use to honor your love of nature and the outdoors.

...Or maybe you want a nature name, but you don't want one that people are familiar with; something daring and spunky like Juniper, Amaryllis, or Dune? There's a list here for you, as well!

For the Conservative Namers:

Violet
Rose
Daisy
Susannah (means lily)
Helena (for Mount Helena)
Everest (for Mount Everest)
Forrest/Forest
Clifford, nickname Cliff
Brooke/Brooks
Luna (means moon)
Penelope (possibly derived from a word that means duck)
Agnes (associated with the lamb)
Jasper
Pearl
Ruby
Berry
Robin
Laurel
Camellia (not too far off Camilla)
Wren
Nile
Fielding
Olive
Palma
Isla (island in Spanish)
Ivy
Fraser (for the Fir tree)
Rosemary
Aurora
Reed/Reid
Quillan, nickname Quill
Douglas (for the Fir tree)
Iris
Lily
Savanna
Adler (eagle)
Avis (bird)
Connor (dog-lover)

For the Adventurous Namers:

Juniper
Azalea
Magnolia
Aster
Tulip
Orchid
Hyacinth
Spruce
Sparrow
Talon
Stone
Bear
Ocean
Fox
Iolanthe (means violet)
Ianthe (means violet)
Soleil (means sun)
Dune
Wave
Ridge
Willow
Raven
Apple
Kestrel (a personal favorite of mine)
Prairie
Garnet
Emerald
Amethyst
Sapphire
Meadow
Delta
Breeze (this might seem extra out-there, but my sister knew a Breeze personally...)
Peregrine
River
Pomeline (means apple)
Saffron
Pepper
Lake
Lilac
Fjord
Pike
Vale
Slate
Wolf
Arbor
Cove
Harbor
Mesa
Snow
Birch
Beach/Beech
Hawk
Pika
Falcon
Amaryllis
Blossom
Bloom

Baby Names: A Battleground of Conflicting Styles

Warning: This post contains sarcasm and what some may dub “harsh” judgment.

In a recent baby name discussion, I called a name “incredibly tacky”—because, well, I find the name incredibly tacky. Immediately, I was accused of being “too harsh.” This surprised me;  I have seen far worse naming judgments expressed online, or heard far worse divulged in conversation. While I don’t condone flaming or personal attacks, I operate under a strict honesty-or-bust policy, especially regarding names, about which I am very opinionated (and I freely admit this).

“I know everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” the offended mother began her argument.

Yes, exactly. I am entitled to my opinion. I’m glad we agree.

“But every name has been used by a parent and we should be sensitive because a name being discussed might be the name of someone’s child…” she continued.

I am aware that names are given to real children. That is what a name is. It is given to someone, or something. I am also aware that a name being discussed on a social media website (in this case, it was Savannah) is likely to be the name of a fellow contributor’s child. And frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.  I am going to keep expressing my opinion, and if I don’t care for a name, I am not going to sugarcoat that opinion and opt for the safe: “It’s not my style.” Because not only is it not my style, but I simply don’t like the name. Sorry I’m not sorry. When I express a dislike for a name, I am doing just that--expressing dislike for the name, not the child. Not everyone is going to like your child’s name--there’s no getting around it. If you can’t handle differing opinions about the name you gave your kid, maybe you shouldn’t have given them a name at all. Then no one could dislike it! Yay!

Because of the varying and diverse naming preferences in this world, not every child is named Savannah, or Michael, or Nevaeh, or Aiden, and I love that. That’s what allows me to enjoy names and naming as a hobby. There are millions of names, because there are billions of people, and those billions of people all have different naming preferences and styles. So, Mom-of-a-Savannah, I am sorry you are offended that I find the name Savannah tacky. But I assure you, I’m not the only one who does. And there are also thousands of parents who would disagree with me vehemently, just as you do.

You are perfectly free to dislike all my favorite names too: whether it be Cecily, Beatrix, Leander, Simon or any of my other name-loves…I don’t expect everyone to like them, and I am not offended when someone doesn’t. I embrace the opposition because ultimately, diversity in naming is what makes a hobby of baby names so exciting. If I had ten friends named Cecily, maybe I would start to find her incredibly tacky. And if every child in the world was named Savannah, maybe even you would start to find the name tacky. You never know.

If that makes me rude or offensive, so be it. I will continue to find Savannah totally unappealing whether it be your daughter’s name or not.